Method for the production of glycerol by recombinant organisms

Abstract

Recombinant organisms are provided comprising genes encoding a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and/or a glycerol-3-phosphatase activity useful for the production of glycerol from a variety of carbon substrates. The organisms further contain disruptions in the endogenous genes encoding proteins having glycerol kinase and glycerol dehydrogenase activities.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
     
     
         17 . A method for the production of 1,3-propanediol from a recombinant organism comprising: 
 (i) transforming a suitable host cell with an expression cassette comprising either one or both of    (a) a gene encoding a protein having glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and    (b) a gene encoding a protein having glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatase activity, the suitable host cell having at least one gene encoding a protein having a dehydratase activity and having a disruption in either one or both of:    (a) an endogenous gene encoding a polypeptide having glycerol kinase activity, and    (b) an endogenous gene encoding a polypeptide having glycerol dehydrogenase activity, wherein the disruption in the genes of (a) or (b) prevents the expression of active gene product;    (ii) culturing the transformed host cell of (i) in the presence of at least one carbon source selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and single-carbon substrates whereby 1,3-propanediol is produced; and    (iii) recovering the 1,3-propanediol produced in (ii).    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the protein having a dehydratase activity is selected from the group consisting of a glycerol dehydratase enzyme and a diol dehydratase enzyme.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the glycerol dehydratase enzyme is encoded by a gene, the gene isolated from a microorganism, the microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Pelobacter, Ilyobacter , and  Clostridium.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the diol dehydratase enzyme is encoded by a gene, the gene isolated from a microorganism, the microorganism selected from the group consisting of  Klebsiella  and  Salmonella.    
     
     
         21 . (canceled)