Described are alkenol dehydratase variants having improved activity in catalyzing the conversion of prenol into isoprene, methods for the production of isoprene using such enzyme variants and their uses in the production of isoprene from prenol.

A system and method for producing bio-organic compounds may include a vessel, a first phase comprising an aqueous medium including host cells capable of producing a bio-organic compound, where the bio-organic compound comprises a second phase in contact with the aqueous medium.

Described is a method for the production of isobutene from 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA comprising the steps of:

(a) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid; and
(b) further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylbutyric acid into isobutene.

The conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid can be achieved by first enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyryl-CoA and further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid. Alternatively, the conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid can be achieved by first enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid and then further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylcrotonic acid into 3-methylbutyric acid.

The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and one or more three-carbon compounds such as acetone, isopropanol or propene. The MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds described herein are useful as starting material for production of other compounds or as end products for industrial and household use. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a C2 branch pathway and a C3 branch pathway for the production of MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds. Also provided are methods of producing MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally the products MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds.

Described are methods for the production of isobutene comprising the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid or wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) into 3-methylcrotonic acid. It is described that the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene can, e.g., be achieved by making use of a 3-methylcrotonic acid decarboxylase, preferably an FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with an FMN prenyl transferase, an aconitate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.6), a methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.4), or a geranoyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.5).

Producing an isoprenoid compound by: 1) culturing an isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism in the presence of a growth promoting agent at a sufficient concentration to grow the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism; 2) decreasing a concentration of the growth promoting agent to induce formation of the isoprenoid compound by the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism; and 3) culturing the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism to form the isoprenoid compound, is characterized in that the growth phase of the isoprenoid compound-forming microorganism is separated from the formation phase of the isoprenoid compound.

Yeast cells having a reductive TCA pathway from pyruvate or phosphoenolpyruvate to succinate, and which include at least one exogenous gene overexpressing an enzyme in that pathway, further contain an exogenous transhydrogenase gene.

The invention relates to a new Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain as well as a process for bacterially devulcanizing sulphur-vulcanized rubber particles and devulcanized rubber particles obtainable by said process.

Provided herein is a genetically engineered microorganism comprising knock-in of DNA at an acetolactate decarboxylase gene locus. Replacement of the acetolactate decarboxylase gene with DNA encoding one or more native or nonnative enzymes confers certain advantages, including fermentation stability and increased production of native and nonnative products from gaseous substrates.

A process of producing methacrylic acid and/or derivatives thereof including the following steps: (a) biologically converting isobutyryl-CoA into methacrylyl-CoA by the action of an oxidase; and (b) converting methacrylyl-CoA into methacrylic acid and/or derivatives thereof. The invention also extends to microorganisms adapted to conduct the steps of the process.