Host cells and methods for producing diacid compounds

A recombinant genetically modified host cell comprising:

• (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that has at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NO:1-9 wherein the polypeptide is capable of catalyzing a methyl transfer to an acyl-ACP species with a free carboxylate group distal to the thioester bond to form a first intermediate compound, (b) enzymes having enzymatic activities that elongates the first intermediate molecule to form a second intermediate compound, wherein the enzymes of step (b) are fatty acid synthase (FAS), and (c) a cytosolic thiosterase (′TesA) that catalyzes a release of the first or second intermediate molecule from the ACP through thioester hydrolysis to form an α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) having the chemical formula:
• and/or a mono-methyl ester derivative of dicarboxylic acids (DCAMME) having the chemical formula:
• wherein n is an integer from 1 to 30;
• wherein the recombinant genetically modified host cell is reduced or lacks a pimeloyl-acyl carrier protein methyl ester esterase (BioH) enzymatic activity, wherein if the unmodified host cell has a native BioH enzymatic activity then the native BioH has a reduced expression or is knocked-out.