Methods and systems are described herein for manufacturing oligosaccharides, including maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides. The methods involve removing undesired components from fermentation fluids that contain maltosyl-isomaltooligosaccharides.

Processes for preparing tetrahydrofuran and/or butane-1,4-diol and/or gamma-butyrolactone are provided, including a process for preparing tetrahydrofuran (THF) from succinic acid that has been obtained by conversion of biomass, by conversion of the succinic acid to succinic anhydride, and hydrogenation of the succinic anhydride, with removal of certain secondary components.

Processes for preparing tetrahydrofuran and/or butane-1,4-diol and/or gamma-butyrolactone are provided, including a process for preparing tetrahydrofuran (THF) from succinic acid that has been obtained by conversion of biomass, by conversion of the succinic acid to succinic anhydride, and hydrogenation of the succinic anhydride, with removal of certain secondary components.

Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway and comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. In some embodiments, the pathway includes reducing equivalents from CO or hydrogen. In certain embodiments, a 1,3-BDO pathway proceeds by way of central metabolites pyruvate, succinate or alpha-ketoglutarate. Also provided herein is a method for producing 1,3-BDO, includes culturing such microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.

Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway and comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. In some embodiments, the pathway includes reducing equivalents from CO or hydrogen. In certain embodiments, a 1,3-BDO pathway proceeds by way of central metabolites pyruvate, succinate or alpha-ketoglutarate. Also provided herein is a method for producing 1,3-BDO, includes culturing such microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.

The present invention provides a carbonyl reductase having the activity of reducing a carbonyl group-containing compound to convert the compound into an optically active compound, and a production method of an optically active compound using the enzyme. Specifically, a carbonyl reductase having one or more mutations in which the 54th aspartic acid, the 157th methionine, the 170th alanine, the 211th isoleucine, the 214th methionine, and the 249th methionine are each substituted by other specific amino acid in the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue of the amino acid sequence, and a production method of an optically active compound using the same are provided.

Certain embodiments provide a method for preparing a biochemical product (e.g., phenol, catechol, or muconic acid, or a salt thereof). For example, such methods include contacting a recombinant host having two or more recombinant pathways with a fermentable carbon source and growing the recombinant cell for a time sufficient to synthesize the product. In certain embodiments, each recombinant pathway: 1) is capable of producing the same final biochemical product; 2) comprises at least one gene encoding a polypeptide; 3) is derived from a different endogenous metabolite as its immediate precursor; and 4) converges to the same final product or the same intermediate metabolite.

Certain embodiments provide a method for preparing a biochemical product (e.g., phenol, catechol, or muconic acid, or a salt thereof). For example, such methods include contacting a recombinant host having two or more recombinant pathways with a fermentable carbon source and growing the recombinant cell for a time sufficient to synthesize the product. In certain embodiments, each recombinant pathway: 1) is capable of producing the same final biochemical product; 2) comprises at least one gene encoding a polypeptide; 3) is derived from a different endogenous metabolite as its immediate precursor; and 4) converges to the same final product or the same intermediate metabolite.

The present invention provides a resin capable of contributing greatly to solve environmental problems and problems related to exhaustion of fossil fuel resources and having physical properties suited for practical use. The polyester according to the present invention has a diol and a dicarboxylic acid as constituent components and has an amount of terminal acid of 50 equivalents/metric ton or less.

The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms and methods for the biological production of ethylene glycol and precursors of ethylene glycol. In particular, the microorganism of the invention produces ethylene glycol or a precursor of ethylene glycol through one or more of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, oxaloacetate, citrate, malate, and glycine. The invention further provides compositions comprising ethylene glycol or polymers of ethylene glycol such as polyethylene terephthalate.