Increased isoprene production using the archaeal lower mevalonate pathway

Recombinant cells capable of producing isoprene, said cells comprising:

• (a) one or more non-modified heterologous nucleic acids encoding feedback-resistant mevalonate kinase polypeptides, (b) one or more heterologous nucleic acids encoding an isoprene synthase polypeptide or one or more additional copies of an endogenous nucleic acid encoding an isoprene synthase polypeptide, and (c) one or more nucleic acids encoding a mevalonate (MVA) pathway polypeptide, wherein said cells produce isoprene.