The present invention relates to the control of gene expression by a heterologous glucose-regulated promoter, to microorganisms in which gene expression is controlled by a heterologous glucose-regulated promoter and to methods using said microorganisms for the production of terpenes during glucose-limited fed-batch fermentation.

The present disclosure describes biocatalytic processes for producing a product, comprising providing an aqueous stream (AS) comprising at least one fermentable substrate and a gaseous stream (GS) comprising at least one of CO.sub.2/H.sub.2, H.sub.2, methane, and/or CO to a fermentation zone, wherein the GS and AS stream are optionally contacted and/or mixed; the fermentation zone comprising at least one organism capable of metabolizing an AS substrate and a GS substrate, wherein the fermentation operates at conditions to mixotrophically metabolize at least one gaseous substrate in the GS and at least one substrate in the AS, producing the product. The present disclosure also describes compositions comprising an AS, a GS, and an organism, wherein the organism or an equivalent or engineered equivalent thereof is a methanotroph or a hydrogen-metabolizing or CO-metabolizing chemolithotrophic organism, and wherein the organism is capable of mixotrophic metabolism of at least one gaseous substrate in the GS and at least one substrate in the AS. The present disclosure also describes a process wherein said fermentation operates at conditions to mixotrophically metabolize at least H.sub.2 in the gaseous stream and glycerol and lactic acid in the aqueous stream. The present disclosure also describes a system for producing a fermentation or bio-derived product.

The present disclosure describes biocatalytic processes for producing a product, comprising providing an aqueous stream (AS) comprising at least one fermentable substrate and a gaseous stream (GS) comprising at least one of CO.sub.2/H.sub.2, H.sub.2, methane, and/or CO to a fermentation zone, wherein the GS and AS stream are optionally contacted and/or mixed; the fermentation zone comprising at least one organism capable of metabolizing an AS substrate and a GS substrate, wherein the fermentation operates at conditions to mixotrophically metabolize at least one gaseous substrate in the GS and at least one substrate in the AS, producing the product. The present disclosure also describes compositions comprising an AS, a GS, and an organism, wherein the organism or an equivalent or engineered equivalent thereof is a methanotroph or a hydrogen-metabolizing or CO-metabolizing chemolithotrophic organism, and wherein the organism is capable of mixotrophic metabolism of at least one gaseous substrate in the GS and at least one substrate in the AS. The present disclosure also describes a process wherein said fermentation operates at conditions to mixotrophically metabolize at least H.sub.2 in the gaseous stream and glycerol and lactic acid in the aqueous stream. The present disclosure also describes a system for producing a fermentation or bio-derived product.

Methods for concentrating biofuel precursors, including terpenes such as farnesyl and geranylgeranyl derivatives, are based on the prenylation of peptides in living organisms, such as plant or algae cells. Generally, an expression vector containing a gene encoding a small peptide with a preferred amino acid sequence is used to produce a transgenic organism. Expression of the gene in the cells produces a short peptide which is processed by the protein prenylation machinery of the cell. This results in a peptide-prenyl fusion in which a sesqui- or di-terpene molecule is attached to the peptide. Due to its small size and amphiphilic properties, this molecule forms micelles which allow the sesqui- or di-terpene to accumulate to high concentrations within the cell. The peptide-prenyl micelles are then extracted and purified for use preferably as a biofuel.

A method is provided to transform biomass. Non-food biomass is preprocessed. Then, fermentation is processed to generate ethanol. Ethanol is dehydrated through a catalyst to generate ethylene. After the dehydration, oligomerization is processed with a catalyst to transform ethylene into olefins having 6˜20 carbon atoms (C.sub.6˜C.sub.20). The olefins are hydrotreated into alkanes. Thus, C.sub.6˜C.sub.20 hydrocarbons having long carbon chains are formed. The hydrocarbons having 6˜10 carbon atoms can be used as gasoline; those having 8˜16 carbon atoms, jet fuel; and those having 16˜20 carbon atoms, diesel. On generating ethanol, byproducts of lignin may be generated. The byproducts can be processed through depolymerization/deoxygenation to generate aromatic hydrocarbons or can be gasified to generate methanol or dimethyl ether. By further processing dehydration, aromatic hydrocarbons are generated to be mixed into gasoline, jet fuel or diesel. Or, the lignin byproducts are gasified to generate syngas.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for uncoupling the yield and productivity of an isoprenoid compound produced in a host cell. In some embodiments, the yield and productivity are uncoupled by genetically modifying the host cell to reduce flux through the citric acid cycle (TCA). In other embodiments, the yield and productivity are uncoupled by reducing the levels of ATP in the host cell.

Methods and processes for producing aerobic digestion products, such as organic acids, from a low-rank coal substrate are provided. Also provided are multistage bioreactor systems for carrying out the described methods and processes. In another aspect, product compositions comprising organic acids produced by the described methods and processes are provided, as well as methods for their use, including for the improvement of soil quality and/or plant growth.

Disclosed is a method for improving biological production of hydrogen from protein-containing wastewater comprising two stages: ultraviolet radiation pretreatment of protein-containing wastewater and biological production of hydrogen under a neutral pH condition and intermediate temperature condition.

A method for synthesizing cyclic hydrocarbons with linear hydrocarbon side chains from a renewable source, or biomass by naturally occurring or bioengineered fungal strains, or hydrodistillation of plants.

Methods of and system for growing and maintaining an optimized/ideal active yeast solution in the yeast tank and fermenter tank during the fermentation filling cycle are provided. A new yeast stage tank is used between the yeast tank and the fermenter tank allowing yeast to rapidly produce a huge amount of active young yeast cells for a fermenter during the filling period. A measurable and useful controlling factor, % DT/% Yeast by weight ratio (or “food” to yeast ratio), is used (e.g., % DT=glucose), which offers information on the health status of the yeast. The controlling factor is used to control the status of the yeast throughout the entire process.