Patent ID: 7226761

Claim:
A method for the production of xylitol, said method comprising: (A) cultivating a genetically modified xylulose-5-phosphate producing, bacterial, yeast or fungal host, the genetic modification of which increases the expression of xylitol phosphate dehydrogenase in said host during said cultivating as compared to said activity in said host prior to being genetically modified, on a carbon source other than D-xylose, D-xylulose, mixtures of D-xylose and D-xylulose, and polymers and oligomers containing D-xylose or D-xylulose as major components, wherein said modification comprises introducing one or more genes encoding said xylitol phosphate dehydrogenase to said host wherein said xylitol phosphate dehydrogenase is L. rhamnosus xylitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase or B. halodurans xylitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. or C. difficile xylitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase; (B) producing xylitol during said cultivating of part (A) by using said host to convert one or more pentose phosphate metabolic pathway intermediates in said host into said xylitol; and (C) recovering said xylitol that is produced in part (B); wherein the amount or rate of said xylitol production in said genetically modified microbial host is enhanced as compared to said amount or rate of xylitol production in said host prior to being said genetically modified.