Production of colourants in engineered biological systems and methods thereon

Abstract

Disclosed are processes and methods for production of pigment compounds, such as melanin, using engineered microbial systems and chemical modifications to intermediate compounds. One process involves producing a first intermediate (e.g., an amino acid like tyrosine) and a second intermediate (e.g., an enzyme like tyrosinase) within a microbial cell, exporting the intermediates to an extracellular medium, and enabling their reaction outside the cell to form the pigment compound. The microbial cell is genetically engineered to enhance production and export of intermediates, prevent reuptake, and optimize enzyme activity post-export. Additional intermediates or capping agents are introduced to modulate pigment properties, such as color, molecular weight, and solubility. The process may be applied to produce various pigments, including pheomelanin and violacein, and is scalable for industrial applications in textiles, cosmetics, and carbon sequestration. The system minimizes cellular toxicity, simplifies purification, and allows for tailored pigment production.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.