National University of Singapore

Benedict Ryan Lukito

Yi Quan Zhou

Zhi Ping Li

Shuke Wu

This invention relates to the bioproduction of substituted or unsubstituted phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, phenylacetic acid or phenylethylamine by subjecting a starting material comprising glucose, L-phenylalanine, substituted L-phenylalanine, styrene or substituted styrene to a plurality of enzyme catalyzed chemical transformations in a one-pot reaction system, using recombinant microbial cells overexpressing the enzymes. To produce phenylacetaldehyde from styrene, the cells are modified to overexpress styrene monooxygenase (SMO) and styrene oxide isomerase (SOI). To produce phenylacetic acid from styrene, SMO, SOI and aldehyde dehydrogenase are overexpressed. Alternatively, to produce 2-phenylethanol, SMO, SOI and aldehyde reductase or alcohol dehydrogenase are overexpressed, while to produce phenylethylamine, SMO, SOI and transaminase are overexpressed.

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Singapore, Singapore

Benedict Ryan Lukito