Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a human subject having increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin, comprising detecting in the subject the presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene, wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is correlated with increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin, thereby identifying the subject having increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin.

Abstract: Human BACE polypeptides having modifications to the N-linked glycosylation sites including one or more of the following amino acid substitutions: S174I, N223A, N153Q and N354S. DNA sequences, vectors, and host cells for producing the polypeptides. Crystalline protein compositions formed from the purified polypeptides. Methods of screening for compounds that inhibit A? using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a human subject having increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin, comprising detecting in the subject the presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the VKOR gene, wherein the single nucleotide polymorphism is correlated with increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin, thereby identifying the subject having increased or decreased sensitivity to warfarin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an active, isolated ?-secretase enzyme in purified and recombinant form. This enzyme is implicated in the production of amyloid plaque components which accumulate in the brains of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Recombinant cells that produce this enzyme either alone or in combination with some of its natural substrates (APP and APPsw) are also disclosed. These compositions are useful for use in methods of selecting compounds that modulate ?-secretase. Inhibitors of ?-secretase are implicated as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for the biological production of 1,3-propanediol from a fermentable carbon source in a single microorganism. In one aspect of the present invention, an improved process for the conversion of glucose to 1,3-propanediol is achieved by the use of an E. coli transformed with the Klebsiella pneumoniae dha regulon genes dhaR, orfY, dhaT, orfX, orfW, dhaB1, dhaB2, dhaB3, and orfZ, all these genes arranged in the same genetic organization as found in wild type Klebsiella pneumoniae. In another aspect of the present invention, an improved process for the production of 1,3-propanediol from glucose using a recombinant E. coli containing genes encoding a G3PDH, a G3P phosphatase, a dehydratase, and a dehydratase reactivation factor compared to an identical process using a recombinant E. coli containing genes encoding a G3PDH, a G3P phosphatase, a dehydratase, a dehydratase reactivation factor and a 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase (dhaT).

Abstract: The present Invention relates to enzymes involved in the Synthesis of Coenzyme Q-10, i.e., decaprenyl diphosphate (DPP) synthase and 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase, to isolated DNA encoding said enzymes and to methods for the microbial production of Coenzyme Q-10.

Abstract: Disclosed are various forms of an active, isolated ?-secretase enzyme in purified and recombinant form. This enzyme is implicated in the production of amyloid plaque components which accumulate in the brains of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Recombinant cells that produce this enzyme either alone or in combination with some of its natural substrates (?-APPwt and ?-APPsw) are also disclosed, as are antibodies directed to such proteins. These compositions are useful for use in methods of selecting compounds that modulate ?-secretase. Inhibitors of ?-secretase are implicated as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: To provide a novel phospholipase A2 (PLA2) associated with psoriasis, a nucleic acid encoding the same, a method for characterizing, identifying or screening an inhibitor for the PLA2 or a medicament; and a novel method for diagnosis or examination of psoriasis or the like. A polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 9, a conservative substitution variant thereof, a naturally occurring allelic variant thereof, or the like. A nucleic acid encoding the above-mentioned polypeptide, a complement thereof or the like. A method for characterizing, identifying or screening an inhibitor for the PLA2 or a medicament, using the above-mentioned polypeptide. An examination method for psoriasis, characterized by assaying an expression level of a gene consisting of the above-mentioned nucleic acid or the like.

Abstract: CrtW carotenoid ketolases are provided useful for the production of astaxanthin. The ketolases genes of the present invention exhibit improved ketolase activity when converting cyclic hydroxylated carotenoid intermediates into astaxanthin. Recombinant expression of the present carotenoid ketolases in host cell producing cyclic hydroxylated carotenoid intermediates enabled increased production of astaxanthin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel lipid kinase which is part of the PI3 Kinase family. PI3 Kinases catalyze the addition of phosphate to inositol generating inositol mono, di and triphosphate. Inositol phosphates have been implicated in regulating intracellular signaling cascades resulting in alternations in gene expression which, amongst other effects, can result in cytoskeletal remodeling and modulation of cellular motility. More particularly the invention relates to a novel human PI3 Kinase, p110? which interacts with p85, has a broad phosphinositide specificity and is sensitive to the same kinase inhibitors as PI3 Kinase p110A. However, in contrast to previously identified PI3 Kinases which show a ubiquitous pattern of expression, p110? is selectively expressed in leucocytes. Importantly, p110? shows enhanced expression in most melanomas tested and therefore may play a crucial role in regulating the metastatic property exhibited by melanomas.

Abstract: Th invention is directed to nucleic acid sequences which encode polypeptides having PhzO activity, namely, the ability to convert phenazine-1-carboxylic acid to a 2-hydroxylated phenazine, and isolated polypeptides having this activity. The invention is also directed to recombinant nucleic acid molecules, vectors, and host cells including the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides, including expression in bacterial or plant cells to inhibit fungal pathogens.

Abstract: A highly thermo-stable lactate oxidase has been provided by, in the lactate oxidase obtained from Aerococcus viridans, modifying the 6 amino acid residues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding an autoinducer inactivation protein, wherein the encoded protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of 104HXHXDH109˜60aa˜H169˜21aa˜D191 and 103HXHXDH108˜72aa˜H180˜21aa˜D202, and to expression vectors and transformed plant and animal cells comprising the same. The proteins encoded by these nucleic acid molecules provide to a susceptible plant or animal increased resistance to a disease the virulence of which is regulated by autoinducers. Also provided are methods of increasing disease resistance in susceptible plants and animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-glucosidase nucleic acid sequence, designated bgl7, and the corresponding BGL7 amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding BGL7, recombinant BGL7 proteins and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention describes an aspartic protease produced by a fungus from the class Eurotiomycetes, comprising the amino acid sequence of FDTGSSD or FDTGSSE. The present invention further provides a process for identifying new milk clotting enzymes comprising screening an amino acid sequence for the presence of FDTGSSD or FDTGSSE. The enzymes of the invention may he useful in cheese production.

Abstract: The present invention identified OVARC1000473 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and NT2RM1000377 (SEQ ID NO: 3) as clones showing suppression of CREB activation by forskolin, and provides evaluation methods using these genes, and/or proteins encoded by these genes. Furthermore, these proteins were found to enhance cell damage. Compounds that can be screened based on the evaluation methods of this invention are useful as agents for inhibiting the CREB dephosphorylation reaction, agents for suppressing enhancement of cell damage, and preventive and therapeutic agents for memory disorders and/or neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chitin degradative systems, in particular to systems containing enzymes that bind to and depolymerize chitin. These systems have a number of applications. The present invention also describes enzymes with at least two catalytic domains in which the domains are separated by poly-amino acid linkers.

Abstract: Lysyl oxidase derived from filamentous fungi and a DNA encoding thereof are provided. Lysyl oxidase including a protein described in of the following (a) or (b): (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence obtained by modifying a part of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and functioning as lysyl oxidase.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified neomycin phosphotransferase genes and their use in a selection method for high-producing recombinant cells. The invention further relates to expression vectors which contain a modified neomycin phosphotransferase gene and a gene of interest functionally linked to a heterologous promoter and a method of preparing heterologous gene products using these expression vectors.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that allows the production of peptides having three or more amino acid residues easily, inexpensively and at high yield without going through a complex synthesis method. A novel enzyme that efficiently produces a peptide from bacteria belonging to the genus Empedobacter or the genus Sphingobacterium is provided. The enzyme acts on a carboxy component and an amine component to form peptides having three or more amino acid residues by acting on a carboxy component and an amine component.