Genes encoding genetic stability, gene expression and folding proteins

Abstract

The invention relates to novel nucleic acid molecules, to the use thereof for constructing genetically improved microorganisms and to methods for preparing fine chemicals, in particular amino acids, with the aid of said genetically improved microorganisms.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule coding for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence referred to in Table 1/column 2, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an amino acid residue at the position referred to in Table 1/column 4 of the same row that differs from the amino acid residue referred to in Table 1/column 5 of the same row, or a complement thereof;    b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence referred to in Table 1/column 1, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises one or more nucleic acid modifications as compared to the nucleic acid molecule referred to in Table 1/column 1 such that the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule has an amino acid residue at the position referred to in Table 1/column 4 of the same row that differs from the amino acid residue referred to in Table 1/column 5 of the same row, or a complement thereof; and    c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence referred to in Table 1/column 1, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises one or more modifications at the nucleotide residues encoding the amino acid residue at the position referred to in Table 1/column 4 of the same row such that the nucleotide residues encode an amino acid that differs from the amino acid residue referred to in Table 1/column 5 of the same row, or a complement thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the amino acid residue at the position referred to in Table 1/column 4 is the amino acid indicated in Table 1/column 6 in the same row.  
     
     
         3 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . An isolated host cell, which is transfected with the vector of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         5 . The host cell of  claim 4 , wherein the expression of said nucleic acid molecule modulates the production of a fine chemical from said cell.  
     
     
         6 . A method for preparing a fine chemical, comprising culturing the cell of  claim 4  such that the fine chemical is produced.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fine chemical is an amino acid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said amino acid is lysine.  
     
     
         9 . The vector of  claim 3 , which is an expression vector.  
     
     
         10 . The host cell of  claim 4 , wherein said cell is a microorganism.  
     
     
         11 . The host cell of  claim 10 , wherein said cell belongs to the genus  Corynebacterium  or  Brevibacterium.    
     
     
         12 . The host cell of  claim 5 , wherein said fine chemical is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic amino acids, purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, lipids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, diols, carbohydrates, aromatic compounds, vitamins, cofactors and enzymes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cell belongs to the genus  Corynebacterium  or  Brevibacterium.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein expression of the nucleic acid molecule from said vector results in modulation of production of said fine chemical.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said fine chemical is selected from the group consisting of organic acids, proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic amino acids, purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, lipids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, diols, carbohydrates, aromatic compounds, vitamins, cofactors and enzymes.  
     
     
         16 . A method for producing a fine chemical, comprising culturing a cell whose genomic DNA has been altered by the inclusion of a nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1.