Novel enzymes which dehydrate glycerol

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods and reagents for the production of 1,3-propanediol. In particular, the present invention provides novel thermophilic organisms and thermostable enzymes capable of catalyzing the fermentation of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol. The present invention also relates to methods of isolating such thermophilic organisms, methods of cloning polynucleotides that encode such enzymes, polynucleotides encoding such enzymes, and methods of using such enzymes and organisms for the production of 1,3-propanediol.

1 - 15 . Canceled  
     
     
         16 . An isolated thermostable glycerol fermentation enzyme that is derived from the culture or cells of the organism deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584 as claimed in  claim 46 .  
     
     
         17 . Canceled  
     
     
         18 . The isolated thermostable glycerol fermentation enzyme of  claim 16  that is a dehydratase.  
     
     
         19 . The enzyme of  claim 18  that is glycerol dehydratase.  
     
     
         20 . The enzyme of  claim 16  that is 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase.  
     
     
         21 . Canceled  
     
     
         22 . An isolated culture or cell of a strain of a thermophilic organism said strain comprising 
 a) a genome that is at least 95% identical to the genome of the organisms deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584 and    b) a 16S rDNA sequence that is at least 95% identical to the 16S rDNA of the organisms deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584,    wherein the strain of the thermophilic organism a) has a temperature range for growth of 33-64° C. at pH 6.0 and a pH range for growth from 5.0 to 7.6 at a temperature of 25° C. b) is capable of fermenting glycerol to 1.3-propanediol, and c) has cells which stain Gram-positive.    
     
     
         23 . The isolated culture or cell of  claim 22 , wherein the genome of the strain is at least 99% identical to the genome of the organisms deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584.  
     
     
         24 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         25 . The isolated culture or cell of  claim 22 , wherein the 16S rDNA sequence of the strain is at least 99% identical to the 16S rDNA of the organisms deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584.  
     
     
         26 - 45 . Canceled  
     
     
         46 . An isolated culture or cells of the organisms deposited as ATCC designation PTA-584.