Abstract: Acetolactate synthase (ALS), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine in plants is inhibited by herbicides comprising imidazolinones. A mutant gene encoding imidazolinone-resistant ALS has been isolated from an imidazolinone-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana (GH-90) and stably maintained in a plasmid pKS1. When compared with the gene coding for imidazolinone-sensitive ALS, the imidazolinone-resistant ALS gene contains a point mutation, wherein adenosine is substituted for guanosine at nucleotide 1958, resulting in the substitution of asparagine for serine at amino acid residue 653. The mutant ALS gene can be used to impart imidazolinone resistance to a crop plant; thereby permitting the utilization of the imidazolinone or analogous herbicide as a single application at a concentration which ensures the complete or substantially complete killing of weeds, while leaving the transgenic crop plant essentially undamaged.

Abstract: A microbubble generator is disclosed for optimizing the rate and amount of xygen transfer to microbial inocula or biocatalysts in bioreactor systems. The microbubble generator, and an associated immobilized cell reactor, are useful in the detoxification and cleanup of non-volatile polymeric and volatile organic-contaminated aqueous streams. In particular, they are useful in the continuous mineralization and biodegradation of toxic organic compounds, including volatile organic compounds, associated with industrial and municipal effluents, emissions, and ground water and other aqueous discharges. One embodiment of the invention includes a microbubble chamber packed with small inert particles through which a liquid effluent and oxygen or another gas are admitted under pressure, followed by a venturi chamber to further reduce the size of bubbles.

Abstract: Novel homogeneous bimetallic hydroformylation catalysts, and processes utilizing these catalysts to convert alkenes, particularly alpha olefins, under mild conditions to a product rich in aldehydes, particularly a product containing a high ratio of linear:branched chain aldehydes. The catalysts can be produced from a binucleating tetratertiaryphosphine ligand capable of strongly coordinating two metal centers and holding them in general proximity to one another. Bimetallic catalyst precursors are produced which, on reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen forms the active bimetallic hydroformylation catalyst system.