Patent ID: 7700345

Claim:
A host cell, comprising a recombinant expression vector comprising at least one promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule that comprises a nucleotide sequence that is capable of hybridization to a probe under conditions that comprise exposure to 2×SSPE and 50% formamide at 42° C., wherein the probe consists of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement of SEQ ID NO:1, and wherein said nucleic acid molecule encodes at least one polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, or a derivative thereof having at least about 95% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide inhibits sphingan production when present in a Sphingomonas species compared to sphingan production in an unmodified Sphingomonas.