Microorganisms engineered to use unconventional sources of phosphorous or sulfur

A method for converting a substrate to a product, the method comprising the step of

• contacting a genetically engineered yeast microorganism with the substrate to produce the product,
• wherein
• the genetically engineered yeast microorganism is a species of the genus Yarrowia, Saccharomyces or Arxula;
• the genetically engineered yeast microorganism has been transformed by a nucleic acid molecule;
• the nucleic acid molecule comprises a non-native gene, the non-native gene is not found within a native yeast microorganism of the same species as the genetically engineered yeast microorganism;
• and the non-native gene encodes for a non-native enzyme comprising NAD:phosphite oxidoreductase (phosphite dehydrogenase);
• and
• the substrate comprises a phosphorus-containing compound of any one of Formulas I-III;
• wherein
• the compound of formula I is
• wherein, independently for each occurrence,
• R is —H, —OH, alkyl, —OR2, —SH, or —SR2;
• R1 is —H, or alkyl;
• Y is O or S;
• Y1 is O or S;
• and
• R2 is alkyl;
• the compound of formula II is
• wherein, independently for each occurrence,
• R1 is —H, or alkyl;
• and
• Y1 is O or S;
• and
• the compound of formula III is
• wherein, independently for each occurrence,
• R3 is —H, —OH, —OR4, —SH, —SR4, halo, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl;
• and
• R4 is alkyl or aryl.