Abstract: The invention relates to the field of recombinant DNA technology for the production of chondroitin, including the production of chondroitin sulfate via a combination of recombinant bacterial fermentation and post-fermentation sulfation.

Abstract: Provided herein are polypeptides having ketol-aid reductoisomerase activity as well as microbial host cells comprising such polypeptides. Polypeptides provided herein may be used in biosynthetic pathways, including, but not limited to, isobutanol biosynthetic pathways.

Abstract: Methods of producing a bioplastic are disclosed. Furthermore, chimeric polypeptides useful to transport polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are disclosed, as are polynucleotides that code for the chimeric polypeptides, cells harboring the chimeric polypeptides and methods of transporting PHAs.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel truncated mutated T4 RNA ligase 2. In addition, methods are provided for ligating pre-adenlylated donor molecules to the 3? hydroxyl group of RNA in the absence of ATP using the ligase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of succinic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate by fermentation of a carbohydrate source, in the presence of a magnesium base; b) processing the aqueous medium wherein the magnesium succinate is treated with a monovalent base, prior to or after a crystallization step, to provide a magnesium base and an aqueous solution comprising a monovalent succinate salt; c) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent succinate salt to between 10 and 35 wt. %; d) subjecting the aqueous solution to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt, the electrodialysis causing conversion of 40 to 95 mole %; e) separating the second solution into succinic acid and the monovalent succinate salt by crystallization; f) recycling the monovalent succinate salt solution of step e) to step d).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant of Monascus purpureus NTU 568, a nucleotide sequence for Monascus purpureus NTU 568 and primers for nucleotide sequence of Monascus purpureus NTU 568, wherein the Monascus purpureus NTU 568 having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 2 or SEQ ID NO 3 is deposited with Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany) on Nov. 18, 2013, with the accession number of DSM 28072. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence for NTU 568 and the primers for the nucleotide sequence are proposed in order to facilitate the person skilled in Monascus purpureus filed capable of carrying out the strain (mutant) identification of the NTU 568 according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of laundering fabric which uses a pourable liquid detergent composition comprising 10-40% wt of surfactant, essentially consisting of nonionic and/or anionic surfactant (typically less than 90% wt LAS and at least 10% wt of nonionic surfactant) in which 10-40% wt of surfactant preferably passes the Calcium Tolerance Test described in the patent. The composition comprises no more than 15% wt of soap, (present as a minority in wt % terms of the total surfactant). In the method, the composition is diluted by a factor of greater than 500 to obtain a wash liquor which comprises 0.8-0.05 g/l of surfactant, and, the wash liquor is contacted with fabrics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are engineered cleavage half-domains; fusion polypeptides comprising these engineered cleavage half-domains; polynucleotides encoding the engineered cleavage half-domains and fusion proteins; and cells comprising said polynucleotides and/or fusion proteins. Also described are methods of using these polypeptides and polynucleotides, for example for targeted cleavage of a genomic sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods and compositions for production of recombinant I2S protein with improved potency and activity using cells co-express I2S and FGE protein. In some embodiments, cells according to the present invention are engineered to simultaneously over-express recombinant I2S and FGE proteins. Cells according to the invention are adaptable to various cell culture conditions. In some embodiments, cells of the present invention adaptable to a large-scale suspension serum-free culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lactobacillus mutant, a nucleotide sequence for lactobacillus mutant, and primers for nucleotide sequence of lactobacillus mutant. The lactobacillus mutant is Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO 1, and deposited with Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ, Inhoffenstr. 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany) on Nov. 18, 2013, wherein the accession number of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 is DSM 28047. In the present invention, a nucleotide sequence for NTU 101 and the primers for the nucleotide sequence are proposed in order to facilitate the person skilled in Lactobacillus filed capable of carrying out the strain (mutant) identification of the NTU 101 according to the present invention.

Abstract: A multifunctional polypeptide capable of hydrolyzing cellulosic materials, xylan, and mannan is disclosed. The polypeptide includes the catalytic core (cc) of Clostridium thermocellum Cthe_0797 (CelE), the cellulose-specific carbohydrate-binding module CBM3 of the cellulosome anchoring protein cohesion region (CipA) of Clostridium thermocellum (CBM3a), and a linker region interposed between the catalytic core and the cellulose-specific carbohydrate binding module. Methods of using the multifunctional polypeptide are also disclosed.

