Genetically engineered microorganisms comprising 4-hydroxybenzoyl-coa thioesterases and methods of using the same for producing free fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives

摘要

The described invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms, including photosynthetic microorganisms, expressing 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterases and methods of using the genetically engineered microorganisms for producing free fatty acids and/or fatty acid derivatives.

主权项

1. A microorganism comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a 4-hydroxybenzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) thioesterase, wherein the 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase hydrolyzes acyl-acyl carrier protein (acyl-ACP), and wherein expression of the 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA thioesterase in the microorganism results in production of at least one free fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative, and further wherein at least 30 wt % of the free fatty acids produced by the microorganism are free fatty acids having an acyl chain length of 12 carbons, 14 carbons, 16 carbons, or any mixture thereof.