Two-stage production of higher alcohols

A method for producing branched chain or higher alcohols comprising:

• providing a first bioreactor comprising a first biological catalyst system wherein the first bioreactor converts a feedstock comprising a carbon source into an amino acid product;
• providing a second bioreactor comprising a second biological catalyst system;
• wherein the amino acid product of the first bioreactor is introduced into the second bioreactor, and at least a portion of the amino acid product is converted in the second bioreactor into a branched chain or higher alcohol and a nitrogen byproduct,
• wherein the first biological catalyst system is not capable of producing the branched chain or higher alcohol,
• wherein the first biological catalyst system comprises at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH, EC No. 1.4.1.9), threonine amino-lyase (ilvA, EC No. 4.3.1.19), acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (ilvC, EC No. 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (ilvD, No. 4.2.1.9), L-threonine dehydrase (tdcB, EC No. 4.3.1.17), acetolactate synthase (AlsS, EC No. 2.2.1.6), isopropylmalate synthase (LeuA, EC No. 2.3.3.13), isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (LeuB, EC No. 1.1.1.85), lactate dehydrogenase (LdhA, EC No. 1.1.1.27), EC No. 2.6.1.42, and EC number 4.2.1.33;
• and
• wherein the second biological catalyst system comprises at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of leucine dehydrogenase (LeuDH, EC No. 1.4.1.9), alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) (YqhD, EC No. 1.1.1.2), alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhP, EC No. 1.1.1.1), lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh, EC No. 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (AlsS, EC No. 2.2.1.6), acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (ilvC, No. 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (ilvD, No. 4.2.1.9), lactate dehydrogenase (LdhA, EC No. 1.1.1.27), E.C. number 1.1.1.265, E.C. number 1.4.1.2, E.C. number 1.4.1.3, E.C. number 1.4.1.4, E.C. number 1.4.1.8, E.C. number 1.4.1.20, E.C. number 4.1.1.72, E.C. number 4.1.1.74, E.C. number 4.3.1.1, E.C. number 4.3.1.17, E.C. number 4.3.1.18, E.C. number 4.3.1.19, E.C. number 4.3.1.23, E.C. number 4.3.1.24, and E.C. number 4.3.1.25.