Synthesis of catechol from biomass-derived carbon sources
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsJohn W. Frost, Karen M. Draths
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Abstract
A method is provided for synthesizing catechol from a biomass-derived carbon source capable of being used as a host cell having a common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis. The method comprises the steps of biocatalytically converting the carbon source to 3-dehydroshikimate in said host cell, biocatalytically converting the DHS to protocatechuate, and decarboxylating the protocatechuate to form catechol. Also provided is a heterologous E. coli transformant characterized by the expression of genes encoding transhetolase, DAHP synthase, and DHQ synthase, further characterized by the constitutive expression of structural genes encoding 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase and protocatechuate decarboxylase.
Claims9
A method for producing catechol, said method comprising the step of culturing a prokaryotic host cell belonging to the genera Escherichia or Klebsiella, which converts a carbon source to 3-dehydroshikimate by enzymes in the common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis endogenous to said host cell and further characterized by the expression of heterologous genes encoding 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase and protocatechuate decarboxylase, in a medium containing said carbon source wherein the carbon source is converted biocatalytically to catechol at a rate greater than 0.21 millimoles/liter/hour.
A method for producing catechol biocatalytically, said method comprising the step of culturing a prokaryotic host cell belonging to the genera Escherichia or Klebsiella, which converts a carbon source to 3-dehydroshikimate by enzymes in the common pathway of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis endogenous to said host cell, transformed with heterologous genes which express the enzyme species 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase and protocatechuate decarboxylase, in the presence of a carbon source to produce catechol at a rate greater than 0.21 millimoles/liter/hour.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.