Abstract: Glycerol is a byproduct of biodiesel and bioethanol production and its conversion to value-added chemicals is a promising avenue for realization of the biorefinery concept Conversion of glycerol to pyruvate through glycerate yields pyruvate, is a common intermediate of many high-value natural products. The present invention aims at improving the specific activity of a naturally occurring enzyme toward conversion of glycerate to pyruvate (TvDHT). The present invention features compositions of isolated dehydratase enzyme (DHT) polypeptide composition, in particular the DHT polypeptide composition comprising a single point mutation that increases the specific activity of the enzyme as compared to wild type.

Abstract: Glycerol is a byproduct of biodiesel and bioethanol production and its conversion to value-added chemicals is a promising avenue for realization of the biorefinery concept Conversion of glycerol to pyruvate through glycerate yields pyruvate, is a common intermediate of many high-value natural products. The present invention aims at improving the specific activity of a naturally occurring enzyme toward conversion of glycerate to pyruvate (TvDHT). The present invention features compositions of isolated dehydratase enzyme (DHT) polypeptide composition, in particular the DHT polypeptide composition comprising a single point mutation that increases the specific activity of the enzyme as compared to wild type.