Abstract: The present invention generally provides nucleic acids and polypeptides that are phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, also known as 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases. The nuclecic acids and polypeptides disclosed are derived from Drosophila and mouse. These polypeptides are generally involved in cell signaling cascades which control, e.g., cell cycle progression and intracellular protein sorting. The family of PI3-kinases from which the polypeptides of the invention are derived are generally characterized by their structure as well as their unique substrate specificity.

Abstract: Transacylase enzymes and the use of such enzymes to produce Taxol™, related taxoids, as well as intermediates in the Taxol™ biosynthetic pathway are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleic acid sequences encoding the transacylase enzymes.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel mammalian excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) proteins and genes encoding such proteins. The invention is directed towards the isolation, characterization and use of human excitatory amino acid transporter proteins for pharmacological screening of analogues, agonists, antagonists, inhibitors, modulators and facilitators of excitatory amino acid transport in a variety of tissues, particularly neuronal tissues. This invention provides isolated nucleic acid encoding a novel excitatory amino acid transporter subtype that is specifically expressed in retina. Also provided are recombinant expression constructs capable of expressing this novel transporter in transformed prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and also provides such transformed cell cultures producing the novel human transporter. Purified transporter protein and membranes comprising the transporter protein are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA segments isolated from Sphingomonas sp. and involved in the biosynthetic production of sphingan polysaccharides to increase the production of the polysaccharide in engineered microorganisms. The present invention also relates to methods of engineering strains of Sphingomonas to produce bacteria which are hyperproducers of sphingan, methods of identifying and utilizing DNA fragments useful to enhance production of sphingan in bacteria and the hyperproducer bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated DNA sequence encoding an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway or the pathway from isopentenyl pyrophosphate to farnesyl pyrophosphate (i.e., HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase, and FPP synthase). Vectors and plasmids including such DNA, are also set forth. The invention also includes host cells transformed by such DNAs, or vectors or plasmids containing such DNAs. A process for the production of isoprenoids and carotenoids using such transformed host cells is also provided.

Abstract: A process for the production of the catalytic domain, without propeptide, of a matrix metalloproteinase is described which comprises culturing transformed host cells carrying a DNA sequence encoding the catalytic domain as well as a method for screening for inhibitors of a matrix metalloproteinase; a method for determining the 3-dimensional structure of the catalytic domain of a matrix metalloproteinase; and pharmaceutical compositions of human stromelysin catalytic domain protein which are useful in treating herniated vertebral discs, dermal ulcers, modifying scar tissue formation, and joint diseases.

Abstract: Spinosyn biosynthetic genes, spinosyn producing microorganisms transformed with the biosynthetic genes, methods using the biosynthetic genes to increase production of spinosyn insecticidal macrolides, and methods using the genes or fragments thereof to change the products produced by spinosyn-producing microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zdint1, a novel member of the Disintegrin Proteases. The polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding them, are believed to be cell-cell interaction modulating and may be used for delivery and therapeutics. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zdint 1 polypeptides.

Abstract: Modified PKS gene clusters which produce novel polyketides in an efficient system in a host cell or in a cell free extract are described.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases (PKSs) and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. 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: Recombinant DNA compounds that encode all or a portion of the oleandolide polyketide synthase are used to express recombinant polyketide synthase genes in host cells for the production of oleandolide, oleandolide derivatives, and polyketides that are useful as antibiotics and motilides.

Abstract: The CDNA sequence of human cytosolic asparaginyl-tRNA synthesis AsnRS, the bacterial expression of the recombinant enzyme and its activity assays with different sources of tRNA is described. The reactivity with a human autoimmune serum is described. The implication of the human cytoplasmic AsnRS in an autoimmune disorder is a property of this enzyme.

Abstract: The invention provides yfjO polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding yfjO polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing yfjO polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing &agr;-tocopherol and &agr;-tocopheryl esters. The method comprises using a biological system to produce farnesol or geranylgeraniol. Then, the farnesol or geranylgernaiol is chemically converted into &agr;-tocopherol or an &agr;-tocopheryl ester.

Abstract: The invention provides glutamyl tRNA from Staphylococcus aureus synthetase polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding glutamyl tRNA synthetase polypetides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing glutamyl tRNA synthetase polypeptide for the protection against infection, particularly bacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing BS as well as determining whether a subject is a carrier of a mutated BLM gene. The present invention also provides one or more single-stranded nucleic acid probes and antibodies which may be formulated in kits, and used for diagnosing BS or determining whether a subject is a carrier of a mutated BLM gene. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing the onset of BS in a subject in need of such treatment or prevention, as well as vectors and stem cells useful for such treatment or prevention. The present invention also provides a purified and isolated nucleic acid encoding an enzymatically active BLM protein, a vector comprising this nucleic acid, a cell stably transformed with this vector, as well as a method for producing recombinant, enzymatically active BLM protein. A purified, enzymatically active BLM protein is also provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulase enzyme, elgA, isolated from the fungus Piromyces rhizinflata and nucleic acids encoding it.

Abstract: The stereochemical centers of a polyketide can be changed by replacement of ketosynthase domains in the polyketide synthase (PKS) enzyme that produces the polyketide. The specificity of the AT domains of a PKS is determined by a hypervariable region that can be replaced or altered to change the specificity of the AT domain from a naturally occurring extender unit to another naturally or non-naturally occurring extender unit. Non-naturally occurring extender units, including methylmalonyl N-acetyl cysteamine thioester can be incorporated into polyketides in recombinant host cells or in cell-free systems to make polyketides.

Abstract: The invention provides glutamyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding glutamyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides from Staphylococcus aureus. The invention also provides methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing such polypeptides for protection against infection, particularly bacterial infections.