Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or a salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate: CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I), trans-feruloyl ScoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Use of the polypeptides or the polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin is also provided.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a transgenic plant which, by presence of a transgene, is able to produce p-hydroxybenzoic acid or a &bgr;-D-glycoside or &bgr;-D-glucose ester thereof. A method is also disclosed for producing p-hydroxybenzoic acid or a &bgr;-D-glycoside or &bgr;-D-glucose ester thereof using a transgenic plant of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making a cell which does not contain a natural nisA gene but expresses a variant nisA gene, said method comprising the steps of providing a cell that contains a natural, chromosomal nisA gene and substituting the natural nisA gene or part thereof with a variant nisA gene at the chromosomal location of the natural nisA gene or part thereof. The invention further provided a process for producing variant nisin and cells for use in the same.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate; CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I) trans-feruloyl SCoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or a salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate: CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I), trans-feruloyl ScoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: An organism which does not express its natural nisA gene product, but is capable of expressing genes for nisin modification, immunity and translocation out of the cell. The organism may be transformed with a coding sequence for a variant prenisin and appropriate regulatory sequences for expression thereof such that the organism is capable of secreting the corresponding variant nisin. A process for exclusively producing a variant nisin comprises fermenting this organism and obtaining the nisin so produced.

Abstract: Bacteriophages of food-contaminating or pathogenic bacteria or the lysins thereof are used to kill such bacteria. Examples include lysins from bacteriophages of Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium tyrobutyricum. Tests for bacterial contamination can be made specific for specific bacteria by using the appropriate bacteriophage or lysin thereof and determining whether cells are lysed thereby.

Abstract: Bacteriophages of food-contaminating or pathogenic bacteria or the lysins thereof are used to kill such bacteria. Examples include lysins from bacteriophages of Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium tyrobutyricum.Tests for bacterial contamination can be made specific for specific bacteria by using the appropriate bacteriophage or lysin thereof and determining whether cells are lysed thereby.