Abstract: The present invention invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a mutant phytase and the isolated mutant phytase itself. The present invention further relates to methods of using the isolated nucleic acid molecule and the isolated mutant phytase of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fusion protein which delivers a functional protein or peptide into a cell at enhanced efficiency. The fusion protein of the present invention is a transduction domain-target protein-transduction domain fusion protein, wherein the transduction domain, which comprises 6-12 amino acid residues whose more than ¾ consist of arginine or lysine residues, is covalently bonded to each of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal ends of the target protein. Green fluorescence protein and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutate (SOD) are used as the target protein.

Abstract: The cloning of a fourth mouse SCD gene, mSCD4, as well as its corresponding cDNA and amino acid sequences are disclosed. Mouse SCD4 is expressed mainly in the heart tissue and synthesizes the bulk of monounsaturated fatty acids in the heart. The disclosure here enables new tools (e.g., nucleic acids, polypeptides, antibodies, vectors, recombinant cells, and transgenic and knock-out animals) for studying the function of various SCD isoforms and their connection to various disease conditions. New tools for converting saturated fatty acyl-CoA to monounsaturated acyl-CoA and for identifying SCD modulators including isoform-specific modulators are also enabled. In addition, given that accumulation of lipid in the heart (fatty heart) can have deleterious consequences, the present invention also provides a new prevention and treatment target for fatty heart as well as methods for screening candidate drugs.

Abstract: A method is described to assay for protein interactions in living cells, e.g. by the introduction of two heterologous conjugates into the cell. The method uses the measurement of cellular distribution of a detectable component (e.g. a GFP-labeled˜fluorescent probe) to indicate the presence or absence of an interaction between that component and a second component of interest. The method uses the knowledge that certain components can be stimulated to redistribute within the cell to defined locations. Inducible redistribution systems make it possible to determine if specific interactions occur between components. Inducible systems are described where it is demonstrated that the redistribution stimuli are essentially “null”, in that they affect no other system in the cell during the assay period, other than the component whose redistribution can be induced.

Abstract: This invention provides identification and characterization of racemases and definition of protein signatures of these racemases. This invention also provides identification of nucleic acid molecules encoding a peptide consisting of a motif characteristic of the protein signatures, and to the peptides consisting of these motifs. Antibodies specific for the peptides and to immune complexes of these antibodies with the peptides are also provided. Further, the invention relates to methods and kits for detecting racemases using the nucleic acid molecules of the invention, as well as the peptides consisting of the motifs and antibodies to these peptides.

Abstract: Silicatein is an enzyme of silicate-forming organisms used for the synthesis of their silicate scaffold. The present invention relates to the use of highly-expressed and highly active recombinant silicatein, silicatein isolated from natural sources after gene induction as well as silicatein-fusion proteins for the synthesis of amorphous silicon dioxide (silicic acids and silicates), siloxanes as well as modification of these compounds and their technical use.

Abstract: A DNA molecule is provided which comprises a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 8 having an open reading frame from base pair 227 to base pair 1831 or having at least 50% homology to the above-indicated sequence, or hybridizing with the above-indicated sequence under stringent conditions, or comprising a sequence which has degenerated to the above-indicated DNA sequence because of the genetic code, the sequence coding for a plant protein having ?1,2-xylosyltransferase activity or being complementary thereto.

Abstract: A protein, which is an aminoketone asymmetric reductase, having an effect of producing d-pseudoephedrine by acting on 1-2-methylaminopropiophenone, and having the following physiochemical properties: substrate: 1-2-methylaminopropiophenone optimum pH: pH 8.1 optimum temperature: 55° C. coenzyme: NADP molecular weight: about 28500 Da homotetramer and a nucleic acid coding the protein.