Provided herein are compositions and methods for improved production of steviol glycosides in a host cell. In some embodiments, the host cell is genetically modified to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a Stevia rebaudiana kaurenoic acid hydroxylase. In some embodiments, the host cell further comprises one or more heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding further enzymes of a pathway capable of producing one or more steviol glycosides in the host cell. The compositions and methods described herein provide an efficient route for the heterologous production of steviol glycosides, including but not limited to, rebaudioside D and rebaudioside M.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.

Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

Described herein are methods of producing (+)-manool, the methods including: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with a copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool and derivatives thereof. Also described herein are nucleic acids encoding CPP synthases and sclareol synthases for use in the methods. Further described herein are expression vectors and non-human host organisms and cells including nucleic acids encoding a CPP synthase and a sclareol synthase as described herein.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

Provided herein are methods of producing (+)-manool comprising: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with an copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate wherein the CPP synthase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% and 100% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2; and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool.

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

Provided herein are methods of producing (+)-manool comprising: contacting geranylgeranyl diphosphate with an copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase to form a (9S, 10S)-copalyl diphosphate wherein the CPP synthase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, 95%, 98%, 99% and 100% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2; and contacting the CPP with a sclareol synthase enzyme to form (+)-manool.