Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism capable of maintaining its xylose fermentation ability over a long period of time. The present invention also provides a microorganism deficient in the function of expressing NAD kinase gene and/or FPS1 gene, a method for preparing the above microorganism and a method for producing ethanol using the above microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and processes for the production of proteins, particularly glycoproteins, by animal cell or mammalian cell culture, preferably, but not limited to, fed-batch cell cultures. In one aspect, the methods comprise the addition of glucocorticoid compound during the culturing period. The addition of glucocorticoid compound sustain a high viability of the cultured cells, and can yield an increased end titer of protein product, and a high quality of protein product, as determined, e.g., by sialic acid content of the produced protein.

Abstract: The inventors have discovered that both soluble erythropoietin-binding protein and antibodies against the erythropoietin-binding protein, when they are administered to a mammal along with erythropoietin (Epo), prevent or reduce the blood pressure increase normally caused by erythropoietin, while not affecting the hematocrit increase that is the purpose of Epo treatment. The invention provides a method of treating anemia in a mammal involving: administering erythropoietin (Epo) to the mammal; and administering to the mammal an agent selected from a soluble Epo-binding protein (Epo-bp), a recognition protein that binds Epo receptor on an extracellular soluble portion of the Epo receptor, and a combination thereof. The invention also provides a method of reducing hypertension in a mammal receiving Epo, and pharmaceutical compositions containing a soluble Epo-bp and/or a recognition protein that binds Epo receptor on an extracellular soluble portion of the Epo receptor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineered microorganisms that produce amino acids and amino acid intermediates. In particular, the disclosure relates to recombinant nucleic acids encoding operons that increase production of aromatic amino acids and the aromatic amino acid intermediate shikimate; microorganisms with increased production of aromatic amino acids and the aromatic amino acid intermediate shikimate; and methods related to the production of aromatic amino acids, the aromatic amino acid intermediate shikimate, and commodity chemicals derived therefrom.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the extraction and detection of a peptide from transgenic plant tissues wherein a non-immunogenic solubility-promoting compound is used to release the enzyme into the solution fraction during the purification process. In some embodiments, this invention provides a method for the extraction and detection of the enzyme Amy797E, which is a heterologous thermo-tolerant ?-amylase, from the tissues of corn event 3272 using a non-immunogenic amylase during the purification process. This invention allows for a limit of detection of 1:1000 of Amy797E in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes fluorescent protein-based indicators for detecting ions, small molecule analytes, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the indicators include a polypeptide, which itself includes a fluorescent polypeptide, a compound-binding polypeptide, and a polypeptide target of the compound-binding polypeptide. In some embodiments the polypeptide includes an EosFP polypeptide, a calmodulin polypeptide, and a M13 polypeptide, or fragments and/or variants thereof. The presently-disclosed subject matter also includes methods for detecting calcium in a sample with embodiments of the present polypeptides. In some embodiments the present indicators experience a permanent shift from green to red fluorescent when exposed to an detecting substance, such as calcium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cell-based production of bacterial nonulosonates and their biosynthetic precursors. Specifically, the present invention provides recombinant cells for the production of pseudaminic acid, legionaminic acid, UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-L-altropyranose, and UDP-2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxy-?-D-glucopyranose. Methods for producing the sugars are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant host cell, in particular a yeast cell, comprising a dihydroxy-acid dehydratase polypeptide. The invention is also related to a recombinant host cell having increased specific activity of the dihydroxy-acid dehydratase polypeptide as a result of increased expression of the polypeptide, modulation of the Fe—S cluster biosynthesis of the cell, or a combination thereof. The present invention also includes methods of using the host cells, as well as, methods for identifying polypeptides that increase the flux in an Fe—S cluster biosynthesis pathway in a host cell.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of producing a scyllo-inositol or a new scyllo-inositol derivative in a one-step process, from ubiquitous and inexpensive raw materials. Also provided is a scyllo-inositol derivative bonded to saccharides such as glucose and similar.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for creating a transformant having significantly improved glucaric acid-producing capability and a method for efficiently producing glucaric acid using the transformant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of reducing, delaying, preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of a Cryptococcus infection into the central nervous system (CNS) of a subject by inhibiting the activity of a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1) secreted by the Cryptococcus. The invention further provides methods of increasing, promoting and/or enhancing delivery of a therapeutic agent across the blood-brain-barrier, comprising systemically administering the therapeutic agent in conjunction with a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1), or an enzymatically active fragment thereof.

