Process of producing monoterpenes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process of producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a host microorganism genetically engineered to express a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS); and b) contacting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) with said bacterial mTS to produce said monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The present invention also relates to a microorganism for use in producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof and a recombinant microorganism adapted to conduct the step of converting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) into a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof by expression of a bacterial mTS. It was shown to produce 1,8 cineole using 1,8 cineole synthase and to produce linalool using linalool synthase, both from Streptomyces clavuligerus.

1 . A process of producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof in a host microorganism comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a host microorganism genetically modified to express a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS); and   (b) contacting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) with said bacterial mTS to produce said monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the host microorganism comprises  E. coli.    
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the bacterial mTS comprises a  Streptomyces  mTS. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the bacterial mTS comprises a  Streptomyuces clavuligerus  mTS. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the bacterial mTS comprises cineole-1,8 synthase or linalool synthase. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the process results in a monoterpene yield of at least 100 mg/L org   −1 . 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein the process results in a monoterpene yield of at least 300 mg/L org   −1 . 
     
     
         8 . A microorganism for use in producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof according to the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A recombinant microorganism adapted to conduct the following step: converting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) into a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof by expression of a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS). 
     
     
         10 . The use of a bacterial mTS to improve the yield and/or purity of a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof obtained from GPP.