Genencor International, Inc.

Matthew W Chase

Nigel S Dunn-Coleman

Donald Eugene Trimbur

Maria R Diaz-Torres

Gregory Marshall Whited

Charles T Goodhue

Robert Seemayer

The present invention provides a microorganism for the production of 1,3-propanediol from a variety of carbon sources in an organism capable of 1,3-propanediol production and comprising a) at least one gene encoding a dehydratase activity; b) at least one gene encoding a glycerol-3-phosphatase; and c) at least one gene encoding protein X. The protein X may be derived from aorgene cluster. The recombinant microorganism may further comprise d) at least one gene encoding a protein having at least 50% similarity to a protein selected from the group consisting of protein 1 (SEQ ID NO:60 or SEQ ID NO:61), of protein 2 (SEQ ID NO:62 or SEQ ID NO:63) and of protein 3 (SEQ ID NO:64 or SEQ ID NO:65) fromor

Method for the recombinant production of 1,3-propanediol

The present invention provides an improved method for the production of 1,3-propanediol from a variety of carbon sources in an organism capable of 1,3-propanediol production and comprising DNA encoding protein X of a microorganismal dehydratase or protein X in combination with at least one of protein 1, protein 2 and protein 3, which proteins are comparable to those encoded by orfY, orfX and orfW, respectively from a microorganismal dha regulon. The protein X may be isolated from a diol dehydratase or a glycerol dehydratase. The present invention also provides host cells comprising protein X that are capable of increased production of 1,3-propanediol.

Provided are enzymatic methods for the selective hydrolytic resolution of certain enantiomers of a pharmaceutical compound, the pharmaceutical compound comprising a (.+-.) mixture of a .alpha.-substituted 2-methyl proprionic acid derivative. Specifically provided is the selective enzymatic resolution of either the R(+) or S(-) enantiomer of (.+-.)-ethyl ciprofibrate. Also provided are substantially pure enantiomers of R(+) and S(-) ciprofibrate.

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Belmont, CA, United States of America

Matthew W Chase