The invention is directed to a santalene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding said santalene synthase, to an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, to a host cell comprising said expression vector, to a method of preparing santalene, to a method of preparing santalol and to a method of preparing a santalene synthase. The invention is further directed to an antibody specific for the santalane synthase.

The present invention provides for a cyclopropane compound having the following chemical formula:

##STR00001##

wherein α is —H or —COOR, wherein R is —H or an alkyl group, such as —CH.sub.3, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.3, —(CH.sub.2).sub.2—CH.sub.3, —(CH.sub.2).sub.3—CH.sub.3, or —C(CH.sub.3).sub.3; β is each independently

##STR00002##

wherein at least one β is

##STR00003##

and, n is an integer from 3 to 11. A fuel composition comprising the cyclopropane compound thereof and a fuel additive. The present invention also provides for a system or genetically modified host cell capable of producing the cyclopropane compound, and a method for producing the cyclopropane compound.

The present disclosure relates to methods for producing oxygenated terpenoids, and preparation of compositions and formulations thereof. Polynucleotides, derivative enzymes, and host cells for use in such methods are also provided.

A bacterial strain comprising one or more vectors encoding a) one or more enzymes to produce one or more terpene precursors; and b) a fungal terpene synthase (FTPS). The present invention also relates to a method of producing a terpenoid comprising a) culturing the bacterial strain described herein in an expression medium; and b) isolating the terpenoid from said expression medium.

The present disclosure relates to a genetically modified microbial cell that includes a genetic modification resulting in the expression of a vanillate demethylase, where the microbial cell is capable of metabolizing at least one S-lignin decomposition molecule including at least one of syringate and/or 3-O-methyl gallate, and the genetically modified microbial cell is capable of producing gallate. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vanillate demethylase may include VanAB.

The present invention relates to methods for producing oxygenated terpenoids. Polynucleotides, derivative enzymes, and host cells for use in such methods are also provided.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising: a polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity and a liquor. The present invention also relates to methods of using the compositions.

The present invention relates to a process of producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a host microorganism genetically engineered to express a bacterial monoterpene synthase (mTS); and b) contacting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) with said bacterial mTS to produce said monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof. The present invention also relates to a microorganism for use in producing a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof and a recombinant microor-ganism adapted to conduct the step of converting geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) into a monoterpene and/or derivatives thereof by ex-pression of a bacterial mTS. It was shown to produce 1,8 cineole using 1,8 cineole synthase and to produce linalool using linalool synthase, both from Streptomyces clavuligerus.

Described herein is a method of producing a drimane sesquiterpene, such as an albicanol compound and/or derivatives thereof, by contacting at least one polypeptide with farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with a polypeptide of the Haloacid dehalogenase-like (HAD-like) hydrolase superfamily as obtainable from plants of the genus Dryopteris, in particular of the species Dryopteris fragrans. The method may be performed in vitro or in vivo. Also described herein are amino acid sequences of polypeptides useful in the methods and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides described. Also described herein are host cells or organisms genetically modified to express the polypeptides and useful to produce a drimane sesquiterpene such as an albicanol compound.

The present invention relates to glucoamylase variants having improved thermostability. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.