Patent · US Active

Gene knockout mesophilic and thermophilic organisms, and methods of use thereof

US8435770B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
0References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 2008
Grant dateMay 7, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E50/10
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a genetically modified thermophilic or mesophilic microorganism, wherein a first native gene is partially, substantially, or completely deleted, silenced, inactivated, or down-regulated, which first native gene encodes a first native enzyme involved in the metabolic production of an organic acid or a salt thereof, thereby increasing the native ability of said thermophilic or mesophilic microorganism to produce ethanol as a fermentation product. In certain embodiments, the aforementioned microorganism further comprises a first non-native gene, which first non-native gene encodes a first non-native enzyme involved in the metabolic production of ethanol. Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol, comprising contacting lignocellulosic biomass with a genetically modified thermophilic or mesophilic microorganism.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.