Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting among a population of candidate biocatalysts a biocatalyst capable of catalyzing a chemical conversion reaction from a substrate to a product, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a host cell comprising:—at least one product-inducible expression system comprising nucleic acid encoding at least one detector gene operably linked to a regulatory element, wherein the expression of said detector gene is inducible by said product, and—at least one biocatalyst expression system comprising nucleic acid encoding at least one candidate biocatalyst, wherein said at least one candidate biocatalyst is selected from said population of candidate biocatalysts, b) contacting said host cell with said substrate under conditions wherein said nucleic acid encoding at least one candidate biocatalyst is expressed in said host cell and wherein said substrate is allowed to contact said candidate biocatalyst, and wherein said substrate is converted into said product i

Abstract: A process for the preparation of optically active 3-hydroxypyrrolidine or N-substituted 3-hydroxypyrrolidines, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted stereoselectively into the corresponding pyrrolidines, respectively, by use of a bacterium having hydroxylation activity, or a prokaryotic host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived therefrom. The bacterium may be selected from strains having alkane hydroxylases, strains degrading alkanes or mono-alicyclic compounds, or strains from the genera Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Sphingomonas, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Bacillus, Streptomyces; Sebekia and Methylococcus.

Abstract: A process for the production of trans-carveol which process comprises (a) incubading in the presence of D-limonene, a culture medium comprising microbial cells expressing an oxygenase capable of toluene and/or napththalene and (b) recovering the trans-carveol from the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of a hydroxymethylated terpene analog, for example (+) or (−) perillyl alcohol, which process comprises contacting a terpene analog having a terminal methyl group, for example D- or L-limonene, with a microbial cell, which microbial cell is capable of expressing a monooxygenase capable of terminal hydroxylation of an n-alkane.

Abstract: Methods for preparative in vitro biocatalysis utilizing oxidoreductases. These methods are based on novel approaches to supply the oxidoreductases with reduction equivalents derived either from chemical or electrochemical sources. By utilization of organometallic mediators, the oxidoreductases are regenerated directly in the absence of nicotinamide coenzymes and biocatalysts generally used to transfer the reduction equivalents to the active site. These methods also include novel reactor design for continuous electro-chemical regeneration of these enzymes.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of N-substituted 4-hydroxypiperidine, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted regioselectively into the corresponding N-substituted piperidine, by using as a biocatalyst a bacterium degrading alkanes or alicyclic hydrocarbons, or a prokaryotic host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation derived from the said bacterium, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived therefrom. The bacterium may be selected from species from, for example, the genera Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas, that are capable of degrading n-alkanes having 4 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the preparation of optically active 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone or N-substituted 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted regio- and stereoselectively into the corresponding non-hydroxylated 2-pyrrolidinones, by using, as a biocatalyst, a microorganism having hydroxylation activity, or a host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation enzymes derived from the said microorganism, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived from the above microorganisms. The microorganism may be selected from the group consisting of microorganisms that degrade alkanes or cyclic hydrocarbons, microorganisms having alkane hydroxylase(s), or microorganisms that are able to oxidize hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of optically active 3-hydroxypyrrolidine or N-substituted 3-hydroxypyrrolidines, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted stereoselectively into the corresponding pyrrolidines, respectively, by use of a bacterium having hydroxylation activity, or a prokaryotic host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived therefrom. The bacterium may be selected from strains having alkane hydroxylases, strains degrading alkanes or mono-alicyclic compounds, or strains from the genera Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Sphingomonas, Gordona, Rhodococcus, Bacillus, Streptomyces; Sebekia and Methylococcus.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of optically active 3-hydroxypyrrolidine or N-substituted 3-hydroxypyrrolidines, wherein an oxygen atom is inserted stereoselectively into the corresponding pyrrolidines, respectively, by use of a bacterium having hydroxylation activity, or a prokaryotic host-organism having the gene(s) necessary for the hydroxylation, or an enzyme having hydroxylation activity derived therefrom. The bacterium may be selected from strains having alkane hydroxylases, strains degrading alkanes or mono-alicyclic compounds, or strains from the genera Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium, Nocardia, Sphingomonas, Cordona, Rhodococcus, Bacillus, Streptomyces, Sebekia and Methylococcus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microbiological process for the production of polyesters and utilizes bacteria of the Pseudomanas fluorescens rRNA branch according to the phylogenetic classification of De Vos and De Ley. These bacteria are cultured under aerobic fermentation conditions in a nutrient medium comprising an excess of at least one assimilarable acylic aliphatic hydrocarbon compound having 6-18 carbon atoms and a limiting quantity of at least one of other nutrients essential for growth to form poly-3-hydroxyalkanaoates.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing polyester biopolymers by culturing Pseudomonas oleovorans bacteria on substrates comprising certain nutrients. The nature of the polyesters can be varied by varying the nature of the carbon source used. In this way polyesters with unsaturated double bonds can be produced, too. From the polyesters, optically active carboxylic acids or esters are produced. The polymers can be used for making articles of manufacture, such as sutures, films, skin and bone grafts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the microbiological production of compounds containing a terminal hydroxyl or epoxy group from an aliphatic substrate or a substrate with an aliphatic side chain, using microorganisms genetically engineered so that they have retained their capacity to perform the terminal oxidation of the substrate, but are no longer able to convert the resulting oxidation product further to any significant extent. Preferred substrates are n-alkanes, n-alkenes, and n-alkadienes containing 6-12 carbon atoms. Preferred micro-organisms are genetically engineered Pseudomonas oleovorans and Pseudomonas putida strains lacking an active plasmidic alkanol-dehydrogenase gene. The invention also relates to micro-organisms thus genetically engineered.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing polyester biopolymers by culturing Pseudomonas oleovorans bacteria on substrates comprising certain nutrients. The nature of the polyesters can be varied by varying the nature of the carbon source used. In this way polyesters with unsaturated double bonds can be produced, too. From the polyesters, optically active carboxylic acids or esters are produced. The polymers can be used for making articles of manufacture, such as sutures, films, skin and bone grafts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the microbiological production of compounds containing a terminal hydroxyl or epoxy group from an aliphatic substrate or a substrate with an aliphatic side chain, using microorganisms genetically engineered so that they have retained their capacity to perform the terminal oxidation of the substrate, but are no longer able to convert the resulting oxidation product further to any significant extent. Preferred substrates are n-alkanes, n-alkenes, and n-alkadienes containing 6-12 carbon atoms. Preferred micro-organisms are genetically engineered Pseudomonas oleovorans and Pseudomonas putida strains lacking an active plasmidic alkanol-dehydrogenase gene. The invention also relates to micro-organisms thus genetically engineered.