Method of vitamin production
AssigneeDCV, Inc. d/b/a Bio-Technical Resources.
InventorsJames R. Millis, Gabriel G. Saucy, Julie Maurina-Brunker, Thomas W. McMullin
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of producing α-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl esters. The method comprises using a biological system to produce farnesol or geranylgeraniol. Then, the farnesol or geranylgernaiol is chemically converted into α-tocopherol or an α-tocopheryl ester.
Claims92
A method for producing α-tocopherol or α-tocopheryl esters comprising:
- (a) biologically producing a compound selected from the group consisting of farnesol and geranylgeraniol;
- and
- (b) chemically converting said compound into α-tocopherol or an α-tocopheryl ester.
A method for producing α-tocopherol or α-tocopheryl esters comprising:
- (a) culturing a microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce a product selected from the group consisting of farnesyl phosphate and farnesol, wherein the action of squalene synthase of said microorganism is reduced;
- (b) recovering said product;
- and
- (c) chemically converting said product into α-tocopherol or an α-tocopheryl ester.
A method for producing α-tocopherol or α-tocopheryl esters comprising:
- (a) culturing a microorganism in a fermentation medium to produce a product selected from the group consisting of geranylgeranyl phosphate and geranylgeraniol, wherein the action of squalene synthase of said microorganism is reduced;
- (b) recovering said product;
- and
- (c) chemically converting said geranylgeraniol into α-tocopherol or an α-tocopheryl ester.
A method for producing α-tocopherol or α-tocopheryl esters comprising:
- (a) biologically producing a first compound selected from the group consisting of geranylgeraniol and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate;
- (b) contacting said first compound with a geranylgeranyl reductase to form a second compound selected from the group consisting of phytol and phytyl diphosphate;
- and
- (c) chemically converting said second compound into α-tocopherol or an α-tocopheryl ester.
A method for producing a compound selected from the group consisting of farnesol and geranylgeraniol comprising:
- (a) culturing a microorganism in a fermentation medium comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of isoprenol and prenol to produce a product selected from the group consisting of farnesyl phosphate, farnesol, geranylgeranyl phosphate and geranylgeraniol;
- and
- (b) recovering said product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.