ARS | Publication request: Genetically Modified Strains of Fusarium Sporotrichioides for Production of Lycopene and Beta-Carotene.

Submitted to: Society of Industrial Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: July 29, 2004
Publication Date: July 29, 2004
Citation: Jones, J.D., Hohn, T.M., Leathers, T.D. 2004. Genetically modified strains of Fusarium sporotrichioides for production of lycopene and beta-carotene [abstract]. Society of Industrial Microbiology. p. 91.

Technical Abstract: Using a novel, general method for the sequential, directional cloning of multiple DNA sequences, the isoprenoid pathway of the fungus Fusarium sporotrichioides was redirected toward the synthesis of carotenoids of commercial interest. Strong promoter and terminator sequences from F. sporotrichioides were added to carotenoid biosynthetic genes from the bacterium Erwinia uredovora, and the chimeric genes were assembled into multi-gene cassettes. A gene disrupted, trichothecene-deficient mutant of F. sporotrichioides was transformed with three- and four-gene cassettes containing the genes necessary for the synthesis of lycopene and beta-carotene, respectively. The introduced carotenoid biosynthetic genes were expressed at levels comparable to those observed for endogenous trichothecene biosynthetic genes, and upstream isoprenoid biosynthetic genes were coordinately expressed. Prior to optimization, carotenoid yields were obtained of up to 0.5 mg lycopene/g dry wt and 5.0 mg beta-carotene/g dry wt.