Example 16
Homologs to E. coli fadD can be expressed in E. coli by synthesizing codon-optimized genes based on a desired sequence from M. tuberculosis HR7Rv (NP_217021, FadDD35), B. subtilis (NP_388908, YhfL), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NP_012257, Faa3p) or P. aeruginosa PAO1 (NP_251989). The synthetic genes can be designed to include NcoI- and HindII-compatible overhangs. The acyl-CoA synthases can then be cloned into a NcoI/HindIII digested pTrcHis2 vector (Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, Calif.) as described above and expressed in E. coli strain MG1655 ΔfadE. The expression in E. coli may lead to an increased production of acyl-CoA.
Fatty acid derivatives such as an FAEE can also be produced by co-transformation of the E. coli strain MG1655 ΔfadE with various acyl-CoA synthases in the pTrcHis2 vector with a compatible plasmid derived from pCL1920, which contains the thioester gene from Cuphea hookeriana with or without an ester synthase from A. baylyi. The resulting production host will produce FAEE when cultured in a medium containing ethanol as described above.