Methods And Compositions For Producing Fatty Alcohols

Abstract

Methods and compositions, including nucleotide sequences, amino acid sequences, and host cells, for producing fatty alcohols are described.

1 . A host cell genetically engineered to express a gene encoding a carboxylic acid reductase comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 264, 266, 268, 270, or 272, and a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase. 
     
     
         2 . The host cell of  claim 1 , genetically engineered to express a gene encoding a fatty acid synthase in the host cell. 
     
     
         3 . The host cell of  claim 2 , wherein modifying the expression of a gene encoding a fatty acid synthase comprises expressing a gene encoding a thioesterase in the host cell. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The host cell of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol dehydrogenase comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, or 194. 
     
     
         6 . The host cell of  claim 1 , wherein the host cell is genetically engineered to express an attenuated level of a fatty acid degradation enzyme relative to a wild type host cell. 
     
     
         7 . The host cell of  claim 6 , wherein the fatty acid degradation enzyme is an acyl-CoA synthase. 
     
     
         8 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The host cell of  claim 1 , wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of a mammalian cell, plant cell, insect cell, yeast cell, fungus cell, filamentous fungi cell, and bacterial cell. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The host cell of  claim 1 , wherein the host cell produces a C 6 -C 26  fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         32 . The host cell of  claim 31 , wherein the fatty alcohol is a C 6 , C 8 , C 10 , C 12 , C 13 , C 14 , C 15 , C 16 , C 17 , or C 18  fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         33 . The host cell of  claim 32 , wherein the hydroxyl group is in the primary (C 1 ) position. 
     
     
         34 . The host cell of  claim 31 , wherein the fatty alcohol is an unsaturated fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         35 . The host cell of  claim 34 , wherein the unsaturated fatty alcohol is C10:1, C12:1, C14:1, C16:1, or C18:1. 
     
     
         36 . The host cell of  claim 35 , wherein the fatty alcohol is unsaturated at the omega-7 position. 
     
     
         37 . The host cell of  claim 34 , wherein the unsaturated fatty alcohol comprises a cis double bond. 
     
     
         38 . The host cell of  claim 31 , wherein the fatty alcohol is a saturated fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         39 .- 50 . (canceled)