The present disclosure provides an engineered microorganism capable of producing malonic acid, malonate, esters of malonic acid, or mixtures thereof. The engineered microorganism includes a malonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase that is heterologous to a native form of the engineered microorganism and comprises at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the engineered microorganism is capable of producing about 3 g/L to about 250 g/L of malonic acid, malonate, esters of malonic acid, or mixtures thereof.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of a genetically engineered transgenic microorganisms Rhodopseudomonas palustris and methods of making and using the same.

Described are alkenol dehydratase variants having improved activity in catalyzing the conversion of a compound corresponding to the general formula CnH2nO into CnH2n-2 +H2O with 3<n<7. In particular, described are alkenol dehydratase variants having, e.g., an improved activity in converting but-2-en-1-ol (crotyl alcohol) into 1,3 butadiene and/or an improved activity in converting but-3-en-2-ol into 1,3 butadiene and/or an improved activity in converting 3-methylbut-2-en-1-ol (prenol) or 3-methylbut-3-en-2-ol (isoprenol) into isoprene and/or an improved activity in converting 2,3-dimethyl-but-2-en-1-ol into dimethyl-butadiene.