METHODS OF MAKING VANILLIN VIA MICROBIAL FERMENTATION UTILIZING FERULIC ACID PROVIDED BY A MODIFIED CAFFEIC ACID 3-O-METHYLTRANSFERASE

摘要

This disclosure provides a method of making vanillin including expressing 4- hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hyrdroxylase, caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, methionine synthase, feruloyl-CoA synthetase, and enoyl-CoA hydratase/aldolase in a mixture, feeding p-coumaric acid to the mixture, and collecting vanillin. It further includes an enzyme, such as caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, that facilitates the increased conversion of caffeic acid to ferulic acid, wherein the enzyme has been modified at a residue that allows for increased methylation of ferulic acid, and a method of using the enzyme in the making of ferulic acid followed by vanillin.