MODIFIED SANTALENE SYNTHASE POLYPEPTIDES, ENCODING NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES AND USES THEREOF

摘要

Provided are modified santalene synthase polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules encoding the modified santalene synthase polypeptides, and methods of using the modified santalene synthase polypeptides. The modified santalene synthase polypeptides include those that catalyze production of increased levels of terpenes or altered profiles thereof or both.

主权项

1. A nucleic acid molecule encoding a modified santalene synthase polypeptide or catalytically active fragment thereof, wherein:
the modified santalene synthase polypeptide comprises an amino acid modification(s) in the unmodified santalene synthase polypeptide comprising the sequence of amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, or in a catalytically active fragment thereof; the amino acid modification(s) are selected from among amino acid replacement(s), deletion(s) and insertion(s); the modified santalene synthase polypeptide exhibits at least 75% sequence identity to the santalene synthase set forth in SEQ ID NO:1; the encoded modified santalene synthase polypeptide:
i) catalyzes the production of total terpene product(s) from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) in a host cell in an amount that is greater than the amount of the same total terpene products produced from FPP by the santalene synthase encoded by the sequence of nucleotides set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 in the same host cell and under the same conditions; andii) catalyzes the production of terpene product(s) from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) in a host cell with an altered product profile compared to the profile of the terpene products produced from FPP by the santalene synthase encoded by the sequence of nucleotides set forth in SEQ ID NO:3 in the same host cell and under the same conditions; the host cell is a cell that produces FPP; and the terpene product or products is a sesquiterpene.