Bioconversion of short-chain hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals

A method of producing a product comprising growing a genetically engineered bacteria in a culture broth containing a C1-C5 alkane and a terminal electron acceptor,

• wherein said genetically engineered bacteria converts the alkane to the product by oxygen-independent activation of the alkane, generating precursor intermediate acetyl-CoA, and producing a product from the acetyl-CoA, and
• wherein the genetically engineered bacteria selected from the group consisting of E. coli, Bacillus, Streptomyces,Azotobacter, Trichoderma, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Nitrobacter, Proteus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Lactococcus, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Paracoccus, Methanosarcina, and Methylococcus comprises a vector expressing enzymes or overexpressing enzymes catalyzing:
• a) a sequence of reactions for the oxygen-independent activation of the alkane via fumarate addition to a 2-methyl-alkyl-succinate and subsequent conversion of said 2-methyl-alkyl-succinate to an acyl-CoA;
• b) a sequence of reactions for the generation of the product precursor acetyl-CoA and an acyl-CoA or keto-acid from said acyl-CoA;
• c) a sequence of reactions for the regeneration of the fumarate through the conversion of said acyl-CoA or keto-acid to the fumarate;
• and
• d) a sequence of reactions for the formation of the product from said product precursor acetyl-CoA;
• wherein the alkane is the sole carbon source in the broth that can be activated;
• wherein the enzymes comprise an alkyl succinate synthase that catalyzes the addition of the fumarate to the alkane to produce the 2-methyl-alkyl-succinate;
• wherein one or more of the enzymes are overexpressed;
• and
• wherein the method further comprises isolating the product formed in step d).