Abstract: A method for efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide having high resistance to a water-soluble organic solvent and novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.

Abstract: Process for the enzymatic synthesis of the compound of formula (I): comprising enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of the nitrile of formula (IV): using the nitrilase of Rhodococcus rhodochrous of EMBL accession number EF467367.1, and the application of such a process in the synthesis of ivabradine and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.

Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid is provided. An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability, which is modified so that the activity of a phosphate transporter is increased, in a medium, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium.

Abstract: The invention is directed to treatment of systemic DNA mutation diseases accompanied with development of somatic mosaicism and elevation of blood extracellular DNA. The inventive method comprises introducing a DNASE enzyme into the systemic blood circulation of a patient in doses and regimens which are sufficient to decrease average molecular weight of circulating extracellular blood DNA in the blood of said patient.

Abstract: Gene targeting is a technique to introduce genetic change into one or more specific locations in the genome of a cell. For example, gene targeting can introduce genetic change by modifying, repairing, attenuating or inactivating a target gene or other chromosomal DNA. In one aspect, this disclosure relates to methods and compositions for gene targeting with high efficiency in a cell. This disclosure also relates to methods of treating or preventing a genetic disease in an individual in need thereof. Further disclosed are chimeric nucleases and vectors encoding chimeric nucleases.

Abstract: Described herein are molecules, constructs and methods for the production and secretion of polypeptides of interest by host cells, preferably bacterial host cells, and more particularly gram positive bacteria. In particular, the present invention is related to a polynucleic acid encoding a fusion protein and to uses thereof for the secretion of heterologous or homologous polypeptides of interest by a bacterial host cell, preferably Clostridium bacteria. The present invention further relates to methods and constructs for the production and secretion of heterologous or homologous polypeptides of interest proteins by host cells using such polynucleic acids and fusion proteins.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using a fusion protein having a superoxide dismutase and a transit peptide are described. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for using the fusion protein in combination with other antiretroviral agents for treating patients with AIDS or HTV infection are also described.

Abstract: Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase [“LPCAT”] having the ability to convert acyl-CoA+1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to CoA+1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EC 2.3.1.23) is disclosed herein to be over-expressed along with the over-expression of phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase [“PDAT”] having the ability to transfer a fatty acyl group from the sn-2 position of a phospholipid (e.g., phosphatidylcholine) to the sn-3 position of 1,2-diacylglycerol [E.C.2.3.1.158], thus resulting in a lysophospholipid and TAG. Co-expression of these enzymes in a recombinant microbial host cell resulted in increased production of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”].

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineered ketoreductase polypeptides and uses thereof for the preparation of ?-chloroalcohols from ?-chloroketones. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase polypeptides and host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase polypeptides.

Abstract: TPA-DHD can be produced by using, as a raw material, terephthalic acid salt that contains 0.5 times or more and twice or less the amount of potassium based on all of the terephthalic acids contained in the terephthalic acid salt in terms of moles and by using a microorganism expressing terephthalate 1,2-dioxygenase. Further, TPA-DHD can be converted into protocatechuic acid by TPA-DHD dehydrogenase and protocatechuic acid can be converted into gallic acid by para-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase. In addition, by subjecting waste polyesters to heat treatment in an ethylene glycol solvent or 1-butanol solvent containing potassium hydroxide, such polyesters can be efficiently depolymerized, and potassium terephthalate suitable to chemical production by the microorganism can be prepared.

Abstract: The present invention provides a site-specific pegylated arginase conjugate and method for producing thereof. The site-specific pegylated arginase is homogeneous in molecular weight and shows therapeutic effect for treating cancers and viral infections. The method for producing the arginase conjugate comprises genetically modifying the gene encoding an arginase so that the PEG moiety can be attached to the enzyme at a predetermined, specific intended sites. This is achieved by removing the PEG-attaching amino acid residue(s) at undesirable site(s) while keeping or adding cysteine(s) at the desirable site(s) of the enzyme. Two exemplary embodiments of the pegylated arginase conjugate are directed to human arginase I (HAI) where a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety is site-specific covalently bonded to Cys45 of the enzyme and Bacillus caldovelox arginase (BCA) where a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety is site-specific covalently bonded to Cys161 of the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing 1-deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate or 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) (12), and optionally one or more DXP derived compounds, comprising: (a) a mutant RibB, or functional variant thereof, capable of catalyzing xylulose 5-phosphate and/or ribulose 5-phosphate to DXP, or (b) a YajO, or functional variant thereof, and a XylB, or functional variant thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modified host cell comprising a heterologous pinene synthase (PS), or enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, and optionally a geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS), or enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, or a fusion protein comprising: (a) a PS and (b) a GPPS linked by a linker.

Abstract: Water-forming NADH oxidase derived from Streptococcus mutans should be further improved in terms of stability for practical use in industrial production. An object of the present invention is to provide an enzyme that is obtained through modification of a water-forming NADH oxidase, which is useful as an NAD+ regeneration system for stereoselective oxidation catalyzed by an oxidoreductase, by protein engineering techniques so that the enzyme can withstand long-term use without exhibiting a reduction of its activity for the regeneration of NAD+, that is, an enzyme having improved stability, and to provide a method for efficiently producing a useful substance such as an optically active alcohol or amino acid. The present invention relates to an enzyme modification method that can improve the stability of water-forming NADH oxidase derived from Streptococcus mutans by appropriately introducing mutation.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to therapeutic fusion proteins useful to treat lysosomal storage diseases and methods for treating such diseases. Exemplary therapeutic fusion proteins comprise a lysosomal enzyme, a lysosomal targeting moiety, e.g., an IGF-II peptide, and a spacer peptide. Also provided are compositions and methods for treating Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIB (Sanfilippo B Syndrome), comprising a targeted therapeutic fusion protein comprising alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (Naglu), a lysosomal targeting moiety, e.g., an IGF-II peptide, and a spacer peptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides for heterologous expression of polypeptides encoded by wild-type and codon-optimized variants of cbh1 and/or cbh2 from the fungal organisms Talaromyces emersonii (T. emersonii), Humicola grisea (H. grisea), Thermoascus aurantiacus (T. aurantiacus), and Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) in host cells, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The expression in such host cells of the corresponding genes, and variants and combinations thereof, result in improved specific activity of the expressed cellobiohydrolases. Thus, such genes and expression systems are useful for efficient and cost-effective consolidated bioprocessing systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-naturally occurring polypeptides useful for preparing armodafinil, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides. The non-naturally occurring polypeptides of the present invention are effective in carrying out biocatalytic conversion of the (i) 2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)acetamide to (?)-2-[(R)-(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide (armodafinil), or (ii) benzhydryl-thioacetic acid to (R)-2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)acetic acid, which is a pivotal intermediate in the synthesis of armodafinil, in enantiomeric excess.

Abstract: A process for producing poly alpha-1,3-glucan with reduced molecular weight is disclosed. The process comprises contacting water, sucrose, a polar organic solvent, and a glucosyltransferase enzyme in a solution to produce poly alpha-1,3-glucan. This contacting step results in the production of poly alpha-1,3-glucan having a reduced molecular weight compared to the molecular weight of a poly alpha-1,3-glucan made in the absence of the polar organic solvent.

Abstract: Mutant acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferases [“LPCATs”] having the ability to convert acyl-CoA+1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine to CoA+1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EC 2.3.1.23) are disclosed herein. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding mutant LPCATs, along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these mutant LPCATs in oleaginous yeast, are also disclosed.