Methods and systems for producing prescribed unit size poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) polymers and copolymers are provided. The methods and systems can employ recombinant bacteria that are not native producers of PHA or lack enzymes to degrade PHA once synthesized, metabolize short to long chain fatty acids without induction, and express an (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase and a PHA synthase, the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase and PHA synthase having wide substrate specificities. The recombinant bacteria are fed at least one fatty acid substrate that is equal in carbon length to the prescribed or desired unit size of the PHA polymer to be produced. The prescribed unit size PHA that is produced is then isolated and/or purified.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

Provided are genetically engineered microorganism that catalyze the synthesis of propane and/or butanol from a suitable substrate such as glucose. Also provided are methods of engineering said genetically engineered microorganism and methods of producing propane and/or butanol using the genetically engineered microorganism.

Described is a method for the conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid comprising the steps of:

(a) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA; and
(b) further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid
wherein the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid according to step (b) is achieved by first converting 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl phosphate and then subsequently converting the thus produced 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl phosphate into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid.

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.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with high yield of ethyl butyrate and a construction method and an application thereof are provided. The strain is obtained by over-expressing in the starting strain acetyl coenzyme A acyl transferase gene Erg10, 3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene Hbd, 3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A dehydratase gene Crt, trans-2-enoyl coenzyme A reductase gene Ter, and alcohol acyl transferase gene AAT. Compared to the starting bacteria not producing ethyl butyrate, the yield of ethyl butyrate of the constructed strain reaches 77.33±3.79 mg/L, the yield of the ethyl butyrate of the strain with double copy expression of gene Ter and gene AAT reaches 99.65±7.32 mg/L, increased by 28.9% compared with the EST strain, and 40.93±3.18 mg/L of ethyl crotonate is unexpectedly produced.

Exemplary embodiments provided herein include genetically engineering microorganisms, such as yeast or bacteria, to produce cannabinoids by inserting genes that produce the appropriate enzymes for the metabolic production of a desired compound.

Exemplary embodiments provided herein include genetically engineering microorganisms, such as yeast or bacteria, to produce cannabinoids by inserting genes that produce the appropriate enzymes for the metabolic production of a desired compound.

The present invention provides for a method for producing a rhamnolipid, the method comprising: (a) providing a genetically modified host cell comprising one or more of RhlYZAB capable of expression in the host cell in a growth or culture medium; (b) growing or culturing the host cell such that the one or more of RhlYZAB are expressed and a rhamnolipid is produced; and (c) optionally recovering the rhamnolipid from the host cell or from the growth or culture medium. In some embodiments, the host cell is a methanotroph.

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with high yield of ethyl butyrate and a construction method and an application thereof are provided. The strain is obtained by over-expressing in the starting strain acetyl coenzyme A acyl transferase gene Erg10, 3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene Hbd, 3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A dehydratase gene Crt, trans-2-enoyl coenzyme A reductase gene Ter, and alcohol acyl transferase gene AAT. Compared to the starting bacteria not producing ethyl butyrate, the yield of ethyl butyrate of the constructed strain reaches 77.33±3.79 mg/L, the yield of the ethyl butyrate of the strain with double copy expression of gene Ter and gene AAT reaches 99.65±7.32 mg/L, increased by 28.9% compared with the EST strain, and 40.93±3.18 mg/L of ethyl crotonate is unexpectedly produced.