Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method utilizing a microorganism with reduced isocitrate dehydrogenase activity for the production of fine chemicals. Said fine chemicals may be amino acids, monomers for polymer synthesis, sugars, lipids, oils, fatty acids or vitamins and are preferably amino acids of the aspartate family, especially methionine or lysine, or derivatives of said amino acids, especially cadaverine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism having a reduced isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in comparison to the initial microorganism and the use of such microorganisms in producing fine chemicals such as aspartate family amino acids and their derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions useful as probes and in other applications and methods of their use. In some embodiments, nucleotides are prepared and functionalized with dyes. In some embodiments a first molecule is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a second molecule is functionalized with an azide group, and said first and second molecules are mixed under conditions to form a conjugate with a 1,2,3-triazol group. In further embodiments, a nucleotide is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a dye is functionalized with an azide group, and mixing the nucleotide and the dye forms a conjugate capable of emitting light.

Abstract: The claimed invention relates to a process for preparing (meth)acrylates of N-hydroxyalkylated amides, in which open-chain N-hydroxyalkylated amides are esterified with (meth)acrylic acid or transesterified with at least one (meth)acrylic ester in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst selected from the group consisting of an inorganic salt and an enzyme.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention provides a method for producing acrylamide from acrylonitrile using a biocatalyst with high productivity at low cost, in which reaction heat can be efficiently removed even at an industrial reaction scale. [Means for Solving] The present invention relates to a method for producing acrylamide by reacting acrylonitrile in the presence of a biocatalyst, wherein the reaction is performed using a reactor having a reaction volume of 1 m3 or more equipped with a tubular heat exchanger, and wherein the difference between a temperature of a cooling water to be introduced into the heat exchanger and a reaction temperature is maintained from 5 to 20° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases especially from Pseudomonas putida or Pseudomonas marginalis strains which exhibit increased cyanide tolerance. Also disclosed are methods of preparing amides from nitriles in the presence of cyanides and polynucleotide sequences coding for cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases.

Abstract: An engineered nitrile hydratase-producing bacterium and its construction method as well as its applications, wherein the engineered nitrile hydratase-producing bacterium is a mutant strain of an original nitrile hydratase-producing bacterium strain obtained by knocking-out or inhibiting the amidase gene in the original strain. The construction method of the engineered bacterium is to block the expression of the amidase gene by inserting the large fragment of a recombinant suicide plasmid carrying an amidase gene fragment into a wild-type strain through the homologous recombination between the recombinant suicide plasmid and the amidase gene of the wild-type strain. Compared to the corresponding wild-type bacterium strain, both the cell growth and the nitrile hydratase expression of the engineered nitrile hydratase-producing bacterium according to the invention are increased.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions including diastereomers in substantially diastereomerically pure form and enantiomers in substantially enantiomerically pure form, and processes for preparing them and converting them to metyrosine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel Burkholderia multivorans, an amidase produced from the same, and a method for optical resolution of a racemic mixture using the same, and more particularly to a strain Burkholderia multivorans LG 31-3, an amidase having stereoselective substrate specificity, and a method for optical resolution of a racemic mixture using the same. The amidase produced from the novel Burkholderia multivorans LG 31-3 (KCTC 10920BP) according to the present invention can be useful to produce single enantiomer at a high optical purity since the racemic mixture may be easily optically resolved under enzyme reaction conditions of room temperature and normal pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to the enzymatic synthesis of sphingolipids and compositions that contain sphingolipids from lysosphingolipids and carbonic esters, and to cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical formulations containing said sphingolipids or compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the enzymatic synthesis of sphingolipids and compositions comprising sphingolipids from lysosphingolipids and carboxylic esters, and to cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical formulations which comprise these sphingolipids or compositions.

Abstract: Processes for enzymatic synthesis comprising: (a) providing an aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine; and (b) reacting the aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine with a reactant selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid compounds and alkyl esters thereof, in the presence of a hydrolase in bulk or in a liquid reaction medium comprising an organic solvent to for a poly(oxyalkylene)acrylamide.

Abstract: A catalytic composition for the enzymatic conversion of nitriles to amides is disclosed. The composition contains a polymer gel and a nitrile hydratase (NHase). Also disclosed are methods of producing an amide from a nitrile using the catalytic composition.

Abstract: A method of producing an amide from the corresponding nitrile comprising the following steps, i) providing a microorganism capable of producing a nitrile hydratase biocatalyst, ii) culturing the microorganism in a growth medium, iii) storing the microorganism, iv) contacting the nitrile by the microorganism in an aqueous medium and thereby converting the nitrile to the amide, wherein the microorganism is stored as none actively growing free cells in a storage medium that comprises water. The stored microorganism may be as whole microbial cells, this may be in the form of a cell paste recovered from a fermentation medium; an aqueous suspension of the microbial cells, prepared using a suitable suspending medium such as water, physiological saline solution, or a suitable buffer solution, such as phosphate or comprises the fermentation broth that contains components of the fermentation culture medium and products of microbial culture.

