Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid. The method can include culturing a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid producing microbial organism expressing at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount and culturing under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or methacrylic acid.

Abstract: Mixotrophic fermentation method performed to make one or more bioproducts such as alcohols, organic acids of less than 7 carbons, acetone, 2,3-butanediol and mixtures thereof with a microorganism. The mixotrophic fermentation method includes providing an isolated organism and providing a first feedstock and a second feedstock for use in a fermentation medium. The first feedstock includes a carbon source that is metabolized by the native form of the organism at a rate of less than 0.01 g/hr/g cell mass, and the second feedstock includes CO, CO2, carbonate, bicarbonate, H2, glycerol, methanol, formate, urea or mixtures thereof. The mixotrophic fermentation method also includes culturing the organism in the fermentation medium, whereby both feedstocks are metabolized and a fermentation broth is formed, the broth having at least one bioproduct. Optionally, the bioproduct may be separated from the broth.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing alkyl hydroxyalkanoate from hydroxy carboxylic acid recovery bottoms. The methods generally comprise the steps of obtaining a hydroxy carboxylic acid recovery bottom, adding a mono-alcohol to the hydroxy carboxylic acid recovery bottom to obtain a first mixture, beating the first mixture in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction product, distilling the reaction product, and recovering an alkyl hydroxyalkanoate fraction.

Abstract: Provided are a recombinant Ralstonia eutropha capable of producing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer, and a method of preparing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer using the same. The recombinant Ralstonia eutropha, which is prepared by introducing a gene of an enzyme converting lactate into lactyl-CoA and a gene of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase using lactyl-CoA as a substrate thereto, may be cultured, thereby efficiently preparing a lactate polymer and a lactate copolymer.

Abstract: Carbon-containing materials, such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) or coal are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels, carboxylic acids and equivalents thereof (e.g., esters and salts). For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol, butanol or organic acids (e.g., acetic or lactic acid), salts of organic acids or mixtures thereof. If desired, organic acids can be converted into alcohols, such as by first converting the acid, salt or mixtures of the acid and its salt to an ester, and then hydrogenating the formed ester. Acetogens or homoacetogens which are capable of utilizing a syngas from a thermochemical conversion of coal or biomass can be utilized to produce the desired product.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method in which a fat and/or oil is produced by a transesterification reaction using a lipase. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing a transesterified fat and/or oil, comprising: (1) a low-temperature clay treatment step of bringing a fat and/or oil and a clay into contact with each other at 30 to 80° C. to obtain a reaction substrate; and (2) a step of subjecting the reaction substrate to a transesterification reaction in the presence of a lipase-containing composition.

Abstract: Methods of capturing carbon by microbial fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO. The methods include converting CO to one or more products including alcohols and/or acids and optionally capturing CO2 to improve overall carbon capture. In certain aspects, also disclosed are to processes for producing alcohols, particularly ethanol, from industrial waste streams, particularly steel mill off-gas.

Abstract: The present application discloses genetically modified yeast cells comprising an active 3-HP fermentation pathway, and the use of these cells to produce 3-HP.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous process for the preparation of ingenol-3-mebutate by reaction, in solution, of ingenol or ingenol anion and angelic anhydride or an equivalent angelylating agent. The continuous flow process is preferably performed in the presence of a base such as lithium hexamethyl disilazane (LiHMDS) and/or an activating agent such as dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). Also disclosed is a process for recycling the other reaction products obtained in the continuous process for preparation of ingenol-3-mebutate for formation of ingenol, which can then be recycled to form ingenol-3-mebutate.

Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing 7-hydroxyheptanoate methyl ester and heptanoic acid heptyl ester using one or more of a fatty acid O-methyltransferase, an alcohol O-acetyltransferase, and a monooxygenase, as well as recombinant hosts expressing one or more of such exogenous enzymes. 7-hydroxyheptanoate methyl esters and heptanoic acid heptyl esters can be enzymatically converted to pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoate, 7-hydroxyheptanoate, heptamethylenediamine, or 1,7-heptanediol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods to generate microorganisms and/or microorganism cultures that exhibit the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources at high efficiencies. In several embodiments, preferential expression of, or preferential growth of microorganisms utilizing certain metabolic pathways, enables the high efficiency PHA production from carbon-containing gases or materials. Several embodiments relate to the microorganism cultures, and/or microorganisms isolated therefrom.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms containing caprolactone pathways having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a butadiene pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce caprolactone. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce caprolactone by culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial organism containing caprolactone pathways as described herein under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce caprolactone.

