Host cells and methods for producing diacid compounds

1. A recombinant genetically modified host cell comprising:

(a) a S-adenosyl-methionine-dependent methyl transferase (BioC) that catalyzes a methyl transfer to an acyl-ACP species with a free carboxylate group distal to the thioester bond to form a first intermediate compound, (b) enzymes having enzymatic activities that elongates the first intermediate molecule to form a second intermediate compound, wherein the enzymes of step (b) are fatty acid synthase (FAS), and (c) a cytosolic thiosterase (‘TesA) that catalyzes a release of the first or second intermediate molecule from the ACP through thioester hydrolysis to form an α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) having the chemical formula:

and/or a mono-methyl ester derivative of dicarboxylic acids (DCAMME) having the chemical formula:

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 30;

wherein the recombinant genetically modified host cell is reduced or lacks a pimeloyl-acyl carrier protein methyl ester esterase (BioH) enzymatic activity, wherein if the unmodified host cell has a native BioH enzymatic activity then the native BioH has a reduced expression or is knocked-out.

2. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 1 , wherein the ‘TesA catalyzes the release of the first or second intermediate molecule from the ACP through thioester hydrolysis to form the DCAMME having the chemical formula:

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 30.

3. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 1 , wherein the ‘TesA catalyzes the release of the first or second intermediate molecule from the ACP through thioester hydrolysis to form the DCA having the chemical formula:

wherein n is an integer from 1 to 30.

4. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 1 , wherein the DCA comprises a main carbon chain with an odd number of carbon atoms.

5. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 3 , wherein the DCA is a C7 diacid, C9 diacid, C11 diacid, C13 diacid, C15 diacid, C17 diacid, C19 diacid, C21 diacid, C23 diacid, or C25 diacid.

6. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 1 , wherein the DCA is a C6 diacid, C8 diacid, C10 diacid, C12 diacid, C14 diacid, C16 diacid, C18 diacid, C20 diacid, C22 diacid, C24 diacid, or C26 diacid.

7. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 1 , wherein the host cell is a yeast cell or a bacterial cell.

8. The recombinant genetically modified host cell of claim 7 , wherein the host cell is an Escherichia or Bacillus cell.

9. A method for producing dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) and mono-methyl ester derivatives of dicarboxylic acids (DCAMMEs) comprising:

(a) providing the genetically modified host cell of claim 1 ,

(b) culturing or growing the genetically modified host cell such that a DCA and/or a DCAMME is produced,

(c) optionally separating the DCA and/or the DCAMME from the genetically modified host cell, and

(d) optionally polymerizing the DCA and/or the DCAMME into a polyester or polyamide polymer.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polymerizing step comprises reacting the DCA with a diamine to produce a nylon.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the diamine is an alkane diamine.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polymerizing step comprises reacting the DCA with a dialcohol to produce a polyester.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dialcohol is an alkane diol.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the alkane diol is ethylene glycol, propane diol, or butanediol.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprises converting the DCA into a macrocyclic musk.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the DCA is brassylic acid and the macrocyclic musk is ethylene brassylate.