Promoter motifs in Candida tropicalis

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/403,979, filed Aug. 16, 2002, which application is incorporated by reference herein.

This invention was funded, at least in part, under a grant from the Department of Commerce, NIST-ATP Cooperative Agreement Number 70NANB8H4033. The Government may therefore have certain rights in the invention.

Studies of the biochemical processes by which yeasts metabolize alkanes and fatty acids have revealed three types of oxidation reactions: α-oxidation of alkanes to alcohols, ω-oxidation of fatty acids to α, ω-dicarboxylic acids and the degradative β-oxidation of fatty acids to CO 2 and water. The first two types of oxidations are catalyzed by microsomal enzymes while the last type takes place in the peroxisomes. In C. tropicalis , the first step in the ω-oxidation pathway is catalyzed by a membrane-bound enzyme complex (ω-hydroxylase complex) including a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and a NADPH cytochrome reductase. This hydroxylase complex is responsible for the primary oxidation of the terminal methyl group in alkanes and fatty acids as described, e.g., in Gilewicz et al., Can. J. Microbiol. 25:201 (1979), incorporated herein by reference. The genes which encode the cytochrome P450 and NADPH reductase components of the complex have previously been identified as P450ALK and P450RED respectively, and have also been cloned and sequenced as described, e.g., in Sanglard et al., Gene 76:121-136 (1989), incorporated herein by reference. P450ALK has also been designated P450ALK1. More recently, ALK genes have been designated by the symbol CYP and RED genes have been designated by the symbol CPR. See, e.g., Nelson, Pharmacogenetics 6(1):1-42 (1996), which is incorporated herein by reference. See also Ohkuma et al., DNA and Cell Biology 14:163-173 (1995), Seghezzi et al., DNA and Cell Biology, 11:767-780 (1992) and Kargel et al., Yeast 12:333-348 (1996), each incorporated herein by reference. In addition, CPR genes are now also referred to as NCP genes. See, e.g., De Backer et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 45:1660 (2001). For example, P450ALK is also designated CYP52 according to the nomenclature of Nelson, supra. Fatty acids are ultimately formed from alkanes after two additional oxidation steps, catalyzed by alcohol oxidase as described, e.g., in Kemp et al., Appl. Microbiol. and Biotechnol. 28: 370-374 (1988), incorporated herein by reference, and aldehyde dehydrogenase. The fatty acids can be further oxidized through the same or similar pathway to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid. The ω-oxidation of fatty acids proceeds via the ω-hydroxy fatty acid and its aldehyde derivative, to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid without the requirement for CoA activation. However, both fatty acids and dicarboxylic acids can be degraded, after activation to the corresponding acyl-CoA ester through the β-oxidation pathway in the peroxisomes, leading to chain shortening. In mammalian systems, both fatty acid and dicarboxylic acid products of ω-oxidation are activated to their CoA-esters at equal rates and are substrates for both mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation ( J. Biochem., 102:225-234 (1987)). In yeast, β-oxidation takes place solely in the peroxisomes ( Agr. Biol. Chem. 49:1821-1828 (1985)).

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are terminal monooxidases of a multicomponent enzyme system including P450 and CPR (NCP). In some instances, a second electron carrier, cytochrome b5(CYTb5) and its associated reductase are involved as described below and in Morgan, et al., Drug Metab. Disp. 12:358-364 (1984). The P450s comprise a superfamily of proteins which exist widely in nature having been isolated from a variety of organisms as described e.g., in Nelson, supra. These organisms include various mammals, fish, invertebrates, plants, mollusk, crustaceans, lower eukaryotes and bacteria (Nelson, supra). First discovered in rodent liver microsomes as a carbon-monoxide binding pigment as described, e.g., in Garfinkel, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 77:493-509 (1958), which is incorporated herein by reference, P450s were later named based on their absorption at 450 nm in a reduced-CO coupled difference spectrum as described, e.g., in Omura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 239:2370-2378 (1964), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Monooxygenation reactions catalyzed by cytochromes P450 in a eukaryotic membrane-bound system require the transfer of electrons from NADPH to P450 via NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) as described, e.g., in Taniguchi et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 232:585 (1984), incorporated herein by reference. CPR is a flavoprotein of approximately 78,000 Da containing 1 mol of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and 1 mol of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) per more of enzyme as described, e.g., in Potter et al., J. Biol. Chem. 258:6906 (1983), incorporated herein by reference. The FAD moiety of CPR is the site of electron entry into the enzyme, whereas FMN is the electron-donating site to P450 as described, e.g., in Vermilion et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253:8812 (1978), incorporated herein by reference. The overall reaction is as follows:

