Genes from Propionibacterium freudenreichii encoding enzymes involved in vitamin B12 biosynthesis

US7527953B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• DSM IP ASSETS B.V. · NL

Inventors

• Herman Jan Pel · Echt, NL
• Sylvia Hopper · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2003
• Grant date: May 5, 2009
• Expiry date: Mar 1, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N9/1288
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Four new genes, and the enzymes that they encode, are disclosed, which are present in Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and which are involved in at least five steps in the biosynthetic pathway of vitamin B12. The four enzymes are: A: cobyrinic acid a, c-diamide synthase; B: a bifunctional enzyme, which is a cobinamide kinase and a cobinamide phosphate guanyl transferase; C: a cobalamin 5-phosphate synthase; and D: an adenosyl transferase. Genes encoding the four enzymes can be placed in Propionibacteria shuttle vectors and used to transform Propionibacteria hosts, in order to improve the production of vitamin B12 or a precursor thereof on an industrial scale during fermentation.