Abstract: Methods and compositions for synthesizing dienes and derivative thereof, such as isoprene, in Cupriavidus necator are provided.

Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing glutaric acid, 5-aminopentanoic acid, 5-hydroxypentanoic acid, cadaverine or 1,5-pentanediol by forming one or two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C5 backbone substrate such as malonyl-CoA or malonyl-[acp].

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for regulating biosynthesis of at least one of pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine, 7-aminohelptanol and 1,7-heptanediol (C7 building blocks) using a pathway having a pimeloyl-ACP intermediate, the method including the step of downregulating the activity of BioF. Also disclosed are recombinant hosts by fermentation in which the above methods are performed. Further disclosed are recombinant hosts for producing pimeloyl-ACP, the recombinant host including a deletion of a bioF gene.

Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing a difunctional product having an odd number of carbon atoms in vitro or in a recombinant host, or salts or derivatives thereof, by forming two terminal functional groups selected from carboxyl, amine, formyl, and hydroxyl groups in an aliphatic carbon chain backbone having an odd number of carbon atoms synthesized from (i) acetyl-CoA and propanedioyl-CoA via one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation or (ii) propanedioyl-[acp] via one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation. The biochemical pathways and metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on enzymes or homologs accepting methyl ester shielded aliphatic carbon chain backbones and maintaining the methyl ester shield for at least one further enzymatic step following one or more cycles of methyl ester shielded carbon chain elongation.