Variants of Squalene Hopene Cyclase (SHC) isolated from Gluconobacter morbifer are provided as is a method for using the variant G. morbifer SHC to biocatalytically convert homofarnesol to ambrox.

Variants of Squalene Hopene Cyclase (SHC) isolated from Gluconobacter morbifer are provided as is a method for using the variant G. morbifer SHC to biocatalytically convert homofarnesol to ambrox.

The present invention provides a bacterium and a method for the biological production of Heliotropin by the fermemtation of safrole. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of safrole to Heliotropin is achieved by the use of a bacterial strain of Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 (CCTCC M 2016170). The production method comprises the steps of seeding the Serratia liquefaciens culture in the presence of oxygen for 24-36 hours, transforming the safrole substrate for 24-48 hours with 0.5-3 g/L substrate concentration, and reaching the Heliotropin concentration of 160-524 mg/L. The present invention reports, for the first time, on a method for producing the high concentration of Heliotropin by using the Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 strain or the enzyme extracted from the strain.

The present invention provides a bacterium and a method for the biological production of Heliotropin by the fermemtation of safrole. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of safrole to Heliotropin is achieved by the use of a bacterial strain of Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 (CCTCC M 2016170). The production method comprises the steps of seeding the Serratia liquefaciens culture in the presence of oxygen for 24-36 hours, transforming the safrole substrate for 24-48 hours with 0.5-3 g/L substrate concentration, and reaching the Heliotropin concentration of 160-524 mg/L. The present invention reports, for the first time, on a method for producing the high concentration of Heliotropin by using the Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 strain or the enzyme extracted from the strain.

Methods and compositions herein provide non-naturally occurring γ-butyrolactones (GBLs) in racemic mixtures that increase efficiency and effectiveness of screening for production of antibiotics, and enhance yields and express silent pathways. Non-naturally occurring GBLs were synthesized and found to stimulate antibiotic production in several different streptomycete strains. Antibiotic production by Streptomyces coelicolor was induced by a racemic mixture of non-cognate stereoisomers of VB-D, seven of which are non-naturally occurring. Further, novel A-factor-type GBL analogs stimulated antibiotic production in S. coelicolor. Synthesis in response to the treatment with the non-cognates GBL was observed for known compounds including undecylprodigiosin, desferrioxamine and streptorubin B, as was synthesis of a compound of unknown structure. A group of 37 additional microbial strains was screened by principal component analysis to determine optimal concentrations of each of a panel of four non-cognate synthetic GBLs for addition to cultures with optimal stimulation of secondary metabolites, and large scale fermentations were analyzed and product enhancement by the GBLs was observed.

Methods and compositions herein provide non-naturally occurring γ-butyrolactones (GBLs) in racemic mixtures that increase efficiency and effectiveness of screening for production of antibiotics, and enhance yields and express silent pathways. Non-naturally occurring GBLs were synthesized and found to stimulate antibiotic production in several different streptomycete strains. Antibiotic production by Streptomyces coelicolor was induced by a racemic mixture of non-cognate stereoisomers of VB-D, seven of which are non-naturally occurring. Further, novel A-factor-type GBL analogs stimulated antibiotic production in S. coelicolor. Synthesis in response to the treatment with the non-cognates GBL was observed for known compounds including undecylprodigiosin, desferrioxamine and streptorubin B, as was synthesis of a compound of unknown structure. A group of 37 additional microbial strains was screened by principal component analysis to determine optimal concentrations of each of a panel of four non-cognate synthetic GBLs for addition to cultures with optimal stimulation of secondary metabolites, and large scale fermentations were analyzed and product enhancement by the GBLs was observed.

An engineered bacterial strain expressing dehydrogenases capable of oxidizing D- sorbitol to 2-keto-gulonic acid is provided by the present invention. Methods of using same in a one-pot synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are also described.

An engineered bacterial strain expressing dehydrogenases capable of oxidizing D- sorbitol to 2-keto-gulonic acid is provided by the present invention. Methods of using same in a one-pot synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) are also described.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of producing isoprenoids including ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin and derivatives thereof in a high yield as compared to the conventional art, which method enables industrial-scale production of isoprenoids. The problem can be solved by a method of producing isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin, including using a transformant obtained by transformation with biosynthetic genes for ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, or ascochlorin or a knockout organism for these genes to obtain isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of producing isoprenoids including ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin and derivatives thereof in a high yield as compared to the conventional art, which method enables industrial-scale production of isoprenoids. The problem can be solved by a method of producing isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin, including using a transformant obtained by transformation with biosynthetic genes for ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, or ascochlorin or a knockout organism for these genes to obtain isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin.