Method for obtaining a microbial strain for production of sphingoid bases

US8372595B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Evonik Industries AG · DE

Inventors

• Steffen Schaffer · Herten, DE
• Marco Alexander Van Den Berg · Kaiseraugst, CH
• Daniel Boergel · Riedstadt, DE
• Thomas Hueller · Marl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 12, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 10, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K2800/86
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides genetically engineered microbial strains, in particular genetically engineered yeast strains, that produce at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof. The present invention provides a method to obtain genetically engineered microbial strains producing at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof. The method comprises the steps of: a) increasing the expression of a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having ceramide synthase activity and/or an enzyme having ceramidase activity, the latter being capable of preferentially, or even specifically, hydrolyzing ceramides containing a sphingoid base according to Formula I, and/or b) decreasing the expression of a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having sphingolipid Δ8-desaturase activity and/or an enzyme having ceramidase activity, the latter being capable of preferentially, or even specifically, hydrolyzing ceramides containing phytosphingosine or dihydrosphingosine as sphingoid base, and isolating strains with the required productivity.