Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of optically active amines, which can be used as intermediate products in a synthesis of for instance pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium and a method for the biological production of ethanolamine from a fermentable carbon source. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of glucose to ethanolamine is achieved by the use of a recombinant bacterium transformed i) to express a serine decarboxylase enzyme to convert serine to ethanolamine ii) to inactivate the ethanolamine consuming pathways and iii) to increase 3-phosphoglycerate availability. In another aspect of the present invention, the process for the production of ethanolamine from glucose using a recombinant E. coli is improved by i) increasing the flux in the serine pathway and ii) decreasing the flux in the serine consuming pathways.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in the respective adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam. The method can include culturing an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce the respective product, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce adipate, 6-aminocaproic acid or caprolactam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing pentamethylene 1,5-diisocyanate, to pentamethylene 1,5-diisocyanate prepared in this way and to the use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the enantioselective acylation of trans-2-benzyloxycyclohexylamine or cis-2-benzyloxycyclohexylamine, according to which an enantiomer mixture of 2-benzyloxycyclohexylamine is reacted with an acylation agent in the presence of a hydrolase. The invention also relates to a method for producing optically active trans-stereoisomers of 2-benzyloxycyclohexylamine.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel enzymes and novel methods for producing the same. More specifically this invention relates to a variety of fungal enzymes. Nucleic acid molecules encoding such enzymes, compositions, recombinant and genetically modified host cells, and methods of use are described. The invention also relates to a method to convert lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars with enzymes that degrade the lignocellulosic material and novel combinations of enzymes, including those that provide a synergistic release of sugars from plant biomass. The invention also relates to methods to use the novel enzymes and compositions of such enzymes in a variety of other processes, including washing of clothing, detergent processes, deinking and biobleaching of paper and pulp, and treatment of waste streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for biochemical synthesis of 1,4-butanediamine in a microorganism having an increased level of an ornithine decarboxylase activity (increased ODC activity) as compared to the native level of the ornithine decarboxylase activity, wherein the increased ODC activity is obtained by means of overexpression of an ornithine decarboxylase encoding gene with increased translational and/or transcriptional efficiency, and wherein 1,4-butanediamine produced in the microorganism is excreted into a fermentation broth, and is recovered from the fermentation broth. In preferred embodiments also increased enzyme activity is obtained by of overexpression of either (i) an arginine decarboxylase encoding gene speA and an agmatinase encoding gene speB; or (ii) an arginine decarboxylase encoding gene speA and an agmatine iminohydrolase encoding gene aguA, and an N-carbamoylputrescine amidohydrolase encoding gene aguB, and optionally also an agmatinase encoding gene speB.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a chemical product through continuous fermentation which includes filtering a culture of a microorganism or cultured cells with a separation membrane to recover a product from a filtrate and simultaneously retaining a nonfiltered fluid in, or refluxing it to, the culture, and adding fermentation materials to the culture, wherein a porous membrane having an average pore size of 0.01 ?m or more to less than 1 ?m is used as the separation membrane and the filtration is conducted with a transmembrane pressure difference in the range of 0.1 to 20 kPa. According to this method, the fermentation productivity of the chemical product can be largely elevated at high stability and a low cost.

Abstract: Process for the production of cadaverine by constructing a recombinant microorganism which has a deregulated lysine decarboxylase gene and at least one deregulated gene selected from the group (i) which consists of aspartokinase, aspartatesemialdehyde dehydrogenase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase, succinyl-amino-ketopimelate transaminase, succinyl-diamino-pimelate desuccinylase, diaminopimelate epimerase, diaminopimelate dehydrogenase, arginyl-tRNA synthetase, diaminopimelate decarboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase, transaldolase, 6-phosphogluconolactonase, fructose 1,6-biphosphatase, homoserine dehydrogenase, phophoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, provided that if aspartokinase is deregulated as gene (i) at least a second gene (i) other than aspartokinase has to be deregulated, and cultivating said microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of optically pure secondary amines, which can be used as intermediate products in a synthesis of for instance pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel high-activity modified S-hydroxynitrile lyase (SHNL). More particularly, this invention relates to novel high-activity modified SHNL that is obtained by substituting amino acids at given sites (14, 44, 66, 94, 103, 118, 122, 125, 127, 129, 147, 148, 152, 212, and 216) or inserting amino acid at a given site (between amino acids 128 and 129) of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) of wild-type SHNL.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemoenzymatic process for the preparation of (R)-GABOB and (R)-carnitine employing lipase-mediated resolution of 3-hydroxy-4-tosyloxybutanenitrile as the key step. The drawing accompanying this specification represents the preparation of racemic 3-hydroxy-4-tosyloxybutanenitrile, its lipase-mediated kinetic resolution and its successful application in the preparation of (R)-GABOB and (R)-carnitine.

