Recombinant microorganisms and methods of use thereof

摘要

The invention relates to methods for the production of chemical compounds, particularly but not exclusively ethanol, by microbial fermentation. Also described are genetically modified micro-organisms capable of using carbon monoxide to produce one or more products, particularly but not exclusively ethanol as a main product, and producing a reduced amount or substantially no 2,3-butanediol and/or a precursor thereof.

主权项

1. A recombinant carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism comprising at least one genetic modification which disrupts the 2,3-butanediol biosynthesis pathway compared to a parental carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism and thereby produces a reduced amount of 2,3-butanediol and/or a precursor thereof compared to a parental carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism and produces at least one desired product by fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO, wherein the carboxydotrophic acetogenic microorganism comprises at least one genetic modification which disrupts the expression and/or activity of an enzyme selected from the group consisting of an enzyme capable of converting pyruvate to acetolactate, an enzyme capable of converting acetolactate to acetoin, and an enzyme capable of converting acetoin to 2,3-butanediol.