Abstract: Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra®) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process that converts CO2 to higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either H2 or formate. H2 can be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO2. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes CO2 and recycles back. Therefore, the biological CO2 fixation process can occur in the dark.

Abstract: Described herein are microorganisms that produce methionine and related products from endogenous genes in a transsulfuration pathway, as well as from exogenous genes providing a direct sulfhydrylation pathway. Novel genes that are useful for methionine and SAMe production are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved process for alcohol production includes microbial fermentation using a genetically modified microorganism to produce substantial quantities of aldehydes that are stripped from the fermentation medium and condensed. So produced aldehydes are converted in an ex vivo process to corresponding alcohols.

Abstract: Healthcare costs are a significant worldwide, with many patients being denied medications because of their high prices. One approach to addressing this problem involves the biosynthesis of chiral drug intermediates, an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to generate pharmaceuticals at much lower costs than conventional techniques. In this context, embodiments of the invention comprise methods and materials designed to allow microorganisms to biosynthesize the nonnatural amino acid L-homoalanine. As is known in the art, L-homoalanine is a chiral precursor of a variety of pharmaceutically valuable compounds including the anticonvulsant medications levetiracetam (sold under the trade name Keppra®) and brivaracetam, as well as ethambutol, a bacteriostatic antimycobacterial drug used to treat tuberculosis. Consequently, embodiments of the invention can be used in low cost, environmentally friendly processes to generate these and other valuable compounds.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a process that converts CO2 to higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either H2 or formate. H2 can be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO2. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes CO2 and recycles back. Therefore, the biological CO2 fixation process can occur in the dark.

Abstract: Described herein are microorganisms that produce methionine and related products from endogenous genes in a transsulfuration pathway, as well as from exogenous genes providing a direct sulfhydrylation pathway. Novel genes that are useful for methionine and SAMe production are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing an unsaturated acid from a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, the method includes providing an aqueous solution including a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid; adding a solvent with a boiling point of 200° C. or higher to the aqueous solution; and heating the aqueous solution at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent to split a salt from the salt of the hydroxycarboxylic acid while simultaneously dehydrating the hydroxycarboxylic acid, thereby converting the hydroxycarboxylic acid to the unsaturated acid.

Abstract: A lactate dehydrogenase mutant, a polynucleotide encoding the mutant, a recombinant yeast cell including the polynucleotide, and a method of preparing the mutant and a method of producing lactate by using the same.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the production of alcohols are described. A two stage process is utilized, where fermentation in a first stage produces an intermediate product, such as an amino acid or organic acid, from a carbon containing feedstock. A second stage produces alcohol by fermentation of this intermediate product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing L-methionine, comprising: i) culturing an L-methionine precursor-producing microorganism strain in a fermentation solution, so that the L-methionine precursor accumulates in the solution; and ii) mixing a converting enzyme and methylmercaptan or its salts with at least a portion of the solution to convert the accumulated L-methionine precursor into L-methionine, as well as to microorganism strains used in each step.

Abstract: A genetically engineered yeast cell that produces a pyruvate-based metabolite from pyruvate, wherein activity of a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is reduced compared to a parent yeast cell and a method of producing the pyruvate-based metabolite using the yeast cell.

Abstract: A polypeptide conferring an acid-tolerant property on a yeast cell, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, a yeast cell including an increased amount of the polypeptide, a method of producing a product by using the yeast cell, and a method of producing an acid-tolerant yeast cell are provided.

Abstract: A yeast cell comprising LDH from a Sordaria genus fungi, in which activity of lactate dehydrogenase converting pyruvate into lactate is increased, as well as a method of preparing the yeast cell and a method of using the yeast cell to produce lactate.

Abstract: A mutant butyraldehyde dehydrogenase (Bld), a polynucleotide having a nucleotide encoding the mutant, a vector including the polynucleotide, a microorganism including a nucleotide encoding the mutant, and a method of producing 1,4-butanediol using the same.

Abstract: Provided are a yeast cell in which the activity of an external mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase is decreased and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell.

Abstract: A microorganism expressing a vector encoding a CoA-dependent succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase to efficiently produce a C4 compound, and methods for the use thereof.

Abstract: Microorganisms and methods of producing n-butyraldehyde with enhanced yields are presented in which a microorganism is engineered to enhance the conversion of a carbon source into n-butyraldehyde. The n-butyraldehyde is recovered by way of a gas stripping process that occurs during the conversion process, providing significantly greater product yield than post-fermentation recovery of n-butyraldehyde alone.

Abstract: An improved process for alcohol production includes microbial fermentation using a genetically modified microorganism to produce substantial quantities of aldehydes that are stripped from the fermentation medium and condensed. So produced aldehydes are converted in an ex vivo process to corresponding alcohols.

Abstract: Provided herein are metabolically modified microorganisms characterized by having an increased keto-acid flux when compared with the wild-type organism and comprising at least one polynucleotide encoding an enzyme that when expressed results in the production of a greater quantity of a chemical product when compared with the wild-type organism. The recombinant microorganisms are useful for producing a large number of chemical compositions from various nitrogen containing biomass compositions and other carbon sources.