H + +RH+NADPH+O 2 →ROH+NADP + +H 2 O

Binding of a substrate to the catalytic site of P450 apparently results in a conformational change initiating electron transfer from CPR to P450. Subsequent to the transfer of the first electron, O 2 binds to the Fe 2 + -P450 substrate complex to form Fe 3 + -P450-substrate complex. This complex is then reduced by a second electron from CPR, or, in some cases, NADH via a second electron carrier, cytochrome b5 (CYTb5) and its associated NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase as described, e.g., in Guengerich et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 205:365 (1980), incorporated herein by reference, and Morgan, supra. Most of the aforementioned studies implicate CYTb5 as being involved in the pathway only for the transfer of the second electron. One atom of this reactive oxygen is introduced into the substrate, while the other is reduced to water. The oxygenated substrate then dissociates, regenerating the oxidized form of the cytochrome P450 as described, e.g., in Klassen, Amdur and Doull, Casarett and Doull's Toxicology , Macmillan, New York (1986), incorporated herein by reference. With respect to the CYTb5, several other models of the role of this protein in P450 expression have been proposed besides its role as an electron carrier.

While several chemical routes to the synthesis of long-chain α,ω.-dicarboxylic acids as 9-octadecenedioic acid are available, such methods are complex and usually result in mixtures containing shorter chain lengths. As a result, extensive purification steps are necessary. As an alternative to chemical syntheses, long chain α,ω-dicarboxylic acids such as 9-octadecenedioic acid can be made via fermentation methods such as microbial transformation of the corresponding hydrocarbons such as alkanes or alkenes, fatty acids or esters thereof. One method for producing substantially pure α,ω-dicarboxylic acids in substantially quantitative yield is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,466, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This method comprises culturing a C. tropicalis strain wherein both copies of the chromosomal POX5 and each of the POX4A and POX4B genes are disrupted in a culture medium containing a nitrogen source, an organic substrate and a cosubstrate.

The POX4 and POX5 gene disruptions effectively block the β-oxidation pathway at its first reaction (which is catalyzed by acyl-CoA oxidase) in a C. tropicalis host strain. The POX4A and POX5 genes encode distinct subunits of long chain acyl-CoA oxidase, which are the peroxisomal polypeptides (PXPs) designated PXP-4 and PXP-5, respectively. The disruption of one or more of these genes results in a partial or complete inactivation of the β-oxidation pathway thus allowing enhanced yields of dicarboxylic acid by redirecting the substrate toward the α-oxidation pathway and also prevents reutilization of the dicarboxylic acid products through the β-oxidation pathway.

Another method for producing substantially pure α,ω-dicarboxylic acids in substantial yield is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,420, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This method includes increasing the CYP and CPR (NCP) enzymes by amplification of the CYP and CPR gene copy number in a C. tropicalis strain, and culturing the genetically modified strain in media containing an organic substrate.

Gene(s) involved in the bioconversion of various feed stocks, e.g., HOSFFA (high oleic sunflower oil, i.e., fatty acid mixtures containing oleic acid commercially available from Cognis Corp. as Edenor® and Emersol®), have native promoters that control their transcriptional regulation. These promoters are sometimes inadequate to achieve the level of transcription needed to make a gene(s) product, that is involved in a given process. Accordingly, there exists a need for tailored promoters which can aid in pocesses for increasing dicarboxylic acid production in yeast.

The present invention provides a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a CYP gene promoter wherein one or more URS1 or URS1-like sequences have been deleted or altered so that such sequences no longer function. Preferably, the modified promoter having a deleted or altered URS1 or URS1-like sequence is substituted with another nucleotide sequence of the same or similar length. In another preferred embodiment, the deleted URS1 sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. Preferably, a deleted URS1-like sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in at least one of: SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, or SEQ ID NO:29.

Also provided by the present invention is a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a CYP gene promoter wherein one or more URS2 or URS2-like sequences have been deleted or altered to no longer function. Preferably, the deleted URS2 or URS-like sequence is substituted with another nucleotide sequence of the same or similar length.

