Novel gene gms 01

Abstract

The present invention relates to microorganisms genetically engineered to increase yield and/or efficiency of biomass production from a carbon source, such as e.g. glucose. Processes for generating such microorganisms are also provided by the present invention. The invention also relates to polynucleotide sequences comprising genes that encode proteins that are involved in the bioconversion of a carbon source such as e.g. glucose into biomass. The invention also features polynucleotides comprising the full-length polynucleotide sequences of the novel genes and fragments thereof, the novel polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, as well as their functional equivalents. Also included are processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms leading to a microorganism with reduced carbon source diversion, i.e. higher yield and/or efficiency of biomass production from a carbon source such as e.g. glucose.

1 . A polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) polynucleotides comprising the nucleotide sequence according to SEQ ID NO:1;   (c) polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence obtainable by nucleic acid amplification such as polymerase chain reaction, using genomic DNA from a microorganism as a template and a primer set according to SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4;   (d) polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a fragment or derivative of a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of any of (a) to (c) wherein in said derivative one or more amino acid residues are conservatively substituted compared to said polypeptide, and said fragment or derivative has the activity of an oxidoreductase [EC 1], preferably an oxidoreductase acting on the CH—OH group of donors [EC 1.1];   (e) polynucleotides the complementary strand of which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide as defined in any one of (a) to (d) and which encode an oxidoreductase [EC 1], preferably an oxidoreductase acting on the CH—OH group of donors [EC 1.1]; and   (f) polynucleotides which are at least 70%, such as 85, 90 or 95% homologous to a polynucleotide as defined in any one of (a) to (d) and which encode an oxidoreductase [EC 1], preferably an oxidoreductase acting on the CH—OH group of donors [EC 1.1];   or the complementary strand of such a polynucleotide.   
     
     
         2 . A polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A microorganism comprising a polypeptide according to  claim 2  having reduced or abolished oxidoreductase [EC 1] activity. 
     
     
         4 . A microorganism according to  claim 3  comprising a gene with reduced or abolished activity. 
     
     
         5 . A microorganism according to  claim 4  wherein the gene is disrupted. 
     
     
         6 . A microorganism according to  claim 3  capable of producing biomass from glucose in a yield of at least about 0.2 g biomass/g glucose. 
     
     
         7 . A microorganism according to  claim 6  wherein the yield is at least about 0.3. 
     
     
         8 . Process for producing cells according to  claim 3 , comprising the step of genetically engineering cells comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . Use of a disrupted polynucleotide according to  claim 1  for the production of biomass from a carbon source. 
     
     
         10 . A microorganism according to  claim 3 , said microorganism being genetically altered in such a way that it leads to an improved yield and/or production of biomass from a carbon source produced by said microorganism. 
     
     
         11 . A microorganism according to  claim 3  selected from the group consisting of  Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Escherichia, Corynebacterium, Ketogulonicigenium  and acetic acid bacteria like e.g.,  Gluconobacter, Acetobacter  or  Gluconacetobacter , preferably  Acetobacter  sp.,  Acetobacter aceti, Gluconobacter frateurii, Gluconobacter cerinus, Gluconobacter thailandicus, Gluconobacter oxydans , preferably  Gluconobacter oxydans , more preferably  Gluconobacter oxydans  DSM 17078. 
     
     
         12 . Use of a microorganism according to  claim 3  for the production of biomass from a carbon source. 
     
     
         13 . Process for the production of a disrupted endogenous oxidoreductase [EC 1], preferably oxidoreductase acting on the CH—OH group of donors [EC 1.1] gene in a microorganism, said microorganism comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 1 , said process comprising the step of altering said polynucleotide in such a way that it leads to an improved yield and/or efficiency of biomass production produced from a carbon source by said microorganism. 
     
     
         14 . Process for the production of a microorganism capable of growth on a given carbon source, comprising the step of altering said microorganism comprising a gene comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 1  so that the microorganism produces a polypeptide having reduced or abolished oxidoreductase [EC 1] activity, leading to an improved yield and/or production of biomass from said carbon source by said microorganism. 
     
     
         15 . Process for the production of a microorganism containing an endogenous gene comprising a polynucleotide according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of altering said microorganism so that the endogenous gene is underexpressed or disrupted, leading to an improved yield and/or production of biomass from a carbon source produced by said microorganism. 
     
     
         16 . Process according to  claim 14  for the production of a microorganism. 
     
     
         17 . Microorganism obtainable by a process according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         18 . Process for the production of biomass with a microorganism according to  claim 3  wherein said microorganism is cultivated in an aqueous nutrient medium under conditions that allow production of biomass from a carbon source. 
     
     
         19 . Process according to  claim 8  wherein the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose, maltose, starch, cellulose, cellobiose, lactose, isomaltose, dextran, trehalose and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . Use according to  claim 9  wherein the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose, maltose, starch, cellulose, cellobiose, lactose, isomaltose, dextran, trehalose and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A microorganism according to  claim 10  wherein the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose, maltose, starch, cellulose, cellobiose, lactose, isomaltose, dextran, trehalose and mixtures thereof.