Transgenic microorganisms and synthesis of piperazic acid, piperazic acid containing products, and derivatives thereof

A transgenic microorganism transformed with an artificial DNA construct consisting of, as operably associated components in a 5′ to 3′ direction of transcription,

• (a) a promoter functional in the transgenic microorganism;
• (b) a first polynucleotide and a second polynucleotide,
• wherein the first polynucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide consisting of:
• the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO:
• 167-172, 174, 175, and 176,
• wherein the first polypeptide has L-Ornithine N° hydroxylase activity, and
• wherein the second polynucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence encoding a second polypeptide consisting of:
• an amino acid sequence with at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO:
• 82-166,
• wherein the second polypeptide has at least one of L-Ornithine N5 cyclase activity or L-Ornithine N5 dehydratase activity;
• and
• (c) a transcriptional termination sequence;
• wherein, the transgenic microorganism:
• is capable of expressing the first and second polypeptides from the first and second polynucleotides of the artificial DNA construct, respectively;
• overexpresses the first and second polypeptides compared to a microorganism not comprising the artificial DNA construct;
• and
• accumulates increased levels of piperazic acid (Piz) produced from L-Ornithine compared to a microorganism not comprising the artificial DNA construct.