Abstract: A process for recovering and purifying polyhydroxyalkanoates from a cell culture may include: (a) acidifying the culture to obtain a pH value less than or equal to 6, and submitting the culture to a cell fractionation treatment using high-pressure homogenization at a temperature greater than or equal to 10° C. and less than or equal to 80° C. to obtain a suspension; (b) basifying the suspension to obtain a pH value greater than or equal to 8; (c) diluting the suspension and submitting the diluted PHA suspension to tangential filtration to obtain a concentrated suspension as retentate and an aqueous phase as permeate; (d) submitting the concentrated suspension to bleaching; (e) diluting the suspension after the bleaching and submitting the diluted bleached suspension to tangential filtration to obtain a concentrated bleached suspension as retentate and an aqueous phase as permeate; and/or (f) submitting the concentrated bleached suspension to drying.

Abstract: Disclosed are organisms genetically engineered to make useful products when grown on ethanol as a carbon source. The organisms are genetically engineered to produce various useful products such as polyhydroxyalkanoates, diols, diacids, higher alcohols, and other useful chemicals.

Abstract: The process for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHA from volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, referred to as precursors, produced by anaerobic fermentation from fermentable biomass, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: a) extracting the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules, without stopping the fermentation, via an extraction means chosen from means that are, at least, insoluble in the fermentation medium, b) collecting, outside the fermentation reactor, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) molecules once they have been extracted, c) synthesizing, by halogenation, using a type of volatile fatty acid (VFA) chosen from the volatile fatty acids collected in step b) and defined according to the desired type of PHA, a given ?-halo acid, d) synthesizing from this ?-halo acid molecules of a given ?-hydroxy acid by reaction with a base, e) polymerizing using the ?-hydroxy acid obtained a defined polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

Abstract: Subject of the invention is a process for the production of L-carnitine, wherein a ?-lactone, which is a 4-(halomethyl)oxetane-2-one, is converted into L-carnitine, wherein the process comprises an enzymatic conversion of the ?-lactone into (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid or (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester.

Abstract: The invention provides eTEC linked glycoconjugates comprising a saccharide covalently conjugated to a carrier protein through a (2-((2-oxoethyl)thio)ethyl)carbamate (eTEC) spacer, immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and methods for the preparation and use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.

Abstract: A microorganism capable of producing an acrylic acid (AA), wherein activities of a pathway producing AA through conversions of 3-HP to 3-HP-CoA and 3-HP-CoA to AA-CoA in the microorganisms are increased; as well as a method of producing the microorganism and a method of producing an acrylic acid by using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cells or plants that can produce polylactate or its copolymers and to a method for preparing polylactate or its copolymers using the same. More specifically, cells or plants with the ability to produce polylactate or hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymers comprise both a gene encoding an enzyme that converts lactate into lactyl-CoA and a gene encoding polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase which uses lactyl-CoA as a substrate. Also described is a method for preparing polylactate or hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymers which comprises culturing the cells in a medium containing lactate or lactate and various hydroxyalkanoates or culturing the plants. Effective preparation of hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer which comprises various hydroxyalkanoates as well as polylactate, using the cells or the plants, is disclosed.

Abstract: Described is an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. Also described is that host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.

Abstract: A process for liquefying a cellulosic material to produce a liquefied product from cellulosic material is provided. Products obtained from such process and use of such products to prepare biofuels is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.

Abstract: The use of a bacterial secondary metabolite, thaxtomin is described as an effective herbicide on broadleaved, sedge and grass weeds, e.g., in rice fields with no phytotoxicity to rice as well as on aquatic based weeds.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms containing caprolactone pathways having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a butadiene pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce caprolactone. The invention additionally provides methods of using such microbial organisms to produce caprolactone by culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial organism containing caprolactone pathways as described herein under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce caprolactone.

Abstract: Cleaning compositions and methods of making and using the same are provided. The cleaning compositions of the present invention are both non-toxic and environmentally benign, and are effective at removing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic soils from a wide range of substrate types, including metal, glass, painted wall board, vinyl, concrete, and many others. The cleaning compositions of the present invention may be useful in a variety of domestic, industrial, and/or institutional applications.

Abstract: Mixtures of ethanol and water are dehydrated using starch pearls to adsorb and remove water. Vapor-phase adsorption equilibrium capacities of cassava starch pellets (tapioca pearls) having different particle sizes are disclosed, and tapioca pearl particles are shown to be surprisingly more effective for dehydrating 88 to 97% w/w feed ethanol than corn grits. The adsorption equilibrium curve and BET surface area measurement show that the adsorption capacity of tapioca pearls is a function of surface area available to water molecules. SEM images demonstrate that the particle architecture required for the adsorption and dehydration properties is that of a core-shell configuration with pre-gel starch acting as a central scaffold holding together other particles to the outer layer of the particle. The outer surface area of the pearls, populated with dry starch granules, is the main factor determining the adsorption capacity of the pearls.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel proteins having esterase activity, to mutants thereof, to nucleic acid sequences coding therefor, to expression cassettes, vectors and recombinant microorganisms; to methods for preparing said proteins and to the use thereof for enzymic, in particular enantioselective enzymic, ester hydrolysis or transesterification of organic esters.

