Use of dimethyl disulfide for methionine production in microoraganisms

US8399214B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Oskar Zelder · Speyer, DE
• Stefan Haefner · Speyer, DE
• Andrea Herold · Weinheim, DE
• Corinna Klopprogge · Mannheim, DE
• Hartwig Schröder · Nümbrecht, DE
• R. Rogers Yocum · Lexington, US
• Mark Williams · Revere, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 18, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 19, 2013
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12P13/12
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention features improved processes and organisms for the production of methionine. The invention demonstrates that a ΔmetF organism or a ΔmetE AmetH organism, for example, mutants of C. glutamicum or E. coli, can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), as a source of both sulfur and a methyl group, bypassing the need for MetH/MetE and MetF activity and the need to reduce sulfate, for the synthesis of methionine. Also described in this patent are data implicating MetY (also called MetZ) as an enzyme that incorporates a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, into methionine. A ΔmetF ΔmetB strain of C. glutamicum can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, as a source of both sulfide and a methyl group. Furthermore, methionine production by engineered prototrophic organisms that overproduce O-acetyl-homoserine was improved by the addition of a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS.