| Description | 3-Hydroxypropanal is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial substance termed reuterin produced by Lactobacillus reuteri. L. reuteri resides in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy humans and animals, and is believed to. function as a symbiont in the enteric ecosystem. Synthesis of such an antimicrobial substance by an enteric resident raises a number of interesting questions and possibilities as to the role these residents may play in the health of the host. (PMID 3245697 ). In vivo, glycerol is converted in one enzymatic step into 3-Hydroxypropanal. The 3-Hydroxypropanal -producing Lactobacillus reuteri is used as a probiotic in the health care of humans and animals. 3-Hydroxypropanal forms, together with Hydroxypropanal-hydrate and Hydroxypropanal-dimer, a dynamic, multi-component system (Hydroxypropanal system) used in food preservation, as a precursor for many modern chemicals such as acrolein, acrylic acid, and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), and for polymer production. 3-Hydroxypropanal can be obtained both through traditional chemistry and bacterial fermentation. To date, 3-HPA has been produced from petrochemical resources as an intermediate in 1,3-PDO production. The biotechnological production of 3-Hydroxypropanal from renewable resources is desirable both for use of 3-Hydroxypropanal in foods and for the production of bulk chemicals. The main challenge will be the efficient production and recovery of pure 3-Hydroxypropanal. (PMID 14669058 ). |
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