The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the degree of glycosylation of a composition comprising steviol glycosides, which method comprises:

a. contacting said composition comprising steviol glycosides with a recombinant microorganism, a cell free extract derived from such a microorganism or an enzyme preparation derived from either thereof; and b. thereby to increase the degree of glycosylation of the composition comprising steviol glycosides, wherein the recombinant microorganism comprises one or more nucleotide sequence(s) encoding: a polypeptide having ent-copalyl pyrophosphate synthase activity;a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene oxidase activity; a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity; and one or more polypeptides having UDP-glucosyltransferase activity whereby expression of the nucleotide sequence(s) confer(s) on the microorganism the ability to produce at least one steviol glycoside. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising steviol glycosides obtainable by such a method.

The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

Recombinant microorganisms are disclosed that produce steviol glycosides and have altered expression of one or more endogenous transporter or transcription factor genes, or that overexpress one or more heterologous transporters, leading to increased excretion of steviol glycosides of interest.

Provided herein are genetically modified host cells, compositions, and methods for improved production of steviol glycosides. In some embodiments, the host cell is genetically modified to comprise a heterologous nucleic acid expression cassette that expresses an ABC-transporter capable of transporting steviol glycosides to the extracellular space or to the luminal space of an intracellular organelle. 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 host cells, 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.

Methods of making and using E,Z,E-GGPP are provided. Also provided are expression cassettes encoding isoprenyl diphosphate synthases, e.g., cis- or trans-isoprenyl diphosphate synthases.

The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

The present invention relates to a method for increasing the degree of glycosylation of a composition comprising steviol glycosides, which method comprises: a. contacting said composition comprising steviol glycosides with a recombinant microorganism, a cell free extract derived from such a microorganism or an enzyme preparation derived from either thereof; and b. thereby to increase the degree of glycosylation of the composition comprising steviol glycosides, wherein the recombinant microorganism comprises one or more nucleotide sequence(s) encoding: a polypeptide having ent-copalyl pyrophosphate synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene synthase activity; a polypeptide having ent-Kaurene oxidase activity; a polypeptide having kaurenoic acid 13-hydroxylase activity; and one or more polypeptides having UDP-glucosyltransferase activity whereby expression of the nucleotide sequence(s) confer(s) on the microorganism the ability to produce at least one steviol glycoside. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising steviol glycosides obtainable by such a method.