CPC C12N 9/16 (2013.01) [C12Y 301/02002 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |
1. An unnatural, mutated protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 and comprises one or more substitutions with respect to SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the protein has at least one of enhanced thioesterase activity and enhanced thioesterase specificity in catalyzing the hydrolysis of a medium-chain acyl-acyl carrier protein substrate or a medium-chain acyl-CoA substrate to yield a free fatty acid or a free fatty acid derivative compared to an unaltered protein of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the one or more substitutions comprise one or more of:
a lysine at a position aligning to R108 of SEQ ID NO:1;
a tyrosine at a position aligning to F139 of SEQ ID NO:1;
a valine at a position aligning to 142 of SEQ ID NO:1;
a glycine at a position aligning to A111 of SEQ ID NO:1;
a serine at a position aligning to P138 of SEQ ID NO:1;
an isoleucine at a position aligning to M170 of SEQ ID NO:1;
a serine at a position aligning to T35 of SEQ ID NO:1; and
an aspartate as a position aligning to E142 of SEQ ID NO:1.
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