University of Toronto

Ardra Inc.

Pratish Gawand

Radhakrishnan Mahadevan

Alexander Yakunin

Kayla Nemr

Jonas Ernst Norbert Muller

The present disclosure relates to biosynthetic pathways for producing flavor and fragrance chemicals, such as green notes including trans-2-unsaturated aldehydes and lactones. The present disclosure provides methods for producing trans-2-unsaturated aldehydes, delta-lactones, and gamma-lactones. The present disclosure provides pathways for the preparation of trans-2-unsaturated aldehydes, delta-lactones, and gamma-lactones by reacting aldehydes in the presence of aldolases.

Methods and microorganisms for producing flavors and fragrance chemicals

A non-naturally occurring microorganism having a 1,3-BDO pathway is provided. The microorganism expresses at least one of the following 1,3-BDO pathway enzymes: an aldolase that catalyzes condensation of two acetaldehydes to produce 3-hydroxybutanal; and an aldo-ketoreductase, oxidoreductase, aldehyde reductase or alcohol dehydrogenase that reduces 3-hydroxybutanal to 1,3-BDO. The organism may further express one or more enzymes for producing acetaldehyde. A biosynthetic process involves condensing two acetaldehyde molecules to 3-hydroxybutanal using an enzyme from class aldolases; and selectively reducing 3-hydroxybutanal to 1,3-BDO using an enzyme belonging to the class aldo-ketoreductase, oxidoreductase, aldehyde reductase or alcohol dehydrogenase. The process can further include producing acetaldehyde by a biosynthetic method.

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Pratish Gawand