Michigan State University

The Dow Chemical Company

Patrick J Oriel

Sang Hoon Kim

Rugmini Padmakumar

Hae Choon Chang

Natarajan S Savithiry

Eric A Grulke

In Cheol Kim

Weijie Fu

Li-Xia Li

Jo Ann Gilpin

Roger A Briggs

Carol C Epstein

L Scott Harris

Gopalakrishnan Gurujeyalakshmi

Srinivasan Savithiry

Sharonkay E Foley

Deborah E Hier

A novel isolate of Bacillus isolated from white pine is described. The isolate is used to produce monoterpene derivatives. Also described is a pinene hydroxylase enzyme from the isolate. The enzyme is a general allylic oxidizer.

Method for degradation of pinenes by bacillus isolates

A process for the bioconversion of a nitrile to its corresponding amide product, particularly acrylonitrile to acrylamide which is used for forming polymers. The process uses a thermophilic bacterium having a nitrile hydratase activity that is constitutively expressed, activated by cobalt ions, stable at 60&deg; C., and is most active between 20&deg; C. to 70&deg; C. with optimum activity at 55&deg; C. Alternatively, the process uses the enzyme extracted from the thermophilic bacterium to convert a nitrile to its amide product. The genes encoding nitrile hydratase and amidase are described in which the former is useful for the conversion of an nitrile to its amide and the later is useful for the conversion of an amide to its acid.

Method for producing amide compounds using a nitrile hydratase from a thermophilic bacillus

A process for the bioconversion of a nitrile to its corresponding amide product, particularly acrylonitrile to acrylamide which is used for forming polymers. The process uses a thermophilic bacterium having a nitrile hydratase activity that is constitutively expressed, activated by cobalt ions, stable at 60.degree. C., and is most active between 20.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. with optimum activity at 55.degree. C. Alternatively, the process uses the enzyme extracted from the thermophilic bacterium to convert a nitrile to its amide product. The genes encoding nitrile hydratase and amidase are described in which the former is useful for the conversion of an nitrile to its amide and the later is useful for the conversion of an amide to its acid.

Method for producing amide compounds using a nitrile hydratase from a

A method for the production of indigo and indirubin dyes using a recombinant Escherichia coli containing a gene encoding a phenol hydroxylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus. The dyes are used for coloring cloth and the like.

Method for production of indigo and indirubin dyes

Enzymatic microbial degradation of limonene with simultaneous extraction of the degradation products with a non-water miscible organic solvent is described. Microbial degradation at elevated temperatures employing both an aqueous phase containing limonene and a neat limonene phase produced .alpha.-terpineol with additional production of carvone.

Method for production of monoterpene derivatives of limonene

A process for producing monoterpenes using a DNA segment Bacillus stearothermophilus in a recombinant bacterium, particularly Escherichia coli. The useful monoterpenes produced from limonene are perillyl alcohol, perillyl aldehyde, perillic acid (path A); alpha-terpineol (path B) or carveol and carvone (path C).

Process for the preparation of monoterpenes using bacterium containing

A process for the preparation of monoterpene compounds (such as perillyl alcohol, aldehyde and .alpha.-terpineol) from limonene is described. The process uses Bacillus stearothermophilus which is effective at high temperatures (55.degree. to 70.degree. C.).

Process and bacterial cultures for the preparation of perillyl compounds

A new thermoplastic homopolymer of o-cresol which is a poly(2-methylphenylene oxide) having a high molecular weight distribution is described. The polymer is prepared using a 2 and/or 6 substituted pyridine catalyst to the molecular weight distribution. The homopolymer can be blended with other thermoplastic polymers. The homopolymer is rapidly biodegraded, particularly in soil containing soil microorganisms.

Synthetic biodegradable polymer from o-cresol

A process for the preparation of monoterpene compounds (such as perillyl alcohol, aldehyde and .alpha.-terpineol) from limonene is described. The process uses Bacillus stearothermophilus which is effective at high temperatures (55.degree. to 70.degree. C.). A preferred strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus is ATCC 55596.

Growing community of inventors

Midland, MI, United States of America

Patrick J Oriel