In vivo protein n-acylation

A method of in vivo acylation of a target peptide or protein in an E. coli microorganism, comprising:

• expressing an acyl transferase encoded by a first gene;
• expressing a peptide or protein encoded by a second gene, the second gene is operatively linked to an oligonucleotide encoding a substrate for the acyl transferase, one or both of the first and second gene being heterologous with respect to a corresponding native microorganism;
• and
• producing an acyl-CoA using a modified acyl-CoA biosynthetic pathway that is, compared to a native acyl-CoA biosynthetic pathway in the native microorganism, configured for inducible expression or overexpression of an endogenous fadD gene and a thioesterase gene,
• fermenting the microorganism under condition effective to cause acylation of the peptide or protein by the acyl transferase using the acyl-CoA to provide a N-acylated peptide or protein product.