Microorganisms and methods for production of 4-hydroxybutyrate, 1,4-butanediol and related compounds

Abstract

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate or related products using the microbial organisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-naturally occurring microbial organism, said microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein said microbial organism comprises a genetic modification, said genetic modification selected from:
 (A) a genetic modification that increases expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase;   (B) a genetic modification that increases expression of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase;   (C) a genetic modification that increases expression of a non-phosphotransferase (PTS) glucose uptake system;   (D) a genetic modification that increases expression of a gamma-butyrolactone esterase;   (E) a genetic modification that decreases expression of succinyl-CoA synthetase;   (F) a genetic modification that decreases expression of an acyl coenzyme A thioesterase;   (G) a genetic modification that decreases expression of an alcohol dehydrogenase   (H) a genetic modification that decreases expression of a non-energy-producing NADH dehydrogenase;   (I) a genetic modification that decreases expression of a cytochrome oxidase; and   (J) a combination of two or more of the genetic modifications of parts (A)-(I).   
     
     
         2 . The microbial organism of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (K) the microbial organism of part (A), (B) or (C) has decreased production of ethanol, acetate, pyruvate or alanine, or a combination thereof, relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (L) the microbial organism of part (B) has decreased production of glutamate relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (M) the microbial organism of part (C) has a genetic modification comprising increased expression of a permease, glucokinase, or a glucose facilitator, or a combination thereof;   (N) the microbial organism of part (D) has decreased production of gamma-butyrolactone relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (O) the microbial organism of part (E) has increased production of 4-hydroxybutyrate relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (P) the microbial organism of part (F) has decreased production of gamma-butyrolactone relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (Q) the microbial organism of part (F) has a genetic modification comprising at least two genetic modifications that decrease expression of at least two acyl coenzyme A thioesterases;   (R) the microbial organism of part (G) has decreased backflux from a downstream product of the 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (S) the microbial organism of part (H) has suppressed depletion of the NADH pool or increased energy efficiency in the microbial organism, or a combination thereof, relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (T) the microbial organism of part (I) has increased energy efficiency relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification; or   (U) the microbial organism of part (I) has increased tolerance to a range of oxygen concentrations relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification.   
     
     
         3 . The microbial organism of  claim 1 , wherein said microbial organism of parts (D) or (F) further comprises a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA pathway. 
     
     
         4 . A method for producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, comprising culturing the non-naturally occurring microbial organism of  claim 1  under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 4-hydroxybutyrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 (K) the microbial organism of part (A), (B) or (C) has decreased production of ethanol, acetate, pyruvate or alanine, or a combination thereof, relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (L) the microbial organism of part (B) has decreased production of glutamate relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (M) the microbial organism of part (C) has a genetic modification comprising increased expression of a permease, glucokinase, or a glucose facilitator, or a combination thereof;   (N) the microbial organism of part (D) has decreased production of gamma-butyrolactone relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (O) the microbial organism of part (E) has increased production of 4-hydroxybutyrate relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (P) the microbial organism of part (F) has decreased production of gamma-butyrolactone relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (Q) the microbial organism of part (F) has a genetic modification comprising at least two genetic modifications that decrease expression of at least two acyl coenzyme A thioesterases;   (R) the microbial organism of part (G) has decreased backflux from a downstream product of the 4-hydroxybutyrate pathway relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (S) the microbial organism of part (H) has suppressed depletion of the NADH pool or increased energy efficiency in the microbial organism, or a combination thereof, relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification;   (T) the microbial organism of part (I) has increased energy efficiency relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification; or   (U) the microbial organism of part (I) has increased tolerance to a range of oxygen concentrations relative to a parent microbial organism in the absence of said genetic modification.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said non-naturally occurring microbial organism is in a substantially anaerobic culture medium.