Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.

Abstract: A method of delivery of reactive substances that are attached to magnetizable needle-like particles using a magneto-mechanical delivery device. The subject method and device can be utilized for the delivery of reactive or other substances, such as DNA via the penetration of a target body. Such penetration of a target or multiple targets can initiate the interaction between the material contained within the target site and the chemical substances delivered by the particles into the targets. In a preferred embodiment, the subject device is portable and does not require electrical power.

Abstract: The invention concerns a new tool for efficient mutagenesis enabling the generation of a collection of mutants in fungi by random insertion of a characterized Fusarium oxysporum Impala transposon in the genome of said fungi. The invention also concerns the resulting mutants.

Abstract: A heterologous polypeptide is expressed under the control of a DNA construct containing a promoter region derived from a cyanophage or cyanobacteria promoter. In one embodiment, such a promoter region is operably linked to an operator region derived from an operator native to the host cell. In another embodiment, the operator region is positioned upstream of the promoter region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substantially pure population of viable pancreatic progenitor cells, and methods for isolating such cells. The present invention further concerns certain therapeutic uses for such progenitor cells, and their progeny.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of L-amino acids, in which the following steps are carried out, a) fermenting the desired L-amino acid-producing bacteria in which at least the glyA gene is attenuated, in particular by removal of the natural promoter, and optionally b) concentrating the desired product in the medium or in the cells of the bacteria and c) isolating the L-amino acid, and optionally bacteria in which further genes of the biosynthesis pathway of the desired L-amino acid are additionally amplified are employed, or bacteria in which the metabolic pathways which reduce the formation of the desired L-amino acid are at least partly eliminated are employed, and nucleotide sequences of the lacI-tac-5′glyA or lacI-tac-glyA unit.

Abstract: A triple host vector is described which is capable of expressing an inserted protein coding DNA sequence in any of three distinct host systems. The vector includes three promoters, one each for vertebrate, bacterial and insect host cells, so that the protein coding sequence can be cloned into the vector once and the vector can be used to express protein in all three types of host cells. The arrangement and selection of the promoters contributes to expression characteristics in all three host systems that is comparable to single host expression vectors.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that recombinagenic oligonucleobases are active in prokaryotic cells that contain a strand transfer activity (RecA) and mismatch repair activity (MutS). Using this system a type of Duplex Mutational Vector termed a Heteroduplex Mutational Vector, was shown to be more active in prokaryotic cells than the types of mutational vectors heretofore tested. Further improvements in activity were obtained by replacing the tetrathymidine linker by a nuclease resistant oligonucleotide, such as tetra-2′-O-methyl-uridine, to link the two strands of the recombinagenic oligonucleobase and removing the DNA-containing intervening segment. The claims concern Duplex Mutational Vectors that contain the above improvements. In an alternative embodiment the claims concern the use of Duplex Mutational Vectors in prokaryotic cells.

Abstract: A method for detecting protein-protein interactions is provided, in which two fusion proteins are prepared and allowed to interact with each other in yeast cells. The interaction between the two fusion proteins leads to protein trans-splicing, generating an active and detectable reporter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new strain of Streptomyces sp., called CIMAP A1 isolated from the soil of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) planted in the experimental fields of CIMAP and having the accession No. ATCC PTA-4131 and capable of inhibiting the growth of phytopathogenic fungi.

Abstract: An isolated DNA having the promoter sequence of the hex gene of P. chrysogenum or a DNA fragment that is hybridizable to the complement of the promoter sequence under stringent conditions and is capable of directing expression of DNA downstream of the fragment in P. chrysogenum. Also a process for promoting expression of a coding sequence of interest in a microorganism using the isolated DNA and a process to block expression of a gene of interest in a microorganism using the isolated DNA are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for selecting compounds capable of modulating protein-protein interactions is provided, in which two fusion proteins are prepared and allowed to interact with each other in the presence of test compounds. The interaction between the two fusion proteins leads to protein trans-splicing, producing an active reporter. Compounds that disrupt or enhance protein-protein interactions can be selected based on the presence or absence of the active reporter.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, reproducible, robust assay system for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular protein, e.g., a receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of compounds to identify those which act as an agonist or antagonist to the bioactivity of the cellular protein. In particular, the assay of the invention makes use of a cell that harbors a protein that is responsive to a cellular signal transduction pathway. The protein is operatively linked to a polypeptide which causes a detectable signal to be generated upon stimulation of the pathway, e.g., when a compound interacts with and modulates the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel of the cell.