Functionalized carboxylic acids and alcohols by reverse fatty acid oxidation

A genetically engineered microbe comprising:

• a) one or more overexpressed enzymes that allow the production of an omega-functionalized CoA thioester primer selected from oxalyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA, succinyl-CoA, hydroxyacetyl-CoA, 3-hydroxypropionyl-CoA, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, 2-aminoacetyl-CoA, 3-aminopropionoyl-CoA, 4-aminobutyrylCoA, isobutyryl-CoA, 3-methyl-butyryl-CoA, 2-hydroxypropionyl-CoA, 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, or 2-aminopropionyl-CoA;
• b) an overexpressed thiolase able to act on an omega-functionalized CoA thioester primer;
• c) an overexpressed 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase able to act on an omega-functionalized 3-ketoacyl-CoA substrate;
• d) an overexpressed enoyl-CoA hydratase or 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase able to act on an omega-functionalized 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA substrate;
• e) an overexpressed acyl-CoA dehydrogenase or trans-enoyl-CoA reductase able to act on an omega-functionalized trans-enoyl-CoA substrate;
• f) an overexpressed termination enzyme able to act on an omega-functionalized CoA-thioester substrate or their beta-functionalized derivatives, wherein said termination enzyme is selected from:
• i) a thioesterase, or an acyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA transferase, or a phosphotransacylase and a carboxylate kinase;
• ii) an alcohol-forming coenzyme-A thioester reductase;
• iii) an aldehyde-forming CoA thioester reductase and an alcohol dehydrogenase;
• iv) an aldehyde-forming CoA thioester reductase and an aldehyde decarbonylase;
• v) an olefin-forming enzyme;
• or
• vi) an aldehyde-forming CoA thioester reductase and a transaminase;
• and
• g) reduced expression of fermentation enzymes leading to reduced production of lactate, acetate, ethanol and succinate;
• wherein said microbe has a reverse beta oxidation pathway beginning with said primer and running in a biosynthetic direction.