Abstract: Methods to reduce or inhibit populations of pathogenic bacteria in animals are disclosed. These methods include providing a number of administrations of probiotic microorganism compositions containing one or more strains or species of probiotic microorganisms. Routes of administration, dosage of administration and pathogenic organisms to be reduced or inhibited are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of use of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) to modulate microbial activity, such as to enhance or inhibit the activity of microorganisms. In one example, MSM (such as about 0.5% to 5% MSM) is used to enhance fermentation efficiency, such as to enhance fermentation efficiency associated with the production of beer, cider, wine, a biofuel, dairy product or any combination thereof. Also disclosed are in vitro methods for enhancing the growth of one or more probiotic microorganisms and methods of enhancing growth of a microorganism in a diagnostic test sample. Methods of inhibiting microbial activity are also disclosed. In one particular example, a method of inhibiting microbial activity includes selecting a medium that is susceptible to H1N1 influenza contamination; and contacting the medium with MSM at a concentration of about 10% to about 16% of weight by volume, thereby inhibiting H1N1 influenza microbial activity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to non-cytotoxic protein conjugates for inhibition or reduction of exocytic fusion in a nociceptive sensory afferent cell. The protein conjugates comprise: (i) a Targeting Moiety (TM), wherein the TM is an agonist of a receptor present on a nociceptive sensory afferent cell, and wherein the receptor undergoes endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; (ii) a non-cytotoxic protease or a fragment thereof, wherein the protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; and (iii) a Translocation Domain, wherein the Translocation Domain translocates the protease or protease fragment from within the endosome, across the endosomal membrane, and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell wherein the Targeting Moiety is selected from the group consisting of BAM, ?-endorphin, bradykinin, substance P, dynorphin and/or nociceptin.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biotechnology and provides a method for producing recombinant proteins from the orb-weaving spider silk in yeast cells. This involves the construction of an expression vector which comprises a DNA sequence encoding a recombinant protein of the orb-weaving spider silk fused with a sequence encoding an ubiquitin-like protein occupying an N-terminal position with respect to the spider silk recombinant protein within the fused protein. The expression of a hybrid gene makes it possible to increase tens of times the production of recombinant spider silk protein, wherein the recombinant protein accumulates in the yeast cells in a water-insoluble fraction in the form of a processed protein free of a hybrid component.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for the inducible expression of genes in eukaryotic cells are provided. Expression of a nucleotide sequence of interest encoding a protein of interest is controlled by a regulatory fusion protein that consists of a transcription blocking domain and a ligand-binding domain. When a cognate ligand for the ligand-binding domain is present, transcription of the nucleotide sequence of interest is blocked. Upon removal of the cognate ligand, the nucleotide sequence of interest is transcribed. The method is useful for large scale bioreactor production of a desired protein of interest in eukaryotic cells.

Abstract: Provided are probes comprising a class 1 release factor conjugated to a fluorescent label and methods of making the probes. Also provided are methods for detecting conformational changes in ribosomes and associated molecules, such as class 1 release factors. In addition, methods of identifying a compound for reducing nonsense-mediated decay of mRNA and/or for inhibiting termination of protein synthesis at a premature stop codon, are described. Methods of assaying RF3 activity are also included.

Abstract: The invention discloses cellulase enzymes with optimized properties for processing of cellulose- and lignocellulose-containing substrates. In particular, cellobiohydrolase enzymes with preferred characteristics are disclosed. The present invention provides fusion, insertion, deletion and/or substitution variants of such enzymes. Enzyme variants have enhanced thermostability, proteolytic stability, specific activity and/or stability at extreme pH. Nucleic acid molecules encoding said enzymes, a composition comprising said enzymes, a method for preparation, and the use for cellulose processing and/or for the production of biofuels are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for site-specific modification of proteins by incorporation of an aldehyde tag. Enzymatic modification at a sulfatase motif of the aldehyde tag through action of a formylglycine generating enzyme (FGE) generates a formylglycine (FGly) residue. The aldehyde moiety of FGly residue can be exploited as a chemical handle for site-specific attachment of a moiety of interest to a polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cost effective biotechnological process for production of bio-fuels from isolated and characterized microalgae. The algal strains used in the present invention having higher biomass, higher lipid productivity, higher pH and temperature tolerance are selected from the group consisting of Chlorella vulgaris iOC-1, Chlorella vulgaris iOC-2, Chlorella kessleri, Botrococcus bruni, Dunaliella salina and Nannochloris oculat or a combination thereof having 95-100% similarity with 18s ribosomal nucleic acids nucleotide sequences (rDNA) given for Seq. ID I, Seq. ID 2, Seq. ID 3, Seq. ID 4, Seq. ID 5 and Seq. ID 6. The present process of bio-fuel production comprises the steps of producing lipid from green algae in bioreactors by various novel steps and extracting oil from dried algal cells and ultimately producing biodiesel by transesterification of the said extracted oil.