Abstract: A recombinant cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that includes in its genome nucleic acids encoding cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway genes. A cannabinoid is produced by the recombinant cell in the presence of a cannabinoid precursor substrate and at least one of the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway genes is from an organism other than Cannabis sativa, wherein the at least one of the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathway genes encodes a prenyltransferase. In an embodiment, the prenyltransferase is NphB from Streptomyces sp. having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 8-11. Also disclosed is a method for producing a cannabinoid with the recombinant cell and the cannabinoid precursor substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing a cannabinoid by contacting cannabigerolic acid with a cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is from an organism other than Cannabis sativa. Also disclosed is a recombinant cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris that includes in its genome a nucleic acid encoding the above cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is expressed in the recombinant cell in an active form.

Abstract: A method for producing a cannabinoid precursor by contacting a substrate and geranyl pyrophosphate or farnesyl pyrophosphate with an NphB orthologue. The NphB orthologue is from an organism other than Cannabis sativa, and the substrate can be 2,4-dihydroxy-6-pentylbenzoic acid or 2,4-dihydroxy-6-propylbenzoic acid. Also disclosed is a recombinant cell of Yarrowia lipolytica, carrying in its genome a nucleic acid encoding an NphB orthologue from an organism other than Cannabis sativa such that the NphB orthologue is expressed in the recombinant cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a bacterial microcompartment virus-like particle (VLP) carrying a cargo molecule, the method comprising introducing and expressing in a host cell or organism one or more polynucleotides comprising (a) a first sequence encoding bacterial microcompartment shell protomers and a second sequence encoding a cargo molecule fused to an encapsulation peptide comprising the sequence SKITGSSGNDTQGSLITYSGGARG, and forming a microcompartment that encapsulates the cargo molecule, or (b) a first sequence encoding bacterial microcompartment shell protomers and a second sequence encoding at least one of said protomers fused with a cargo molecule or a biochemical tag, and forming a microcompartment that expresses the cargo molecule or biochemical tag on an exterior surface. In one embodiment, the bacterial microcompartment protomers are CsoSIA and CsoS4A from Halothiobacillus neapolitanus, or HO-H, HO-P and HO-T1 from Haliangium ochraceum.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods of biological reduction of metal-cyanide complexes after metal-cyanidation and methods of biologically hydrolysing cyanide. More particularly, the present invention allows the engineering of an integrated synthetic lixiviant biological system to be housed within a synthetic host (such as the cyanogenic Chromobacterium violaceum) for efficient precious metal recovery and toxic metal remediation of electronic waste; with up to four main components/modules in the design and engineering of the synthetic host: 1) synthetic cyanogenesis; 2) synthetic metal recovery; 3) synthetic cyanolysis; and 4) synthetic circuits for lixiviant biology. Bacteria capable of reducing ionic metal to ionic metal (such as gold or silver) as nanoparticles, comprising mercury(ll) reductase (MerA) comprising a substitution mutation at position V317, Y441, C464, A323D, A414E, G415I, E416C, L417I, I418D, or A422N, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein include recombinant terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases (TdTs). In some embodiments, the recombinant TdT comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to a bovine TdT, wherein the recombinant TdT comprises one or more amino acid substitution mutations at one or more positions functionally equivalent to Glu191, Lys193, Glu194, Asp242, Lys287, Phe296, Met299, Thr342, and His421 in the bovine TdT.