Genetically modified microorganisms capable of producing β-glucans and methods for producing β-glucans

US9388441B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• BASF SE
• Wintershall Holding GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Beata Brockmann · Morristown, US
• Andrea Herold · Weinheim, DE
• Oskar Zelder · Speyer, DE
• Stefan Haefner · Speyer, DE
• Christian Fleck · Sandhausen, DE
• Hartwig Schröder · Nümbrecht, DE
• Mari Granström · Stockholm, SE
• Julia Kristiane Schmidt · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 18, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 12, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to genetically modified microorganisms capable of producing beta-glucans, characterized in that the genetically modified microorganism overexpresses (i) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase-activity, and/or (ii) a polypeptide having 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase-activity, compared to a corresponding non-modified control microorganism of the same strain. The present invention also relates to the use of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase-activity or the use of such a polypeptide for producing β-glucans. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing β-glucans comprising the introduction of a promoter upstream of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase-activity thereby increasing the expression of the polynucleotide, or a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-β-D-glucan synthase-activity into a microorganism being able to synthesize β-glucans.