Abstract: Described herein is the isolation of colicin-producing strains of E. coli for use as probiotic treatments for the prevention of E. coli K88+ diarrhea. These strains of E. coli, designated as UM-17, and UM-19, express a filament and produce colicin but produce no compounds toxic to the host animal and as such inhibit the growth of E. coli K88+.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an RNaseH activity from Archaeoglobus profundus and being highly useful in gene engineering; a gene encoding this polypeptide; and a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having an activity to asymmetrically reduce (3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanone to produce (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol isolated from a microorganism belonging to the genus Ogataea, a DNA encoding the polypeptide and a transformant that produces the polypeptide. The present invention moreover relates to a method of producing (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol utilizing the polypeptide or the transformant. Using the polypeptide or transformant of the present invention, optically active alcohols such as (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol and the like can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed are isolated polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus sp. having glutamic peptidase activity.

Abstract: Described are compositions and methods relating to granular starch hydrolysis. Exemplary used for the compositions and methods are for ethanol production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus, which has an activity of hydroxylating a compound represented by the formula (I-a): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or an alkali metal, and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or a ring-closed lactone form thereof; a DNA encoding the protein; and a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA.

Abstract: An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 62% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. The polypeptide, when present in a cell, increases the cell's ability to tolerate glyphosate. Also disclosed are related nucleic acid, antibody, vector, transgenic plant, as well as uses thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active alkanols of the formula I in which n is an integer from 0 to 5; Cyc is an optionally substituted, mono- or polynuclear, saturated or unsaturated, carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, and R1 is halogen, SH, OH, NO2, NR2R3 or NR2R3R4+X?, with R2, R3 and R4 independently of one another being hydrogen or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy radical and X? being a counterion, which process comprises incubating in a medium comprising alkanone of the formula II ?in which n, Cyc and R1 are as defined above, an enzyme having a polypeptide sequence (i) SEQ ID NO: 1 or (ii) in which, compared to SEQ ID NO:1, up to 25% of the amino acid radicals have been altered by deletion, insertion, substitution or a combination thereof and which retains at least 50% of the enzymic activity of SEQ ID NO:1, with the compound of the formula II being enzymically reduced to give the compound of the formula I, and isolating the product formed.

Abstract: A gene encoding a methylated catechin synthase that can effectively synthesize methylated catechins having high antiallergic activity. The gene encoding a methylated catechin synthase contains at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 and 5.

Abstract: A protein participating in the addition of mannose phosphate to a sugar chain of a glycoprotein originating in a yeast belonging to the genus Pichia; a gene coding this protein; a mutant of this gene; a vector carrying the mutant gene; a yeast strain belonging to the genus Pichia having been transformed by this vector; a process for producing a protein with reduction of an acidic sugar chain by using the transformed yeast strain; and a glycoprotein thus produced, are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and related phytases. The phytases belong to the acid histidine phosphatase family, are acid-stable, of an excellent performance in animal feed, of a high specificity towards the substrate phytate, and expectedly of a high specific activity. The invention also relates to the corresponding DNA, the recombinant and wild-type production of the phytases, as well as the use thereof.

Abstract: A glucose dehydrogenase having high substrate specificity can be produced at a low cost by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Burkholderia. The glucose dehydrogenase is isolated from the medium and/or cells of the microorganism. The glucose dehydrogenase isolated from the genus Burkholderia is not affected by oxygen dissolved in a measurement sample and, in particular, has superior thermal stability.

Abstract: The invention concerns an isolated or purified polypeptide having an activity in the MTBE degradation path, and/or at least one of the catabolic intermediates of MTBE, preferably selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), 2-methyl 1,2-propanediol (2-M1, 2-PD), hydroxyisobutyraldehyde, hydroxyiso-butyric acid (HIBA), said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:10; b) a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids having at least 70% identity, preferably 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% with the sequence of amino acids of a polypeptide as defined in a); a polypeptide as defined in a) or b) whereof the sequence of amino acids comprises a substitution, deletion, insertion, addition or mutation of one or several amino acids over its entire length.

Abstract: The invention provides a purified, isolated, synthetic or recombinant phytase enzyme (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2) initially derived from Escherichia coli B. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 47.1 kilodaltons and has phytase activity (SEQ ID NO:2). The enzyme can be produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be used to aid in the digestion of phytate where desired. In particular, the phytase of the present invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients.

Abstract: We disclose a PS4 variant polypeptide derivable from a parent polypeptide, the parent polypeptide having non-maltogenic exoamylase activity, which PS4 variant polypeptide comprises one or more of the following substitutions: G69P, A141P, G223A, A268P, G313P, S399P and G400P, with reference to the position numbering of a Pseudomonas saccharophilia exoamylase sequence shown as SEQ ID NO: 1. Such PS4 variant polypeptides may be used as exo-amylases, particularly as non-maltogenic exoamylases. Combinations of such PS4 variant polypeptides together with Novamyl are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a series of Methanococcus jannaschii S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mutants with improved thermostability and high catalytic activity obtained by using gene mutation technique, characterized in that these mutants refer to an enzyme using Sequence 2 in the Sequence Listing as the reference sequence and contains at least one mutation at position 102, position 93, position 230, and position 357 and has a catalytic activity at least 70% higher than that of the wild-type S-adenosylmethionine synthetase using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and methionine as substrates. These S-adenosylmethionine synthetase mutants can be used in the production of S-adenosylmethionine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, wherein said bacterium has attenuated expression of a gene encoding a toxin of a bacterial toxin-antitoxin pair.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided that relate to a modified DNA cleaving enzyme having at least 35% amino acid sequence identity with T7 Endo I. The modified enzyme includes two catalytic centers separated by a ?-bridge where the ?-bridge contains at least one mutation having an effect of altering enzyme cleavage activity compared to the unmodified enzyme. Activities associated with the modified DNA cleaving enzyme that can be modulated in different reaction conditions include at least one of: (a) non-sequence specific nicking activity; (b) cleaving the second strand of a duplex DNA at a preexisting nick site to produce a linear duplex with a single strand overhang; (c) non-sequence specific DNA cleavage; (d) cleaving DNA flanking a mismatch; and (e) cleavage at a cruciform structure in a DNA duplex.

Abstract: A mutation is introduced into the substrate-binding site of flap endonuclease to prepare a mutant with modified substrate specificity. Using the mutant as a reagent for the analysis of genetic polymorphism, the analysis of genetic polymorphism can be performed more accurately, easily and sensitively as compared with conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides for isolated polynucleotides encoding a human 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase, and vectors and host cells comprising the isolated polynucleotides.