Methods of selecting a subject for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and methods of treatment for subjects having ALS or at risk of developing ALS are provided. The method of selecting subjects for treatment includes obtaining a biological sample from the subject, where the sample is obtained from the subject's gastrointestinal tract or skeletal muscle. The method further includes measuring a biomarker in the subject's sample and selecting the subject for treatment of ALS when the biomarker measurement in the subject's sample is lower or higher relative to a control measurement.

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).

Disclosed are an expression cassette for isopropanol production, a recombinant vector for isopropanol production including the expression cassette, a recombinant microorganism for isopropanol production into which the vector is introduced, and a method of producing isopropanol using the recombinant microorganism. The recombinant microorganism in which a succinic acid bypass metabolic pathway is introduced to an isopropanol production pathway has very high ability to produce isopropanol. The recombinant microorganism is capable of producing isopropanol in an amount corresponding to about 100 times the maximum amount of isopropanol that is produced using known Corynebacterium glutamicum, and thus can effectively produce isopropanol and can be useful in various industrial fields where isopropanol is utilized. The use of the recombinant microorganism makes possible eco-friendly production of high-value-added isopropanol materials for manufacturing biomass-derived chemical products using glucose in lieu of petroleum.

The present disclosure provides for novel metabolic pathways to increase acetone and isopropanol formation. More specifically, the present disclosure provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a plurality of first native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in a first engineered metabolic pathway to convert fructose-6-phosphate to acetyl-CoA and acetate (e.g., phosphoketolase and acetate kinase), wherein the plurality of first native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, or overexpressed. The recombinant microorganism further comprises a plurality of second native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in a second engineered metabolic pathways to convert acetyl-CoA and acetate to isopropanol (e.g., thiolase, CoA transferase and acetoacetate decarboxylase), wherein the plurality of second native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, or overexpressed. Also provided are methods for making isopropanol or acetone using the recombinant microorganisms.

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).

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.

The present invention relates to a genetically modified microorganism for the fermentative conversion of levulinic acid into propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA, and to a fermentation process for performing said conversion.

The present disclosure relates to the production of 8-methyl nonanoic acid and medium chain branched fatty acids, e.g., via microbial fermentation.

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.