Abstract: A method of constructing a specific CRISPR-Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats associated) to activate a RSPO2 (R-spondin 2) gene is disclosed in the present invention. The method comprises the following steps: designing a sgRNA (single guide RNA) of a specifically targeted human RSPO2 gene; constructing a CRISPR-Cas9 recombinant lentivirus vector of a specifically activated RSPO2 gene; and lentiviral packaging a CRISPR-Cas9 system of the specifically activated RSPO2 gene. The CRISPR-Cas9 system designed by the present invention activates the RSPO2 target gene expression and promotes the activation of the hepatic stellate cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multicopper oxidase mutant with improved salt tolerance. Threonine at site 317 of wild-type multicopper oxidase WT was mutated to asparagine, leucine at site 386 was mutated to tyrosine, and serine at site 427 was mutated to glutamic acid by site-directed mutagenesis to obtain a mutant T317N-L386Y-S427E. Compared with WT, the tolerance of T317N-L386Y-S427E to 6%, 9%, 12%, 15% and 18% NaCl (W/V) is improved.

Abstract: An enzymatic process for producing fatty acid triglycerides using a lipase catalyst system that includes a mixture of a supported lipase catalyst and an additive, such as silica gel. The additive is used without adsorbing any of the acyl group donor or acyl group acceptor reactants onto the additive. Use of the catalyst system decreases production reaction time, decreases the temperatures required for reaction, and allows for a single reaction vessel. The catalyst system can be used to efficiently produce medium chain triglycerides or conjugated linoleic acid triglycerides.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for engineering mutant enzymes with reduced star activity where the mutant enzymes have a fidelity index (FI) in a specified buffer that is greater than the FI of the non-mutated enzyme in the same buffer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, nucleoprotein complexes comprising these nucleic acids, and compositions thereof. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, as well as expression cassettes, vectors and cells comprising such nucleic acid sequences, are described. Also, methods are disclosed for making and using the Class 2 CRISPR-Cas-associated discontinuous first-stem nucleic-acid targeting nucleic acids, nucleoprotein complexes comprising such nucleic acids, and compositions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method to identify a second or mutant phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) with a higher PMD activity compared to a first PMD, comprising (a) culturing a medium comprising a first host cell expressing the first PMD and a second host cell expressing the second or mutant PMD wherein the first and second host cells have their respective PMD enzymatic activities coupled to the growth rates of the host cells, and (b) identifying the second host cell that has a higher growth rate than the first host cell, thereby identifying the second or mutant PMD having a higher PMD activity.

Abstract: An alcohol dehydrogenase of sequence ID numbers 2, 3 or 4 containing metal ions and a quinone cofactor, or in addition, a functional variant exhibiting a sequence identity of at least 80%, preferably at least 86%, especially preferred at least 89% and at least one redox cofactor for the transformation of at least one trichothecene exhibiting a hydroxyl group on the C-3 atom, as well as a method for the enzymatic transformation of trichothecenes and a trichothecene-transforming additive.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of making a modified lecithin by conducting an enzymatic conversion of a naturally derived lecithin to form a modified lecithin, e.g., having an enhanced level of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, or a combination thereof. Compositions prepared from the modified lecithin and use to inhibit lipid oxidation are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method of oxo fatty acid, as well as rare fatty acids such as conjugated fatty acid, hydroxylated fatty acid, partially saturated fatty acid and the like, which uses 4 kinds of enzymes (fatty acid-hydratase, hydroxylated fatty acid-dehydrogenase, oxo fatty acid-isomerase, oxo fatty acid-enone reductase) derived from Lactobacillus plantarum including lactic acid bacteria and the like. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a more efficient production method of oxo fatty acid and the like, which partly uses a chemical oxidation reaction in combination.

Abstract: A method and cell line for producing polyketides in yeast. The method applies, and the cell line includes, a yeast cell transformed with a polyketide synthase coding sequence. The polyketide synthase enzyme catalyzes synthesis of olivetol or methyl-olivetol, and may include Dictyostelium discoideum polyketide synthase (“DiPKS”). Wild type DiPKS produces methyl-olivetol only. DiPKS may be modified to produce olivetol only or a mixture of both olivetol and methyl-olivetol. The yeast cell may be modified to include a phosphopantethienyl transferase for increased activity of DiPKS. The yeast cell may be modified to mitigate mitochondrial acetaldehyde catabolism for increasing malonyl-CoA available for synthesizing olivetol or methyl-olivetol.

Abstract: Methods for preparing and purifying 2-monoacylglyceride compounds are disclosed. In one method, an unsaturated triglyceride is reacted with water, a C1-C8 alcohol, or a mixture thereof in the presence of a lipase to produce a mixture comprising a 1,3-dihydroxy-2-monoacylglyceride and fatty esters or acids. Reaction of the 1,3-dihydroxy-2-monoacylglyceride with an aldehyde or ketone gives a mixture comprising a 2-monoacylglyceride acetal or ketal. Fatty esters or acids are removed from the mixture as an overhead product by distillation or wiped-film evaporation to isolate a purified 2-monoacylglyceride acetal or ketal. The inventive methods provide a 2-monoacylglyceride protected at the 1- and 3-positions such that the acyl unit remains at the 2-position. The products are enriched in unsaturated fatty acid content when compared with the unsaturated fatty acid content of the original unsaturated triglyceride.

Abstract: A method for modifying the genome of a lytic target phage, uses of the method and products thereof are described. Compositions comprising such phage are also described. The compositions may be formulated as a medicament, which are useful for human treatment and may treat various conditions, including bacterial infections.

Abstract: A novel method of producing high-purity hydroxy-L-pipecolic acids in an efficient and inexpensive manner while suppressing the production of hydroxy-L-proline is provided. The method includes allowing an L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, a microorganism or cell having the ability to produce the enzyme, a processed product of the microorganism or cell, and/or a culture liquid comprising the enzyme and obtained by culturing the microorganism or cell, to act on L-pipecolic acid as a substrate in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion, wherein the L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase has the properties: (1) the enzyme can act on L-pipecolic acid in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion to add a hydroxy group to the carbon atom at positions 3, 4, and/or 5 of L-pipecolic acid; and (2) the enzyme has a catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-proline that is equal to or less than 7 times the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-pipecolic acid.

Abstract: The disclosure provides molecules with an affinity for (or an ability to bind to), sialic acid, for use in compositions, medicaments and methods for the treatment of sepsis, its symptoms and sepsis associated pathologies and immune responses.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis which is deposited under Accession number DSM 32419. The present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing a growth promoter for promoting microalgal cell growth, including: (a) inoculating a mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis into a culturing medium to obtain a bacterial suspension, wherein the mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis is deposited under Accession number DSM 32419; (b) culturing the mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis in the bacterial suspension at least to a stationary phase to obtain a cultured medium of the mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis; and (c) performing a vacuum heating procedure on the cultured medium of the mutant of Bacillus thuringiensis to obtain the growth promoter for promoting microalgal cell growth, wherein the growth promoter for promoting microalgal cell growth contains active substances for promoting microalgal cell growth.

Abstract: It has been found that esterification of a hydroxy-fatty acid by a lipase can be coupled with oleate hydratase (OHase) generation of that hydroxy-FA from an unsaturated FA with a cis C9-C10 double bond, e.g. oleic acid, in a single aqueous buffered reaction medium at low temperature, e.g. 30° C. A simple one-pot enzymatic method to produce fatty acid estolides from one or more triglycerides, e.g. starting from a natural plant oil, is thereby enabled in which the same lipase catalyses both the initial hydrolysis of triglyceride and the final esterification step.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for providing high product yield of transgenes expressed in cyanobacteria and microalgae.

Abstract: An integrated wet-mill method for the production of ethanol and single cell protein. An integrated method for the production of ethanol and a single cell protein product is described including providing corn kernels, which kernels comprise germ, fiber, protein and starch and which method includes, among other things, steeping said corn kernels and separating said steeped kernels from a steep liquor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preparation and application of a cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase mutant, belonging to the fields of gene engineering and enzyme engineering. By mutating amino acids of cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase, the enzyme activity of the obtained mutant can reach 2.5 times that of wild enzyme. In addition, the cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase mutant obtained in the present invention is simple in purification and suitable for industrial production.

Abstract: A novel method of producing 3-hydroxyadipic acid using a metabolic pathway of a microorganism is disclosed.