Abstract: A method of biologically producing an aromatic carboxylic acid by contacting a substrate containing an aromatic carboxylic acid having a para-hydroxy group with a biocatalyst that removes the para-hydroxy group.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of making targeting peptides conjugated to recombinant lysosomal enzymes by modifying the amino (N)-terminus and one or more lysine residues on recombinant human lysosomal enzymes using a first crosslinking agent to give rise to first crosslinking agent modified recombinant human lysosomal enzymes, modifying the first amino acid within a short linker at the amino (N)-terminus on a variant IGF-2 peptide using a second crosslinking agent to give rise to a second crosslinking agent modified variant IGF-2 peptide, and then conjugating the first crosslinking agent modified recombinant human lysosomal enzyme to the second crosslinking agent modified variant IGF-2 peptide containing a short linker. Also described herein are conjugates synthesized characterized as having higher affinities for the IGF2/CI-MPR receptor and cellular uptake using the methods disclosed herein. Also described herein are treatment methods using the disclosed conjugates.

Abstract: The invention relates to enzymatic methods for hydroxylation in position 2 or 3 of substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a recombinant scaffolding polypeptide comprising at least a signal peptide, a Cellulose Binding Domain, two cohesin domains and an S-layer Homology domain, wherein said isolated polynucleotide preferably comprises all or an active part of the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. The present invention further relates to vectors comprising such polynucleotides, recombinant lactic acid bacteria, and method for degrading a cellulosic biomass using such recombinant lactic acid bacteria.

Abstract: Subject of the invention is a process for the production of L-carnitine, wherein a ?-lactone, which is a 4-(halomethyl)oxetane-2-one, is converted into L-carnitine, wherein the process comprises an enzymatic conversion of the ?-lactone into (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid or (R)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester.

Abstract: Amino acid mutation(s) can be introduced to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum- or Aspergillus niger-derived glucose dehydrogenase to obtain a glucose dehydrogenase variant with significantly enhanced productivity in E. coli. The glucose dehydrogenase of the present invention is low reactive with xylose.

Abstract: The present invention provides host cells having improved sugar utilization or co-utilization, methods of producing host cells having improved sugar utilization or co-utilization, and methods of using host cells having improved sugar utilization or co-utilization. The present invention provides E. coli strains that co-utilize glucose and xylose in the presence of glucose and xylose, wherein the cell produces the product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel glucose dehydrogenase that has excellent substrate specificity, specific activity, thermal stability, and the like, and that is suitable for use in SMBG sensors. The present invention provides a purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and having glucose dehydrogenase activity.

Abstract: Described herein are microorganisms that produce methionine and related products from endogenous genes in a transsulfuration pathway, as well as from exogenous genes providing a direct sulfhydrylation pathway. Novel genes that are useful for methionine and SAMe production are disclosed.

Abstract: The process for the production of the yellow pigment can include the steps of (a) culturing Bacillus sp. GSK07 bacteria; and (b) extracting the yellow pigment from the bacterial culture using a solvent. The solvent for extraction can be an alcohol, e.g., ethanol, methanol, or both ethanol and methanol. The pigment includes D-limonene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an L-amino acid by reacting an enantiomeric mixture of an N-succinyl amino acid with L-succinylase in the presence of N-acylamino acid racemase to specifically hydrolyze the L-form. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for producing an L-amino acid in high yield by using an N-succinyl amino acid whose dissolved concentration is particularly low as a raw material to perform a reaction while precipitating the produced L-amino acid out of the reaction system. The present invention enables efficient production of an L-amino acid having high optical purity, particularly an L-amino acid useful as a raw material for products such as pharmaceutical products and agricultural chemicals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for repairing cell membranes. In addition, the invention relates to therapeutic compositions comprising nucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition facilitates the repair of cell membranes. Moreover, the invention relates to the treatment and/or prevention of pathological conditions associated with cell membrane damage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a monoalkene comprising the step of enzymatically converting an alkyl monoester. The conversion preferably makes use of an enzyme which belongs to the group of terpene synthases or to the family of prenyltransferases. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of a terpene synthase or of a prenyltransferase for enzymatically converting an alkyl monoester into a monoalkene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutants with cyclase activity and use thereof in a method for biocatalytic cyclization of terpenes, such as in particular for the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal; a method for the preparation of menthol and methods for the biocatalytic conversion of further compounds with structural motifs similar to terpene.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to processes for preparing an intermediate for a diazepane compound which is an antagonist of orexin receptors, and which is useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.

Abstract: Termites have specialized digestive systems that overcome the lignin barrier in wood to release fermentable simple sugars. Using the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and its gut symbionts, high-throughput titanium pyrosequencing and proteomics approaches experimentally compared the effects of lignin-containing diets on host-symbiont digestome composition. Proteomic investigations and functional digestive studies with recombinant lignocellulases conducted in parallel provided strong evidence of congruence at the transcription and translational levels and provide enzymatic strategies for overcoming recalcitrant lignin barriers in biofuel feedstocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to polypeptides having glucanase, e.g., endoglucanase, mannanase, xylanase activity or a combination of these activities, and polynucleotides encoding them. In one aspect, the glucanase activity is an endoglucanase activity (e.g., endo-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucano hydrolase activity) and comprises hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages in cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxy methyl cellulose and hydroxy ethyl cellulose) lichenin, beta-1,4 bonds in mixed beta-1,3 glucans, such as cereal beta-D-glucans or xyloglucans and other plant material containing cellulosic parts. In addition, methods of designing new enzymes and methods of use thereof are also provided. In alternative aspects, the new glucanases e.g., endoglucanases, mannanases, xylanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to engineered ketoreductase polypeptides for the preparation of hydroxyl substituted carbamate compounds, and polynucleotides, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using the ketoreductase polypeptides.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme including the capability of reducing 5-((4S)-2-oxo-4-phenyl (1,3-oxazolidin-3-yl))-1-(4-fluorophenyl) pentane-1,5-dione to (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize the intermediate (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one in a process for making Ezetimibe.

Abstract: A yeast cell comprising LDH from a Sordaria genus fungi, in which activity of lactate dehydrogenase converting pyruvate into lactate is increased, as well as a method of preparing the yeast cell and a method of using the yeast cell to produce lactate.