In another preferred embodiment, the deleted URS2 sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 and the deleted URS2-like sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, or SEQ ID NO:51.

The present invention also provides a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a CYP gene promoter wherein one or more UAS1 sequences have been added. Preferably, the UAS1 sequence is a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 20 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a UAS1 sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5.

In still another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a CYP gene promoter wherein one or more UAS2 sequences have been added. Preferably, the UAS2 sequence is a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6.

There is further provided a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 19 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a UAS2 sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6.

A modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a POX4 gene promoter wherein one or more URS1 or URS1-like sequences have been added is also provided by the present invention. Preferably, the added URS1 sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 and the added URS1-like sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence having the sequence set forth in at least one of: SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:28, or SEQ ID NO:29.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a POX4 gene promoter wherein one or more URS2 or URS2-like sequences have been added. Preferably, the URS2 sequence is a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 and the added URS2-like sequence is a nucleotide sequence as set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, or SEQ ID NO:51.

The present invention further provides a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 6 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a URS1 sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.

In addition, the present invention provides a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 6 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a URS2 sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or wherein a contiguous sequence of 7 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a URS2 sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.

Still further, the present invention provides a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 6 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a URS1-like sequence having the sequence set forth in at least one of: SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, or SEQ ID NO:29 or a contiguous sequence of 5 nucleotides comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions to form a URS1-like sequence having the sequence set forth SEQ ID NO:27.

A modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter is also provided wherein a contiguous sequence of 6 nucleotides comprises one or more substitutions to form a URS2-like sequence having the sequence set forth in at least one of: SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:41, or SEQ ID NO:42.

Still further provided is a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter wherein a contiguous sequence of 7 nucleotides comprises one or more substitutions to form a URS2-like sequence having the sequence set forth in at least one of SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:50, or SEQ ID NO:51.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a POX4 gene promoter wherein one or more oleic acid response element (ORE) sequences have been deleted.

In yet another embodiment, there is provided a modified Candida tropicalis POX4 gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a POX4 gene promoter wherein one or more oleic acid response element (ORE) sequences have been altered so that the ORE sequence no longer functions. Preferably, the ORE consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention also provides a modified Candida tropicalis CYP gene promoter comprising a nucleotide sequence for a CYP gene promoter wherein one or more oleic acid response element (ORE) sequences or ORE-like sequences have been added. Preferably, the ORE sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 and the ORE-like sequence consists of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:56, SEQ ID NO:57, SEQ ID NO:58, SEQ ID NO:59, SEQ ID NO:60, SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:62, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO: 65, or SEQ ID NO:66.

Examples of CYP genes which may have modified promoters in accordance with the present invention include, e.g., CYP52A1A, CYP52A2A, CYP52A2B, CYP52A3A, CYP52A3B, CYP52A5A, CYP52A5B, CYP52A8A, CYP52A8B, and CYP52D4A genes, the sequences of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,420, and incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

Yeast host cells comprising any of the subject modified promoters are also provided by the present invention. Prefeably, the yeast host cell is Candida sp. Even more preferably, the yeast host cell is Candida tropicalis.

The present invention also provides a method for modulating expression of a protein of the beta or omega oxidation pathway in a yeast cell. The method comprises the steps of: (a) isolating a CYP gene promoter from C. tropicalis , (b) modifying the promoter by deletion of one or more URS1, URS2, URS1-like, or URS2-like sequences; (c) operably linking the modified promoter with a coding sequence for a protein of the omega or beta oxidation pathway, (d) transforming a yeast cell with the modified promoter operably linked to the coding sequence; and (e) growing the yeast under conditions favorable for expression of the coding sequence under the control of the modified promoter.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for modulating expression of a protein of the beta or omega oxidation pathway in a yeast cell. The method comprises the steps of: (a) isolating a CYP gene promoter from C. tropicalis , (b) modifying the promoter by addition of one or more UAS1 or UAS2 sequences; (c) operably linking the modified promoter with a coding sequence for a protein of the omega or beta oxidation pathway, (d) transforming a yeast cell with the modified promoter operably linked to the coding sequence; and (e) growing the yeast under conditions favorable for expression of the coding sequence under the control of the modified promoter.

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of CYP gene regulatory regions for different strains of Candida maltosa, Candida apicola , and Yarrowia lipolytica.

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of CYP gene regulatory regions for different strains of Yarrowia lipolytica and CPR gene regulatory regions for Candida tropicalis.

FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of regulatory regions in C. tropicalis CYP genes. CYP521A, CYP52A2A, CYP52A2B, CYP52A3A, CYP52A3B, CYP52A4A, CYP52A5A, CYP52A5B, CYP52A8A, and CYP52A8B are all represented.

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of CYP gene regulatory regions in different strains of C. tropicalis.

In accordance with the present invention, sequence motifs in the upstream regulatory regions of Candida tropicalis cytochrome P450 monoxygenase genes (CYP52) and POX genes have been identified. These sequence motifs (also referred to herein as regulatory sequences or promoter motifs) act as either inducers or repressors of gene expression. The present invention is directed to such sequence motifs as well as to the use thereof for the regulation of coding sequences located either upstream or downstream to a subject sequence motif. In addition, the present invention provides upstream regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, wherein one or more subject sequence motifs has been deleted as well as the use of such sequences in the regulation of coding sequences operably linked thereto. Also provided by the present invention are upstream regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, wherein one or more subject sequence motifs has been added or substituted, as well as the use of such sequences. The term “operably linked” refers to the association of nucleic acid sequences so that the function of one is affected by the other. A promoter is operably linked with an open reading frame when it is capable of affecting the expression of the open reading frame (ORF) (i.e., the ORF is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Notwithstanding the presence of other sequences between a promoter and an ORF, or between a subject sequence motif and an ORF, it should be understood that such a promoter or such a sequence motif is still considered operably linked to the ORF.

The sequence motifs of the present invention may be broadly characterized into: (i) URS sequences which function as repressors of gene induction; and (ii) UAS sequences, which function as activators of gene induction. The sequence motifs of the present invention may be used in conjunction with the corresponding genes from which they are derived, or with other, heterologous coding and non-coding sequences, to modulate expression thereof. In one embodiment, there is provided a sequence motif designated URS1, having the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

5′ A A A C G A 3′ (SEQ ID NO:1)

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a sequence motif designated URS2, having the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

5′ A A A C C G 3′ (SEQ ID NO:2)

Alternatively, the URS2 sequence motif has the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

5′ A A A G C C A 3′ (SEQ ID NO:3)

In still another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an oleic acid responsive element, ORE, having a positive influence on gene induction and having the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

5′ C/T GGTT A/G TT C/A/G 3′ (SEQ ID NO:4)

wherein the nucleotide at position 1 may be C or T, the nucleotide at position 6 may be A or G, and the nucleotide at position 9 may be C, A, or G.

The present invention also provides a sequence motif designated UAS1 having the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

A sequence motif designated UAS2 is also provided, having the following nucleotide sequence in the 5′ to 3′ direction:

In accordance with the present invention, a subject URS, UAS, or ORE sequence may have the exact nucleotide sequence described above, or may differ in one or more nucleotide positions. Preferably, a URS, UAS, or ORE of the present invention differs in no more than two nucleotide positions from the sequences defined above. More preferably, a URS, UAS, or ORE of the present invention differs in no more than one nucleotide position from the sequences defined above. Most preferably, a URS, UAS, or ORE of the present invention does not differ in any nucleotide position from the sequences defined above. When a sequence motif differs from the nucleotide sequences defined above for URS1, URS2, UAS1, UAS2, or ORE, such a sequence may be termed a URS-like sequence, UAS-like sequence or ORE-like sequence. All of such sequences, either the URS1, URS2, UAS1, UAS2, and ORE sequences defined above, as well as URS1-like sequences, URS2-like sequences, UAS1-like sequences, UAS2-like sequences and ORE-like sequences are encompassed by the present invention.

For example, a URS1-like sequence includes but is not limited to the following sequences:

AAACAA (SEQ ID NO:7) AAACCA (SEQ ID NO:8) AAATGA (SEQ ID NO:9) AAACTA (SEQ ID NO:10) AAACGG (SEQ ID NO:11) CAACGA (SEQ ID NO:12) AAAAGA (SEQ ID NO:13) AAATGA (SEQ ID NO:14) AAAGGA (SEQ ID NO:15) AAGCGA (SEQ ID NO:16) AGACGA (SEQ ID NO:17) ACACGA (SEQ ID NO:18) AAACGG (SEQ ID NO:19) ATACGA (SEQ ID NO:20) AAATCA (SEQ ID NO:21) AAACGC (SEQ ID NO:22) AAAAGA (SEQ ID NO:23) AAACGG (SEQ ID NO:24) AAACGT (SEQ ID NO:25) AAAGGA (SEQ ID NO:26) TACGA (SEQ ID NO:27) TAACGA (SEQ ID NO:28) AATCGA (SEQ ID NO:29)

