A process comprising (i) providing a gaseous stream including greater than 1% by volume carbon dioxide; (ii) providing water; (iii) converting the carbon dioxide and the water to an organic intermediate and oxygen gas in the presence of light; (iv) separating the oxygen gas from the organic intermediate; and (v) converting the organic intermediate to ethylene and carbon dioxide after said step of separating the oxygen gas from the organic intermediate.

Disclosed are nucleic acid sequences comprising a first E. coli homology region, wherein the first E. coli homology region comprises a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) mutation; a constitutive promoter; a mevalonate-3-kinase (M3K) gene; a mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MVD) gene; and a second E. coli homology region. Disclosed are vectors comprising one or more of the disclosed nucleic acid sequences. Disclosed are recombinant cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the nucleic acid sequence comprises a first E. coli homology region, wherein the first E. coli homology region comprises a PAM mutation; a constitutive promoter; a M3K gene; a MVD gene; and a second E. coli homology region.

Provided is a recombinant cell that produces isoprene or terpene, wherein the recombinant cell includes an ability to synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate through a mevalonate pathway (MVA pathway), wherein the recombinant cell lacks an ability to synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate through an endogenous non-mevalonate pathway (MEP pathway), wherein the recombinant cell includes an isoprene synthase gene or a terpene synthase gene as a foreign gene, and wherein the recombinant cell produces, with the expression of the foreign gene, isoprene or terpene having 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40 carbon atoms. The mevalonate pathway is preferably an exogenous mevalonate pathway.

Provided is a recombinant cell that produces isoprene or terpene, wherein the recombinant cell includes an ability to synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate through a mevalonate pathway (MVA pathway), wherein the recombinant cell lacks an ability to synthesize isopentenyl diphosphate through an endogenous non-mevalonate pathway (MEP pathway), wherein the recombinant cell includes an isoprene synthase gene or a terpene synthase gene as a foreign gene, and wherein the recombinant cell produces, with the expression of the foreign gene, isoprene or terpene having 10, 15, 20, 30, or 40 carbon atoms. The mevalonate pathway is preferably an exogenous mevalonate pathway.

The invention provides a genetically modified micro-organism for intracellular biosynthesis of a cellular metabolite, comprising a synthetic error correction system having a penalty gene, whose expression leads to arrested growth or cell death (e.g. a toxin gene) in combination with a survival gene, whose expression provides an antidote that restores cell viability and normal growth (e.g. a cognate antitoxin gene). Alternatively, the system has a survival gene, alone, whose expression is essential for growth (i.e. essential gene). The synthetic error correction system further comprises a biosensor, whose function is to induce expression of the survival gene which leads to cell growth, only, when the cell produces a pre-defined level of a given metabolite. The invention further encompasses: a method for producing the genetically modified micro-organism; a method for producing a cellular metabolite with the genetically modified micro-organism; and use of the genetically modified micro-organism for producing a cellular metabolite.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for microbial conversion of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen to methane, and to the microbial populations, and the media comprising the microbial populations, that may be used in such methods and apparatus.

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene.

The application describes a method for producing alkenes (for example propylene, ethylene, 1-butylene, isobutylene, isoamylene, butadiene or isoprene) from 3-hydroxy-1-carboxylic acids via 3-sulfonyloxy-1-carboxylic acids.

The present disclosure relates to biosynthetic methods for producing propylene from C.sub.1 substrates (e.g., methane, methanol, carbon monoxide, syngas) and to genetically engineered organisms having propylene biosynthesis capability, as well as engineered organisms having a butyrate/butanol-producing pathway.

In alternative embodiments, provided are genetically or recombinantly engineered nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase expressing bacteria capable of enzymatically synthesizing hydrocarbons, and methods for making and using them. In alternative embodiments, provided are genetically or recombinantly engineered nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase expressing bacteria including nitrogen-fixing diazotrophs such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the family Pseudomonadaceae, or the genus Azotobacter, for the whole cell synthesis of hydrocarbons and carbon-carbon bonds. In alternative embodiments, nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase-expressing bacteria used to practice the invention are genetically or recombinantly engineered to express an exogenous nitrogenase express more endogenous nitrogenase or have increased nitrogenase, activity. In alternative embodiments, nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase-expressing bacteria used to practice the invention are genetically or recombinantly engineered to lack or have decreased molybdenum transporter activity. In alternative embodiments, provided are culture systems, fermenters and bioreactors using nitrogen-fixing, nitrogenase-expressing bacteria for enzymatically synthesizing hydrocarbons.