University of Toronto

Radhakrishnan Mahadevan

Alexander Yakunin

Anna Khusnutdinova

Jeong Chan Joo

Pratish Gawand

Kayla Nemr

Aditya Vikram Pandit

A method for biosynthesis of polymer precursors, including, adipic acid, 1,6-hexanediol, 6-hydroxyhexanoic and 6-aminocaproic acids from carboxylic acids is provided. A method for biosynthesis of adipic acid from six-carbon dicarboxylic acids having α, β-enoate reductase activity by treatment with an enzyme is provided. The biocatalytic conversion of aliphatic and hydroxycarboxylic acids to corresponding aldehydes, alcohols, and amines using novel carboxylate reductases, aldehyde reductases, and aminotransferases is described. Also provided are genetically engineered microorganisms for use in the biosynthetic processes.

Process and microorganism for synthesis of adipic acid from carboxylic acids

Processes, systems and microorganisms are described herein for producing glycolate from ethylene glycol. The processes generally comprise supplying a fermentation broth into a fermentation vessel, wherein the fermentation broth comprises ethylene glycol and a microorganism having a functional metabolic pathway for utilizing ethylene glycol as a carbon source. In a growth phase, an oxygen-containing gas is injected into the fermentation broth to provide oxygen bio-availability conditions to promote cell growth of the microorganism and limit accumulation of glycolate in the fermentation broth. In a production phase, an oxygen-containing gas is injected into the fermentation broth to provide oxygen bio-availability conditions to promote production of glycolate from ethylene glycol by the microorganism and accumulation of the glycolate in the fermentation broth, to produce a glycolate enriched broth.

Production of glycolate from ethylene glycol and related microbial engineering

A method for biosynthesis of polymer precursors, including, adipic acid, 1,6-hexanediol, 6-hydroxyhexanoic and 6-aminocaproic acids from carboxylic acids is provided. A method for biosynthesis of adipic acid from six-carbon dicarboxylic acids having &#x3b1;, &#x3b2;-enoate reductase activity by treatment with an enzyme is provided. The biocatalytic conversion of aliphatic and hydroxycarboxylic acids to corresponding aldehydes, alcohols, and amines using novel carboxylate reductases, aldehyde reductases, and aminotransferases is described. Also provided are genetically engineered microorganisms for use in the biosynthetic processes.

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.

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Toronto, Canada

Radhakrishnan Mahadevan