Abstract: The invention relates to the direct selection of metabolic pathways having a determined function in the transformation of a substrate {Ai} into a target product {B}, which is of interest in the industrial, pharmaceutical or agri-food sectors. More specifically, the invention relates to the detection, within metagenomic libraries, of novel biosynthesis pathways involved in a biochemical reaction having a known product {B}. The selection and characterisation of said novel metabolic pathways enables {B} to be produced enzymatically. The invention provides an alternative to the chemical synthesis of the molecule in question {B}. Moreover, and above all, the invention can be used specifically to target and exploit the only metabolic pathways enabling the transformation of {Ai} into {B}, while eliminating the associated metabolic pathways that can catabolise the target product {B}.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selectively hydrolysing a pendant ester bond formed by an unsubstituted or substituted hydrocarbon group—optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms—and a pendant carboxylate moiety, which carboxylate moiety is part of a polymer or a polymerisable compound, which polymer or polymerisable compound comprises at least one other hydrolysable group, wherein the method comprises contacting the polymer or polymerisable compound with a hydrolytic enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing different products comprising a target substance, particularly amino acids or vitamins, wherein the target substance is produced by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microorganisms capable of tolerating acetonitrile concentrations of at least 3 M, enzyme extracts obtainable from these microorganisms, a nitrile hydratase obtainable from these microorganisms, a method for preparing amides using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom, and a method for removing acetonitrile from solutions using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to polypeptides having transaminase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for the delivery of nucleic acid to target cells or tissues, which comprises a polycationically charged polymer as a carrier of nucleic acid. The polycationically charged polymer is a polymer which may comprise a charged polymer segment having a main chain based on poly(amino acid), polysaccharide, polyester, polyether, polyurethane or vinyl polymer and having, as a side chain, a group of formula —NH—(CH2)a—(NH(CH2)2)e—NH2 (wherein a and e independently denote an integer of 1 to 5) which is connected to the main chain either directly or via a linker. The disclosed composition has low toxicity, and has a high efficiency in introducing nucleic acid into cells.

Abstract: In a method for producing an amide compound of the present invention including obtaining an amide compound from a nitrile compound using a microbial catalyst and transferring a solution containing the microbial catalyst and the amide compound, a positive-displacement pump is used for transferring the solution containing a microbial catalyst and an amide compound to obtain an amide compound having few impurities. A monomer including (meth)acrylamide obtained by the method for producing an amide compound is polymerized to prepare an acrylamide polymer having a high-molecular mass and high solubility and being colorless.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a synergistic mixture of water-soluble polymers with thickening action and hydrophobins for thickening aqueous phases, and to the degradation of the thickening action by cleaving the protein. The invention further relates to a thickening composition of water-soluble polymers, hydrophobins and water.

Abstract: A method of producing an amide from the corresponding nitrile comprising the following steps, i) providing a microorganism capable of producing a nitrile hydratase biocatalyst, ii) culturing the microorganism in a growth medium, iii) storing the microorganism, iv) contacting the nitrile by the microorganism in an aqueous medium and thereby converting the nitrile to the amide, wherein the microorganism is stored as none actively growing free cells in a storage medium that comprises water. The stored microorganism may be as whole microbial cells, this may be in the form of a cell paste recovered from a fermentation medium; an aqueous suspension of the microbial cells, prepared using a suitable suspending medium such as water, physiological saline solution, or a suitable buffer solution, such as phosphate or comprises the fermentation broth that contains components of the fermentation culture medium and products of microbial culture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel process for producing a compound represented by the general formula (1) by using a microorganism, wherein the compound is useful as a plant growth stimulant. Specifically disclosed is a process for producing a succinic acid amide compound represented by the general formula (1) [wherein Ar represents a phenyl, naphthyl or indolyl group which may have a substituent; and n represents a numeral value ranging from 1 to 4] or a salt thereof, which is characterized by culturing a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas that is capable of synthesizing a succinic acid amide in a culture medium containing an arylalkylamine represented by the general formula (2).

