Abstract: The present invention is generally provides recombinant microorganisms comprising engineered metabolic pathways capable of producing C3-C5 alcohols under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The invention further provides ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes which have been mutated or modified to increase their NADH-dependent activity or to switch the cofactor preference from NADPH to NADH and are expressed in the modified microorganisms. In addition, the invention provides isobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes expressed in modified microorganisms. Also provided are methods of producing beneficial metabolites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions by contacting a suitable substrate with the modified microorganisms of the present invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a microorganism transformed with an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene. The microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical. The method includes cultivating the microorganism in a culture medium containing a feedstock providing the carbon source, until isobutanol is produced. The method includes recovering the isobutanol. In one embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast with a Crabtree-negative phenotype. In another embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast microorganism with a Crabtree-positive phenotype. There is disclosed a microorganism for producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the microorganism includes an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene, and is selected to produce a recoverable quantity of isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant microorganisms comprising isobutanol producing metabolic pathway with at least one isobutanol pathway enzyme localized in the cytosol, wherein said recombinant microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source. Methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol are also provided. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically active isobutanol pathway enzymes. In some embodiments, the invention provides mutated, modified, and/or chimeric isobutanol pathway enzymes with cytosolic activity. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention in its various embodiments is directed to methods for preparing a renewable jet fuel blendstock, and blendstocks prepared by such methods, comprising fermenting a biomass-derived feedstock to form one or more C2-C6 alcohols such as isobutanol, catalytically dehydrate and oligomerize the alcohols to form higher molecular weight olefins (e.g., C8-C16 olefins), hydrogenating at least a portion of the higher molecular weight olefins to form a renewable jet fuel blendstock comprising C12 and C16 alkanes which meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM D7566-10a for hydroprocessed synthesized paraffinic kerosene (SPK).

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a microorganism transformed with an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene. The microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical. The method includes cultivating the microorganism in a culture medium containing a feedstock providing the carbon source, until isobutanol is produced. The method includes recovering the isobutanol. In one embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast with a Crabtree-negative phenotype. In another embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast microorganism with a Crabtree-positive phenotype. There is disclosed a microorganism for producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the microorganism includes an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene, and is selected to produce a recoverable quantity of isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce various beneficial metabolites. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may further comprise one or more modifications resulting in the reduction or elimination of 3 keto-acid (e.g., acetolactate and 2-aceto-2-hydroxybutyrate) and/or aldehyde-derived by-products. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to recombinant microorganisms comprising one or more dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD)-requiring biosynthetic pathways and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce beneficial metabolites derived from said DHAD-requiring biosynthetic pathways. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may be engineered to overexpress one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more Aft proteins or homologs thereof. In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically localized DHAD enzyme. In additional embodiments, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a mitochondrially localized DHAD enzyme.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the method includes providing a microorganism transformed with an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene. The microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical. The method includes cultivating the microorganism in a culture medium containing a feedstock providing the carbon source, until isobutanol is produced. The method includes recovering the isobutanol. In one embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast with a Crabtree-negative phenotype. In another embodiment, the microorganism is a yeast microorganism with a Crabtree-positive phenotype. There is disclosed a microorganism for producing isobutanol. In an embodiment, the microorganism includes an isobutanol producing pathway containing at least one exogenous gene, and is selected to produce a recoverable quantity of isobutanol from a carbon source at a yield of at least 10 percent theoretical.

Abstract: Isobutene, isoprene, and butadiene are obtained from mixtures of C4 and/or C5 olefins by dehydrogenation. The C4 and/or C5 olefins can be obtained by dehydration of C4 and C5 alcohols, for example, renewable C4 and C5 alcohols prepared from biomass by thermochemical or fermentation processes. Isoprene or butadiene can be polymerized to form polymers such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, synthetic rubbers such as butyl rubber, etc. in addition, butadiene can be converted to monomers such as methyl methacrylate, adipic acid, adiponitrile, 1,4-butadiene, etc. which can then be polymerized to form nylons, polyesters, polymethylmethacrylate etc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing renewable and relatively high purity p-xylene from biomass. For example, biomass treated to provide a fermentation feedstock is fermented with a microorganism capable of producing a C4 alcohol such as isobutanol, then sequentially dehydrating the isobutanol in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to provide a C4 alkene such as isobutylene, dimerizing the C4 alkene to a form one or more C8 alkenes such as 2,4,4-trimethylpentenes or 2,5-dimethylhexene, then dehydrocyclizing the C8 alkenes in the presence of a dehydrocyclization catalyst to selectively form renewable p-xylene in high overall yield. The p-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid or terephthalate esters.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant microorganisms comprising isobutanol producing metabolic pathway with at least one isobutanol pathway enzyme localized in the cytosol, wherein said recombinant microorganism is selected to produce isobutanol from a carbon source. Methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol are also provided. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise a cytosolically active isobutanol pathway enzymes. In some embodiments, the invention provides mutated, modified, and/or chimeric isobutanol pathway enzymes with cytosolic activity. In various embodiments described herein, the recombinant microorganisms may be microorganisms of the Saccharomyces clade, Crabtree-negative yeast microorganisms, Crabtree-positive yeast microorganisms, post-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, pre-WGD (whole genome duplication) yeast microorganisms, and non-fermenting yeast microorganisms.

Abstract: There are disclosed metabolically-engineered yeast and methods of producing n-butanol. In an embodiment, metabolically-engineered yeast is capable of metabolizing a carbon source to produce n-butanol, at least one pathway produces increased cytosolic acetyl-CoA relative to cytosolic acetyl-CoA produced by a wild-type yeast, and at least one heterologous gene encodes and expresses at least one enzyme for a metabolic pathway capable of utilizing NADH to convert acetyl-CoA to n-butanol. In another embodiment, a method of producing n-butanol includes (a) providing metabolically-engineered yeast capable of metabolizing a carbon source to produce n-butanol, at least one pathway produces increased cytosolic acetyl-CoA relative to cytosolic acetyl-CoA produced by a wild-type yeast, and at least one heterologous gene encodes and expresses at least one enzyme for a metabolic pathway utilizing NADH to convert acetyl-CoA to n-butanol; and (b) culturing the yeast to produce n-butanol. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the production of bio-based material precursors are provided.

Abstract: Methods for producing a biofuel are provided. Also provided are biocatalysts that convert a feedstock to a biofuel.