Production of quinone derived compounds in oleaginous yeast and fungi

Abstract

The present invention provides systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that express quinone derived compounds.

1 . A recombinant fungus characterized by:
 a. the recombinant fungus is oleaginous in that it can accumulate lipid to at least about 20% of its dry cell weight; and   b. the recombinant fungus produces at least one quinone derived compound, and can accumulate the produced quinone derived compound to at least about 1% of its dry cell weight;
 wherein the recombinant fungus comprises at least one modification as compared with a parental fungus, which parental fungus both is not oleaginous and does not accumulate the quinone derived compound to at least about 1% of its dry cell weight, the at least one modification being selected from the group consisting of quinonogenic modifications, oleaginic modifications, and combinations thereof, and 
 wherein the at least one modification alters oleaginicity of the recombinant fungus, confers to the recombinant fungus oleaginy, confers to the recombinant fungus the ability to produce the at least one quinone derived compound to a level at least about 1% of its dry cell weight, or confers to the recombinant fungus the ability to produce at least one quinone derived compound which the parental fungus does not produce. 
   
     
     
         2 . A recombinant fungus characterized by:
 a. the recombinant fungus is oleaginous in that it can accumulate lipid to at least about 20% of its dry cell weight; and   b. the recombinant fungus produces at least one quinone derived compound selected from the group consisting of: a ubiquinone, a vitamin K compound, and a vitamin E compound, and combinations thereof, and can accumulate the produced quinone derived compound to at least about 1% of its dry cell weight;
 wherein the recombinant fungus comprises at least one modification as compared with a parental fungus, the at least one modification being selected from the group consisting of quinonogenic modifications, oleaginic modifications, and combinations thereof, and 
 wherein the at least one modification alters oleaginicity of the recombinant fungus, confers to the recombinant fungus oleaginy, confers to the recombinant fungus the ability to produce the at least one quinone derived compound to a level at least about 1% of its dry cell weight, or confers to the recombinant fungus the ability to produce at least one quinone derived compound which the parental fungus does not naturally produce. 
   
     
     
         3 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 1  wherein the recombinant fungus is a member of a genus selected from the group consisting of:  Saccharomyces, Xanthophyllomyces  ( Phaffia ), and  Yarrowia.    
     
     
         6 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 5  wherein the recombinant fungus is of the species  Yarrowia lipolytica.    
     
     
         14 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 1  wherein the quinone derived compound is a ubiquinone. 
     
     
         23 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 1  wherein the quinone derived compound is a vitamin K compound. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 1  wherein the quinone derived compound is a vitamin E compound. 
     
     
         30 - 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 1  wherein the fungus contains at least one quinonogenic modification. 
     
     
         55 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . The recombinant fungus of  claim 54 , wherein the at least one quinonogenic modification increases expression or activity of a quinonogenic polypeptide. 
     
     
         61 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . A recombinant fungus according to  claim 1  wherein the fungus accumulates the produced at least one quinone derived compound to a level selected from the group consisting of: above about 1%, above about 2%, above about 3%, above about 5%, and above about 10% of the fungus' dry cell weight. 
     
     
         74 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A strain of  Yarrowia lipolytica  comprising one or more modifications selected from the group consisting of an oleaginic modification, a quinonogenic modification, and combinations thereof, such that the strain accumulates from 1% to 15% of its dry cell weight as at least one quinone derived compound. 
     
     
         77 - 329 . (canceled)