Examples of URS2-like sequences include but are not limited to:

AAACCC (SEQ ID NO:30) AAACCA (SEQ ID NO:31) AAAGCA (SEQ ID NO:32) AAATCG (SEQ ID NO:33) AAAGCAA (SEQ ID NO:34) AAACCG (SEQ ID NO:35) AAACAG (SEQ ID NO:36) AAACGG (SEQ ID NO:37) AAACAA (SEQ ID NO:38) AAACTG (SEQ ID NO:39) AAACCT (SEQ ID NO:40) ACACCG (SEQ ID NO:41) AAAGCC (SEQ ID NO:42) GAAGCCA (SEQ ID NO:43) AAAGACA (SEQ ID NO:44) AAAGCCT (SEQ ID NO:45) ACAGCCA (SEQ ID NO:46) AAAGACA (SEQ ID NO:47) AAATCCA (SEQ ID NO:48) AAAGCTA (SEQ ID NO:49) AAAGCAA (SEQ ID NO:50) AAAGCCC (SEQ ID NO:51)

Examples of ORE-like sequences include but are not limited to:

The present invention provides numerous compositions and methods using such compositions to effect gene expression. For example, a promoter sequence may be modified to delete that portion of the promoter 3′ to the last repressing sequence (URS or URS-like sequence) and the truncated promoter together with its corresponding open reading frame (ORF) may be inserted back into a host cell. In the case of a Candida sp. CYP52 gene, described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,420, all or a portion of a CYP52 gene promoter 3′ to the last URS or URS-like sequence may be deleted and the truncated promoter together with its corresponding ORF inserted into a yeast host cell. Preferably, insertion is by homologous recombination. Alternatively, all or a portion of a CYP52 gene promoter 3′ to the last URS or URS-like sequence may be deleted and the truncated promoter operably linked to coding sequence for a heterologous protein may be inserted into a yeast host cell. Preferably, insertion is by homologous recombination. Especially preferred sequences coding for heterologous proteins or corresponding reading frames include coding sequences for proteins of the omega oxidation pathway such as e.g. cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP), NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR), cytochrome b5 (CYTb5), fatty alcohol oxidase (FAO), and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Coding sequences for CYP and CPR genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,420, which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. Coding sequence for a CTYb5 gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,734, which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth. Coding sequences for proteins of the beta oxidation pathway may also be used e.g., POX4 or POX5, which coding sequences are known and available. Coding sequences for FAO genes are set forth in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10,418,819.

In another aspect of the invention, one or more URS or URS-like sequences may be deleted from a native CYP52 gene promoter. In a preferred embodiment, all of the URS or URS-like sequences are deleted from a native CYP52 gene promoter.

When creating the modified promoters of the present invention by deleting any of the sequence motifs desribed herein, the deleted motif is preferably replaced with a nucleotide sequence of corresponding length. In this way, the binding site for an activating or repressing factor is disrupted while maintaining the spatial integrity of the promoter.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a UAS (including a UAS-like sequence) or ORE (including an ORE-like sequence) may be amplified in a promoter sequence and the modified promoter sequence operably linked either to its corresponding coding sequence or coding sequence for a heterologous protein. A subject sequence motif may be added to a promoter sequence of any target gene.

PCR may be used in order to introduce a subject sequence motif into any target gene. PCR primers can be made such that the sequence motif can be directly incorporated into a PCR product. This product can then be used in an additional PCR in order to generate a promoter comprising the additional sequence motif PCR may also be used to generate a promoter fragment which deletes a subject sequence motif. The resulting promoter is devoid of the subject sequence motif PCR technology is well known to those of skill in the art. Methodologies may be found in many texts such as e.g., PCR: A Practical Approach , M. J. McPherson, P. Quirke and G. R. Taylor, IRL Press at Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1991.

