Patent ID: 7524660

Claim:
A process for the microbial production of glycerol and glycerol derivatives comprising: (a) providing a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system negative (PTS − ) microorganism expressing an endogenous fructose transport protein activity wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Escherichia, Citrobacter, Klebsiella and Aerobacter; (b) modifying the microorganism of step (a) to increase fructokinase activity in the microorganism by expressing an Agrobacterium or Streptococcus scrK gene, which encodes a fructokinase; (c) culturing the microorganism of step (b) in a fructose-containing medium, whereby the microorganism utilizes fructose to produce glycerol and one or more glycerol derivatives selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA), methylglyoxal, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-propanediol; and (d) optionally, recovering the glycerol or one or more glycerol derivatives selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA), methylglyoxal, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-propanediol, or combinations thereof.