Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits for diagnosing and treating cancer are provided. Therapeutic compositions may comprise agents that modulate the expression or activity of a springiness-1-phosphate lease (SPL). Such compositions may be administered to a mammal afflicted with cancer. Diagnostic methods and kits may employ an agent suitable for detecting alterations in endogenous SPL. Such methods and kits may be used to detect the presence of a cancer or to evaluate the prognosis of a known disease. SPL polypeptides, polynucleotides and antibodies are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving the strain used for the production of erythromycin through the disruption of the melA gene.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (i.e., “elongase”) and to uses thereof. In particular, elongase is utilized in the conversion of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) to dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA) and in the conversion of 20:4n-3 to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DGLA may be utilized in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (AA) which may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.

Abstract: Lipoprotein Lipase like polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, antisense sequences, and antibodies to said polypeptides are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for the preparation of said polypeptides in a recombinant system and for the use of said polypeptides to screen for agonists and or antagonists of said polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of disorders of lipid metabolism.

Abstract: A novel class of thermal hysteresis (antifreeze) proteins (THP) that have up to 100 times the specific activity of fish antifreeze proteins has been isolated and purified from the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. Internal sequencing of the proteins, leading to cDNA cloning and production of the protein in bacteria has confirmed the identity and activity of the 8.4 to 10.7 kDa THP. They are novel Thr- and Cys-rich proteins composed largely of 12-amino-acid repeats of cys-thr-xaa-ser-xaa-xaa-cys-xaa-xaa-ala-xaa-thr. At a concentration of 55 &mgr;g/mL, the THP depressed the freezing point 1.6° C. below the melting point, and at a concentration of ˜1 mg/mL the THP or its variants can account for the 5.5° C. of thermal hysteresis found in Tenebrio larvae. The THP function by an adsorption-inhibition mechanism and produce oval-shaped ice crystals with curved prism faces.

Abstract: A process for producing cytidine diphosphate choline is provided. The process comprises carrying out an enzymatic reaction using microorganisms having the enzyme activities of cytidine-5′-triphosphate synthetase (pyrG), cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (CCT) and choline kinase (CKI) and a microorganism capable of producing uridine-5′-triphosphate from orotic acid as the enzyme sources, and orotic acid and choline and/or phosphorylcholine as the substrates; allowing cytidine diphosphate choline to accumulate in the reaction mixture; and recovering cytidine diphosphate choline from said reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polypeptide having a &bgr;-fructofuranosidase activity obtainable by the expression of a microbial gene, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, a transformant obtained by introducing the DNA into an appropriate host, a process for producing the polypeptide comprising culturing the transformant to produce the polypeptide and collecting the produced polypeptide from the culture, and a method for fructofuranosyl transfer comprising a step of reacting a fructofuranosyl donor with a fructofuranosyl acceptor in the presence of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heat tolerant phytases and DNA sequences which code therefor. The phytases are useful in hydrolyzing phytate to inositol and inorganic phosphates. The phytases are valuable feed additives.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence encoding phytase has been isolated and cloned. The coding sequence has been inserted into an expression construct which in turn has been inserted into a vector capable of transforming a microbial expression host. The transformed microbial hosts may be used to economically produce phytase on an industrial scale. The phytase produced via the present invention may be used in a variety of processes requiring the conversion of phytate to inositol and inorganic phosphate.

Abstract: Through function complementation of E. coli auxotrophs, the ultimate and pentultimate enzymes of the spinach riboflavin biosynthetic pathway have been cloned, namely, lumazine synthase (LS) and riboflavin synthase (RS). This invention relates to the isolation of nucleic acid fragments from plants or fungi that encode LS protein. The invention also relates to the isolation of nucleic acid fragments from plants or fungi that encode RS protein. In addition, the invention also relates to the construction of chimeric genes encoding all of a portion of LS, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein the expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of plant LS in a transformed host cell. Furthermore, the invention also relates to the construction of chimeric genes encoding all of a portion of RS, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein the expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of plant or fungal RS in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The invention provides MurD polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding MurD polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing MurD polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides, designated Apaf-1, which are capable of modulating apoptosis are provided. Compositions including Apaf-1 chimeras, nucleic acid encoding Apaf-1, and antibodies to Apaf-1 are also provided.

Abstract: A novel isolate of Bacillus isolated from white pine is described. The isolate is used to produce monoterpene derivatives. Also described is a pinene hydroxylase enzyme from the isolate. The enzyme is a general allylic oxidizer.

Abstract: Hexulose phosphate synthase was purified from Mycobacterium gastri to determine an amino acid sequence of the enzyme. Oligonucleotide primers to be used for PCR were synthesized on the basis of obtained amino acid sequence information. A DNA fragment, which was amplified by performing PCR by using a template of genomic DNA prepared from Mycobacterium gastri, was used as a probe so that colony hybridization was carried out with respect to a library comprising fragments obtained by digesting Mycobacterium gastri genomic DNA with PstI to obtain a positive clone. Thus, the DNA fragment which contains ORF encoding hexulose phosphate synthase was obtained. Furthermore, the DNA fragment cloned contained other ORF(ORF-1). The expression system of ORF-1 was constructed (pT-HPIS-1), and it was introduced into Escherichia coli cell. After the induction of the expression of ORF-1, the hexulose phosphate isomerase activity was found in the extract of cells harvoring pT-HPIS-1.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA encoding coffee bean &agr;-galactosidase permits the production of purified forms of this protein. The protein is useful in converting human Type B red blood cells into cells physiologically similar to Type O red blood cells. The availability of this enzyme permits more effective conversion than use of &agr;-galactosidase from other sources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated human protein having platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase activity.

Abstract: Through function complementation of E. coli auxotrophs, the ultimate and pentultimate enzymes of the spinach riboflavin biosynthetic pathway have been cloned, namely, lumazine synthase (LS) and riboflavin synthase (RS). This invention relates to the isolation of nucleic acid fragments from plants or fungi that encode LS protein. The invention also relates to the isolation of nucleic acid fragments from plants or fungi that encode RS protein. In addition, the invention also relates to the construction of chimeric genes encoding all of a portion of LS, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein the expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of plant LS in a transformed host cell. Furthermore, the invention also relates to the construction of chimeric genes encoding all of a portion of RS, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein the expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of plant or fungal RS in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for using lysostaphin as an effective antibiotic for topical treatment of Staphylococcus corneal infections (keratitis). Lysostaphin applied topically to the cornea by eye drops killed bacteria within the cornea; lysostaphin reduced the number of bacteria from approximately 10,000,000 viable bacteria colony forming units (“CFU”) in the untreated eye to essentially no viable bacteria in the treated eyes. Treatment by lysostaphin was more potent than any of the smaller antibiotics that have been previously tested (e.g., tetracyclines, erythromycins, cephalosporins, vancomycin, aminoglycosides, or fluoroquinolones). Moreover, topical application of lysostaphin was effective against the highly antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus strains.

Abstract: The invention relates to the genetic modification of Cyanobacteria for the production of ethanol, and more particularly, to the genetic modification of Cyanobacteria by incorporating the genetic information encoding for pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (adh).

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I; wherein R1 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl or C1-C4 haloalkyl, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (S)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.