Abstract: A process for producing high yields of enantioselective amino acids and chiral amines by reacting a keto acid or ketone and an amino acid donor in the presence of a transaminase biocatalyst to produce a keto acid by-product and an amino acid or amine product. Further reacting the keto acid by-product with a peroxide to increase the yield of additional amino acid or amine product.

Abstract: A process comprising the steps of continuously adding a catalase enzyme to a process stream, wherein the process stream comprises an amine oxide surfactant and hydrogen peroxide; and mixing the process stream and catalase enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to R-hydroxynitrillyases from the family of Rosaceae that are characterized by an improved substrate tolerance and increased stability. In the active center of the R-hydroxynitrillyases either a) an alanine group is substituted by glycine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, or phenylalanine or b) a phenylalanine group is substituted by alanine, glycine valine, leucine or isoleucine, or c) a leucine group is substituted by alanine, glycine, valine, isoleucine or phenylalanine, or d) an isoleucine group is substituted by alanine, glycine, valine, leucine or phenylalanine. The invention also relates to the use of these lyases in the production of enantiomer-pure R- or S-cyanohydrines.

Abstract: An improved hydroxynitrile lyase characterized by having a mutation of substitution of at least one amino acid residue in the amino acid sequence of a wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase with another amino acid and by its hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant being higher than the hydroxynitrile lyase activity per transformant into which the wild-type hydroxynitrile lyase gene is introduced; and a method for producing a hydroxynitrile lyase, comprising expressing the improved hydroxynitrile lyase in a host and recovering the improved hydroxynitrile lyase from the resultant culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an optically-active amine compound. The method is characterized by using a transaminase (A), an ?-keto acid reductase (B), and an enzyme (C), each having specific properties, in an identical reaction system to convert a ketone compound into a corresponding optically-active amine compound in which a carbon atom with an amino group bonded thereto serves as an asymmetric point. The present invention also relates to a recombinant vector for use in the method. The present invention makes it possible to efficiently produce an optically-active amine compound.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for converting aromatic halo-substituted dinitriles into the corresponding cyanocarboxylic acids in the presence of a nitrilase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for inducing desired activity in enzymes or microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes. The invention is further directed to methods of stabilizing activity in microorganisms. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods for inducing and stabilizing nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, and asparaginase I activity. The invention further provides compositions comprising enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity.

Abstract: This invention relates to S-hydroxynitrile lyase having excellent tolerance to heat, organic solvents, and the like, which is obtained by modifying at least one amino acid in the helix D3, helix A, and ?-sheet 2 domains in the amino acid sequence of wild-type S-hydroxynitrile lyase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for inducing desired activity in enzymes or microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes. The invention is further directed to methods of stabilizing activity in microorganisms. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods for inducing and stabilizing nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, and asparaginase I activity. The invention further provides compositions comprising enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity.

