Abstract: The invention provides a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I) R1-A-COOR2??(I), wherein R1 is hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 or —CH2NH2, R2 is an alkyl group, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4 carbons, in the presence of a cell. The process comprises a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution, wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell.

Abstract: There is provided a microbial cell for producing at least one acyl amino acid, wherein the cell is genetically modified to comprise: a first genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to a wild type cell of at least one lipase (EC 3.1.1) (E1) capable of hydrolysing at least one glyceride to at least one fatty acid wherein the glyceride is a triglyceride; and a second and a third genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to a wild type cell of: (i) an amino acid-N-acyl-transferase (EC 2.3.1) (E2), and (ii) an acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3) (E3) respectively that enables the cell to convert the fatty acid to at least one acyl amino acid and wherein the cell has a reduced fatty acid degradation capacity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing an organic compound from an aqueous solution, comprising the steps of providing the aqueous solution which contains the organic compound, and a hydrophobic organic solution, where the latter comprises a liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger, contacting the aqueous solution and the hydrophobic organic solution, and separating off the hydrophobic organic solution from the aqueous solution, wherein the liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger is a saturated alkanoic acid having at least one alkyl substituent, where the organic compound is an organic compound having at least one positive charge and a neutral or positive total charge.

Abstract: A process for producing alanine, including culturing a cell under aerobic conditions in an aqueous phase in the presence of an inorganic nitrogen source, and then contacting the aqueous phase and the cell cultured in the aqueous phase with a hydrophobic organic phase. The cell is a prokaryotic or a lower eukaryotic cell and expresses a recombinant alanine dehydrogenase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a whole-cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase which phosphopantetheinylates the fatty acid reductase, and which expresses, in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase, a transaminase, wherein the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and also to a process for converting a carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or a monoester thereof to an amine or diamine, comprising the steps of contacting the carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or the monoester thereof with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or an ?-dioxygenase and contacting the product with a transaminase.

Abstract: The invention provides a whole cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase phosphopantetheinylating the fatty acid reductase, and which in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase expresses a transaminase, characterized in that the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and a method for the conversion of a fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or a monoester thereof to an amine, comprising oxidation of the fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or the monoester thereof to an oxidation product by contacting with an alkane hydroxylase and/or alcohol dehydrogenase, contacting the oxidation product with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or a ?-dioxygenase to give an aldehyde, and contacting the aldehyde with a transaminase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell for producing acyl glycinates wherein the cell is genetically modified to comprise at least a first genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to the wild type cell of an amino acid-N-acyl-transferase, at least a second genetic mutation that increases the expression relative to the wild type cell of an acyl-CoA synthetase, and at least a third genetic mutation that decreases the expression relative to the wild type cell of at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of an enzyme of the glycine cleavage system, glycine hydroxymethyltransferase (GlyA) and threonine aldolase (LtaE).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing a fatty acid or an ester thereof of formula (I) H3C —(CH2)n-COOR, wherein R is selected from the group that comprises H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl, wherein n is 0 to 30, preferably 6 to 24, comprising the step of oxidizing the fatty acid or the ester thereof by contacting the fatty acid or the ester thereof with a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family in the presence of molecular oxygen and NAD(P)H and a whole-cell catalyst that expresses a recombinant cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family, a recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase, a recombinant transaminase, and optionally one or more than one recombinant enzyme from the group comprising alanine dehydrogenase, ferredoxin, and ferredoxin reductase, and the use of said whole-cell catalyst to oxidize a fatty acid or an ester thereof.

Abstract: A process for the improved separation of a hydrophobic organic solution from an aqueous culture medium is provided. The process includes preparing an aqueous culture medium of a metabolically active cell having a decreased activity; contacting of the aqueous culture medium with a hydrophobic organic solution comprising a substrate for biotransformation; conducting a biotransformation of the substrate; and separating the hydrophobic organic solution comprising a biotransformed substrate from the aqueous culture medium. The decreased activity of the metabolically active cell is in comparison to a wild-type of the active cell and the decreased activity is of at least of one enzyme that catalyzes one reaction of ?-oxidation of fatty acids.

Abstract: The invention provides a biocatalytic process for oxidation of organic compounds with the aid of an alkL gene product, and microorganisms used in this process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a whole-cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase which phosphopantetheinylates the fatty acid reductase, and which expresses, in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase, a transaminase, wherein the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and also to a process for converting a carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or a monoester thereof to an amine or diamine, comprising the steps of contacting the carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or the monoester thereof with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or an ?-dioxygenase and contacting the product with a transaminase.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineered Candida tropicalis cells, use thereof and a method of production of ?-hydroxycarboxylic acids and ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing an organic compound from an aqueous solution, comprising the steps of providing the aqueous solution which contains the organic compound, and a hydrophobic organic solution, where the latter comprises a liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger, contacting the aqueous solution and the hydrophobic organic solution, and separating off the hydrophobic organic solution from the aqueous solution, wherein the liquid hydrophobic cation exchanger is a saturated alkanoic acid having at least one alkyl substituent, where the organic compound is an organic compound having at least one positive charge and a neutral or positive total charge.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineered Candida tropicalis cells, use thereof and a method of production of ?-hydroxycarboxylic acids and ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing a fatty acid or an ester thereof of formula (I) H3C—(CH2)n-COOR, wherein R is selected from the group that comprises H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl, wherein n is 0 to 30, preferably 6 to 24, comprising the step of oxidizing the fatty acid or the ester thereof by contacting the fatty acid or the ester thereof with a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family in the presence of molecular oxygen and NAD(P)H and a whole-cell catalyst that expresses a recombinant cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family, a recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase, a recombinant transaminase, and optionally one or more than one recombinant enzyme from the group comprising alanine dehydrogenase, ferredoxin, and ferredoxin reductase, and the use of said whole-cell catalyst to oxidize a fatty acid or an ester thereof.

Abstract: The problem addressed by the invention is solved in a first aspect by a method for producing alanine or a compound produced using alanine, having the steps of (a) providing a cell which expresses a recombinant alanine dehydrogenase or a variant thereof, (b) cultivating the cell under aerobic conditions in the presence of an inorganic nitrogen source in an aqueous phase, and (c) bringing the cell into contact with an organic phase, said cell being a prokaryotic or a lower eukaryotic cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineered Candida tropicalis cells, use thereof and a method of production of ?-hydroxycarboxylic acids and ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid esters.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a biotechnological process for the production of ?-functionalized carboxylic acids and of ?-functionalized carboxylate esters from simple carbon sources.

Abstract: The invention provides a whole cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase phosphopantetheinylating the fatty acid reductase, and which in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase expresses a transaminase, characterized in that the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and a method for the conversion of a fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or a monoester thereof to an amine, comprising oxidation of the fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or the monoester thereof to an oxidation product by contacting with an alkane hydroxylase and/or alcohol dehydrogenase, contacting the oxidation product with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or a ?-dioxygenase to give an aldehyde, and contacting the aldehyde with a transaminase.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I) R1-A-COOR2 ??(I), wherein R1 is hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 or —CH2NH2, R2 is an alkyl group,R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4 carbons,in the presence of a cell. The process comprises a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution,wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell.