Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutants with cyclase activity and use thereof in a method for biocatalytic cyclization of terpenes, such as in particular for the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal; a method for the preparation of menthol and methods for the biocatalytic conversion of further compounds with structural motifs similar to terpene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having alpha-glucuronidase activity, catalytic domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains. 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 or catalytic domains.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for preparing an intermediate for a diazepane compound which is an antagonist of orexin receptors, and which is useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.

Abstract: Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood to release fermentable simple sugars. Using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its gut symbionts, high-throughput titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches experimentally compared the effects of lignin-containing diets on host-symbiont digestome composition. Proteomic investigations and functional digestive studies with recombinant lignocellulases conducted in parallel provided strong evidence of congruence at the transcription and translational levels and provide enzymatic strategies for overcoming recalcitrant lignin barriers in biofuel feedstocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to polypeptides having glucanase, e.g., endoglucanase, mannanase, xylanase activity or a combination of these activities, and polynucleotides encoding them. In one aspect, the glucanase activity is an endoglucanase activity (e.g., endo-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucano hydrolase activity) and comprises hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxy methyl cellulose and hydroxy ethyl cellulose) lichenin, beta-1,4 bonds in mixed beta-1,3 glucans, such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans and other plant material containing cellulosic parts. In addition, methods of designing new enzymes and methods of use thereof are also provided. In alternative aspects, the new glucanases e.g., endoglucanases, mannanases, xylanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineered ketoreductase polypeptides for the preparation of hydroxyl substituted carbamate compounds, and polynucleotides, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using the ketoreductase polypeptides.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme including the capability of reducing 5-((4S)-2-oxo-4-phenyl (1,3-oxazolidin-3-yl))-1-(4-fluorophenyl) pentane-1,5-dione to (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize the intermediate (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one in a process for making Ezetimibe.

Abstract: A yeast cell comprising LDH from a Sordaria genus fungi, in which activity of lactate dehydrogenase converting pyruvate into lactate is increased, as well as a method of preparing the yeast cell and a method of using the yeast cell to produce lactate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enantioselective enzymatic process for the preparation of an optically active 3-hydroxypiperidinecarboxylic acid derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising: a polypeptide having cellulolytic enhancing activity and a heterocyclic compound. The present invention also relates to methods of using the compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such cells.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel glucose dehydrogenase, a method for producing the glucose dehydrogenase, and applications of the glucose dehydrogenase. The flavin-binding glucose dehydrogenase of the invention has the following characteristics (1) and (4): (1) Molecular weight: the molecular weight of a polypeptide moiety in the enzyme is about 68 kDa as measured by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis; (2) Km value: the Km value for D-glucose is about 15 mM or less; (3) Temperature stability: stable at a temperature of 55° C. or less; and (4) pH stability: stable at a pH range of 3.0 to 8.5.

Abstract: A mutant hydroxylase with increased activity and greater substrate specificity towards phenylacetyl-7-ADCA derivatives for the production of phenylacetyl-7-HACA derivatives, which carries one or more amino acid modification at residue positions when compared with certain wild type hydroxylase from certain groups of residues. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of deacetyl cephalosporanic acid from the corresponding deacetoxy cephalosporanic acid that includes an enzyme of the present invention. Also provided is a method for the production and processing of such enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase 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: Methods for the improved acylation of chemical substrates using LovD acyltransferases, thioesters having acyl groups, and (i) thiol scavengers and/or (ii) precipitating agents are presented. An improved method for the production of simvastatin using (i) activated charcoal as a thiol scavenger and/or (ii) ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent is also presented.

Abstract: What is aimed at is provision of an inexpensive and efficient saccharification method for lignocellulose using a thermostable xylanase and provision of a mutant xylanase that has a substitute amino acid residue, and that exhibits stable activity even under severe conditions in which enzymes easily inactivate, and that provides an initial rate of reaction not significantly reduced as compared to a wild-type xylanase corresponding to the mutant xylanase. Provided is a method of producing a saccharified product of lignocellulose, including contacting a lignocellulosic raw material with a thermostable xylanase, and a mutant xylanase that provides an initial rate of reaction that is at least 70% of that provided by a wild-type xylanase corresponding thereto, that has a xylanase activity after heat treatment at 50° C. for 24 hours that is at least 50% of its xylanase activity before the heat treatment, and that has a substitute amino acid residue.

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, Germany) on Nov. 18, 2013, wherein the accession number of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 is DSM 28047. Moreover, a nucleotide sequence for NTU 101 and the primers for the nucleotide sequence are also proposed for facilitating the person skilled in Lactobacillus filed capable of carrying out the strain identification of the NTU 101 according to the present invention. Moreover, the person skilled in Lactobacillus filed can also rapidly complete the strain identification of the NTU 101 by using DNA molecular marker technology, without culturing any isolated Lactobacillus strain or live Lactobacillus bacteria.

Abstract: Described is an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. Also described is that host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biosynthetic gene cluster for a chejuenolide of the marine microorganism Hahella chejuensis, and to the function of an enzyme involving the biosynthetic pathway of a chejuenolide encoded by the genes. Since the present invention can be applied to the development of a novel material as a mechanism for biosynthesis by combining of biosynthetic genes for chejuenolide, the present invention can suggest a new direction in the study of polyketide antibiotics, and is thus very useful.

Abstract: The present invention relates to lipase variants and methods of obtaining them. 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.