Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for producing rotundone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides enzymes, polynucleotides encoding said enzymes, and recombinant microbial host cells (or microbial host strains) for the production of rotundone. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides microbial host cells for producing rotundone at high purity and/or yield, from either enzymatic transformation of ?-guaiene, or from sugar or other carbon source. The present disclosure further provides methods of making products containing rotundone, including flavor or fragrance products, among others.

Abstract: The present disclosure in various aspects provides engineered enzymes and encoding polynucleotides, as well as host cells and methods for making rotundone and other terpenoids. For example, in various aspects, the invention provides engineered ?-Guaiene Synthase (?GS) and Guaiene Oxidase (GO) enzymes that increase biosynthesis of rotundone from farnesyl diphosphate, and in certain embodiments substantially reduce biosynthesis of side products such as ?-Bulnesene or oxygenated side products. In still other aspects, the invention provides engineered terpene synthase enzymes for directing biosynthesis toward a desired product, to thereby improve product profiles and/or product titers from terpene synthase reactions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for producing artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid or artemisinin. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides enzymes, polynucleotides encoding said enzymes, and recombinant microbial host cells (or microbial host strains) for the production of artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid or artemisinin. The present disclosure further provides methods of making pharmaceutical products containing artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid or artemisinin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for producing rotundone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides enzymes, polynucleotides encoding said enzymes, and recombinant microbial host cells (or microbial host strains) for the production of rotundone. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides microbial host cells for producing rotundone at high purity and/or yield, from either enzymatic transformation of ?-guaiene, or from sugar or other carbon source. The present disclosure further provides methods of making products containing rotundone, including flavor or fragrance products, among others.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for producing rotundone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides enzymes, polynucleotides encoding said enzymes, and recombinant microbial host cells (or microbial host strains) for the production of rotundone. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides microbial host cells for producing rotundone at high purity and/or yield, from either enzymatic transformation of ?-guaiene, or from sugar or other carbon source. The present disclosure further provides methods of making products containing rotundone, including flavor or fragrance products, among others.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of engineering a heterologous thioesterase (TE) enzyme to interact with endogenous acyl-ACP proteins in order to produce molecules of interest in a bacterial host. The method can identify amino acids at the binding interface between the heterologous TE and the endogenous acyl-ACP that can be substituted so that the heterologous TE can better interact with the endogenous acyl-ACP. Mutant heterologous TE enzymes with improved interactions with the endogenous acyl-ACP are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for producing rotundone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides enzymes, polynucleotides encoding said enzymes, and recombinant microbial host cells (or microbial host strains) for the production of rotundone. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides microbial host cells for producing rotundone at high purity and/or yield, from either enzymatic transformation of ?-guaiene, or from sugar or other carbon source. The present disclosure further provides methods of making products containing rotundone, including flavor or fragrance products, among others.

Abstract: Provided herein are GPCR-based chemical biosensors that can have a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a response unit that can be used to detect a chemical of interest. Also provided herein are methods of making and using the GPCR-based chemical biosensors.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of engineering a heterologous thioesterase (TE) enzyme to interact with endogenous acyl-ACP proteins in order to produce molecules of interest in a bacterial host. The method can identify amino acids at the binding interface between the heterologous TE and the endogenous acyl-ACP that can be substituted so that the heterologous TE can better interact with the endogenous acyl-ACP. Mutant heterologous TE enzymes with improved interactions with the endogenous acyl-ACP are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are GPCR-based chemical biosensors that can have a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a response unit that can be used to detect a chemical of interest. Also provided herein are methods of making and using the GPCR-based chemical biosensors.

Abstract: Provided herein are GPCR-based chemical biosensors that can have a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a response unit that can be used to detect a chemical of interest. Also provided herein are methods of making and using the GPCR-based chemical biosensors.

Abstract: Provided herein are GPCR-based chemical biosensors that can have a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a response unit that can be used to detect a chemical of interest. Also provided herein are methods of making and using the GPCR-based chemical biosensors.