Abstract: The present invention concerns a new mutant strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum comprising attenuated glycerol kinase activity. In addition, the present invention concerns a consortium of Clostridium comprising at least said mutant strain and at least one other species of Clostridium chosen among C. sporogenes and C. sphenoides. As this modified strain may be adapted for growth and for the production of 1,3-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium with high glycerol content, the invention also relates to a method for the production of 1,3-propanediolandbutyric acid, by culturing at least this mutant strain in an appropriate culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism genetically modified for improved production of alanine, wherein the microorganism expresses a heterologous alaD gene coding an alanine dehydrogenase and has reduced Lrp transcription factor activity and/or expression. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of alanine using said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new method for the production of 1,3-propanediol comprising culturing a recombinant microorganism converting glycerol into 1,3-propanediol and overexpressing the hcpR and/or frdX gene on a medium comprising glycerine. A recombinant microorganism for the production of 1,3 propanediol from glycerol, wherein said microorganism converts glycerol into 1,3-propanediol and 10 overexpresses the hcpR and/or the frdX gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism genetically modified for production of ectoine, wherein said microorganism comprises the following modifications: expression of a heterologous gene ectA encoding a diaminobutyric acid acetyltransferase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5, a heterologous gene ectB encoding a diaminobutyric acid aminotransferase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 10, a heterologous gene ectC encoding an ectoine synthase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 15 and deletion of pykA and pykF genes. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of ectoine using said microorganism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing salts of butyric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, derivatives of said organic acids and mixtures thereof, comprising at least the successive steps of: •i) culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source, during a sufficient time to obtain a fermentation broth comprising the organic acid(s); •ii) pre-treating said fermentation broth comprising at least clarification of the fermentation broth and separation of organic acids by evaporation of the clarified fermentation broth and then condensation of the volatile fraction containing organic acids (CVAF); •v) adding inorganic bases to said CVAF •vii) eliminating the remaining water of the CVAF, and recovering the organic acid salts.

Abstract: Provided is a genetically modified microorganism for the production of a derivative of 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate selected in the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-hydroxypropionate and 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, the microorganism further having a gene coding for a mutant phosphoserine aminotransferase having an improved L-homoserine aminotransferase activity converting by transamination L-homoserine into 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate. Also provided is a method for the production of derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate selected in the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-hydroxypropionate and 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing the genetically modified microorganism in a culture medium and recovering the desired derivative.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new mutant strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum comprising attenuated glycerol kinase activity. In addition, the present invention concerns a consortium of Clostridium comprising at least said mutant strain and at least one other species of Clostridium chosen among C. sporogenes and C. sphenoides. As this modified strain may be adapted for growth and for the production of 1,3-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium with high glycerol content, the invention also relates to a method for the production of 1,3-propanediol and butyric acid, by culturing at least this mutant strain in an appropriate culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a genetically modified microorganism for the production of a derivative of 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate selected in the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-hydroxypropionate and 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, said microorganism further comprising a gene coding for a mutant phosphoserine aminotransferase having an improved L-homoserine aminotransferase activity converting by transamination L-homoserine into 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate. The invention also concerns a method for the production of derivatives of 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate selected in the group consisting of 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-hydroxypropionate and 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said genetically modified microorganism in a culture medium and recovering the desired derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microbial consortium, especially adapted for growth and production of 1,3-propanediol from a culture medium with high glycerinecontent and specifically with a high concentration of industrial glycerine. More particularly, this microbial consortium comprises at least one strain C. acetobutylicum and at least one strain chosen among strains of C. sporogenes and/or strains of C. sphenoides. The invention also relates to a method for the production of 1,3-propanediol by culturing this microbial consortium resulting in a co-culture of these particular different microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method for the production of a molecule of interest by conversion of a source of carbon in a fermentative process comprising culturing a microorganism genetically modified for the production of molecule of interest, wherein said microorganism comprises functional genes coding PTS carbohydrate utilization system and wherein the expression of proteins regulated the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (PPS) is down-regulated. The present invention also relates to the genetically modified microorganism used in the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methylglyoxal reductase (MGR) enzymes which are useful for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone. The invention more particularly relates to a method for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone using said enzymes, to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol using a microorganism overexpressing said enzymes, and to said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism capable of producing 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, which is characterized by an increased cellular export, and preferably by a decreased cellular import, of said 2,4 DHB. The invention also relates to a method for the optimized production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said microorganism in a fermentation medium and recovering 2,4-DHB from said medium.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new method for the production of 1,3-propanediol comprising culturing a recombinant microorganism converting glycerol into 1,3-propanediol and overexpressing the hcpR and/or frdX gene on a medium comprising glycerine. A recombinant microorganism for the production of 1,3 propanediol from glycerol, wherein said microorganism converts glycerol into 1,3-propanediol and 10 overexpresses the hcpR and/or the frdX gene.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and recombinant microorganisms useful for the production of glycolic acid and/or glyoxylic acid. The methods of the invention involve either only one step of fermentation of the modified microorganisms of the invention or one step of fermentation of the modified microorganisms of the invention and one step of either biological or chemical conversion of the glycolic acid or of the glyoxylic acid, the microorganism of the invention over expressing a phosphoketolase gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new lactaldehyde reductase (LAR) enzymes useful for the production of 1,2-propanediol and to microorganisms overexpressing said enzymes. The invention also relates to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol by converting lactaldehyde into 1,2-propanediol with said enzymes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing salts of butyric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, valeric acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, sorbic acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, derivatives of said organic acids and mixtures thereof, comprising at least the successive steps of: ?i) culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source, during a sufficient time to obtain a fermentation broth comprising the organic acid(s); ?ii) pre-treating said fermentation broth comprising at least clarification of the fermentation broth and separation of organic acids by evaporation of the clarified fermentation broth and then condensation of the volatile fraction containing organic acids (CVAF); ?v) adding inorganic C bases to said CVAF?vii) eliminating the remaining water of the CVAF, and recovering the organic acid salts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism useful for the production of 1,2-propanediol and process for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol. The microorganism of the invention is modified in a way that the 1,2-propanediol production is improved by enhancing NADPH dependent HAR activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methylglyoxal reductase (MGR) enzymes which are useful for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone. The invention more particularly relates to a method for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone using said enzymes, to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol using a microorganism overexpressing said enzymes, and to said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and recombinant microorganisms useful for the production of glycolic acid and/or glyoxylic acid. The methods of the invention involve either only one step of fermentation of the modified microorganisms of the invention or one step of fermentation of the modified microorganisms of the invention and one step of either biological or chemical conversion of the glycolic acid or of the glyoxylic acid, the microorganism of the invention over expressing a phosphoketolase gene.