ENGINEERING AZOHYDROMONAS LATA AND RALSTONIA EUTROPHA FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROXY ACIDS.

The hydroxyacids 3-hydroxybutyrate and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate are chiral molecules that can be used as intermediates in the synthesis of high value products such as hormones, antibiotics and drugs. R. eutropha and A. lata were selected as the chassis for the production of these hydroxy acids because the accumulation of PHB in these organisms occurs at high rates as a non-growth and growth associated product, respectively, and PHB production as well as (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and acetyl-CoA are regulated at the enzyme level by the availability of NAD(P)H