Processes for the production of hydroxycinnamic acids using polypeptides having tyrosine ammonia lyase activity

A method for producing a hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I:

• comprising:
• a) contacting a compound of general formula II:
• with a polypeptide to produce a hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I, wherein the polypeptide is selected from:
• i) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 3;
• or
• ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 3, wherein the polypeptide has tyrosine ammonia lyase activity;
• and
• b) measuring the concentration of said hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I or recovering said hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I;
• wherein each of R1, R3, and R4 is hydrogen (—H), and R2 is hydroxyl (—OH), or
• wherein R1 is methoxyl (—OCH3) or hydroxyl (—OH), R2 is hydroxyl (—OH), and each of R3 and R4 is hydrogen (—H).

A method for producing a hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I:

• comprising:
• a) contacting a recombinant host cell which has been genetically modified to express a heterologous polypeptide with a medium comprising a fermentable carbon substrate and/or a compound of the general formula II:
• to produce a hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I;
• wherein said heterologous polypeptide is selected from:
• i) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 3;
• or
• ii) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or 3, wherein the polypeptide has tyrosine ammonia lyase activity;
• and
• b) measuring the concentration of said hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I or recovering said hydroxycinnamic acid of general formula I;
• wherein each of R1, R3, and R4 is hydrogen (—H), and R2 is hydroxyl (—OH), or
• wherein R1 is methoxyl (—OCH3) or hydroxyl (—OH), R2 is hydroxyl (—OH), and each of R3 and R4 is hydrogen (—H).