Abstract: The invention provides methods to identify moieties which specifically bind the flap-tip helix of the ? subunit of RNA polymerase and to identify inhibitors of the interaction between those moieties and the flap-tip helix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methyl transfer enzymes involved in alkaloid biosynthesis in opium poppy. More particularly, the invention relates to proteins having (R,S)-reticuline 7-O-methyltransferase activity, to proteins having (R,S)-norcoclaurine 6-O-methyltransferase activity and to derivatives and analogues of these proteins. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the proteins, and their derivatives and analogues, and to their use in the production of methylated catechols and tetrahydrobenzylisoquinolines.

Abstract: A novel gluconate dehydratase derived from Achromobacter xylosoxidans and a gene encoding the gluconate dehydratase are provided. By reacting the gluconate dehydratase or a transformed cell containing the gene with an aldonic acid, the corresponding 2-keto-3-deoxyaldonic acid can be efficiently produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gene coding for L-arabinose isomerase derived from Thermotoga neapolitana 5068, a thermostable arabinose isomerase expressed from the gene, a recombinant expression vector containing the gene, a microorganism transformed with the expression vector, a process for preparing thermostable arabinose isomerase from the transformant ,and a process for preparing D-tagatose employing the arabinose isomerase. Since the recombinant arabinose isomerase is highly thermostable and can produce tagatose with high yield at high temperature, it can be efficiently applied in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of xylitol, the method comprising (a1) providing (i) a microorganism having xylanolytic activity, and (ii) a microorganism capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol; or (a2) providing a microorganism having xylanolytic activity and being capable of converting a pentose sugar to xylitol, (b) culturing the microorganism of step (a1) (i) or the microorganism of step (a2) in a medium comprising polymer or oligomer materials containing pentose sugars in conditions sufficient for enabling hydrolysis of said polymers or oligomers by the microorganism; (c) producing xylitol in the microorganism of step (a1) (ii) or in the microorganism of step (a2) by bioconversion of the hydrolysis products obtained in step (b), and (d) recovering said xylitol produced. The invention also relates to a microorganism, which has xylanolytic activity and has been genetically modified (i) to enhance its xylanolytic activity, and (ii) to reduce its xylitol metabolism.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of L-amino acids, in particular L-threonine, in which the following steps are performed: a) fermentation of microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family which produce the desired L-amino acid, in which at least one or more of the genes, selected from the group iclR and fadR, or nucleotide sequences coding therefor, are enhanced, in particular overexpressed, b) accumulation of the desired L-amino acid in the medium or in the cells of the bacteria and c) isolation of the desired L-amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of KshA protein or of KshB protein, encoded by nucleotides 499-1695 of SEQ ID NO:1 or by nucleotides 387-1427 of SEQ ID NO:2, respectively, and functional homologues thereof. The polynucleotides of the invention can be used to construct genetically modified microorganisms blocked in 3-ketosteroid 9?-hydroxylase activity, which are useful in the microbial degradation of steroids to accumulate certain steroid products.

Abstract: Use of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS 1) and/or of fragments of the N-terminal part of CPS 1 from body fluids or body tissues as marker peptides for the diagnosis and for the prognosis and the monitoring of inflammations and infections, including sepsis, and of liver failure as part of multiorgan failure or for determinations in connection with inflammatory and other liver diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation, sequencing, and recombinant expression of genes encoding either a nitrile hydratase (NHase) or amidase (Am) from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D, where the NHase is useful for catalyzing the hydration of nitriles to the corresponding amides, and the amidase is useful for hydrolysis of amides to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Also provided are transformed host cells containing polynucleotides for expressing the nitrile hydratase or amidase enzymes from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to clone a gene which is involved in synthesis of fatty acid having trans-11-, cis-13-conjugated double bonds from fatty acid having a double bone at position ?12.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel polypeptides and their fragments, isolated from Lactobacillus, having at least a N-deoxyribosyl transferase activity, the polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides, cloning and/or expression vectors including said polynucleotides, cells transformed by said vectors and specific antibodies directed against said polypeptides. The invention also concerns a method for enzymatic synthesis of deoxyribonucleosides.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for making glycoproteins, both in vitro and in vivo, are provided. One method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid having a N-acetylgalactosamine moiety into a protein; optionally, the N-acetylgalactosamine-containing unnatural amino acid can be further modified with additional sugars.

Abstract: Methods have been developed for alleviating memory problems or psychiatric dysfunctions that have a memory formation component. These methods are based on the finding that a truncated form of an aPKC? protein is intimately involved in memory formation in animals. This finding is also central to methods for determining drugs that will have an effect on memory formation or the memory formation component of psychiatric dysfunctions.

Abstract: Isolated PNMT nucleic acid molecules that include a nucleotide sequence variant and nucleotides flanking the sequence variant are described, as well as PNMT allozymes. Methods for determining if a subject is predisposed to multiple sclerosis, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease also are described.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids. Also provided are compositions including proteins with unnatural amino acids.

Abstract: The invention refers to the use of a p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor for the treatment of a joint disease such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis or for the treatment of a joint pain and the use of PAK as a target protein for the discovery of a PAK inhibitor as a medicament for the treatment of a joint disease.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for generating components of protein biosynthetic machinery including orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases. Methods for identifying orthogonal pairs are also provided. These components can be used to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing vitamin E by growing organisms, in particular plants, which have an increased tyrosine aminotransferase activity in comparison with the wild type, and to the genetically modified organisms, in particular plants, themselves.

Abstract: The invention provides apoptosis signaling kinase related kinase (ASKRK) nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences and methods of using such sequences to identify modulators of ASKRK. Such modulators can be used for the treatment of diabetes or for delaying the onset of diabetes. The invention also provides methods of diagnosing diabetes or pre-diabetes and methods of making a prognosis based on the detection of ASKRK nucleic acids and proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having saponin-decomposing activity, more specifically a protein which can decompose a glycoside having soyasapogenol B as an aglycone to produce soyasapogenol B, a polynucleotide encoding such a protein, and a method of producing soyasapogenol B on a large scale using the same. A protein according to the present invention are concerned with (a), (b) or (c), namely (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; (b) a protein that has at least 50% homology to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) and having saponin-decomposing activity; or (c) a protein comprising a modified amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) that has one or more amino acid residues deleted, substituted, inserted, or added and having saponin-decomposing activity.