Abstract: The present invention concerns a new mutant strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum comprising attenuated glycerol kinase activity. In addition, the present invention concerns a consortium of Clostridium comprising at least said mutant strain and at least one other species of Clostridium chosen among C. sporogenes and C. sphenoides. As this modified strain may be adapted for growth and for the production of 1,3-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium with high glycerol content, the invention also relates to a method for the production of 1,3-propanediolandbutyric acid, by culturing at least this mutant strain in an appropriate culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism genetically modified for improved production of alanine, wherein the microorganism expresses a heterologous alaD gene coding an alanine dehydrogenase and has reduced Lrp transcription factor activity and/or expression. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of alanine using said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism genetically modified for production of ectoine, wherein said microorganism comprises the following modifications: expression of a heterologous gene ectA encoding a diaminobutyric acid acetyltransferase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 5, a heterologous gene ectB encoding a diaminobutyric acid aminotransferase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9 or SEQ ID NO: 10, a heterologous gene ectC encoding an ectoine synthase having at least 90% similarity with SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14 or SEQ ID NO: 15 and deletion of pykA and pykF genes. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of ectoine using said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new mutant strain of Clostridium acetobutylicum comprising attenuated glycerol kinase activity. In addition, the present invention concerns a consortium of Clostridium comprising at least said mutant strain and at least one other species of Clostridium chosen among C. sporogenes and C. sphenoides. As this modified strain may be adapted for growth and for the production of 1,3-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium with high glycerol content, the invention also relates to a method for the production of 1,3-propanediol and butyric acid, by culturing at least this mutant strain in an appropriate culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methylglyoxal reductase (MGR) enzymes which are useful for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone. The invention more particularly relates to a method for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone using said enzymes, to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol using a microorganism overexpressing said enzymes, and to said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism capable of producing 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, which is characterized by an increased cellular export, and preferably by a decreased cellular import, of said 2,4 DHB. The invention also relates to a method for the optimized production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said microorganism in a fermentation medium and recovering 2,4-DHB from said medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically modified microorganism for the fermentative conversion of levulinic acid into propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA, and to a fermentation process for performing said conversion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methylglyoxal reductase (MGR) enzymes which are useful for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone. The invention more particularly relates to a method for efficiently converting methylglyoxal into hydroxyacetone using said enzymes, to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol using a microorganism overexpressing said enzymes, and to said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically modified microorganism for the production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, by metabolic transformation of xylose via the 1,2,4-butanetriol intermediate. The invention also relates to a method for the production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said genetically modified microorganism in a fermentation medium and recovering 2,4-DHB from said medium.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant microorganism optimized for the fermentative production of methionine and/or its derivatives, wherein in said recombinant strain, the methionine efflux is enhanced by overexpressing the homologous logous genes of ygaZ and ygaH genes from Escherichia coli. It is also related to a method for optimizing the fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives comprising the steps of: a. culturing a recombinant microorganism wherein in said microorganism, the methionine efflux is enhanced by overexpressing the ygaZH homologous genes of ygaZ and ygaH genes from Escherichia coli, in an appropriate culture medium comprising a fermentable source of carbon and a source of sulphur, and b. recovering methionine and/or its derivatives from the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically modified microorganism for the fermentative conversion of levulinic acid into propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA, and to a fermentation process for performing said conversion.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain optimised for the fermentative production of methionine and/or its derivatives, wherein in said recombinant strain, the methionine import is attenuated and the methionine efflux is enhanced. It is also related to a method for optimising the fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives comprising the steps of: a. culturing a recombinant microorganism wherein in said microorganism, the methionine import is attenuated and the methionine efflux is enhanced, in an appropriate culture medium comprising a fermentable source of carbon and a source of sulphur, and b. recovering methionine and/or its derivatives from the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism capable of producing 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, which is characterized by an increased cellular export, and preferably by a decreased cellular import, of said 2,4 DHB. The invention also relates to a method for the optimized productionof 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said microorganism in a fermentation medium and recovering 2,4-DHB from said medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically modified microorganism for the production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate, by metabolic transformation of xylose via the 1,2,4-butanetriol intermediate. The invention also relates to a method for the production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyrate by culturing said genetically modified microorganism in a fermentation medium and recovering 2,4-DHB from said medium.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant microorganism optimised for the fermentative production of methionine and/or its derivatives, wherein in said recombinant strain, the methionine efflux is enhanced by overexpressing the homologous logous genes of ygaZ and ygaH genes from Escherichia coli. It is also related to a method for optimising the fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives comprising the steps of: a. culturing a recombinant microorganism wherein in said microorganism, the methionine efflux is enhanced by overexpressing the ygaZH homologous genes of ygaZ and ygaH genes from Escherichia coli, in an appropriate culture medium comprising a fermentable source of carbon and a source of sulphur, and b. recovering methionine and/or its derivatives from the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain optimised for the fermentative production of methionine and/or its derivatives, wherein in said recombinant strain, the methionine import is attenuated and the methionine efflux is enhanced. It is also related to a method for optimising the fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives comprising the steps of: a. culturing a recombinant microorganism wherein in said microorganism, the methionine import is attenuated and the methionine efflux is enhanced, in an appropriate culture medium comprising a fermentable source of carbon and a source of sulphur, and b. recovering methionine and/or its derivatives from the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the production of 1,2-propanediol, comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the 1,2-propanediol which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) enzyme the inhibition of which activity by NAD+ and/or its substrate and/or its product is reduced. The present invention also relates to a mutant glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the glycerol dehydrogenase activity of the parent enzyme and the glycerol dehydrogenase activity of the mutant GlyDH is less inhibited by NAD+ and/or by its substrate as compared to the parent enzyme and/or by its product as compared to the parent enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the production of a biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of the biochemical selected among acetol and 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the desired biochemical which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a YqhD enzyme which catalytic efficiency toward NADPH is increased. The present invention also relates to a mutant YqhD enzyme comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the YqhD activity of the parent enzyme and the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the mutant YqhD is increased as compared with the catalytic efficiency toward NADPH of the parent enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the production of a biochemical selected among lactic acid, acetol and 1,2-propanediol, comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of the biochemical selected among lactic acid, acetol and 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the desired biochemical which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) enzyme which activity is not inhibited by orthophosphate. The present invention concerns a mutant methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the methylglyoxal synthase activity of the parent enzyme and the methylglyoxal synthase activity of the mutant MGS is not inhibited by orthophosphate as compared to the parent enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the production of 1,2-propanediol, comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the 1,2-propanediol which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) enzyme the inhibition of which activity by NAD+ and/or its substrate and/or its product is reduced. The present invention also relates to a mutant glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the glycerol dehydrogenase activity of the parent enzyme and the glycerol dehydrogenase activity of the mutant GlyDH is less inhibited by NAD+ and/or by its substrate as compared to the parent enzyme and/or by its product as compared to the parent enzyme.