Abstract: The invention provides apoptosis signaling kinase related kinase (ASKRK) nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences and methods of using such sequences to identify modulators of ASKRK. Such modulators can be used for the treatment of diabetes or for delaying the onset of diabetes. The invention also provides methods of diagnosing diabetes or pre-diabetes and methods of making a prognosis based on the detection of ASKRK nucleic acids and proteins.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a target fermentation product comprising cultivation of an aerobic microorganism to produce such product, wherein in the microorganism the efficiency of the respiratory chain is increased, transformed and novel nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to aequorin and obelin mutants whose emission is shifted with respect to wild type. The shift in emission is accomplished using a combination of mutations of amino acids within aequorin or obelin that affect bioluminescence; use of different types of chromophores, i.e., coelenterazines with variable emission characteristics; and modifications of the photoprotein with fluorophores that will allow for emission of light at longer wavelengths as a result of energy transfer. Additionally, an assay employing aequorin mutants to test for HIV-1 protease inhibitors is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alcohol dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus erythropolis. By means of such cofactor-dependent ADHs, chiral alcohols, which can be of use for use in organic syntheses, can advantageously be obtained with a cofactor-regenerating enzyme in a coupled enzymatic system. A nucleotide sequence, vehicles containing this, a polypeptide sequence and processes for mutation and use of the sequences are claimed.

Abstract: Methods of making ligand-decorated polymer conjugates of therapeutic glycoproteins are described. Improved targeting of glycoproteins to specific tissues is achieved by masking the natural carbohydrate and other surface determinants with high molecular weight polymers, such as, e.g., PEG, polysialic acid, etc., which in turn are decorated with target-specific ligands. In some embodiments, acid-labile linkages in such conjugates or rapidly degradable masking groups allow for the intracellular release of the polymer from the glycoprotein, for example, under conditions found in lysosomes.

Abstract: A purified novel enzyme protein, UGPPase, which naturally occurs in animal cells, its productions of recombinant technology, an antibody to the enzyme protein, a method of carrying out ELISA for measurement of the amount of UGPPase in an analyte and a method for determination of UDPG in a sample. The one-way enzyme protein catalyses hydrolysis of UDP-glucose, the precursor molecule of glycogen, into glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) and uridine 5?-monophosphate (UMP).

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the gnd gene from coryneform bacteria coding for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases which contain at position 329 or a comparable position of the amino acid sequence any amino acid other than L-valine, and to processes for the production of amino acids, preferably L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by fermentation using bacteria that contain these alleles.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for production of flavonoids in microbial hosts. The compositions comprises a set of genes which encode for enzymes involved in one or more steps in the biosymthetic pathway for the conversion of phenylpropanoids to various flavonoids. The method comprises the steps of introducing the set of genes into a heterologous host cell, allowing growth of the cells in a suitable medium such that the expression of the genes results in production of enzymes. When specific substrate(s) is/are provided to the transformed cell, the enzymes act on the substrate(s) to produce the desired flavonoids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having saponin-decomposing activity, more specifically a protein which can decompose a glycoside having soyasapogenol B as an aglycone to produce soyasapogenol B, a polynucleotide encoding such a protein, and a method of producing soyasapogenol B on a large scale using the same. A protein according to the present invention are concerned with (a), (b) or (c), namely (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; (b) a protein that has at least 50% homology to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) and having saponin-decomposing activity; or (c) a protein comprising a modified amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) that has one or more amino acid residues deleted, substituted, inserted, or added and having saponin-decomposing activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filamentous fungal host cells and particularly Trichoderma host cells useful for the production of heterologous granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes having glucoamylase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel phytases, in particular, of fungal origin, and also to their respective methods of production. The present invention relates more particularly to novel phytases derived from fungi of the Penicillium genus, in particular of the Penicillium sp. CBS 109899 strain, and also to the polynucleotides encoding these phytases. The invention also relates to vectors containing the polynucleotides, and to transformed host organisms expressing the phytases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the co-expression and production of a heterologous alpha amylase and an endogenous glucoamylase in an Aspergillus strain and enzyme compositions including the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide forming (R)-2-chloro-1-(3?-chlorophenyl)ethanol, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and use of the same. The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the following physical and chemical properties (1) to (4): (1) activity: acting on 2-chloro-1-(3?-chlorophenyl)ethanone with NADPH or NADH as a coenzyme, to form (R)-2-chloro-1-(31-chlorophenyl)ethanol; (2) optimum pH for activity: 5.0 to 6.0; (3) optimum temperature for activity: 40° C. to 50° C.; (4) molecular weight: about 40,000 as determined by gel filtration analysis, about 30,000 as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The present invention also relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1 in the sequence listing, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and a transformant producing said polypeptide at high levels.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a strain capable of producing transglutaminase at a high efficiency; and a process for producing transglutaminase by using this strain. A structural gene from Streptomyces mobaraensis and a promoter and a terminator acting on this structural gene are externally transferred into Streptomyces mobaraensis to give a transformant. Transglutaminase is produced by culturing this transformant.

Abstract: A DNA fragment encoding a ? subunit is obtained by inverse PCR using primers designed based on the nucleotide sequnece of a N-terminal signal sequence region of a GDH ? subunit derived from Burkholderia cepacia KS1 strain.

Abstract: The present invention provides an M-1-P-producing enzyme which employs, as starting materials, an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of 5 or more and containing an ?-1,4-glycosidic bond such as maltooligosaccharide, dextrin, or starch, and which enables production of a large amount of M-1-P. The M-1-P-producing enzyme can produce M-1-P from a phosphoric acid or a salt thereof and an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of 5 or more and containing an ?-1,4-glycosidic bond.

Abstract: A purine-derived substance is produced by culturing a Bacillus bacterium which has an ability to produce a purine-derived substance and has enhanced activity of an enzyme of the oxidative pentosephosphate pathway. The purine-derived substance is produced in the medium or the bacterial cells, and can be collected from the medium or the bacterial cells.

Abstract: Two long-wavelength fluorescent proteins isolated from the strawberry anemone, Corynactis californica are provided. These proteins are homologous to known fluorescent proteins, but their unique properties, including yellow or red color of emission, can find use in replacing and supplementing known fluorescent proteins. In addition, because of their longer wavelength absorption and emission spectra, they can be used in energy transfer applications with the known shorter wavelength fluorescent proteins and non-proteinaceous fluorescers.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials related to the production of organic products such as glucuronic acid, ascorbic acid, and glucaric acid. Specifically, the invention provides cells, methods for culturing cells, isolated nucleic acid molecules, and methods and materials for producing various organic products such as glucuronic acid, ascorbic acid, and glucaric acid.

Abstract: Thermostable omega-transaminases, particularly thermostable omega-transaminases which have a high reaction rate and which are tolerant to high concentrations of donor amine, can be used to enrich enantiomerically a mixture of chiral amines or to synthesize stereoselectively one of a pair of chiral amines in which the amino group is bound to a non-terminal, chirally substituted, carbon atom.