Abstract: The pesent invention is directed to biotin-producing recombinant cells transformed with an Escherichia coli bioE gene or a functional equivalent thereof, either alone or in combination with at least one additional nucleic acid sequence selected from Bacillus sphaericus bioA, bioB, bioD, bioF, bioW, bioX, and bioY genes, or a functional equivalent of any of these genes. Preferred recombinant cells are capable of converting essentially all biotin vitamers to true biotin. The present invention also provides a method to produce biotin by culturing such recombinant cells under appropriate conditions in an effective medium, which preferably includes biotin precursor supplements.

Abstract: The invention relates to microorganisms which normally do not ferment pentose sugar and which are genetically altered to ferment pentose sugar to produce ethanol, and fermentation processes utilizing the same. Examples include Zymomonas mobilis which has been transformed with combinations of E. coli genes for xylose isomerase, xylulokinase, transaldolase, transketolase, L-arabinose isomerase, L-ribulokinase, and L-ribulose-5-phosphate 4-epimerase. Expression of the added genes are under the control of Zymomonas mobilis promoters. These newly created microorganisms are useful for fermenting pentoses and glucose, produced by hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose, to produce ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to microorganisms which normally do not ferment pentose sugar and which are genetically altered to ferment pentose sugar to produce ethanol, and fermentation processes utilizing the same. Examples include Zymomonas mobilis which has been transformed with combinations of E. coli genes for xylose isomerase, xylulokinase, transaldolase, transketolase, L-arabinose isomerase, L-ribulokinase, and L-ribulose 5-phosphate 4-epimerase. Expression of the added genes are under the control of Zymomonas mobilis promoters. These newly created microorganisms are useful for fermenting pentoses and glucose, produced by hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose, to produce ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to microorganisms which normally do not ferment a pentose sugar and which are genetically altered to ferment this pentose to produce ethanol. A representative example is Zymomonas mobilis which has been transformed with E. coli xylose isomerase, xylulokinase, transaldolase and transketolase genes. Expression of the added genes are under the control of Zymomonas mobilis promoters. This newly created microorganism is useful for fermenting pentoses and glucose, produced by hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose, to produce ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to enhance a cell's ability to produce biotin precursors and/or biotin by deregulating at least one enzyme of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in the cell, preferably an enzyme that carries out an early step in the pathway. Preferably, the biotin biosynthetic pathway is also deregulated. The invention includes biotin-producing cells in which at least one enzyme of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is deregulated, preferably by transforming the cells with nucleic acid sequences encoding at least one of those enzymes; methods to produce such cells; and use of such cells to produce biotin.