Abstract: Described is a method for generating isoprenol through a biological process. More specifically, described is a method for producing isoprenol from mevalonate.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid by enzyme-catalyzed covalent bond formation between the carbon atom of the oxo group of acetone and the methyl group of a compound which provides an activated acetyl group. Also described are recombinant organisms which produce 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, and related compositions and methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating 1,3-diene compounds through a biological process. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for producing 1,3-diene compounds (for example butadiene or isoprene) from molecules of the 3-hydroxyalk-4-enoate type or from 3-phosphonoxyalk-4-enoates.

Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of butadiene which allows to produce butadiene from crotyl alcohol. Also described are enzyme combinations and compositions containing such enzyme combinations which allow the enzymatic conversion of crotyl alcohol into butadiene. Furthermore, the invention relates to microorganisms which have been genetically modified so as to be able to produce butadiene from crotyl alcohol. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the enzymatic production of crotyl alcohol from crotonyl-Coenzyme A. The obtained crotyl alcohol can be further converted into butadiene as described herein. Also described are enzyme combinations which allow to convert crotonyl-Coenzyme A into crotyl alcohol as well as (micro)organisms which express such enzyme combinations.

Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating alkenes through a biological process. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for producing alkenes (for example propylene, ethylene, 1-butylene, isobutylene or isoamylene) from molecules of the 3-hydroxyalkanoate type.

Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of isoprenol using mevalonate as a substrate and enzymatically converting it by a decarboxylation step into isoprenol as well as the use of an enzyme which is capable of catalyzing the decarboxylation of mevalonate for the production of isoprenol from mevalonate. Furthermore described is the use of mevalonate as a starting material for the production of isoprenol in an enzymatically catalysed reaction.

Abstract: This invention provides phosphate-modified nucleosides represented by the structural formula (I): wherein W is O or S, and wherein B, R1; R3 and R2. are as defined herein. These compounds are useful as substrates for DNA/RNA polymerases, and as anti-viral agents in particular against HIV-1.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid by enzyme-catalyzed covalent bond formation between the carbon atom of the oxo group of acetone and the methyl group of a compound which provides an activated acetyl group. Also described are recombinant organisms which produce 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, and related compositions and methods.

Abstract: This invention provides phosphate-modified nucleosides represented by the structural formula: wherein W is O or S, and wherein B, R1; R3 and R2. are s defined herein. These compounds are useful as substrates for DNA/RNA polymerases, and as anti-viral agents in particular against HIV-1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating alkenes biologically. It relates more particularly to a method for producing terminal alkenes by enzymatic decarboxylation of 3-hydroxyalkanoate molecules. The invention also relates to the enzymatic systems and the microbial strains used, and also to the products obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating a novel form of life comprising the steps consisting of: a) irreversible alteration of the genome of a microbial clone; b) cultivation of a vast population of microbial cells originating from the altered clone obtained in step a) during numerous generations under conditions allowing selection for a higher and stable proliferation rate; c) isolation of descendant clones within the cultivated population of step b) still bearing the alteration of step a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for altering a protein X such as to modify the characteristics thereof by a) obtaining the mutants X* of the sequence coding for protein X, by means of aleatory mutagenesis, b) transformation of cells with a phenotype [P-] with vectors comprising the mutated nucleic acids obtained in step (a) which code for proteins X*, where P-signifies that said cells are auxotrophic for substance P, P begin the product of the action of X on the natural substrate thereof S, c) culturing said cells in a medium comprising a substrate S*, S* being an analogue of the natural substrate S of the protein X, d) selection of the cells [P-:: X*] which have survived step c) in which the proteins X* can biosynthesise the product P from the substrate S*.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing 2?-deoxynucleoside compounds or 2?-deoxynucleoside precursors using 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconic acid (usually abbreviated as KDG) or its salts as a starting material. A variety of 2?-deoxynucleosides and their analogues are used as a starting material for synthesis or drug formulation in production of an antiviral, anticancer or antisense agent.

Abstract: Nucleotide analogues comprising a reactive hydrazide function (formula II) used as initial synthons for preparing compounds (formula I) capable of inducing mutations or capable of inhibiting a DNA polymerase or a kinase provided. Nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide and nucleoside analogues are also provided. Methods of using the compounds are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing bacterial or yeast cells with the capacity to produce a protein, the amino acid sequence of which comprises at least one unconventional amino acid. The method involves (a) introducing at least one missense mutation in a target codon of a gene encoding a protein required for the growth of the bacterial or yeast cells, where the mutated protein synthesized from the mutated gene is not functional in the bacterial or yeast cells. The method also involves (b) selecting the bacterial or yeast cells obtained in (a) in a culture medium which (1) does not contain a nutrient compensating for the loss of functionality of the mutated protein and (2) contains an unconventional amino acid which restores the functionality of the protein required for growth of the bacterial or yeast cells, in which the unconventional amino acid is that encoded by the target codon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for artificial in vivo evolution of proteins, said method making it possible to bring about the evolution of a protein X by complementation of a relative protein Y, X and Y both belonging to the same class of enzyme commission (EC) nomenclature or belonging to related classes. The mutants D133E and R104Q of desoxycytidine kinase (DCK) were obtained; both of said mutations result in acquisition of thymidine kinase activity by DCK.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel polypeptides and their fragments, isolated from Lactobacillus, having at least a N-deoxyribosyl transferase activity, the polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides, cloning and/or expression vectors including said polynucleotides, cells transformed by said vectors and specific antibodies directed against said polypeptides. The invention also concerns a method for enzymatic synthesis of deoxyribonucleosides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for artificial in vivo evolution of proteins, said method making it possible to bring about the evolution of a protein X by complementation of a relative protein Y, X and Y both belonging to the same class of enzyme commission (EC) nomenclature or belonging to related classes. The mutants D133E and R104Q of desoxycytidine kinase (DCK) were obtained; both of said mutations result in acquisition of thymidine kinase activity by DCK.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method to diversify the chemical composition of proteins produced in vivo comprising the step of disabling, particularly by mutagenesis, the editing function of one of its aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid sequences encoding such mutated aminoacyl tRNA synthetases having their editing site mutated and capable of mischarging its cognate tRNA with a noncanonical amino acid. Also described herein is an improved method for obtaining transformed cells capable of synthetizing in vivo proteins comprising at least a noncanonical amino acid and their use for the production of such proteins.