Abstract: Genes have been isolated from Pectobacterium cypripedii encoding geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase (CrtE), phytoene synthase (CrtB), phytoene desaturase (Crtl), lycopene cyclase (CrtY), ?-carotene hydroxylase (CrtZ), and zeaxanthin glucosyl transferase (CrtX) activity. The 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having oxaloacetate hydrolase 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 for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a nucleotide sequence comprising at least a portion of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 10A, FIG. 6B or FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B; nucleotides which hybridise to the nucleotide sequences of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B or FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B; nucleotides which are degenerate to the nucleotide sequences of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B or FIG. 10A or FIG. 10B; all of which nucleotides encode a polypeptide having transglutaminase activity.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polypeptide having a uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (UPRTase) by mutation of one or several residues of the UPRTase. The invention also concerns a nucleotide sequence coding for the UPRTase mutant, a vector for expressing the latter, a viral particle, a host cell, and a composition containing them. The invention further concerns their therapeutic use and a treatment method using them. The invention is particularly useful in the context of therapy by suicide genes, in particular, for treating proliferative and infectious diseases.

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: An enzyme exhibiting endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity (EC 3.2.1.4), which is selected from one of a) a polypeptide encoded by the DNA sequence of positions 1 to 2322 of SEQ ID NO:1,b) a polypeptide produced by culturing a cell comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 under conditions wherein the DNA sequence is expressed; c) an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase enzyme having a sequence of at least 97% identity to the amino acid sequence of position 1 to position 773 of SEQ ID NO:2, and fragments thereof exhibitng endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity, and d) a polypeptide having endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity that is encoded by a polynucleo-tide that hybridizes with the nucleotide sequence shown in positions 1-2322 of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for detergent and textile applications.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel starch branching enzyme that is bound to A-type starch granules in wheat, barley, rye or triticale. The enzyme is not substantially associated with B-type starch granules. A cDNA sequence encoding an isoform of the enzyme has been isolated from the wheat cultivar Fielder and deduced amino acid sequence has been determined.

Abstract: A modified pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase having a low reactivity with respect to maltose, galactose, etc. is provided. A modified pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase including an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids in a region corresponding to a first region consisting of amino acids at positions 326 to 354 in pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent glucose dehydrogenase derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus are substituted as compared with an amino acid sequence of the corresponding wild-type enzyme.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and particulary lsoleucyl-, lysyl-, phenylalanyl- and prolyl-tRNA synthetases from Zea mays, Oryza sativa, Glycine max and Tritium aestivum. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: This invention provides RNase A superfamily polypeptides with modified amino terminal which can be used to selectively kill target Kaposi's sarcoma cells, neoplastic endothelial cells, and non-neoplastic endothelial cells. In certain embodiments of the invention, the amino terminal modification consists of an addition of 4 amino acid sequence consisting of the SLHV sequence at position ?4 to ?1 to the eosinophil derived neurotoxin protein. The amino terminal addition is capable of directing the claimed RNase A superfamily polypeptides to proliferating endothelial cells, such as Kaposi's sarcoma cells, and selectively killing these cells.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having ?1,3-galactosyltransferase activity, a DNA encoding the protein, a transformant comprising the DNA, a process for producing the protein using the transformant, and a process for producing a galactose-containing complex carbohydrate using the transformant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having oxaloacetate hydrolase 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 for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel gene coding for L-arabinose isomease derived from Thermotoga neapolitana 5068, a thermostable arabinose isomerase expressed from the said gene, a recombinant expression vector containing the said gene, a microorganism transformed with the said expression vector, a process for preparing thermostable arabinose isomerase from the said transformant and a process for preparing D-tagatose employing the said enzyme. 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: A unique carotenogenic biosynthetic gene cluster has been isolated from Panteoa agglomerans strain DC404, wherein the genetic organization of the cluster is crtE-idi-crtY-crtI-crtB-crtZ. The genes contained within this cluster encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthetase (CrtE), isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (Idi), 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting activation of ATM kinase, DNA damage, and DNA damaging agents. Further provided are antibodies which specifically recognize the phosphorylation state of Ataxia Telangiectasia-Mutated (ATM) kinase. Methods of identifying agents which modulate the activation and activity of ATM kinase are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the enzyme peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the enzyme peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the enzyme peptides.