The document provides methods for biosynthesizing isobutene using one or more isolated enzymes such as one or more of a hydratase such as an enzyme classified under EC 4.2.1.- and a decarboxylating thioesterase, or using recombinant host cells expressing one or more such enzymes.

Plasmid vectors and use of plasmid vectors in methods for producing methane and isoprene using Archaea are disclosed. Particularly, plasmid vectors that express isoprene synthase (ispS) are prepared and inserted into methanogens, such as Methanosarcina acetivorans, to allow for co-production of methane and isoprene. In one embodiment, the methods of the present disclosure can be used for wastewater management.

The present invention relates to autotrophic microorganisms with altered photorespiration and improved CO.sub.2 fixation as well as a method of producing said autotrophic microorganisms. Particularly, the autotrophic microorganisms show an improved growth rate, productivity and energy conversion efficiency.

The present invention relates to esterases, more particularly to esterase variants having improved activity and/or improved thermostability compared to the esterase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the uses thereof for degrading polyester containing material, such as plastic products. The esterases of the invention are particularly suited to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, and material containing polyethylene terephthalate.

The present invention provides engineered adenylate kinase (AdK) enzymes, polypeptides having AdK activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Methods for producing AdK enzymes are also provided. The present invention further provides compositions comprising the AdK enzymes and methods of using the engineered AdK enzymes. The present invention finds particular use in the production of pharmaceutical compounds.

Provided is engineered microorganisms expressing acetoacetyl-CoA reductase variants and a method for improving the yield of PHA. Compared with the wild-type acetoacetyl-CoA reductase represented by SEQ ID NO. 31, the variant has one or more of the following mutations: (1) mutation of valine at position 141 to isoleucine or leucine; (2) mutation of methionine at position 12 to threonine, serine, alanine, leucine, lysine or isoleucine; (3) mutation of isoleucine at position 194 to valine, leucine or methionine; (4) mutation of glutamic acid at position 42 to lysine, glutamine, leucine, aspartic acid, proline, threonine, asparagine, or histidine; and (5) mutation of phenylalanine at position 55 to valine, alanine or isoleucine. The variants and their coding genes can promote the synthesis and accumulation of PHA by the strain and increase the yield of PHA.

The present disclosure relates to a mutant microorganism in which a glycerol catabolic pathway and a 1,3-PDO biosynthetic pathway are introduced into a microorganism incapable of using glycerol as a carbon source, and a method of producing 1,3-PDO using the same. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to produce 1,3-PDO while growing a mutant microorganism having 1,3-PDO production ability by using the inexpensive raw material glycerol as a single carbon source. Thus, the present disclosure is useful for the economical production of 1,3-PDO.

The present disclosure relates to a microorganism producing O-acetylhomoserine with high efficiency and a method for producing O-acetylhomoserine and L-methionine using the microorganism. The present disclosure provides a microorganism producing O-acetylhomoserine having an enhanced activity of a protein which is predicted to export O-acetylhomoserine, and a method for producing O-acetylhomoserine and L-methionine using the microorganism.

The present disclosure relates to genetically engineered microorganisms for biological oxidation of hydrocarbons, including production of alcohols from alkanes or epoxides from alkenes, and related methods and systems.

Disclosed are very high optically pure D- and L-lactic acid fermentation production strains and construction methods thereof and the method for preparing very high optically pure D- and L-lactic acids using the strains, wherein the deposit number of the D-lactic acid fermentation production strain is CGMCC No. 11059, and the deposit number of the L-lactic acid fermentation production strain is CGMCC No. 11060.