Patent ID: 8192965

Claim:
A method of producing itaconic acid in yeast, comprising providing a genetically modified yeast host cell, the host cell containing a first expression cassette including a first yeast promoter operably linked to a first nucleotide sequence encoding a cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and a leader sequence upstream to the first nucleotide sequence, culturing the yeast host cell in a medium containing glycerol at a concentration of 5-700 g/L, wherein the yeast host cell converts glycerol to itaconic acid, and collecting the medium for isolation of itaconic acid, wherein the leader sequence encodes the amino acid sequence of MSAILSTTSKSFLSRGSTRQCQNMQKALFALLNARHYS (SEQ ID NO:1) or MKLATAFTILTAVLA (SEQ ID NO:2), and wherein the yeast host cell is a Yarrowia lipolytica cell.