Production of Steviol Glycosides in Microorganisms

Abstract

Recombinant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express novel recombinant genes encoding steviol biosynthetic enzymes and UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorganisms plants, or plant cells can produce steviol or steviol glycosides, e.g., rubusoside or Rebaudioside A, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

1 . A method for producing Rebaudioside D (RebD), Rebaudioside E (RebE), or a mixture thereof, comprising contacting a precursor steviol glycoside having a 13-O-glucose, a 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose with a polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside and a UDP-glucose in a reaction mixture under suitable conditions for the transfer of one or more glucose moiety to the C2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose in the precursor steviol glycoside; thereby producing RebD, RebE, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising further contacting the reaction mixture with:
 (a) a polypeptide capable of glycosylating a precursor steviol glycoside having a C-13 hydroxyl group present in the reaction mixture at its C-13 hydroxyl group; and/or   (b) a polypeptide capable of glycosylating a precursor steviol glycoside having a C-19 carboxyl group present in the reaction mixture at its C-19 carboxyl group; and/or   (c) a polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, of the 19-O-glucose or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside having a 13-O-glucose, a 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose present in the reaction mixture.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , which is an in vitro method comprising supplying the UDP-glucose or a cell-free system for regeneration of the UDP-glucose. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , which is an in vitro method comprising supplying the one or more UDP-sugars or supplying a cell-free system for regeneration of the one or more UDP-sugars, and wherein the conversion of the precursor steviol glycoside into RebD, RebE, or a mixture thereof requires multiple reactions that can be carried out together or stepwise. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein RebD is produced from Rebaudioside A (RebA) upon transfer of the glucose moiety from the UDP-glucose to the 19-O-glucose of RebA. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein RebA is provided as a plant extract. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein RebE is produced from stevioside upon transfer of the glucose moiety from the UDP-glucose to the 19-O-glucose of stevioside. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein phosphatases are added to the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein RebD is produced from stevioside, and stevioside is contacted with the polypeptide capable of transferring the glucose moiety to the C-2′ of the 19-O-glucose in the precursor steviol glycoside and with the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose in the precursor steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of transferring the glucose moiety to the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose in the precursor steviol glycoside is expressed by a recombinant microorganism comprising a gene coding for the polypeptide. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the polypeptides are expressed by a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more genes coding for the one or more polypeptides. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the microorganism belongs to the species  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, Yarrowia lipolytica , or  Pichia pastoris.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has a higher activity for beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside as compared to the beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose comprises:
 (a) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5; or 
 (b) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 76 or 78. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the polypeptide capable of glycosylating the precursor steviol glycoside having a C-13 hydroxyl group present in the reaction mixture at its C-13 hydroxyl group is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 3; and/or   (b) the polypeptide capable of glycosylating the precursor steviol glycoside having a C-19 carboxyl group present in the reaction mixture at its C-19 carboxyl group is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 1; and/or   (c) the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, of the 19-O-glucose or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 7.   
     
     
         16 . A method of producing Rebaudioside D (RebD), Rebaudioside E (RebE), or a composition thereof, comprising growing a recombinant microorganism comprising a recombinant gene encoding a polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside having a 13-O-glucose, a 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose, in a culture medium comprising a precursor steviol glycoside under conditions in which the gene encoding the polypeptide is expressed and RebD, RebE, or a composition thereof is produced. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein RebA is the precursor steviol glycoside and RebD or a composition thereof is produced. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the microorganism further comprises a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, of the 19-O-glucose or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside having a 13-O-glucose, a 19-O-glucose, or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose, wherein the microorganism is grown under conditions wherein the genes coding for the polypeptides are expressed, wherein rubusoside or 1,2-stevioside is the precursor steviol glycoside and RebD is produced. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the microorganism further comprises a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of glycosylating a precursor steviol glycoside having a C-19 carboxyl group, wherein the microorganism is grown under conditions wherein the genes coding for the polypeptides are expressed, wherein steviol-13-O-glucoside (13-SMG) is the precursor steviol glycoside and RebD is produced. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the microorganism further comprises a gene encoding a polypeptide capable of glycosylating a precursor steviol glycoside at its C-13-hydroxyl group, wherein the microorganism is grown under conditions wherein the genes coding for the polypeptides are expressed, wherein steviol-19-O-glucoside (19-SMG) is the precursor steviol glycoside and RebD is produced. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide has a higher activity for beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside as compared to the beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polypeptide capable of beta 1,2 glycosylation of the C-2′ of the 13-O-glucose, 19-O-glucose or both 13-O-glucose and 19-O-glucose comprises:
 (a) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5; or 
 (b) a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 76 or 78. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the polypeptide capable of beta 1,3 glycosylation of the C3′ of the 13-O-glucose, of the 19-O-glucose or both the 13-O-glucose and the 19-O-glucose of the precursor steviol glycoside is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 7. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the polypeptide capable of glycosylating a precursor steviol glycoside present in the reaction mixture at its C-19 carboxyl group is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 1. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polypeptide capable of glycosylating the precursor steviol glycoside having a C-13 hydroxyl group present in the reaction mixture at its C-13 hydroxyl group is a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID: 3. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the microorganism belongs to the species  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, Yarrowia lipolytica , or  Pichia pastoris.