Abstract: A new class of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of a nitrile containing compound to the corresponding amine (such as a primary amine) are disclosed. Such enzymes are referred to herein as nitrile oxido-reductases. Methods of using the enzymes to reduce a nitrile to a amine, for example in vitro or in vivo, are provided. Such methods provide the first biocatalysis method for reducing nitrites to amines, and provides an alternative to currently used methods, which generally utilize harsh reaction conditions and the production of hazardous waste. While the hydrolysis of nitrites to amides and carboxylic acids via biocatalysis has found extensive use in industry, the lack of a known nitrile oxido-reductase has precluded the application of biocatalysis to nitrile reduction.

Abstract: A process for biological production of ortho-aminophenols from nitroaromatic compounds using recombinant E. Coli strains. The process uses an enzyme system that makes use of a nitroreductase enzyme that initially reduces the nitroarene to the hydroxylaminoarene and a mutase enzyme that converts the hydroxylaminoarene to an ortho-aminophenol.

Abstract: A mutated alkaline cellulase derived from a cellulase having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or one having a homology of at least 90% therewith by deleting one or more amino acid residues from the 343- to 377-positions in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a region corresponding thereto and then inserting a peptide having from 2 to 15 amino acid residues into the deletion site; and a gene encoding the same. The above alkaline cellulase has an optimum pH value close to the pH value of laundry water and, therefore, is useful as an enzyme for detergents.

Abstract: Mutational inactivation of proteins involved in para-cresol production in certain milk products results in improved taste and odor. The undesirable para-cresol forms over time as a result of enzymes produced by the bacterium that produces gellan gum. Since the gellan is typically used in a relatively unpurified form, the enzymes are added to the milk along with the gellan. Inactivation of the enzymes is a genetic means of eliminating the enzymes without requiring any additional purification or processing.

Abstract: mcFP encoding nucleic acids, polypeptides and antibodies immunologically specific therefore are disclosed. Methods of use thereof are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for generating components of protein biosynthetic machinery including orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases. Methods for identifying orthogonal pairs are also provided. These components can be used to incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active IHOG, which can in turn be used for the production of monatin. The present invention further relates to a method for producing optically active monatin, and an aldolase which can be used in these methods. As such, the present invention enables the synthesis of 4-(Indole-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid with high optical purity, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of optically active monatin, from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (or oxaloacetic acid).

Abstract: A vector of the present invention has DNA encoding a protein or a product having the same effect as the protein, the protein containing an amino acid sequence from amino acid numbers 47 to 802 in SEQ. ID. NO:2. Expression of the DNA gives human chondroitin synthase. By using human chondroitin synthase, it is possible to produce a saccharide chain having a repeating disaccharide unit of chondroitin. The DNA or part thereof may be used as a probe for hybridization for the human chondroitin synthase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acid-stable alpha amylase (asAA) derived from a strain of Aspergillus kawachi, which has granular starch hydrolyzing (GSH) activity, the heterologous expression of the asAA having GSH activity in filamentous fungal host cells and enzyme compositions including the same which optionally include glucoamylase.

Abstract: A magnetic substance-biosubstance complex structure comprises a magnetic substance-containing carrier and a bio-substance immobilized on the carrier, the biosubstance being immobilized through a spacer comprising an amino acid sequence on a surface of the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of and characterization of a novel lipase inhibitor and its effect on different lipases. The present invention also relates to the use of a lipase inhibitor as a screen for lipases. The present invention also relates to the use of the inhibitor and/or lipases identified by a lipase inhibitor in food and/or feed technologies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for identifying agents that modulate a level or an activity of tubulin deacetylase polypeptide, as well as agents identified by the methods. The invention further provides methods of modulating tubulin deacetylase activity in a cell. The invention further provides methods of modulating cellular proliferation by modulating the activity of tubulin deacetylase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-glucosidase nucleic acid sequence, designated bgl3, and the corresponding BGL3 amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding BGL3, recombinant BGL3 proteins and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase polypeptides and the polynucleotides that encode them. The invention also provides related host cells and methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gene useful in a process to increase the microbial production of carotenoids. The carotenoids astaxanthin is distributed in a wide variety of organisms such as animals, algae and microorganisms. It has a strong antioxidation property against reactive oxygen species. Astaxanthin is used as a coloring reagent, especially in the industry of farmed fish, such as salmon, because astaxanthin imparts distinctive orange-red coloration to the animals and contributes to consumer appeal in the marketplace.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Variovorax sp. which produces an acylase having an asymmetric hydrolysis activity on an N-acetyl ?-amino acid to selectively produce an R-?-amino acid, and a Burkholderia sp. which produces both an acylase having an asymmetric hydrolysis activity on an N-acetyl ?-amino acid to selectively produce an S-?-amino acid and an acylase having an asymmetric hydrolysis activity of an N-acetyl ?-amino acid to selectively produce an R-?-amino acid, and a process for the selective production of an S-, or R-?-amino acid using the above strains.

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 present invention relates to a process for producing vitamin E by growing organisms, in particular plants, which have an increased tyrosine aminotransferase activity in comparison with the wild type, and to the genetically modified organisms, in particular plants, themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase II activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence, which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and DNA constructs for obtaining in a filamentous fungus host a higher production level of a carbohydrate degrading (CD) enzyme, having in its original state a catalytic module (CAT) and a carbohydrate binding module (CBM) separated by a linker region. The DNA construct comprising a truncated actinomycetes, preferably Nonomuraea flexuosa (NJ) derived DNA sequence encoding a truncated form of the CD enzyme, for example Nf Xyn11A, Nf Xyn10A, and is introduced into a filamentous fungal host. Said CD enzyme contains the catalytically active region of CAT but lacks part or all of the CBM, or all of the CBM and part or all of the linker region and is expressed and secreted under the control of regulatory sequences comprising at least a signal sequence, but also promoters, terminators and DNA sequences encoding a secretable carrier protein or domains thereof, preferably originating from filamentous fungi are included.