Abstract: This disclosure describes the molecular cloning of a pactamycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456, characterization of individual genes in the gene cluster and the proteins encoded thereby as well as uses thereof. The pactamycin gene cluster is located within an 86.35 kilobases genetic locus and includes 53 open reading frames, 26 of which are considered to be the core cluster directly involved in the biosynthesis of pactamycin.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered microbial strains, in particular genetically engineered yeast strains, that produce at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof. The present invention provides a method to obtain genetically engineered microbial strains producing at least 0.5 mg per g CDW of a sphingoid base according to Formula I or a salt or ester thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound using a microbial catalyst, wherein a microbial cell having nitrile hydratase activity of 50 U or higher per mg of dry cell at a reaction temperature of 10° C. is brought into contact with a nitrile compound in an aqueous medium without being immobilized. This method utilizes a microbial cell that exhibits high nitrile hydratase activity in the reaction without being entrap-immobilized. Thus, an amide compound can be effectively produced from a nitrile compound without problems of decreased reaction speed or lowered amount produced per unit cell amount, which are caused by entrap-immobilization. Accordingly, an amide compound can be produced within a very short period of time in the case of a batch reaction and with a very small-scale facility in the case of a continuous reaction.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a process for effectively removing impurities contained in an amide compound-containing solution by making an amide compound-containing solution, particularly an amide compound-containing solution produced by a hydration reaction of a nitrile compound by using a microorganism fungus body containing nitrile hydratase or a processed product of the microorganism fungus body, in contact with activated carbon under acidic conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns specific herbicide molecules, herbicidal compositions comprising the molecules and the bacterial strains that produce certain of these molecules, and methods of using these molecules and bacterial strains to control grassy weeds and other sensitive weed species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides from Ostreococcus lucimarinus which code for desaturases and elongases and which can be employed for the recombinant production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to vectors, host cells and transgenic nonhuman organisms which comprise the polynucleotides, and to the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides. Finally, the invention also relates to production processes for the polyunsaturated fatty acids and for oil, lipid and fatty acid compositions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a class of peptide compounds for treating tumor pain, in particular bone cancer pain, for treating chemotherapy-induced pain and for treating nucleoside-induced pain.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an aflatoxin production inhibitor that inhibits aflatoxin production specifically and efficiently, is highly safe, and is practical, and an efficient production method thereof; and a method for controlling aflatoxin contamination that uses the aflatoxin production inhibitor. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aflatoxin production inhibitor that includes at least one of a dioctatin represented by the following formula (I) and a derivative thereof, as an active ingredient: where, in the formula (I), R represents one of hydrogen and a methyl group. The present invention also relates to a method for producing an aflatoxin production inhibitor in which dioctatin is prepared: by a method including culturing a dioctatin-producing microorganism, and at least one of separating and purifying dioctatin from a culture obtained, by centrifugal liquid liquid partition chromatography; or by chemical synthesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions useful as probes and in other applications and methods of their use. In some embodiments, nucleotides are prepared and functionalized with dyes. In some embodiments a first molecule is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a second molecule is functionalized with an azide group, and said first and second molecules are mixed under conditions to form a conjugate with a 1,2,3-triazol group. In further embodiments, a nucleotide is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a dye is functionalized with an azide group, and mixing the nucleotide and the dye forms a conjugate capable of emitting light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide or a pair of polynucleotides encoding an enzyme having nitrile hydratase (NHase) [E.C. 4.2.1.84] activity. Furthermore, a vector and a host comprising the disclosed polynucleotide or pair of polynucleotides and methods for the production of the same are provided. Moreover, the invention relates to a pair of polypeptides or a fusion protein having NHase activity, an antibody specifically binding to the pair of polypeptides or fusion protein, a primer or probe, which specifically hybridizes under stringent conditions to the disclosed polynucleotide or either one of the pair of polynucleotides, a composition comprising the polynucleotide or pair of polynucleotides, the pair of polypeptides or fusion protein, the antibody and/or one or more primers or probes of the invention and a method for the production of amides comprising the enantioselective conversion of nitrites.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: According to the present invention, by using 4-halogeno-3-hydroxybutanamide as a substrate in quaternary amination reaction with trialkylamine which is an important step in betaine (such as carnitine) preparation processes, it becomes possible to reduce the production of crotonic acid derivatives (the major by-product) greatly compared to conventional processes. Consequently, it becomes possible to prepare a betaine, such as carnitine, at a high yield. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing a betaine represented by formula (1) below, comprising a step of quaternary aminating an amide represented by formula (2) below: wherein A1, A2 and A3 individually represent a C1-C20 hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent(s); and X1 is a halogen atom.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a process for producing (meth)acrylamide using a microbial catalyst, wherein production steps can be simplified and production cost can be reduced. [Means for solving problem] The process for producing (meth)acrylamide of the present invention is a process comprising (a) a step of allowing (meth)acrylonitrile to undergo hydration reaction by the use of a microbial catalyst containing nitrile hydratase in an aqueous medium to obtain a (meth)acrylamide reaction solution (I) and (b) a step of removing impurities from the reaction solution (I) to obtain a (meth)acrylamide aqueous solution (II), wherein the concentration of (meth)acrylamide in the reaction solution (I) obtained in the step (a) is higher than the concentration of (meth)acrylamide in the aqueous solution (II) obtained in the step (b) by 2 to 20% by weight.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce a concentrated aqueous peracid solution in situ using at least one enzyme having perhydrolase activity in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (at a concentration of at least 500 mM) under neutral to acidic reaction conditions from suitable carboxylic acid esters (including glycerides) and/or amides substrates. The concentrated peracid solution produced is sufficient for use in a variety of disinfection and/or bleaching applications.

