Abstract: The invention provides a novel calcium-independent cytosolic phospholipase A2-Beta enzyme, polynucleotides encoding such enzyme and methods for screening unknown compounds for anti-inflammatory activity mediated by the arachidonic acid cascade.

Abstract: The enzyme, iron hydrogenase (HydA), has industrial applications for the production of hydrogen, specifically, for catalyzing the reversible reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. The present invention relates to the isolation of a nucleic acid sequence from the algae Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and Chlorella fusca that encodes iron hydrogenase. The invention further discloses the genomic nucleic acid, c-DNA and the protein sequences for HydA. The genes and gene products may be used in a photosynthetic process for hydrogen production which includes growing a microorganism containing the gene coding for HydA in a culture medium under illuminated conditions sufficient to accumulate an endogenous substrate; depleting a nutrient selected from the group consisting of sulfur, iron, and manganese from the medium; then allowing the culture to become anaerobic by consumption of an endogenous or exogenous substrate in the light.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a biotin synthases. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the biotin synthases, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the biotin synthases in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: A method for the ligation of expressed proteins which utilizes inteins, for example the RIR1 intein from Methanobacterium thermotrophicum, is provided. Constructs of the Mth RIR1 intein in which either the C-terminal asparagine or N-terminal cysteine of the intein are replaced with alanine enable the facile isolation of a protein with a specified N-terminal, for example, cysteine for use in the fusion of two or more expressed proteins. The method involves the steps of generating a C-terminal thioester-tagged target protein and a second target protein having a specified N-terminal via inteins, such as the modified Mth RIR1 intein, and ligating these proteins. A similar method for producing a cyclic or polymerized protein is provided. Modified inteins engineered to cleave at their C-terminus or N-terminus, respectively, and DNA and plasmids encoding these modified inteins are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel serine proteases in Gram-positive microorganisms. The present invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the Bacillus subtilis serine proteases SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 and SP5. The present invention also provides host cells having a mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 and SP5. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising nucleic acid encoding desired heterologous proteins such as enzymes. The present invention also provides a cleaning composition comprising a serine protease of the present invention.

Abstract: Here we describe the molecular identification of a cDNA encoding a novel serine protease we have termed protease C-E. The deduced amino acid sequence, and it alignment with other well-characterized serine proteases indicates that it is a member of the S1 serine protease family. We have found that the protease C-E mRNA is expressed in pancreas, placenta, prostate, small intestine, stomach, spleen, fibroblasts and epidermis, as well as in certain regions of the brain i.e., cerebellum, cerebral cortex, pituitary and hippocampus. Enzymatically active protease C-E, as produced using the methodologies described herein, is amenable to further biochemical analyses for the identification of physiological substrates and specific modulators.

Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the drug-metabolizing enzyme peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the drug-metabolizing enzyme peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the drug-metabolizing enzyme peptides.

Abstract: The invention generally provides the genes of the biotin biosynthetic operon of Bacillus subtilis, and closely related species thereof, and well as constructions useful for high level production of biotin.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotides containing a polynucleotide sequence which is: a) polynucleotide which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, or b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, or c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), or d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the ccpA1 gene is present in attenuated form, and the use of the polynucleotide sequences as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutations of a subtilisin gene which result in changes in the chemical characteristics of subtilisin enzymes. Mutations at specific nucleic acids of the subtilisin gene result in amino acid substitutions and consequently, altered enzyme function. Some of these mutant enzymes exhibit physical properties advantageous to industrial applications, particularly in the detergent industry, providing subtilisin which is more stable to oxidation, possesses greater protease activity, and exhibits improved washability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel serine proteases in Gram-positive microorganisms. The present invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the Bacillus subtilis serine proteases SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 and SP5. The present invention also provides host cells having a mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 and SP5. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising nucleic acid encoding desired heterologous proteins such as enzymes. The present invention also provides a cleaning composition comprising a serine protease of the present invention.

Abstract: An isolated oral bacterial polypeptide having amidolytic activity for cleavage of denatured polypeptides and nondenatured serpin polypeptides and particularly a human &agr;1-proteinase inhibitor polypeptide is provided. The mature polypeptide of the invention has a molecular weight of about 70 kD to about 80 kD. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding the oral bacterial polypeptide of the invention, methods for identifying inhibitors of the polypeptide and compositions such as immunogenic compositions and inhibitor compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel metallo-proteases (MP) in Gram-positive microorganisms. The present invention provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for Bacillus (MP). The present invention also provides host cells having mutation or deletion of part or all of the gene encoding MP. The present invention also provides host cells further comprising nucleic acid encoding desired heterologous proteins such as enzymes. The present invention also provides cleaning compositions comprising an MP of the present invention.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polypeptides capable of retaining a strong enzyme activity of formate dehydrogenase in the presence of an organic solvent and to provide the uses thereof. Formate dehydrogenase mutant polypeptides, which are resistant to organic solvents, were constructed by substituting cysteines at position 146 and/or at position 256 in the amino acid sequence of Mycobacterium vaccae-derived formate dehydrogenase by site-directed mutagenesis. The polypeptides have strong activities of formate dehydrogenase in the presence of an organic solvent. The mutants are useful for the production of alcohols using ketones as raw material, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence chosen from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is identical to the extent of at least 70 % to a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence which is identical to the extent of at least 70 % to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids with enhancement of the acp gene and the use of the polynucleotide as a primer or hybridization probe.

Abstract: The invention provides molecules that encode sphingosine kinase, the enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP). Vectors and host cells which express sphingosine kinase are also provided, as are methods for evaluating the stimulatory or inhibitory effects of agents on sphingosine kinase production and activity.

Abstract: A transformed mutant, P. mendocina, is provided containing a DNA fragment that inactivates all pobA genes and encodes the enzyme hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase. Mutants deficient in hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase are useful for the production of para-hydroxybenzoate (PHBA).

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide and amino sequences of the lysosomal targeting pathway enzyme phosphodiester &agr;-GlcNAcase, methods of producing and methods of purifying this enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the protease peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the protease peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the protease peptides.

Abstract: Methods and compositions that can reduce the symptoms of autism in a human patient comprising administering a physiologically effective amount of one or both of a purified casomorphin inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a casomorphinase and a casomorphin ligand, and a physiologically effective amount of a purified gluteomorphin inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a gluteomorphinase and a gluteomorphin ligand, to a human patient in sufficient quantities to reduce the effects of the autism. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods further comprise a physiologically effective amount of an enkephalin inhibitor, preferably an enkephalinase, and a physiologically effective amount of an endorphin inhibitor, preferably an endorphinase.