One method to effect deletion of a promoter motif of the present invention is as follows. Two complimentary oligonucleotides spanning the region of the promoter motif are designed and made such that the DNA sequence of the motif is absent and replaced with a random DNA sequence identical in length. Alternatively, one or more DNA base pairs are changed in order to disturb the effectiveness of the sequence motif. These oligonucleotides are then denatured and then re-annealed to generate a double stranded DNA molecule. This molecule is then subjected to PCR so as to amplify its number while incorporating DNA sequences complimentary to the native promoter at its flanking sequence. In this way, the native promoter motif is deleted and the oligonucleotide is inserted in a position as would be found in the native promoter. The modified PCR fragment comprising a native promoter sequence minus the subject motif is then fused in two separate steps by PCR to the native promoter sequence. The modified promoter can then be fused to a target ORF and introduced (transformed) into Candida . Preferably, introduction is by homologous recombination whereby the native promoter at its chromosomal locus is substituted with the modified promoter sequence.

Activating sequences may be amplified using well known procedures. For example, two complimentary oligonucleotides spanning the region of the promoter motif, e.g., ORE, are designed and made such that the DNA sequence of the motif is duplicated, yet spaced a given length from the resident ORE in the nucleotides or DNA base pairs. Alternatively, DNA base pairs may be changed in order to create an ORE motif in a region of DNA where such motif was not previously found. These oligonucleotides are then denatured and re-annealed to generate a double stranded DNA molecule. The molecule is then subjected to PCR in order to amplify its number while incorporating DNA sequence complimentary to the native promoter at its flanking sequence. In this way, the amplified sequence in inserted in a position as it would normally be found in the native promoter. This modified PCR fragment containing native promoter sequence plus the amplified motif is then fused in two separate steps by PCR to the native promoter sequence. The modified promoter can then be fused to a target ORF and then used to transform Candida . Preferably, introduction into Candida is by homologous recombination whereby the native promoter at its chromosomal locus is substituted with the modified promoter sequence.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the best candidates for modifying promoters with the sequence motifs of the present invention include the C. tropicalis POX4 and CYP52A genes. Studies of the CYP52 genes from Candida tropicalis reveal that only CYP52A2A and CYP52A2B genes comprise an oleic acid response element. The C. tropicalis POX4 gene has two copies of this element in the upstream region, yet C. tropicalis POX5 and CPR genes have none. The POX4 gene has a TATA box at −68 to −66, and has an A at positions −1 and −3. Two ORE consensus sequences are located at −358 to −350 and −441 to −433. No URS sequences are found in the promoter region. The CYP52A2A gene promoter has a TATA box at positions −76 to −73 and has an A at positions −3 and −6. One ORE sequence appears at −969 to −961 and another ORE sequence appears at −946 to −938. There are several URS-like sequences between ORE and TATA.

For example, the POX4 promoter located on a 531 bp fragment can be truncated at the 5′ end to delete about 100 bp in order to delete the first ORE. Alternatively, the POX4 promoter can be truncated by about 190 bp at the 5′ end to delete both OREs. In another embodiment, either or both of the ORE sequences can be altered (substitution of one or more nucleotides) so that the ORE motif no longer functions. In yet another embodiment, the spacing between OREs may be altered. In still another embodiment, the spacing between ORE and TATA may be altered either by insertion or deletion of nucleotides.

With respect to a subject URS motif, a URS1 or URS1-like sequence or URS2 or URS2-like sequence may be inserted into the POX4 promoter region. Alternatively, existing sequence may be converted to a URS or URS-like sequence by changing a few bases in the POX4 promoter region. Various combinations of URS1 and URS2 may be inserted into the POX4 promoter region. Spacing between/among URSs can also be changed. The position between the ORE and URSs may be altered by insertion or deletion of sequence. The position of one or more URSs may be changed relative to the TATA box.

The CYP52A2A/B promoter may also be used as a template for promoter alteration. For example, the promoter may be truncated systematically from the 5′ end to ascertain the up-regulating and down-regulating regions. With respect to an ORE, the ORE or ORE-like sequence can be altered so that it no longer functions as an ORE or ORE-like sequence. An ORE-like sequence may be changed to an ORE. The nucleotide sequence between the ORE and ORE-like sequences may be altered. In yet another embodiment, the spacing between the ORE and ORE-like sequences may be changed. In still another embodiment, the ORE or ORE-like sequence may be replaced with an ORE or ORE-like sequence from the POX4 promoter.

