S129: Renewable detergent alcohols

Detergent alcohols are produced from petrochemical or oleochemical sources but alternatives are desired to reduce supply risks, decrease price volatility and provide geographic flexibility from renewable resources.  We have demonstrated a novel method of producing detergent alcohols by fermentation of a variety of sugars directly to fatty alcohols.  We describe the discovery, over-expression and optimization of a fatty acyl reductase from Marinobacter species, which transforms intermediates of the normal fatty acid synthesis pathway directly into fatty alcohols.  These alcohols are secreted from the organism after production and can be readily isolated from fermentation broth and upgraded to form detergent alcohols.