SCATTERED BRANCHED-CHAIN FATTY ACIDS AND BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

Methods and cells for producing scattered branched- chain fatty acids are provided. For example, the invention provides a method for producing branched- chain fatty acid comprising a methyl on one or more even number carbons. The method comprises culturing a cell comprising an exogenous or overexpressed polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of propionyl-CoA to methylmalonyl - CoA, such as propionyl - CoA carboxylase, and/or an exogenous or overexpressed polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of succinyl-CoA to methylmalonyl - CoA, such as methylmalonyl - CoA mutase, under conditions allowing expression of the polynucleotide (s) and production of branched- chain fatty acid. The cell produces more branched- chain fatty acid comprising a methyl on one or more even number carbons than an otherwise similar cell that does not comprise the polynucleotide (s). A cell that produces branched- chain fatty acid further comprising exogenous or overexpressed acyl transferase lacking polyketide synthetic activity and the branched- chain fatty acid also are provided.