Abstract: Synthetic, derivative promoters for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and related bacteria were created. The promoters have a C to T change in the nucleotide at position 90 of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene promoter. Promoters with this change have higher expression as compared to the native promoter from which they are derived and are useful for genetic engineering for expressing coding regions or regulatory RNA to obtain high levels of expressed proteins or regulatory RNAs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic phytase with elevated thermostability, elevated stability to acids at p H 2, elevated stability to pepsin and with a broadened active p H range, and to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a synthetic phytase and to the use of the phytase in an animal feed for reducing the phosphate content in the slurry and to animal feed additives and animal feeds comprising the synthetic phytase.

Abstract: The present invention provides culture mediums that are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins, such as ADAMTS13. Methods for the expression and purification of ADAMTS proteins are also provided. In some embodiments, the mediums and methods of the invention are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins having high specific activities. Also provided are ADAMTS, e.g., ADAMTS13, protein compositions with high specific activities, which are expressed and purified according to the methods provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for altering the color of bacterial bioluminescence via a fusion protein complex by fusing Discosoma sp. fluorescent protein mOrange (mOrange) with Vibrio harveyi luciferase. The fusion of mOrange to the N- or C-terminus of either ? or ? subunit of luciferase, via a short peptide linker produces fully active fusion enzymes. The fusion of mOrange to the N-terminus of luciferase ? gives rise to a new 560-nm emission component. The same methodology may be used to alter bacterial bioluminescence color by covalent attachment of other suitable fluorescent proteins or chromophores to luciferase for generating multi-color sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of inducible promoters in the production of glycolic acid by fermentation. The present invention concerns a method for the production of glycolic acid in a fermentative process comprising the following steps: culturing a modified microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a source of carbon, modulating in said microorganism the expression of a target gene with an external stimulus, and recovering glycolic acid from the culture medium, wherein in said modified microorganism, the expression of at least one gene involved in glycolic acid production is under the control of a heterologous inducible promoter whose activity is modulated with said external stimulus. The invention also concerned the modified microorganism used in the method of glycolic acid production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutants of Streptokinase, its functional fragments and covalently modified forms. Methods are provided for the preparation of the bacterial plasminogen activator protein, Streptokinase its muteins, species variants and their covalently modified variants that are characterized by improved therapeutic properties, such as increased proteolytic stability, extended plasma half-lives, reduced immuno-reactivity and enhanced fibrin clot specificity. The method involves either incorporating additional cysteine residues, or substituting cysteine residues for naturally occurring amino acids into non-essential regions of the protein such that the catalytic activity of the resultant protein remains largely unaltered. These cysteine variants were further modified by covalently attaching a cysteine reactive polymer such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sulfhydryl-reactive moieties from a group that includes fluorophore, spin labels or other small conjugates.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of mature proteases in bacterial host cells. The compositions include modified polynucleotides that encode modified proteases, which have at least one mutation in the pro region; the modified serine proteases encoded by the modified polynucleotides; expression cassettes, DNA constructs, and vectors comprising the modified polynucleotides that encode the modified proteases; and the bacterial host cells transformed with the vectors of the invention. The methods include methods for enhancing the production of mature proteases in bacterial host cells e.g. Bacillus sp. host cells. The produced proteases find use in the industrial production of enzymes, suitable for use in various industries, including but not limited to the cleaning, animal feed and textile processing industry.

Abstract: An assay to detect ghrelin O-acyltransferase activity using an acrylodan-labeled peptide mimic of ghrelin that provides for high-throughput screening for ghrelin O-acyltransferase inhibitors and detection via high performance liquid chromatography. Alternatively, the assay for ghrelin acylation may be based on a synthetic peptide substrate that mimics the N-terminal sequence of ghrelin and has an environmentally-sensitive fluorophore attached to its C-terminal amino acid through chemoselective ligation.