Abstract: A method for producing L-threonine using a microorganism is provided. In the method, the threonine dehydratase (tdc) gene existing in the genomic DNA of the microorganism is partially deactivated using a recombination technique. For a microorganism strain with enhanced activity of threonine operon-containing enzymes and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppc) gene, the tdc gene engaged in one of the four threonine metabolic pathways is specifically deactivated, thereby markedly increasing the yield of L-threonine.

Abstract: Tachykinin peptide isolated and purified from the posterior salivary gland of the mollusk Octopus vulgaris. The tachykinin peptide provides a new approach for developing medicaments and pesticides through studies on the structural activity correlation at the molecular level, is characterized by: (1) number of amino acid residues is 12; (2) N terminal of the peptide is Lys; (3) an amino acid sequence of 5 amino acids from C-terminal is represented by the following amino acid sequence: Phe-Xaa-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 6), (wherein, Xaa is Val, lie, Phe or Tyr), especially following amino acid sequences are provided: Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 1), Lys-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Glu-Phe-Ile-Gly-Leu-Met (SEQ ID NO: 2).

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide (escapin), and fragments thereof, from the sea hare Aplysia californica that have antimicrobial action directed against fungi, yeast, bacteria, and cyanobacteria. Further, the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid, and fragments thereof, that encode the polypeptide and fragments thereof. Also provided are primers for detecting the nucleic acids of the present invention. A method of inhibiting microbial growth and inhibiting biofilm formation on a surface is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to alleles of the glk gene from coryneform bacteria coding for glucokinases, and to processes for the production of L-lysine by fermentation using bacteria containing such alleles.

Abstract: A carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa stewartii strain DC413, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crtX-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), phytoene desaturase (CrtI), phytoene synthase (CrtB), and ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ). The gene cluster, genes and their products are useful for the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate to carotenoids. Vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.