Abstract: An alcohol fermentation process and composition that includes production of alcohol esters by esterification of product alcohol in a fermentation medium with a carboxylic acid (e.g., fatty acid) and a catalyst (e.g., lipase) capable of esterifying the product alcohol, such as butanol, with the carboxylic acid to form the alcohol esters. The alcohol esters can be extracted from the fermentation medium, and the product alcohol recovered from the alcohol esters. The carboxylic acid can also serve as an extractant for removal of the alcohol esters from the fermentation medium.

Abstract: A modified microorganism for high efficient production of lactic acid, an expression vector for constructing the modified microorganism, and a method of producing a lactic acid using the same are disclosed. The modified microorganism may produce lactic acid at a high level under acid conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzymatic acylation method including at least the following steps of: contacting at least one compound having at least one function selected from among the amine, alcohol, or thiol functions, at least one microorganism having an acyl transfer activity and/or an acyl transfer enzyme, and at least one acylphosphonate donor of formula (I), where: R is an alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl, or aralkyl radical, or is —ORa, —SRa, —NRaRb, where Ra and Rb are identical or different and are H, an alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl or aralkyl radical, the alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl or aralkyl radicals being optionally substituted; X is O or S; Y and Z, which are identical or different, are —OR1, —OR2, —SR1, —SR2, —NR?1R?1, —NR?2R?2; R1, R2, R?1, R?2, R?1 and R?2, which are identical or different, are an alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl or aralkyl radical, said alkyl, alkene, alkyne, aryl or aralkyl radicals being optionally substituted; and recovering the compound including at least one acyl function, said fu

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the production of substituted phenylene aromatic diesters and 5-tert-butyl-3-methyl-1,2-phenylene dibenzoate (or “BMPD”) in particular. The processes disclosed herein produce a liquid BMPD product. The liquid BMPD product unexpectedly creates production efficiencies by reducing the number of production steps, reducing the amount and/or number of reagents required for BMPD production. The liquid BMPD product may also be utilized in procatalyst production yielding similar production efficiencies. The procatalyst composition is subsequently used for olefin polymerization.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and/or 2-hydroxyisobutyrate pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in a methacrylic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and/or 2-hydroxyisobutyrate. The method can include culturing methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and/or 2-hydroxyisobutyrate producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a methacrylic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and/or 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and/or 2-hydroxyisobutyrate.

Abstract: The present application discloses genetically modified yeast cells comprising an active 3-HP fermentation pathway, and the use of these cells to produce 3-HP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid from glycerol, and more particularly to a method of producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid by culturing in a glycerol-containing medium a mutant microorganism obtained by amplifying an aldehyde dehydrogenase-encoding gene in a microorganism having the abilities to produce coenzyme B12 and produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid using glycerol as a carbon source. The present invention enables the fermentation of glycerol even under microaerobic or aerobic conditions without having to add coenzyme B12. Thus, the invention will be very suitable for the development of biological processes for producing large amounts of 3-hydroxypropionic acid.

Abstract: Processes and methods for making biobased gamma-butyrolactone from renewable carbon resources are described herein.

Abstract: In a process for the stereoselective, in particular enantioselective enzymatic reduction of keto compounds to the corresponding chiral hydroxy compounds, wherein the keto compounds are reduced with an enantioselective, NADH-specific oxidoreductase, a polypeptide is used for reducing the keto compounds, which polypeptide exhibits an R-ADH-signature H-[P; A]-[I; A; Q; V; L]-[G; K]-R at positions 204-208 and the following further structural features in their entirety: (i) an N-terminal Rossmann-Fold GxxxGxG, (ii) an NAG-motif at position 87, (iii) a catalytic triad consisting of S 139, Y 152 and K 156, (iv) a negatively charged amino acid moiety at position 37, (v) two C-terminal motifs in the dimerization domain [A; S]-S-F and [V; I]-DG-[G; A]-Y-[T; C; L]-[A; T; S]-[Q; V; R; L; P], (vi) Val or Leu at position 159 (4 positions downstream of K 156), (vii) Asn at position 178, and (viii) a proline moiety at position 188.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate, 1,4-butanediol, or other product pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, 1,4-butanediol, or other product, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, 1,4-butanediol, or other product or related products using the microbial organisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the enantioselective enzymatic reduction of a keto compound to the corresponding chiral hydroxy compound, wherein the keto compound is reduced with an oxidoreductase in the presence of a cofactor, and is characterized in that an oxidoreductase is used which has an amino acid sequence in which (a) at least 70% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of one of the amino acid sequences SEQ ID No 1, SEQ ID No 6 and SEQ ID No 8, or (b) at least 55% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No 2, or (c) at least 65% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No 3, or (d) at least 75% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No 4, or (e) at least 65% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No 5, or (0 at least 50% of the amino acids are identical to the amino acids of the amino acid sequence

