Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the biotechnology engineering, and specifically to genetically modified mesophilic, methylotrophic bacteria, which allow for the production of biochemicals in a pH-independent manner. More specifically, the present invention provides a mesophilic, methylotrophic bacterium which expresses a polypeptide which has glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity and is catalytically active at a pH above 5.5. The present invention further provides a mesophilic, methylotrophic bacterium which expresses a) a polypeptide having ?-ketoglutarate decarboxylase (KDC) activity and b) a polypeptide having GABA transaminase (GABA-TA) activity. The present invention also provides methods for the pH-independent production of biochemicals, such as ?-amino butyric acid (GABA) or related compounds, using a bacterium of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the biotechnology engineering, and specifically to genetically modified bacteria of the genus Methylobacillus which have improved properties making them particularly useful in large scale methanol fermentations. More specifically, the present invention provides a bacterium of the genus Methylobacillus which has been modified to have a decreased production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) compared to an otherwise identical bacterium that does not carry said modification. The present invention further provides a method for producing a biochemical compound using a genetically modified bacterium of the present invention.