This document describes biochemical pathways for producing 2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA by forming one or two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl or hydroxyl group, in a C5 backbone substrate such as glutaryl-CoA, glutaryl-[acp] or glutarate methyl ester. 2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA can be enzymatically converted to 1,3-butadiene.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for the biosynthesis of di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes in the presence of isolated enzymes or in the presence of a recombinant host cell expressing those enzymes. The di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes are useful as intermediates in the production of nylon-7, nylon-7,x, nylon-x,7, and polyesters.

This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine or 1,7-heptanediol by forming two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C7 aliphatic backbone substrate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on the carbon chain elongation enzymes or homologs thereof associated with the cyclohexane carboxylate biosynthesis from Syntrophus aciditrophicus or 2-aminoadipate lysine biosynthesis.

This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine or 1,7-heptanediol by forming one or two terminal functional groups, each comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C7 aliphatic backbone substrate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on the C1 elongation enzymes or homolog associated with coenzyme B biosynthesis.

Provided herein are methods, compositions, and non-naturally occurring microbial organism for preparing compounds such as 1-butanol, butyric acid, succinic acid, 1,4-butanediol, 1-pentanol, pentanoic acid, glutaric acid, 1,5-pentanediol, 1-hexanol, hexanoic acid, adipic acid, 1,6-hexanediol, 6-hydroxy hexanoic acid, -Caprolactone, 6-amino-hexanoic acid, -Caprolactam, hexamethylenediamine, linear fatty acids and linear fatty alcohols that are between 7-25 carbons long, linear alkanes and linear -alkenes that are between 6-24 carbons long, sebacic acid and dodecanedioic acid comprising: a) converting a C.sub.N aldehyde and pyruvate to a C.sub.N+3 -hydroxyketone intermediate through an aldol addition; and b) converting the C.sub.N+3-hydroxyketone intermediate to the compounds through enzymatic steps, or a combination of enzymatic and chemical steps.

A method for producing isoprene glycol, including: enzymatically generating 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA (HMB-CoA) from acetyl-CoA (Ac-CoA); enzymatically generating 3-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrylaldehyde (3-HMBA) from HMB-CoA; and enzymatically converting 3-HMBA to isoprene glycol (ISPG). Wherein the enzymatically generating 3-HMBA from HMB-CoA includes: enzymatically reducing HMB-CoA to produce 3-HMB; or enzymatically hydrolyzing HMB-CoA to 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid (HMB) and then enzymatically reducing HMB to 3-HMBA. Also provided herein are an enzyme composition, a nucleic acid composition, and a transgenic microorganism for producing isoprene glycol.