Innovative and Low Cost Process to Produce Isoamyl Acetate using Metabolically Engineered E.Coli

Natural flavor compounds find wide applications in the food, feed, cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical industry, and isoamyl acetate is an important flavor ester. In this research program, a low-cost process is proposed to convert glucose from renewable sources to isoamyl acetate using a high-yielding metabolically engineered E coli. Isoamyl acetate produced via chemical synthesis results in an undesirable racemic mixture. The fermentation route followed in this program will result in high yields of "natural" isoamyl acetate with additional usage in food industry along with other uses The proposed research will lay the foundation for isoamyl acetate biosynthesis at high yield from renewable sugars. Successful outcome of the project will provide a platform for the low-cost production of additional high-valued natural esters.