METHODS FOR THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF TAURINE OR HYPOTAURINE IN CELLS

摘要

The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

主权项

1. A prokaryotic cell comprising a first exogenous DNA which comprises two separate expression cassettes, wherein a first expression cassette comprises a first promoter operably linked to a first polynucleotide and a second expression cassette comprises a second promoter operably linked to a second polynucleotide, wherein the first polynucleotide encodes cysteine dioxygenase (CDO); and the second polynucleotide encodes sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD).