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 subject of this invention is improvements in the yield and titer of biological production of muconic acid by fermentation. Increased activity of one or more enzymes involved in the muconic acid pathway leads to increased production of muconic acid.

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 objective of the present invention is to provide a microorganism that makes it possible to produce muconic acid from a lignin-derived aromatic compound with sufficient economic efficiency and without depending on the type of lignin, and a method of producing muconic acid using the microorganism. The objective can be achieved by a transformed microorganism wherein the host microorganism is a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas that has pcaH gene, pcaG gene, catA gene, and catB gene on its chromosome, and that can assimilate an aromatic compound derived from syringyl lignin; and wherein the transformed microorganism lacks at least one gene selected from the group consisting of pcaH gene and pcaG gene on its chromosome, lacks catB gene on its chromosome, and expresses aroY gene inserted; and a method of producing muconic acid using the transformed microorganism and the like.

Provided is a transformant of a microorganism that has improved catechol productivity.

The present invention pertains to a method for producing high value-added compounds from polyethylene terephthalate. More specifically, the present invention demonstrates that a monomeric terephthalic acid obtained from the chemical hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate can be converted to high value-added aromatic compounds and aromatic-derived compounds, and ethylene glycol, which is another monomer of polyethylene terephthalate, can be converted to glycolic acid, which is a cosmetic material. The present invention is characterized by recycling polyethylene terephthalate waste into high value-added compounds.

Described is a recombinant organism or microorganism which is capable of enzymatically converting acetyl-CoA into isobutene, (A) wherein in said organism or microorganism: (i) acetyl-CoA is enzymatically converted into acetoacetyl-CoA, (ii) acetoacetyl-CoA is enzymatically converted into 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA, (iii) 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA is enzymatically converted into 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA, (iv) 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA is enzymatically converted into 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA, and (v) wherein said 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA is converted into isobutene by: (a) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid which is then further enzymatically converted into said isobutene; or (b) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA which is then further enzymatically converted into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid which is then further enzymatically converted into 3-phosphonoxy-3-methylbutyric acid which is then further enzymatically converted into said isobutene; (B) wherein said recombinant organism or microorganism has an increased pool of coenzyme A (CoA) over the organism or microorganism from which it is derived due to: (i) an increased uptake of pantothenate; and/or (ii) an increased conversion of pantothenate into CoA. Moreover, described is the use of such a recombinant organism or microorganism for the production of isobutene. Further, described is a method for the production of isobutene by culturing such a recombinant organism or microorganism in a suitable culture medium under suitable conditions.

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 subject of this invention is improvements in the yield and titer of biological production of muconic acid by fermentation. Increased activity of one or more enzymes involved in the muconic acid pathway leads to increased production of muconic acid.

Provided is a transformant of a microorganism that has improved catechol productivity.