Abstract: The gene for the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) from Ricinus communis L., the castor plant, has been isolated, cloned, and used to transform other plants and micro-organisms. When the gene is expressed in a heterologous system, the corresponding DGAT protein is active and shows unusual and selective action for hydroxylated fatty acyl glycerides. DGAT carries out the final step in castor oil biosynthesis, and is believed to be largely responsible for many of the attributes of castor oil, making it an excellent candidate for industrial uses. This invention makes it possible to enhance the oil-producing capacity of other plants and micro-organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for producing hydroxynitrile lyases. A process is provided whereby hydroxynitrile lyases may be produced by cultivation in bacteria or suitable host cells. Cells containing a gene encoding for a hydroxynitrile lyase may be precultivated, induced with a low concentration of IPTG, cultured, and lysed. The process allows for the production of relatively large quantities of hydroxynitrile lyases in a dissolved, native, and active form, and without the presence of substantial amounts of inclusion bodies, and thus allowing for the production of the lyases without requiring expensive and time consuming renaturation steps.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerases, a tryptophan biosynthetic enzyme. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, vectors, recombinant host cells, transgenic plants, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences encode threonine deaminase proteins that catalyze the conversion of threonine to ?-ketobutyrate. One or both of the amino acids at positions 447 and 481 of the encoded proteins can be selected from groups of particular amino acids. For example, the amino acid at position 447 can be alanine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine. The amino acid at position 481 can be alanine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, tryptophan, or methionine.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptide sequence having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or muteins thereof having the ability to bind cAMP and repress the expression of the aceB gene of C. glutamicum and which can be obtained from SEQ ID NO:1 by inserting, deleting or substituting up to 20% of the amino acids.

Abstract: PHPIP-240 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing PHPIP-240 polypeptides and polynucleotides in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for assaying homocysteine (Hcy) and thus related moieties, e.g., S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) or adenosine. More particularly, assay methods that employ, mutant SAH hydrolase having binding affinity for Hcy, SAH or adenosine but has attenuated catalytic activity, are provided. The modified enzymes and fusion proteins containing the modified enzymes are also provided.

Abstract: Glycerol-3-phosphate o-acyltransferase (GPAT) participates in the first step of oil biosynthesis and is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) produced in oils of oleaginous organisms. The present application provides a nucleic acid fragment isolated from Mortierella alpina encoding a GPAT that is suitable for use in the manufacture of oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous organisms. Most desirably, the substrate specificity of the instant GPAT will be particularly useful to enable accumulation of long-chain PUFAs having chain lengths equal to or greater than C20 in oleaginous yeast, such as Yarrowia lipolytica.

Abstract: Lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) participates in the second step of oil biosynthesis and is expected to play a key role in altering the quantity of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in oils of oleaginous organisms. The present application provides a nucleic acid fragment (identified as “LPAAT2”) isolated from Mortierella alpina encoding a LPAAT homolog that is suitable for use in the manufacture of oils enriched in omega fatty acids in oleaginous organisms. Most desirably, the substrate specificity of the instant LPAAT2 will be particularly useful to enable accumulation of long-chain PUFAs having chain lengths equal to or greater than C20 in oleaginous yeast, such as Yarrowia lipolytica.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing L-threonine using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia wherein the bacterium has been modified to enhance an activity of aspartate-?-semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oxidase gene useful for the diagnosis of RA and the screening of a substance for the treatment of RA and/or a substance for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Also, an inspection method useful as a diagnosis method for RA is disclosed. Additionally, there is disclosed a method for screening a substance for the treatment of RA and/or a substance for the treatment of osteoarthritis, using the aforementioned novel oxidase gene. Also disclosed is a method for producing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of RA and/or the treatment of osteoarthritis which comprises an inhibitor of the aforementioned oxidase, which is obtainable by the aforementioned screening method, as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a process for producing D-serine wherein a microbial cell which is modified to have a higher L-serine deaminase activity than Escherichia coli DH5? strain, a culture of said cell, or a processed product thereof is brought into contact with DL-serine in a DL-serine-containing medium to decompose L-serine, and the remaining D-serine is recovered from the medium; and a microorganism used for this production process. D-serine is a useful compound as a synthetic intermediate for useful medicaments such as D-cycloserine.

Abstract: Silicatein is an enzyme of silicate-forming organisms used for the synthesis of their silicate scaffold. The present invention relates to the use of highly-expressed and highly active recombinant silicatein, silicatein isolated from natural sources after gene induction as well as silicatein-fusion proteins for the synthesis of amorphous silicon dioxide (silicic acids and silicates), siloxanes as well as modification of these compounds and their technical use.

Abstract: Recombinant watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) hydroperoxide lyase protein, DNA sequences encoding the protein, vectors containing the DNA sequences and hosts containing the vectors are provided, together with methods for recombinantly producing watermelon hydroperoxide lyase, DNA sequences, vectors and hosts.

Abstract: A glycosaminoglycan 6-O-sulfotransferase having an activity of transferring sulfate to a hydroxyl at position 6 of a glycosamine residue of a glycosaminoglycan, which has a ratio of relative activities to substrates satisfying completely desulfated N-acetylated (CDSNAc) heparin/completely desulfated N-resulfated (CDSNS) heparin?0.05 and a molecular weight as calculated from constituent amino acids of from 53,000 to 58,000 daltons.

Abstract: The present invention features nucleic acids and polypeptides encoding novel splice variant isoforms of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2). The polynucleotide sequence of ACC2sv1 is provided by SEQ ID NO 3. The amino acid sequence of ACC2sv1 is provided by SEQ ID NO 4. The present invention also provides methods for using ACC2sv1 polynucleotides and proteins to screen for compounds that bind to ACC2sv1.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of determining islet cell activity by detecting the level of Archipelin or a fragment thereof and comparing the level to a baseline level or range associated with a known islet cell activity. Such methods are useful in diagnosing and studying the development of diabetes.

Abstract: An L-methionine ?-lyase having modified function which is obtained by structurally stabilizing natural L-methionine ?-lyase by analyzing the structure of crystals thereof by using X-ray, estimating an amino acid sequence concerning its substrate specificity and varying amino acid residue thereof; enzymes comprising a protein constituting the L-methionine ?-lyase having modified function or its multimer (preferably its tetramer); DNA sequences encoding these enzymes; a process for producing these enzymes; and medicinal preparations (preferably anticancer agent) containing these enzymes.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel isolated natural or synthetic polynucleotides and polypeptides coded by said polynucleotides, involved in the synthesis of diketopiperazine derivatives, vectors comprising said polynucleotides, micro-organisms transformed with said polynucleotides, uses of said polynucleotides and said polypeptides, as well as methods for the synthesis of diketopiperazine derivatives, including cyclodipeptides and diketopiperazine derivatives 3- and 6- substituted by ?,?-unsaturated amino acid side chains.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for producing a target substance by utilizing a microorganism comprising culturing the microorganism in a medium, allowing the target substance to accumulate, and collecting the target substance from the medium. Also the microorganism used in the present invention is a mutant strain whereby maltose assimilation is controlled by the interaction between IIAGlc protein of glucose PTS and MalK.