With respect to a URS and URS-like sequences, individual URS-like sequences may be altered to non-URS and/or non-UAS-like sequences. Alternatively, a URS-like sequence may be altered to become a URS sequence. Similarly, a UAS-like sequence may be altered to become a UAS sequence. In still another embodiment of the invention, combinations of URS-like sequences may be altered to URS or non-URS sequences. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the spacing among ORE/ORE-like, URS/URS-like sequences, UAS/UAS-like sequences and the TATA box may be altered.

The CYP52A1A promoter likely comprises unique promoter motifs since the mRNA is primarily induced by alkane. The present invention contemplates use of such promoter motifs as described hereinabove for the URS, URA, ORE and URS-like, URA-like, and ORE-like sequences.

A subject modified promoter or modified promoter/ORF fusion construct may then be utilized to create a DNA integration vector for transformation into any suitable host cells. For example, suitable yeast host cells for use in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, Yarrowia, Bebaromyces, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces , and Pichia and more preferably those of the Candida genus. Preferred species of Candida are tropicalis, maltosa, apicola, paratropicalis, albicans, cloacae, guillermondii, intermedia, lipolytica, parapsilosis and zeylenoides . Most preferably, Candida tropicalis is the host cell.

The modified promoter constructs described herein may be cloned and expressed in suitable expression vectors. Examples include, but are not limited to vectors such as plasmids, phagemids, phages or cosmids, yeast episomal plasmids, yeast artificial chromosomes, and yeast replicative plasmids. Host cells may also be transformed by introducing into a cell a linear DNA vector(s) containing the desired gene sequence. Such linear DNA may be advantageous when it is desirable to avoid introduction of non-native (foreign) DNA into the cell. For example, DNA consisting of a desired target gene(s) flanked by DNA sequences which are native to the cell can be introduced into the cell by methods such as, but not limited to electroporation, lithium acetate transformation, and spheroplasting. Flanking DNA sequences can include selectable markers and/or other tools for genetic engineering. Yeast cells may be transformed with any of the expression vectors described herein. The term “expression vector” is used broadly herein and is intended to encompass any medium which includes nucleic acid and which can be used to transform a target cell. Expression vectors thus encompass all the examples of vectors listed herein including, e.g., integration vectors.

In a preferred embodiment, a DNA construct is used to transform a yeast cell, e.g., a cell of Candida sp., to obtain modulated expression therein of a protein, e.g., a protein of the omega or beta oxidation pathway in yeast. The DNA construct comprises a promoter modified by substitution, addition, deletion, or changes in spacing between or among one or more sequences motifs hereinbefore described, operably linked to DNA coding for a protein (ORF), to enable expression thereof in the yeast cell.

The present invention is also directed to a method for modulating expression of a protein in a yeast cell. The method comprises isolating a promoter which functions in a yeast cell, modifying the promoter by the addition or deletion of one or more subject sequence motifs, operably linking the modified promoter with a coding sequence (ORF), transforming a yeast cell with the modified promoter operably linked to the coding sequence, and growing the yeast under conditions favorable for expression of the coding sequence under the control of the modified promoter. Preferably, the method is directed to a method for modulating expression of a protein of the beta or omega oxidation pathway in yeast. Such method comprises: isolating a promoter which functions in a yeast cell, modifying the promoter by the addition or deletion of one or more subject sequence motifs, operably linking the modified promoter with a coding sequence (ORF) for a protein of the omega or beta oxidation pathway, transforming a yeast cell with the modified promoter operably linked to the coding sequence, and growing the yeast under conditions favorable for expression of the coding sequence under the control of the modified promoter. Preferably, the yeast is Candida sp.

The yeast cells transformed with one of the aforementioned vectors, may be cultured in media containing an organic substrate, to provide modulated expression of a protein. Culturing the yeast, i.e., fermenting the yeast, may be accomplished by procedures well known in the art as described, e.g., in aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,466, which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.

In any of the methods hereinbefore described, in addition to the promoter being modified by the addition or deletion of one or more subject sequence motifs, the promoter may also be modified by substitution of a sequence motif with other nucleotide sequences or by changes in spacing between or among the subject sequence motifs and the TATA box.

In a preferred embodiment, the modified promoter/ORF construct is used to transform a yeast cell, e.g., a cell of Candida sp., to obtain modulated expression therein of a protein, e.g., a CYP or NCP protein or any other protein of the beta or omega oxidation pathway.

The following examples further illustrate the invention.