Abstract: The present invention relates to trehalose phosphorylases which are useful for the industrial production of trehalose-analogs and glycosyl phosphates. More specifically, the invention discloses trehalose phosphorylases which are mutated in specific amino acid regions. These specific mutations result in modified substrate specificities of the enzymes. In addition, the present invention discloses a wild type trehalose phosphorylase from the marine organism Caldanaerobacter subterraneus, and mutated types thereof, which are highly thermostable and have a broad acceptor and donor specificity.

Abstract: The invention belongs to the field of functional proteomics and, more particularly, to the field of protein aggregation. Described are methods for interfering with the function of a target protein and uses a non-naturally, user-designed molecule, designated as interferor, that has a specificity for a target protein and that induces aggregation upon contact with the target protein. The invention also discloses such interferer molecules and their use in therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the improved production of fatty acid products in a recombinant microorganism or host cell engineered to express a non-native gene encoding a thioesterase and a non-native gene encoding a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT), in which the LPAAT is overexpressed in the recombinant microorganism compared to an otherwise identical microorganism that does not include the non-native LPAAT gene. The invention also provides methods of producing fatty acid products using such recombinant microorganisms.

Abstract: There is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising a pyripyropene biosynthetic gene cluster and a marker gene. The nucleic acid construct according to the present invention provides an inexpensive and highly productive method for producing pyripyropene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient and efficient process for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched, deuterated secondary alcohols without reducing deuterium incorporation.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity; DNA encoding the protein; a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity using the transformant or the like; a process for producing a dipeptide using the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity; and a process for producing a dipeptide using, as an enzyme source, a culture of a transformant or a microorganism which produces the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for conveniently and efficiently regenerating elastic fiber retaining a normal structure, and a technique enabling preparation of an artificial tissue comprising elastic fiber (for example, artificial skin, artificial blood vessels) that can be transplanted to humans. Specifically, the invention provides a method of producing elastic fiber, comprising culturing (for example, culturing in serum-free medium) cells having the capability of regenerating elastic fiber in the presence of DANCE and/or fibulin-4; artificial elastic fiber comprising DANCE and/or fibulin-4; an elastic fiber regenerating agent; a serum-free medium comprising DANCE and/or fibulin-4; and cells having the capability of regenerating elastic fiber, transfected with at least one of a DANCE expression vector, a fibulin-4 expression vector and a DANCE inducing factor expression vector, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method capable of producing a protein efficiently. A method of producing a polypeptide, comprising culturing a cell which strongly expresses a bicarbonate transporter and has a transferred DNA encoding a desired polypeptide and thereby allowing the cell to produce said polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms such as cyanobacteria genetically engineered to express proteins that include transcription factor domains for upregulation of lipid biosynthetic pathways. In addition to expression a gene encoding a transcription factor domain protein, the recombinant microorganisms can express at least one exogenous gene that encodes a polypeptide for the production of a fatty acid, fatty acid derivative, or triglyceride. Also included are methods of producing a fatty acid, fatty acid derivative, or triglyceride using the engineered microorganisms described herein as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding novel transcription factor domain proteins.

Abstract: DNA encoding a monomeric variant of red fluorescent protein eqFP611 comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 3 and SEQ ID No. 5. DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 4 and SEQ ID No. 6.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for producing an amino acid using a microorganism in which aspartate aminotransferase activity is decreased or deleted, and which has the capability of producing and accumulating the amino acid is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides conjugates comprising albumin and a peptide derived from the C-terminal region of amyloid beta peptide, as well as uses thereof for the treatment of diseases characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins and, in particular, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid by enzyme-catalyzed covalent bond formation between the carbon atom of the oxo group of acetone and the methyl group of a compound which provides an activated acetyl group. Also described are recombinant organisms which produce 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, and related compositions and methods.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, foods comprising nepenthesin or a derivative thereof and methods of using nepenthesin or a derivative thereof for modulating gluten intolerance and related conditions, such as celiac disease. Further provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising nepenthesin or a derivative thereof and methods of using nepenthesin or a derivative thereof to treat bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract, such as C. difficile or H. pylori. Further provided herein are compositions comprising recombinant nepenthesin I or nepenthesin II, or homologous proteins, and methods for making the same.

Abstract: Vitamin D binding proteins (DBP), in particular truncated DBP and mutated, truncated DBP, as well as fusion proteins thereof, nucleic acid molecules encoding same, vectors, host cells, and methods, kits and solid supports for determining the total amount of 25-hydroxy vitamin D2 and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 in a test sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a protein homologous to a MeaB protein for increasing the enzymatic activity of a 3-hydroxycarboxylic acid-CoA mutase, a fusion protein comprising a 3-hydroxycarboxylic acid-CoA mutase and a protein sequence homologous to a MeaB protein and an enzymatic method for producing 2-hydroxyisobutryric acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for integrated production of ethanol and seaweed biofertilizer from fresh red seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii. Specifically, the present invention describes a process for the production of ethanol, as a byproduct, from Kappaphycus alvarezii. The process includes crushing the fresh weeds to release the sap, a proved biofertilizer, and recovering the residual carrageenan rich biomass, hydrolyzing the biomass using dilute acid at elevated temperature, neutralizing the hydrolysate by using inexpensive calcium hydroxide and removing the insoluble salts through filtration or centrifugation, desalting soluble salts from the hydrolysate by electrodialysis, enriching with nitrogen source, inoculating with yeast and fermenting it to form a fermented broth containing ethanol and separating ethanol from the fermented broth by distillation and using residual hydrolysate, generated CaSO4 and reject obtained from electrodialysis as manure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for computationally designing self-assembling polypeptides are disclosed. A representation of a docked configuration of a symmetric protein architecture can be determined by a computing device configured to computationally symmetrically dock representations of protein building blocks within a representation of a symmetric protein architecture, where symmetrically docking a representation of a particular protein building block can include determining a configuration of the protein building blocks in three-dimensional space within the symmetric protein architecture configured to generate interfaces between building blocks suitable for computational protein interface design. The amino acid sequence of the docked protein building blocks can be computationally modified to specify protein-protein interfaces between the plurality of protein building blocks that are energetically favorable to drive self-assembly of a protein that includes the modified amino acid sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding an enzyme having carboxyl esterase [E.C. 2.1.1.1] activity.

Abstract: Improved active DEMETER polypeptides with internal deletions are provided.