Production of α-Terpineol from Escherichia coli Cells Expressing Thermostable Limonene Hydratase

Abstract

The genes encoding a thermostable limonene hydratase have been located on a cloned fragment in Escherichia coli conferring growth on limonene and production of the monoterpenes perillyl alcohol and alpha-terpineol. Whole cell bioconversion studies at elevated temperature employing both an aqueous phase and neat limonene phase demonstrated significant production of alpha-terpineol with additional production of carvone.