Abstract: A process for preparing enantiomerically enriched amines by reacting a ketone with ammonia or an ammonium salt and a reducing agent in the presence of a catalytic system comprising the components: a) an amino acid transaminase, b) an alpha-amino acid which is a substrate of the amino acid transaminase, c) an amino acid dehydrogenase suitable for preparing the alpha-amino acid, d) NAD(P)+ and e) an NAD(P)+-reducing enzyme, which reacts NAD(P)+ with the reducing agent to give NAD(P)H. The process can be carried out with catalytic amounts of alpha-amino acid and NAD(P)+, and enables an enantioselective reductive amination of ketones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a carboxylic acid using a surfactant-modified enzyme which comprises selectively reacting water and a carboxylic acid ester, provided that triglyceride is excluded, in an organic solvent in the presence of a surfactant-modified enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters wherein a 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-oxobutyric acid ester is treated with an enzyme source capable of stereoselectively reducing said ester to the corresponding optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester having the (2S,3R) configuration. The present invention provides an efficient method for industrially producing optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters, in particular such compounds having the (2S,3R) configuration, which are useful as intermediates for the production of medicinal compounds, among others.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated or recombinant N-carbobenzyloxy-deprotecting enzyme polypeptides that catalyze the removal of carbobenzyloxy from carbobenzyloxy-protected amino acids and alcohols. Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding N-carbobenzyloxy-deprotecting enzyme polypeptides thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using the polypeptides in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide different from L-Ala-L-Ala, a process for producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, a process for producing a dipeptide using the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, and a process for producing the dipeptide using a culture of a microorganism producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide or the like as an enzyme source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a dipeptide which comprises culturing in a medium a microorganism which has the ability to produce a protein having the activity to form the dipeptide from one or more kinds of amino acids and which has the ability to produce at least one of said one or more kinds of amino acids, allowing the dipeptide to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the dipeptide from the medium.

Abstract: The present invention describes an alternative approach to increase GABA production in prokaryotes or eukaryotes, namely by the insertion of the putrescine catabolic pathway in organisms where the pathway does not exist or has not clearly been identified. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode functional putrescine aminotransferase (PAT) and gamma-aminobutyricaldehyde dehydrogenase (GABAlde DeHase) polypeptides in plants to increase GABA production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Changes in GABA availability will improve growth and increase tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

Abstract: Carnitines are nutraceuticals with indications in treating a variety of mental health disorders. A metabolomics-guided bioprocess method is presented to produce longer chain fatty acid esters of carnitines such as polyunsaturated fatty acid esters including eicosapentaenoyl-L-carnitine and/or docosahexaenyl-L-carnitine in germinating plant seeds. The resulting products from the plant seeds are used as a natural nutritional source of powerful human antioxidants.

Abstract: The invention relates to biochemical synthesis of 6-amino caproic acid from 6-aminohex-2-enoic acid compound or from 6-amino-2-hydroxyhexanoic acid, by treatment with an enzyme having ?,?-enoate reductase activity towards molecules containing an ?,?-enoate group and a primary amino group. The invention also relates to processes for obtaining suitable genetically engineered cells for being used in such biotransformation process, and to precursor fermentation of 6-amino caproic acid from intermediates leading to 6-amino caproic acid. Finally, the invention relates to certain novel biochemically produced compounds, namely 6-aminohex-2-enoic acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, as well as to caprolactam produced therefrom and to nylon-6 and other derivatives produced from such biochemically produced compounds or caprolactam.

Abstract: Materials and Methods for preparing (S)-(+)-3-aminomethyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid and structurally related compounds via enzymatic kinetic resolution are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing optically active amines and chiral amines prepared thereby. The method includes reacting an amine compound, a metal catalyst, a biocatalyst including a lipase, and an acyl donor compound in an organic solvent to obtain a chiral amide compound, and then hydrolyzing the chiral amide compound to obtain a chiral amine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fermentation processes for the production of cyanophycin in a microorganism whereby a plant-derived nitrogen source is converted by the microorganism into cyanophycin. The plant-derived nitrogen source preferably is a process stream being obtained in the processing of agricultural crops such as e.g., a by-product in the processing of starch from agricultural crops like corn, potato or cassave. The invention further relates to processes for the conversion of cyanophycin into a variety of compounds including e.g., ornithine, 1,4-butanediamine, n-alkyl amino alcohols, acrylonitrile, as well as cyanophycin derived functionalised poly(aspartic acid)s wherein the arginine residues have been functionalised to ornithine, (N-L-arginino)succinate, N-phospho-L-arginine or agmantine and the lysine residues have been functionalised to N6-hydroxy-L-lysine, 2,5-diaminohexanoate, N6-(L-1,3-dicarboxypropyl), pentanediamine, 5-aminopentanamide or N6-acetyl-L-lysine.

