Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating cancer, the method including the step of: administering a therapeutically effective concentration of chlorophyllide to a subject in need thereof. The present invention further provides a method for treating cancer, the method including the step of: administering a composition to a subject in need thereof, wherein the composition includes: a therapeutically effective concentration of chlorophyllide and a therapeutically effective concentration of anthracycline.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating or preventing virus infection, the method including the step of: administering a therapeutically effective concentration of chlorophyllide to a subject in need thereof. The present invention further provides a method for treating or preventing virus infection, the method including the step of: administering a product obtained by treating a plant leaf extract with chlorophyllase to a subject in need thereof, wherein the product comprises a therapeutically effective concentration of chlorophyllide.

Abstract: A polyacetylenes and application thereof. The polyacetylenes is isolated from an extract of the sporophores of Antrodia Cinnamomea and has a function of inhibiting the production of nitric oxide. Therefore, the polyacetylenes can be used for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for anti-inflammation. The present invention also teaches the representative metabolites of the sporophores of Antrodia Cinnamomea, which can be used to evaluate the quality thereof.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to a Tubby-like protein (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11), and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide. Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid that, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to a probe containing one of SEQ ID NOs:1-11; or its complementary sequence. Also disclosed are (1) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant containing such a nucleic acid and (2) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant having a reduced level(s) of one or more of the Tubby-like proteins. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for making the transformed cells or transgenic plants.

Abstract: A method for producing a monosaccharide-rich syrup from starch-containing produce. The method includes treating a starch-containing produce slurry with a first starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch to oligosaccharide and a second starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch or oligosaccharide to glucose. The starch-containing produce can be further treated with an enzyme that converts glucose to other monosaccharides, or treated with a microorganism that converts glucose to a fermentation product. Also within the scope of this invention is a method for producing a syrup rich in a disaccharide, such as trehalose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation and functional identification of a novel acid and heat resistant trehalose synthase enzyme cloned from Picrophilus torridus. More particularly, the present invention discloses the DNA sequence for the Picrophilus torridus trehalose synthase gene, PTTS, which when expressed in a heterologous host such as Escherichia coli, provides enzymatic activity that catalyzes the direct interconversion of maltose and trehalose through intramolecular transglycosylation. Additionally, the present invention teaches methods of use of PTTS for production of trehalose as well as for production of various useful compounds comprising trehalose.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to a Tubby-like protein (SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11), and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide. Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid that, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to a probe containing one of SEQ ID NOs:1-11; or its complementary sequence. Also disclosed are (1) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant containing such a nucleic acid and (2) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant having a reduced level(s) of one or more of the Tubby-like proteins. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for making the transformed cells or transgenic plants.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel chitinase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. Also disclosed are related vectors, host cells, compositions, and uses.

Abstract: The present invention features an isolated nucleic acid that includes a mutant DNA encoding a Candida rugosa lipase, wherein the mutant DNA is 80% identical to a wild-type DNA encoding the Candida rugosa lipase, and includes at least 12 (e.g., 13, 15, 17, or all) universal serine codons corresponding to CTG codons in the wild-type DNA. Each of the universal serine codons, independently, is TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, or AGC. The Candida rugosa lipase can be Candida rugosa lipase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8.

Abstract: The present invention features an isolated nucleic acid that includes a mutant DNA encoding a Candida rugosa lipase, wherein the mutant DNA is 80% identical to a wild-type DNA encoding the Candida rugosa lipase, and includes at least 12 (e.g., 13, 15, 17, or all) universal serine codons corresponding to CTG codons in the wild-type DNA. Each of the universal serine codons, independently, is TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, or AGC. The Candida rugosa lipase can be Candida rugosa lipase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8.

Abstract: The present invention features an isolated nucleic acid that includes a mutant DNA encoding a Candida rugosa lipase, wherein the mutant DNA is 80% identical to a wild-type DNA encoding the Candida rugosa lipase, and includes at least 12 (e.g., 13, 15, 17, or all) universal serine codons corresponding to CTG codons in the wild-type DNA. Each of the universal serine codons, independently, is TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, or AGC. The Candida rugosa lipase can be Candida rugosa lipase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation and functional identification of a novel acid and heat resistant trehalose synthase enzyme cloned from Picrophilus torridus. More particularly, the present invention discloses the DNA sequence for the Picrophilus torridus trehalose synthase gene, PTTS, which when expressed in a heterologous host such as Escherichia coli, provides enzymatic activity that catalyzes the direct interconversion of maltose and trehalose through intramolecular transglycosylation. Additionally, the present invention teaches methods of use of PTTS for production of trehalose as well as for production of various useful compounds comprising trehalose.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel chitinase polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. Also disclosed are related vectors, host cells, compositions, and uses.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide are disclosed. Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid that, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to a probe containing SEQ ID NO:20; or its complementary sequence. Also disclosed are (1) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant containing such a nucleic acid and (2) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant lacking the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for making the transformed cells or transgenic plants.

Abstract: The present invention features an isolated nucleic acid that includes a mutant DNA encoding a Candida rugosa lipase, wherein the mutant DNA is 80% identical to a wild-type DNA encoding the Candida rugosa lipase, and includes at least 12 (e.g., 13, 15, 17, or all) universal serine codons corresponding to CTG codons in the wild-type DNA. Each of the universal serine codons, independently, is TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, or AGC. The Candida rugosa lipase can be Candida rugosa lipase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8.

Abstract: The present invention features an isolated nucleic acid that includes a mutant DNA encoding a Candida rugosa lipase, wherein the mutant DNA is 80% identical to a wild-type DNA encoding the Candida rugosa lipase, and includes at least 12 (e.g., 13, 15, 17, or all) universal serine codons corresponding to CTG codons in the wild-type DNA. Each of the universal serine codons, independently, is TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, or AGC. The Candida rugosa lipase can be Candida rugosa lipase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 8.

Abstract: The present invention provides mutant-type lipases which demonstrate superior lipolytic and esterific activities. The mutant-type lipases are characterized by an amino acid alteration at the residue immediately followed either the serine residue or the histidine residue or both residues of the Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad. The Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad is known to be the three residues, although occur far apart in the amino acid sequence of a lipase, that contribute to the hydrolytic activity in the active site of the lipase. The amino acid residue that follows the serine residue of the Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad is alanine. The amino acid residue that follows the histidine residue of the Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad is isoleucine. The wild-type lipase is preferably originated from Staphylococcus, particularly Staphylococcus epidermindis.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence at least 70% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide. Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid that, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to a probe containing one of SEQ ID NOs:1-11; or its complementary sequence. Also disclosed are (1) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant containing such a nucleic acid and (2) a transformed cell or a transgenic plant lacking one or more of SEQ ID NOs:1-11. Also within the scope of the invention are methods for making the transformed cells or transgenic plants.

Abstract: A method for producing a monosaccharide-rich syrup from starch-containing produce. The method includes treating a starch-containing produce slurry with a first starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch to oligosaccharide and a second starch hydrolyzing enzyme that hydrolyzes starch or oligosaccharide to glucose. The starch-containing produce can be further treated with an enzyme that converts glucose to other monosaccharides, or treated with a microorganism that converts glucose to a fermentation product. Also within the scope of this invention is a method for producing a syrup rich in a disaccharide, such as trehalose.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA constructs and genetically engineered seeds for the expression of amylopullulanase in plant seeds such as rice seeds. Related methods are also provided for the production of sugars, modified starches, and high protein products, and use of the glutelin promoter in the methods.