Abstract: The present disclosure provides variant superoxide dismutase polypeptides, compositions comprising the polypeptides, and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides. The present disclosure provides methods of reducing oxidative damage in a cell, tissue, or organ. The present disclosure provides methods of identifying agents that increase superoxide dismutase activity.

Abstract: The present application relates to isolated amino acid sequence comprising multiple repeats of a semi-synthetic spider silk protein domain, or any functional homolog, variant, derivative, fragment or mutant thereof. The amino acid sequence of the invention further comprises an N-terminal region and a C-terminal region. The invention further provides a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of the invention, an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, a host cell transformed with said expression vector, a recombinant spider silk protein thus produced and a fiber composed of the recombinant spider silk protein. The invention further encompasses a composition comprising as an active ingredient said amino acid sequence or any said recombinant protein or fiber comprising the same. Lastly, the invention relates to an article comprising at least one fiber composed of said recombinant spider silk protein.

Abstract: An L-threonine-producing Escherichia coli in which a promoter of a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc) gene on the chromosome is substituted with a promoter of a cysteine synthase (cysK) gene and a method of producing L-threonine by using the same are disclosed. The recombinant Escherichia coli may produce L-threonine in a high yield, and thus may be widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, and feed industries, particularly for an animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and nonobvious method of producing the C-terminal histidine tagged TAT-HOXB4 fusion protein (TAT-HOXB4H), providing unexpected benefits of increased yield and stability to allow for in vivo administration of this protein, and pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective ingredient, TAT-HOXB4H, having stimulatory activity on the production of hematopoietic cells. More specifically, recombinant TAT-HOXB4H protein enhances engraftment of bone marrow transplants, hematopoietic reconstruction, bone marrow re-population and number of circulating stem cells, particularly after chemotherapy or irradiation.

Abstract: Adaptive engineering of microorganisms to create mutants exhibiting high butanol tolerance and productivity. Mutant strains are obtained through the fermentation of parental strains in a fibrous bed bioreactor in the presence of butanol. Also provided are methods of producing butanol using mutant strains in ABE fermentation. Butanol production may be furthered by gas stripping and distillation. Also provided are mutant proteins for increasing butanol production in a microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, crystals of the MEK1 polypeptide which are particularly useful for structure based drug design as well as methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to potato virus NIa protease variants or fragments thereof, polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using the foregoing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 4S-iota-carrageenan sulfatase and to the use thereof for partially or totally converting the iota-carrageenan into iota-/alpha-carrageenan or alpha-carrageenan. The invention also relates to the method for extracting said enzyme from a Pseudoalteromonas bacteria population or from red marine algae. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of 4S-iota-carrageenan sulfatase to prepare a texturizing agent containing alpha-carrageenan.

Abstract: A crystal comprising an isoform of an N-terminally truncated glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) chosen from the group consisting of a monoclinic P21 space group with unit cell dimensions of a =84.05±2.3 ?, b=62.74±2.3 ?, c=101.35±2.3 ? and ? =106.69° (GAD67) or an orthorhombic C2221 space group with unit cell dimensions of a=78.25±2.3 ?, b=99.05±2.3 ? and c=120.01±2.3 ?(GAD65).

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a novel purified polypeptide having laccase activity and the nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide. The disclosed polypeptide works at moderately high temperatures from below 20° C. to about 70° C., both acidic and alkaline pH conditions, high salt concentrations and in the presence of organo solvents. The high stability of the enzyme enables its wide applications under even extreme conditions. The invention also provides methods of producing the laccase enzyme.

Abstract: A protein scaffold based on a consensus sequence of the tenth fibronectin type III (FN3) repeat from human fibronectin, preferably human Tenascin, that binds to human TNF? including isolated nucleic acids that encode a protein scaffold, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.

Abstract: Ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains or functional mutants thereof and methods of using ferulate esterase producing bacterial strains as forage additives are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having isoamylase activity derived from Dyella japonica and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to the use of said polypeptide having isoamylase activity for producing glucose syrup, fructose syrup, maltose syrup or maltitol.

Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic phytase polypeptide which encodes an en/ymatically susceptible phytase. Also provided are feed or food products comprising an enzymatically susceptible phytase, and transgenic plants which express the enzymatically susceptible phytase. Further provided are methods for making and using enzymatically susceptible phytases, e.g., a method of using an enzymatically susceptible phytase in feed and food processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified industrial yeast strains that show reduced hydrogen sulfide production. In one embodiment the invention provides an industrial yeast strain comprising a modification in a MET5 gene and/or a MET10 gene which results in reduced hydrogen sulfide production when compared to the corresponding industrial yeast strain without the modification. The present invention also relates to methods of manufacturing these modified industrial yeast strains and their use in the production of fermented products.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MR nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MR proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described which are involved in biosynthesis of a fine chemical, e.g., methionine biosynthesis. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MR nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides methods of producing methionine from microorganisms, e.g., C. glutamicum, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms which overexpress or underexpress at least one MR molecule of the invention under conditions such that methionine is produced. Also featured are methods of producing a fine chemical, e.g., methionine, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms having selected MR genes deleted or mutated under conditions such that the fine chemical, e.g., methionine, is produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

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: It is a subject of this invention to isolate a gene group of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of vitamin E of Para rubber tree, and to determine the base sequence of each gene. According to this invention, genes encoding enzymes involved in the vitamin E biosynthesis were isolated from Para rubber tree and the base sequences of these genes were determined. Since vitamin E is an antioxidant existing in nature, it is expected that transformation of a plant by using the genes obtained in the invention would result in an increase in the vitamin E content of the plant and, in its turn, contribute to the prevention of rubber from aging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant ?5 desaturases, which have the ability to convert dihomo-?-linolenic acid [DGLA; 20:3 ?-6] to arachidonic acid [ARA; 20:4 ?-6] and/or eicosatetraenoic acid [ETA; 20:4 ?-3] to eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; 20:5 ?-3] and which possess at least one mutation within the HPGG motif of the cytochome b5-like domain. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding ?5 desaturases, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these mutant ?5 desaturases in oleaginous yeast, are disclosed.