| abstract |
Enzymes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis are recombinantly expressed in a host cell. The host cell may be a prokaryote (e.g. Escherichia coli ) or a eukaryote (e.g. Yarrowia lipolytica ). The enzymes include a heterologous cannabigerolic acid synthase as well as additional enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of cannabinoid precursors such as geranyl diphosphate, olivetol, olivetolic acid, divarin and/or divarinic acid. Methods are provided for producing C5-cannabinoids and/or C3-cannabinoids by fermentation of the recombinant host cell. Alternatively, cannabinoids can be produced by biotransformation of cannabinoid precursors in recombinant cells or by disrupted recombinant cells. |