Abstract: The invention provides a simple and effective method for increasing thermal stability of a wide range of proteins, comprising fusing a self-assembling amphipathic peptide to the C- or N-terminal of target proteins. The fusion protein can have a half life up to 26 times longer than that of the wild type protein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified glucose dehydrogenases that has dramatically increased productivity in Escherichia coli and dramatically increased thermal stability, which is obtained by introducing specific amino acid mutations to glucose dehydrogenase derived from Botryotinia fuckeliana. Also disclosed is a modified glucose dehydrogenases that has dramatically increased productivity in E. coli and dramatically increased thermal stability, which is obtained by replacing two amino acid residues in glucose dehydrogenase of fungal origin with cysteine residues. The novel glucose dehydrogenase has a low reactivity to xylose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides for methods for the production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in cells via the heterologous expression of phosphoketolase enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chimeric protein having the biochemical activity of a surface active protein, wherein said chimeric protein comprises: (a) an N-terminal portion of a first surface active protein, wherein the N-terminal portion is devoid of between 0 and 10 of the most N-terminal amino acids of the mature first surface active protein; and, C-terminally thereof, (b) a C-terminal portion of a second surface active protein, wherein the C-terminal portion is devoid of between 0 and 10 of the most C-terminal amino acids of the mature second surface active protein. The present invention further relates to a vector, a non-human host and a method for the production of a chimeric protein having the biochemical activity of a surface active protein. In addition, the present invention relates to a chimeric protein encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a composition comprising the chimeric protein.

Abstract: Presented herein are methods of using cell wall degrading enzymes for recovery of internal lipid bodies from biomass sources such as algae. Also provided are algal cells that express at least one exogenous gene encoding a cell wall degrading enzyme and methods for recovering lipids from the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to production of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic material by enzymatic conversion. The fermentable sugars are useful e.g. in the production of bioethanol. Novel polypeptides having endoglucanase activity, polynucleotides encoding them and vectors and host cells containing the polynucleotides are disclosed. A method for treating cellulosic material with the novel endoglucanase as well as uses of the enzymes and enzyme preparations and a method of preparing them are described.

Abstract: A process for production of poly (? 1,3 glucan) from a renewable feedstock, for applications in fibers, films, and pulps. The effect of addition of tetraborate in increasing the yield of the desired end products, poly (? 1,3 glucan) and fructose, and decreasing formation of the undesired by-product leucrose.

Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid includes culturing a bacterium which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and has an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing a carbon source selected from a fatty acid and an alcohol, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium. A bacterium which has been subjected to a modification including at least one of enhancement of oxyS gene expression, enhancement of fixABC gene expression, and combination thereof, is used as the bacterium, or a substance that reduces intracellular hydrogen peroxide concentration of the bacterium is added to the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing 3-hydroxypropionic acid by culturing in a glycerol-containing medium a mutant microorganism obtained by inserting or amplifying a gene encoding propanediol utilization protein in a microorganism having the abilities to produce coenzyme B12 and produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid using glycerol as a carbon source. According to the present invention, 3-hydroxypropionic acid can be produced in high yield from glycerol without having to add expensive coenzyme B12 as a cofactor.

Abstract: The production of a diutan polysaccharide exhibiting increased viscosity properties as compared with previously produced polysaccharide of the same type of repeating units. Such an improved diutan polysaccharide is produced through the generation of a derivative of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159 that harbors a multicopy broad host range plasmid into which genes for biosynthesis of diutan polysaccharide have been cloned. The inventive methods of production of such an improved diutan polysaccharide, as well as the novel cloned genes required to produce the improved diutan within such a method, are also encompassed within this invention. Additionally, the novel engineered Sphingomonas strain including the needed DNA sequence is encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism variant having the ability to produce hydrocarbons, including alkane, and a method of producing hydrocarbons, including alkane, using the same, and more particularly, to a microorganism variant obtained by introducing a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty acyl-acp to free fatty acid, a gene encoding an enzyme converting free fatty acid to fatty acyl-CoA, a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty acyl-CoA to fatty aldehyde and a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty aldehyde to alkane into a microorganism improved so as to be suitable for the production of hydrocarbons, including alkane, and a method of producing hydrocarbons, including alkane, using the same. The microorganism variant of the present invention has high potential to be used to improve strains by additional metabolic flux engineering, and thus is useful for the industrial production of hydrocarbons, including alkane.

Abstract: An in vitro method to produce a glycoside is described which includes the steps of contacting the cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium stercorarium with alpha-glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-galactose-1-phosphate and an acceptor, and glycosylating the acceptor. The acceptor may be an alkyl beta-glucoside, an aryl beta-glucoside, a glucolipid, an alkyl beta-sophoroside, an aryl beta-sophoroside or a sophorolipid. Alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids are produced when alpha-glucose-1-phosphate is used as donor. Corresponding lactosides are produced when alpha-galactose-1-phosphate is used as donor.

Abstract: Provided herein are diterpene synthases (diTPS) and methods for producing diterpenoids. Also provided herein are nucleic acid sequences encoding diTPS, diTPS amino acid sequences, diTPS proteins, vectors, cells, transgenic organisms, uses, compositions, methods, processes, and kits thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for improving the xylose-metabolizing ability of a yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability. The method comprises steps of: soaking the yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability in an acetic-acid-containing solution; and then, culturing the yeast strain in a xylose-containing medium to perform ethanol fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Provided is a novel high-expression promoter, namely a GAL1 promoter, derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus. Also provided are the following, characterized by the use of the provided high-expression promoter; a recombinant polynucleotide containing said high-expression promoter; a vector containing said recombinant polynucleotide; a transformant obtained by introducing said recombinant polynucleotide or vector into yeast; a method using said transformant for high expression of a target gene; and a method using said transformant to manufacture the gene product of a target gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method for manufacturing textile, by treating textile with an isolated polypeptide having endoglucanase activity, especially in biostoning and bio-polishing process.

Abstract: A substitution mutation that improves polymerization activity of a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase is identified. At least 1 amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of a histidine residue at position 17, a proline residue at position 71, a valine residue at position 131, a methionine residue at position 205, a leucine residue at position 230, and a proline residue at position 239 of a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid synthase derived from Alcanivorax borkumensis is subjected to substitution mutation with another amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.