Use of sucrose as substrate for fermentative production of 1,2-propanediol

Abstract

The present invention is relative to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol by fermentation, comprising: cultivating a microorganism producing 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate medium comprising a source of sucrose, and recovering the 1,2-propanediol being produced, wherein the microorganism is able to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source for the production of 1,2-propanediol. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the source of sucrose is obtained from plant biomass, and is in particular sugar cane juice.

1 . A Method for producing 1,2-propanediol by fermentation, comprising:
 cultivating a microorganism producing 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate medium comprising a source of sucrose, and   recovering the 1,2-propanediol being produced,   wherein the microorganism is able to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source for the production of 1,2-propanediol.   
     
     
         2 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism has been genetically modified to be able to utilize sucrose as said sole carbon source. 
     
     
         3 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism has functional genes coding for a PTS sucrose utilization system. 
     
     
         4 . A Method according to  claim 3  wherein the microorganism has been modified by introduction of genes scrKYABR. 
     
     
         5 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism has functional genes coding for a non-PTS sucrose utilization system. 
     
     
         6 . A Method according to  claim 5  wherein the microorganism has been modified with the introduction of genes cscBKAR. 
     
     
         7 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, yeast and fungi. 
     
     
         8 . A Method according to  claim 7  wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Clostridiaceae, Streptomycetaceae and Corynebacteriaceae. 
     
     
         9 . A Method according to  claim 8  wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of  Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum, Clostridium sphenoides  and  Saccharomyces cerevisiae.    
     
     
         10 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said source of sucrose is obtained from biomass. 
     
     
         11 . A Method according to  claim 10 , wherein said source of sucrose is obtained from a plant selected from the group consisting of: sugarcane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, sugar maple, sugar palm and blue agave. 
     
     
         12 . A Method according to  claim 10 , wherein said source of sucrose is under form of a juice, a concentrated juice or syrup, a clarified juice, molasses and/or crystallized sucrose. 
     
     
         13 . A Method according to  claim 10  wherein said sucrose source is a final product, an intermediate product and/or a by-product of sugarcane and/or sugar beet industry. 
     
     
         14 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate medium consists of the source of sucrose. 
     
     
         15 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate medium comprises at least a source of phosphorus and/or a source of nitrogen in addition to the source of sucrose. 
     
     
         16 . A Method according to  claim 1 , wherein said sucrose source comprises at least 7% sucrose. 
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 10 , wherein said biomass comprises plant biomass.