Abstract: Provided are processes for the production and high efficiency processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources comprising carbon-containing gases or materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process in which a recombinant organism, such as a yeast, expressing a heterologous S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyl halide transferase (MHT) protein is combined with a halide and a carbon source in a cultivation medium under conditions in which methyl formate is produced. The cell may genetically modified to express methyl formate synthase, methanol dehydrogenase and/or hydrolytic dehalogenase at levels higher than a cell of the same species that is not genetically modified. The methyl formate may be collected and used in a variety of applications. The halide may be chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Abstract: The present invention provides reagents and methods for biomaterial production from cyanobacteria.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to processes for the production and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources. In several embodiments, PHAs are produced at high efficiencies from carbon-containing gases through the utilization of a regenerative polymerization system.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to methods of making diester-based lubricant compositions, wherein formation of diester species proceeds via esterification of epoxide intermediates, and wherein the epoxide intermediates are generated via an enzymatically-driven mechanism. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor and/or low value (e.g., Fischer-Tropsch (FT) olefins and/or alcohols) so as to produce high value diester-based lubricants. In some embodiments, such diester-based lubricants are derived from FT olefins and fatty acids. The fatty acids can be from a bio-based source (i.e., biomass, renewable source) or can be derived from FT alcohols via oxidation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes engineered biosynthetic pathways, recombinant cells, and methods relating to biosynthesis of esters. The recombinant cells may be modified to exhibit increased biosynthesis of an ester compared to a wild-type control. The recombinant cell may be incubated in medium that includes a carbon source under conditions effective for the recombinant cell to produce an ester. This disclosure also describes a method that generally includes introducing into a host cell a heterologous polynucleotide encoding at least one polypeptide that catalyzes a step in converting a carbon source to an ester, wherein the at least one polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter so that the modified host cell catalyzes conversion of the carbon source to an ester.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound which is (3R)-hydroxybutyl (3R)-hydroxybutyrate of formula (I) which process comprises submitting, to enantioselective reduction, a compound of the following formula (II), (III) or (IV).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing alkyl butyrate, which comprises: (a) producing a fermented liquid containing butyrate salt through a fermentation process using butyric acid-producing strains; (b) obtaining an extracted liquid containing butyric acid from a continuous extracting apparatus using an extraction solvent, after converting the butyrate salt into butyric acid by adding an inorganic acid except for carbonic acid or carbon dioxide into the fermented liquid, wherein the continuous extracting apparatus includes a plurality of extraction plates which are installed inside an extraction column and perform a reciprocating motion vertically, and the broth and the extraction solvent are supplied to upper and lower portions of the column, respectively; and (c) reacting the extracted liquid and alcohol having a carbon number of 4 or less or a mixture thereof in an esterification reactor to convert a resultant product into alkyl butyrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the biological production of glycolic acid from a fermentable carbon source in a microorganism. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of glucose to glycolic acid is achieved by the use of a recombinant organism comprising a host E. coli transformed i) to attenuate the glyoxylate consuming pathways to other compounds than glycolate ii) to use an NADPH glyoxylate reductase to convert glyoxylate to glycolate iii) to attenuate the level of all the glycolate metabolizing enzymes and iv) increase the flux in the glyoxylate pathway. In another aspect of the present invention, the process for the production of glycolic acid from a fermentable carbon source, using a recombinant E. coli, is improved by increasing the NADPH availability in the cells.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel hydrolase, which is used when dialkyl 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate is hydrolyzed with an enzyme, so as to efficiently obtain (1S,2S)-1-alkoxycarbonyl-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid that is useful as an intermediate for synthesizing therapeutic agents for hepatitis C. According to the present invention, there is provided a hydrolase protein, which consists of the amino acid sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS. 2 to 5 and which has activity of catalyzing, at higher selectivity than the protein consisting of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, a reaction of producing (1S,2S)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-2-vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid from diethyl 2-vinylcyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxylate.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons substituted with at least one group containing at least one oxygen atom, comprising the process steps A) reaction of a carbon source comprising at least one selected from CO2 and CO to give acetate and/or ethanol with a first microorganism, B) separating off of the acetate from the first microorganism, C) reaction of the acetate to give a hydrocarbon substituted with at least one group containing at least one oxygen atom with a second microorganism and optionally D) purification of the hydrocarbon substituted with at least one group containing at least one oxygen atom.

Abstract: Compositions of P4HB with high purity have been developed. The compositions are prepared by washing P4HB biomass prior to solvent extraction, and precipitating P4HB from solution. The same solvent is preferably used to wash the P4HB biomass, and as a non-solvent to precipitate the polymer from a P4HB solvent solution. The highly pure P4HB compositions are suitable for preparing implants. The implants may be used for the repair of soft and hard tissues.