Abstract: Alanine 2,3-aminomutase sequences are disclosed, as are cells having alanine 2,3-aminomutase activity and methods of selecting for such cells. Methods for producing beta-alanine, pantothenate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, as well as other organic compounds, are disclosed.

Abstract: Process for the production of -lysine by constructing a recombinant microorganism which has a deregulated lysine 2,3-aminomutase gene and at least one deregulated gene selected from the group (i) which consists of aspartokinase, aspartatesemialdehyde dehydrogenase, dihydrodipicolinate synthase, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase, succinyl-amino-ketopimelate transaminase, succinyl-diamino-pimelate desuccinylase, diaminopimelate epimerase, diamino-pimelate dehydrogenase, arginyl-tRNA synthetase, diaminopimelate decarboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase, transaldolase, 6-phosphogluconolactonase, fructose 1,6-biphosphatase, homoserine dehydrogenase, phophoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, provided that if aspartokinase is deregulated as gene (i) at least a second gene (i) other than aspartokinase has to be deregulated, and cultivating said microorganism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for production of an optically active biphenylalanine compound represented by the formula (2): (wherein, R2 is a protective group of an amino group, and R3 and R4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, etc.) or a salt thereof and an optically active biphenylalanine ester compound represented by the formula (3): (wherein, R1 is an alkyl group, etc.) wherein the method comprises hydrolyzing a biphenylalanine ester compound represented by the formula (1): with a protease produced by a microorganism belonging to Bacillus sp. in the presence of at least one alkali selected from an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for biochemical synthesis of 1,4-butanediamine in a microorganism having an increased level of an ornithine decarboxylase activity (increased ODC activity) as compared to the native level of the ornithine decarboxylase activity, wherein in the microorganism also an increased activity of N-acetylglutamate formation is present as compared to the native level of activity of N-acetylglutamate formation in the microorganism and wherein 1,4-butanediamine produced in the microorganism is excreted into a fermentation broth, and is recovered from the fermentation broth. The invention also relates to vectors, plasmids and hosts carrying a corresponding increased ODC activity and an increased activity of N-acetylglutamate formation.

Abstract: Methods for hydrolyzing lignocellulose are provided, comprising contacting the lignocellulose with at least one chemical treatment. Methods for pretreating a lignocellulosic material comprising contacting the material with at least one chemical are also provided. Methods for liberating a substance such as an enzyme, a pharmaceutical, or a nutraceutical from plant material are also provided. These methods are more efficient, more economical, and less toxic than current methods.

Abstract: The invention encompasses the synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, (S)-Pregabalin, via the intermediate, (3R)-5-methyl-3-(2-oxo-2{[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]amino}ethyl)hexanoic acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing an intermediate for synthesizing escitalopram and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof from 4-(4-dimethylamino)-1-(4?-fluorophenyl)-1-(hydroxybutyl)-3-(acyloxymethyl)benzonitrile is described. The process involves converting said intermediate into the (S+) enantiomer of citalopram by means of enzymatic enantiomeric resolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the biosynthetic production of 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate (ADC) performed fermentatively in vivo with a 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase, preferably a PabAB bipartite protein (which may be a fusion protein), at an increased level of activity, thereby obtaining a broth comprising ADC and 4-amino-4-deoxyprephenate (ADP), that are recovered. The invention also relates to a further process of converting the ADP into p-aminophenylalanine. The invention, moreover relates to biosynthetic production of [3R,4R]-4-amino-3-hydroxycyclohexa-1,5-diene-1-carboxylic acid (3,4-CHA), by concerted action of such 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase and of an enzyme capable of converting isochorismate into [5S,6S]-5,6 dihydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene-1-carboxylic acid (2,3-CHD), preferably a phenazine biosynthesis protein PhzD, including recovery of 3,4-CHA. The invention also relates to expression vectors and host cells for use in any of such processes.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of (S)(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid (pregabalin) of formula (I) or a salt thereof, comprising the reaction of a compound of formula (II) with an alcohol ROH, in the presence or absence of enzyme, to give a compound of formula (III) as herein defined the transformation of a compound of formula (III) into a compound of formula (VI) or (VIII) as herein defined, and the subsequent hydrolysis of a compound of formula (VI) or (VIII), to give pregabalin.