Abstract: A microorganism which is Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain NCIMB 41164 or a mutant thereof. A method of culturing the microorganism in a culture medium comprising urea or urea derivative is claimed. A nitrile hydratase obtainable from the microorganism is claimed. Also claimed is a process of preparing an amide from the corresponding nitrile wherein the nitrile is subjected to a hydration reaction in an aqueous medium in the presence of a biocatalyst selected from the group consisting of a microorganism which is a Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain NCIMB 41164, a mutant thereof and a nitrile hydratase obtainable from Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain NCIMB 41164 or a mutant thereof. Also claimed is a method of storing the Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB 41164.

Abstract: A method of preparing a hydrogel comprises: (i) reacting a first molecule comprising a carboxylic acid group and second molecule comprising an amine group or an alcohol group with a hydrolase enzyme to form a product comprising an amide bond or ester bond, wherein the hydrolase enzyme would normally catalyse the production of an amine or an alcohol from an amide or an ester under physiological conditions; and (ii) maintaining the product comprising an amide or ester bond under conditions suitable to allow hydrogel formation.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitrites, starting from amides, is described. Microorganisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases especially from Pseudomonas putida or Pseudomonas marginalis strains which exhibit increased cyanide tolerance. Also disclosed are methods of preparing amides from nitriles in the presence of cyanides and polynucleotide sequences coding for cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases.

Abstract: A process of producing an amide from a nitrile by the action of a nitrile hydratase enzyme or ammonium salt of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid from an amide by the action of amidase respectively in which enzymes are obtainable from a microorganism of the Dietzia genus.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: [Problems] The present invention provides a method for efficiently producing a corresponding amide compound from a nitrile compound by a reaction using a nitrile hydratase and a method for producing an amide-based polymer excellent in quality from the amide compound. In addition, the present invention provides a method for more efficiently producing an acrylamide with higher quality by a microbial catalyst containing a nitrile hydratase and the like and a method for producing an acrylamide-based polymer, which is excellent in hue, has a good balance between the water solubility and the high molecular weight and is also excellent in quality, by using the acrylamide. [Means for Solving the Problems] The method for producing an amide compound of the present invention is characterized in that in a method for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound in an aqueous medium in the presence of a catalyst having a nitrile hydratase activity, the concentration of benzene in the aqueous medium is 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomers of modafinil via microbial oxidation-amidation transformation. The methods include the successive oxidation-amidation of benzhydrylsulfanyl carboxylic acid to produce racemic and enantiomers of modafinil using at least one microorganism of yeast, bacteria, or fungus. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of racemic and enantiomers of modafinil along with their use in the treatment of diseases, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and drug addiction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an enantiopure alcohol of general formula (Ia) or (Ib), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each represent hydrogen, halogen, a C1-C6 alkyl or C1-C6 alkoxy group, with the proviso that at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is different from the remaining five groups and with the additional proviso that at least one of the groups R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is a halogen. The invention is characterized in that a ketone of general formula (II), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined as above, is enzymatically reduced in the presence of an S-specific or R-specific dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase using NADH or NADPH as the cofactor.

Abstract: A microorganism represented by a strain K04-0144 belonging to Streptomyces sp. having ability to produce K04-0144 substance is cultured in the medium, and the isolated K04-0144A substance, K04-0144B substance and K04-0144C substance therefrom have strong antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Streptococcus aureus (MRSA), consequently these are useful as the therapeutic agents for infectious disease caused by MRSA as well as infectious diseases caused by multidrug including ?-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria. Further, similarly, since the novel K04-0144D substance isolated from the cultured liquid has the action for enhancing the effect of ?-lactam antibiotics, which are utilized as the antibacterial agents, in combination with them, it is useful as the therapeutic agent for infectious diseases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug including ?-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria.

Abstract: A monosaccharide production system is disclosed. The production system can be directed to processes for producing a D-galactose preparation, a D-galactose preparation and an isoflavones preparation, a tagatose preparation, and a tagatose preparation and an isoflavones preparation.

Abstract: It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to use enzymes in deep eutectic solvents (DES). DES's are mixtures of a nitrogen salt or a metal salt and a strong hydrogen bond donor that can be mixed in proportions that form a eutectic point.