Means and methods for producing isobutene from 3-methylcrotonic acid

Abstract

Described is a method for the production of isobutene from a carbon source characterized in that it comprises: (a) culturing a microorganism capable of producing 3-methylcrotonic acid from a carbon source in a liquid culture medium, thereby producing 3-methylcrotonic acid so that it accumulates in the liquid culture medium; and (b) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonic acid contained in the liquid culture medium obtained in step (a) into isobutene by: (i) incubating a microorganism expressing ap FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with an FMN prenyl transferase with liquid culture medium containing 3-methylcrotonic acid obtained in step (a); and/or (ii) incubating a FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with a FMN prenyl transferase with liquid culture medium containing 3-methylcrotonic acid obtained in step (a); thereby producing isobutene; and (c) recovering the produced isobutene.

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