Abstract: The invention relates to optimised micro-organism strains for the biotransformation production of molecules having NADPH-consuming biosynthetic pathways. The inventive strains can be used in NADPH-consuming biotransformation methods. Said strains are characterized in that one or more NADPH-oxidizing activities are limited.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new method combining evolution and rational design for the preparation of a strain of micro-organism for the production of acetol from a simple carbon source. The said method comprises: growing an initial strain under selection pressure in an appropriate growth medium, said initial bacterial strain comprising an attenuation of the expression of the tpiA gene and an attenuation the expression of at least one gene involved in the conversion of methylglyoxal to lactate, in order to promote evolution in said initial strain, then selecting and isolating the evolved strain having an increased acetol or 1,2-propanediol production rate, then reconstructing a functional tpiA gene in the evolved strain. The present invention also concerns the evolved strain such as obtained, that may be furthermore genetically modified in order to optimize the conversion of a simple carbon source into acetol without by-products and with the best possible yield.

Abstract: The present invention is relative to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol by fermentation, comprising: cultivating a microorganism producing 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate medium comprising a source of sucrose, and recovering the 1,2-propanediol being produced, wherein the microorganism is able to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source for the production of 1,2-propanediol. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the source of sucrose is obtained from plant biomass, and is in particular sugar cane juice.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a modified microorganism with an increased methylglyoxal reductase activity, and its use for the preparation of 1,2-propanediol and/or acetol. In particular this increased methylglyoxal reductase activity is obtained by increasing the expression of specific genes from microorganisms. This invention is also related to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol and/or acetol by fermentation of a microorganism having an increased methylglyoxal reductase activity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new method combining evolution and rational design for the preparation of a strain of micro-organism for the production of 1,2-propanediol from a carbon source. The said method comprises: growing an initial strain under selection pressure in an appropriate growth medium, said initial bacterial strain comprising an attenuation of the expression of the tpiA gene and an attenuation the expression of at least one gene involved in the conversion of methylglyoxal to lactate, in order to promote evolution in said initial strain, then selecting and isolating the evolved strain having an increased 1,2 propanediol production rate, then reconstructing a functional tpiA gene in the evolved strain; The present invention also concerns the evolved strain such as obtained, that may be furthermore genetically modified in order to optimize the conversion of a carbon source into 1,2-propanediol without by-products and with the best possible yield.

Abstract: This invention concerns a microorganism useful for the production of acetol from a simple carbon source, wherein said microorganism is characterized by: an improved activity of the biosynthesis pathway from dihydroxyacetone phosphate to acetol, and an attenuated activity of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase This invention also concerns a method for producing acetol by fermentating a microorganism according to the invention.

Abstract: Microorganism useful for the production of 1,2-propanediol from a carbon source, wherein said microorganism is characterized by: an improved activity of the biosynthesis pathway from dihydroxyacetone phosphate to 1,2-propanediol, and an attenuated activity of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase The invention is also related to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol by fermentation with a microorganism according to the invention.

Abstract: Process for the production of methionine or its derivatives by culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulfur. The microorganism and/or the culture medium are modified in such way that the methionine/carbon source yield is increased. The isolation of methionine or its derivates from the fermentation medium is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of methionine or its derivatives by culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulphur. The microorganism and/or the culture medium and/or the process parameters were modified in a way that the accumulation of the by-product N-acyl-methionine (NAM) is reduced. The isolation of methionine or its derivatives from the fermentation medium is also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention claims an isolated polypeptide having L-amino-acid-N-acyl transferase enzymatic activity and a modified microorganism in which this enzyme is overexpressed. Substrates of said enzyme include mainly methionine and their derivatives or analogs. Overexpression in sulphur-containing amino acid producing microorganisms permits the production of large amounts of N-acylated sulphur-containing amino acids. The isolation of the N-acylated sulphur-containing amino acids from the fermentation medium is also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium and a method for the biological production of ethanolamine from a fermentable carbon source. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of glucose to ethanolamine is achieved by the use of a recombinant bacterium transformed i) to express a serine decarboxylase enzyme to convert serine to ethanolamine ii) to inactivate the ethanolamine consuming pathways and iii) to increase 3-phosphoglycerate availability. In another aspect of the present invention, the process for the production of ethanolamine from glucose using a recombinant E. coli is improved by i) increasing the flux in the serine pathway and ii) decreasing the flux in the serine consuming pathways.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of recombinant homoserine transsuccinylase enzymes with altered feedback sensitivity (MetA*) and possibly recombinant S-adenosyl methionine synthetase enzymes with reduced activity (MetK*) for the production of methionine, its precursors or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing methionine, derivatives or precursors thereof comprising culturing a microorganism modified to enhance production of cysteine in a culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulfur and recovering methionine from the culture medium. A microorganism for fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives in which production of methionine or derivatives thereof, wherein the microorganism enhances production of cysteine.

Abstract: A microorganism in which enzymes are expressed that have one or several of the following activities cystathionine-?-synthases and/or phosphohomoserine sulfhydrylase and/or acylhomoserine sulfhydrylases and that have at the same time low ?-elimination activity is disclosed and also relates to recombinant enzymes that have one or several of the following activities cystathionine-?-synthase and/or phosphohomoserine and/or acylhomoserine sulfhydrylase, have at the same time low ?-eliminase activity and are used for the fermentative production of amino acids, in particular, methionine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to increasing the product of aspartate or aspartate-derived metabolites by boosting the activity of the glyoxylate shunt. This is accomplished by increasing the activity of glyoxylate shunt specific enzymes and decreasing the activity of reactions consuming glyoxylate and its precursors.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a new method for replacing or deleting DNA sequences in Clostridia, with high efficiency, easy to perform and applicable at an industrial level. This method is useful to modify several genetic loci in Clostridia in a routine manner. This method is based on a replicative vector carrying at least two marker genes.

Abstract: The invention relates to optimised micro-organism strains for the biotransformation production of molecules having NADPH-consuming biosynthetic pathways. The inventive strains can be used in NADPH-consuming biotransformation methods. Said strains are characterised in that one or more NADPH-oxidising activities are limited.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of polypropylene glycol as a shrinkage-reducing additive in dispersion powder compositions for construction materials containinga) a base polymer from the group consisting of vinyl ester polymers, (meth)acrylate and/or styrene (co)polymers and vinyl chloride polymers, andb) eitherb1) 2 to 20% by weight, based on the base polymer, of polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of hydrolysis of 85 to 94 mol % and a Hoppler viscosity of 2 to 40 mPa.s orb2) 2 to 20% by weight, based on the base polymer, of alkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts of phenolsulfonic acid-formaldehyde condensation products, andc) 3 to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of polymeric components, of fine antiblocking agents, whereind) the content of polypropylene glycol is 1 to 20% by weight, based on the base polymer.