Abstract: This invention relates to phytases, polynucleotides encoding them, uses of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, as well as the production and isolation of such polynucleotides and polypeptides. In particular, the invention provides polypeptides having phytase activity under high temperature conditions, and phytases that retain activity after exposure to high temperatures. The phytases of the invention can be thermotolerant and/or thermostable at low temperatures, in addition to higher temperatures. The phytases of the invention can be used in foodstuffs to improve the feeding value of phytate rich ingredients. The phytases of the invention can be formulated as foods or feeds or supplements for either to, e.g., aid in the digestion of phytate. The foods or feeds of the invention can be in the form of pellets, liquids, powders and the like.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modifying glycans (e.g., glycans expressed on the surface of live cells or cell particles) are provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a polypeptide comprising using a signal peptide, to nucleic acid constructs comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding the signal peptide and a second nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide which is foreign to the first nucleotide sequence. Furthermore, it also relates to expression vectors and host cells comprising the nuclei acid construct.

Abstract: Organic acid-producing microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-producing microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, acrylic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, and others. Further modifications to the microorganisms increase production of such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others. Methods of producing such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers are also provided.

Abstract: Organic acid-producing microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-producing microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, acrylic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, and others. Further modifications to the microorganisms increase production of such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others. Methods of producing such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycans and engineered collagen matrices comprising a collagen matrix and a collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycan where the collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycan can be aberrant or can have amino acid homology with a portion of the amino acid sequence of a protein or a proteoglycan that regulates collagen fibrillogenesis. The invention also relates to kits, compounds, compositions, and engineered graft constructs comprising such collagen-binding synthetic peptidoglycans or engineered collagen matrices and methods for their preparation and use.

Abstract: A method of quantifying autoinducer-2, including the steps of: preparing a calibration curve using 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone as a standard sample; and quantifying autoinducer-2 in a test sample based on the calibration curve prepared.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences of the MAP kinase-interacting kinase (Mnk) gene family and amino acid sequences encoded thereby, and to using these sequences or effectors of Mnk nucleic acids or polypeptides, particularly Mnk kinase inhibitors and activators, in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders related to body-weight regulation and thermogenesis. One aspect of the disclosure encompasses methods of identifying an animal or human having an elevated probability of having or developing a pancreatic malfunction, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a biological sample from an animal or human subject; and (b) determining from the biological sample whether the subject has a genetic variant of an Mnk2 and/or Mnk1 gene or a homolog thereof, or an expression product of said Mnk2 and/or Mnk1 gene or homolog thereof, wherein said genetic variant is associated with an elevated probability of having or developing a pancreatic malfunction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lower eukaryotic host cell producing human-like glycoproteins characterized as having a terminal ?-galactose residue and essentially lacking fucose and sialic acid residues. The present invention also provides a method for catalyzing the transfer of a galactose residue from UDP-galactose onto an acceptor substrate in a recombinant lower eukaryotic host cell, which can be used as a therapeutic glycoprotein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for expressing antimicrobial peptide CAD by means of a recombinant Bacillus subtilis expression system. The SUMO protease expression operon is first artificially synthesized. The protein expression operon genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae small ubiquitin-related protein is then fused with the antibacterial peptide AD. The fusion protein is further cloned into the pNF11 plamid to be introduced into Bacillus subtilis, thereby ensuring the induced expression of recombined Bacillus subtilis in shake flasks. The method has the advantages of a simple expression system, large-scale production, low production cost, strong biological activity and no toxic or harmful substance production. Moreover, the method provides a medicine with low price and strong antibacterial capacity for clinic disease prevention and treatment. This invention can also be used as a feedstuff additive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant human alpha-synuclein with increased toxicity compared to wild-type alpha-synuclein, or a homologue thereof, wherein the mutant alpha-synuclein or homologue thereof comprises at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of a substitution at the alanine at position 56 (A56), at the alanine at position 76 (A76), at the methionine at position 127 (M127) and/or at the valine at position 118 (V118), as defined in the claims. Further, the invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding the mutant alpha-synuclein or homologue thereof, or an expression vector comprising said polynucleotide, a cell comprising the polynucleotide or expression vector, as defined in the claims. Also, a non-human animal comprising the cell of the invention is provided, as defined in the claims. Finally, the invention provides methods for identifying a substance that prevents or reduces toxicity of alpha-synuclein, as defined in the claims.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a novel Vespula venom protease or fragments thereof, in particular the protease Ves v 4, recombinant vectors comprising such nucleic acids, and host cells containing the recombinant vectors. The invention is further directed to the expression of such nucleic acids to produce a recombinant Vespula venom protease, or recombinant fragments thereof, or synthetic peptides thereof. Such a protease or fragments thereof or synthetic peptides thereof are useful for diagnosis of insect venom allergy and for therapeutic treatment of insect venom allergy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel 3D structure encoding a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an amended temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants of amended properties.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for releasing the transcriptional regulation caused by a repeated sequence in a gene, a kit therefor and so on to thereby establish a system capable of producing a protein in a large amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing C-terminal amidated dibasic or polybasic peptides, consisting in reacting two peptides in the presence of trypsin biologically active enzymes and, if necessary, in purifying the thus obtainable compounds of formula (I) by means of protein chemistry.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant expression of variant forms of C1 CBH1a and homologs thereof, having improved thermostability, low-pH tolerance, specific activity and other desirable properties. Also provided are methods for producing ethanol and other valuable organic compounds by combining cellobiohydrolase variants with cellulosic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant N-glycosylated proteins, comprising one or more introduced N-glycosylated optimized amino acid sequence(s), nucleic acids encoding these proteins as well as corresponding vectors and host cells. In addition, the present invention is directed to the use of said proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for preparing medicaments. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for producing said proteins.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photobiological ethanol production and harvesting technology using greenhouse distillation systems with designer photosynthetic organisms, such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria. The designer oxyphotobacteria are created such that the endogenous photobiological regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic process are used for synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The designer use of a pair of NADPH-dependent vs. NAD-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases in the pathway designs offers a special cyclic “transhydrogenase” redox-shuttle function to convert NADPH to NADH for enhanced photobiological ethanol production. Through combined use of a designer photosynthetic organism with a greenhouse distillation system, the waste solar heat associated with the photobiological ethanol-production process is utilized in harvesting the produced ethanol.

Abstract: Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.

Abstract: Provided are therapeutic implants comprising renal tissue encapsulated within a polymer bead. Also disclosed are methods for treating a disease state in a subject comprising implanting within said subject a therapeutic implant comprising renal tissue encapsulated within a polymer bead. Also provided are methods for making a therapeutic implant comprising: providing renal tissue; mixing the renal tissue with a solution comprising a polymer, thereby forming a tissue-polymer suspension; extruding the tissue-polymer suspension into an bead-forming solution, thereby forming a therapeutic implant comprising beads of said polymer within which the renal tissue is encapsulated.