Method for the in vivo synthesis of 4-hydroxymethylfurfural and derivatives thereof

A method of producing 4-HMF from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), the method comprising:

• (a) providing G3P in the presence of a methyl phosphate synthase that catalyzes a conversion of G3P to (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate;
• and
• (b) providing the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate from step (a) to a phosphatase that catalyzes a conversion of the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate to 4-hydroxymethylfurfural (4-HMF);
• wherein the phosphatase is a haloacid dehalogenase or comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 28, any one of SEQ ID Nos:
• 40-52, or any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 53-68.

A method of producing 2,4 FDME from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), the method comprising:

• (a) providing G3P in the presence of a methyl phosphate synthase that catalyzes a conversion of G3P to (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate;
• (b) providing the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate from step (a) to a phosphatase that catalyzes a conversion of the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate to 4-hydroxymethylfurfural (4-HMF);
• and
• (c) providing the 4-hydroxymethylfurfural (4-HMF) from step (b) to a dehydrogenase that catalyzes a conversion of 4-HMF to 2,4-FDME;
• wherein the phosphatase is a haloacid dehalogenase or comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 28, any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 40-52, or any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 53-68.

A method of producing a furanic compound from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), the method comprising:

• (a) providing G3P in the presence of a methyl phosphate synthase that catalyzes a conversion of G3P to (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate;
• (b) providing the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate from step (a) to a phosphatase that catalyzes a conversion of the (5-formylfuran-3-yl)methyl phosphate to 4-hydroxymethylfurfural (4-HMF);
• and
• (c) providing the 4-HMF from step (b) to an oxidase, a dehydrogenase and/or a peroxygenase that catalyze(s) an oxidation of 4-HMF to one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of:
• furan-2,4-dicarbaldehyde, 4-(hydroxymethyl) furoic acid, and 4-formylfuran-2-carboxylate;
• wherein the phosphatase is a haloacid dehalogenase or comprises an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 28, any one of SEQ ID NOs 40-52, or any one of SEQ ID NOs 53-68.