Efficient production of α-acetolactate by whole cell catalytic transformation of fermentation-derived pyruvate.

An efficient approach for converting sugar into α-acetolactate, via pyruvate, was developed and tested successfully. Due to the anaerobic conditions used for the biotransformation, little diacetyl was generated, and this allowed for efficient biotransformation of pyruvate into α-acetolactate, with the highest titers reported to date. The use of a two-step procedure for producing α-acetolactate, where non-toxic pyruvate first is formed, and subsequently converted into α-acetolactate, also simplified the process optimization. We conclude that whole cell catalysis is suitable for converting lactose in dairy waste into α-acetolactate, which favors resource utilization.