Abstract: The invention encompasses the synthesis of (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, (S)-Pregabalin, via the intermediate, (3R)-5-methyl-3-(2-oxo-2{[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]amino}ethyl)hexanoic acid.

Abstract: A method for preparing optically active methyl 4-(1-ammoniumethyl)benzoate sulfate by reacting racemic methyl 4-(1-aminoethyl)benzoate with an acylating agent in the presence of a lipase to give methyl 4-(1-aminoethyl)benzoate and subsequently precipitating methyl 4-(1-ammoniumethyl)benzoate sulfate by adding sulfuric acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of an optically enriched tertiary alcohol of the formula (2a) or (2b), by reacting an epoxide of the formula (1) with a nucleophilic agent Nu in the presence of halohydrin dehalogenase.

Abstract: The present invention provides microbial strains, in particular yeast strains, that produce at least 0.1 mg per g biomass dry weight of a sphingoid base. The present invention further provides a method to obtain sphingoid base-producing microbial strains comprising incubating a population of microbial cells in the presence of a suitable concentration of a toxin, selecting cells that are resistant against said toxin, and isolating cells out of the toxin-resistant cell population that produce at least 0.1 mg per g biomass dry weight of the sphingoid base of Formula I. Optionally, the method further comprises subjecting a population of toxin-resistant microbial cells that produce at least 0.1 mg per g biomass dry weight of the sphingoid base of Formula I to DNA-mediated transformation with a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway. The present invention further provides a polypeptide having dihydroceramide desaturase activity obtainable form Pichia ciferrii.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of phosphatidylserine of formula wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a saturated, mono-unsaturated or polyunsaturated acyl C10-C30, X?OH or OM where M=alkaline or alkaline earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium (including the inner salt) including the transphosphatidylation reaction between phosphatidylcholine of the general formula wherein R1 and R2 and X have the above specified meanings, R3?CH2—CH2—NH2 o CH2—CH2—N+(CH3)3 and Serine in D, L or racemic form catalysed by the phospholipase D enzyme (PLD), characterised in that said reaction is carried out in a hydroalcoholic medium containing an aliphatic alcohol and in the presence of bivalent metal oxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation. The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regeneration which comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 ?m to not more than 500 ?m and pore length of not less than 20 ?m to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arranged obtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology.

Abstract: A shuttle vector is constructed by preparing a DNA region replicable in bacteria belonging to the genus Rhodococcus from a Rhodococcus-derived plasmid having the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 73 and a plasmid or its DNA fragment having the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 74, and a DNA region replicable in E. coli from an E. coli-derived plasmid or its DNA fragment. An aminoketone asymmetric reductase gene is inserted into the shuttle vector, transformants containing the vector are created, and the aminoketone asymmetric reductase and optically active aminoalcohols are produced.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing substance PF1022 derivatives, in particular PF1022-220 and PF1022-260, by a direct fermentation method, and a transformant to be used for this method. According to the present invention, there is provided a transformant producing substance FF1022 derivatives, which can be obtained by introducing a genes involved in a biosynthetic pathway from chorismic acid to p-aminophenylpyruvic acid, including a papA gene encoding 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase. which gene comprises the DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; a papB gene encoding 4-amino-4-deoxyclaismate mutase, which gene comprises the DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and a papC gene encoding 4-amino-4-deoxyprepbenate dehydrogenase, which gene comprises the DNA sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, into a phenylalanine auxotrophic host induced from an organism that produces a substance PF1022.