Abstract: The production of a diutan polysaccharide exhibiting increased viscosity properties as compared with previously produced polysaccharide of the same type of repeating units. Such an improved diutan polysaccharide is produced through the generation of a derivative of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159 that harbors a multicopy broad host range plasmid into which genes for biosynthesis of diutan polysaccharide have been cloned. The inventive methods of production of such an improved diutan polysaccharide, as well as the novel cloned genes required to produce the improved diutan within such a method, are also encompassed within this invention. Additionally, the novel engineered Sphingomonas strain including the needed DNA sequence is encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having esterase activity comprising an amino acid sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID NO's 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 or a homologue thereof, comprising an amino acid substitution or deletion of one or more amino acids as shown in said SEQ ID NO's and resulting in a mutant polypeptide having an increased concentration of the fraction of the mutant polypeptide being present as an active and soluble protein in cleared lysate of the mutant polypeptide expressed in E. coli relative to the concentration of the fraction of the polypeptide without the mutation being present as an active and soluble protein in cleared lysate of the polypeptide without the one or more deletion or substitution expressed in E. coli under the same conditions. The invention also relates to nucleic acid encoding the polypeptides according to the invention, and the use of the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides fusion protein constructs comprising a functional mitochondrial protein and methods of treating mitochondrial disorders by the fusion proteins and compositions thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions capable of use in the treatment of spinal cord injuries and related disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), and in particular, compositions including proteoglycan degrading molecules and compositions capable of blocking and/or over coming the activity of neuronal growth inhibitory molecules, as well as fusion proteins which includes a proteoglycan degrading domain and a domain capable of blocking and or over coming the activity of neuronal growth inhibitory molecules.

Abstract: The application relates to antimicrobial agents against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular to fusion proteins composed of an enzyme having the activity of degrading the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria and a peptide stretch fused to the enzyme at the N- or C-terminus, as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Moreover, it relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding such a fusion protein, vectors carrying the nucleic acid molecules and host cells transformed with either the nucleic acid molecules or the vectors. In addition, it relates to such a fusion protein for use as a medicament, in particular for the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infections, as diagnostic means or as cosmetic substance. The application also relates to the treatment or prevention of Gram-negative bacterial contamination of foodstuff, of food processing equipment, of food processing plants, of surfaces coming into contact with foodstuff, of medical devices, of surfaces in hospitals and surgeries.

Abstract: A microorganism genetically modified for the bioproduction of 1,3-propanediol from sucrose, wherein the microorganism includes: a two-step metabolic pathway for the production of 1,3-propanediol, including a first step of decarboxylation of 4-hydroxy-2-ketobutyrate with an enzyme having a 2-keto acid decarboxylase activity, and a second step of reduction of the obtained 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde with an enzyme having hydroxy aldehyde reductase activity, and genes enabling the microorganism to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source. A method for the biological preparation of 1,3-propanediol by fermentation, including cultivating said microorganism genetically modified, wherein the culture is performed in an appropriate medium including a source of sucrose, and recovering the 1,3-propanediol being produced.

Abstract: The invention features methods producing isoprene and a co-product, such as ethanol, 1,3-propanediol, or hydrogen from cultured cells. The invention also provides compositions that include these cultured cells. The invention provides compositions comprising isoprene and ethanol, isoprene and 1,3-propanediol, and isoprene and hydrogen. Additionally, the invention provides methods of co-producing isoprene and ethanol, isoprene and 1,3-propanediol, and isoprene and hydrogen by culturing cells under conditions suitable for co-production of isoprene and ethanol, isoprene and 1,3-propanediol, and isoprene and hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microorganism variant having the ability to produce hydrocarbons, including alkane, and a method of producing hydrocarbons, including alkane, using the same, and more particularly, to a microorganism variant obtained by introducing a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty acyl-acp to free fatty acid, a gene encoding an enzyme converting free fatty acid to fatty acyl-CoA, a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty acyl-CoA to fatty aldehyde and a gene encoding an enzyme converting fatty aldehyde to alkane into a microorganism improved so as to be suitable for the production of hydrocarbons, including alkane, and a method of producing hydrocarbons, including alkane, using the same. The microorganism variant of the present invention has high potential to be used to improve strains by additional metabolic flux engineering, and thus is useful for the industrial production of hydrocarbons, including alkane.

Abstract: An in vitro method to produce a glycoside is described which includes the steps of contacting the cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium stercorarium with alpha-glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-galactose-1-phosphate and an acceptor, and glycosylating the acceptor. The acceptor may be an alkyl beta-glucoside, an aryl beta-glucoside, a glucolipid, an alkyl beta-sophoroside, an aryl beta-sophoroside or a sophorolipid. Alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids are produced when alpha-glucose-1-phosphate is used as donor. Corresponding lactosides are produced when alpha-galactose-1-phosphate is used as donor.

Abstract: Provided herein are diterpene synthases (diTPS) and methods for producing diterpenoids. Also provided herein are nucleic acid sequences encoding diTPS, diTPS amino acid sequences, diTPS proteins, vectors, cells, transgenic organisms, uses, compositions, methods, processes, and kits thereof.

Abstract: Described is a chimeric peptide, comprising, in order, (a) a first detectable label (b) a cAMP binding moiety having only one cAMP binding site and (c) a second detectable label least two detectable labels is describe. The chimeric peptide is useful for direct determination of cAMP concentration in vitro and/or in vivo. Also described are nucleic acids encoding the chimeric peptide, methods of making and modifying the chimeric peptide, a method for determining the cAMP concentration, and kits.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tissue regeneration substrate that has the ability to release a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and like cell growth factors in a sustained manner, into which cells can easily enter, and that is suitably used for regeneration of tissues. Specifically, the present invention provides a tissue regeneration substrate that comprises a cell growth factor adsorbed in a bioabsorbable porous substrate that contains collagen and gelatin, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleotide that is active to an acetyl glutamate synthase and acetyl ornithinase which are associated with ornithine or arginine biosynthesis from Corynebacterium glutamicum. The present invention also relates to a polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide, a recombinant vector comprising said polynucleotide, to a transformant obtained by introducing said recombinant vector to a host microorganism for producing L-ornithine or L-arginine, and transforming the recombinant vector, and to a method for producing L-ornithine or L-arginine by culturing said transformant. The activity of the transformant of the present invention to an acetyl glutamate synthase and acetyl ornithinase is increased as compared to an intrinsic activity, and thus L-ornithine or L-arginine can be produced, at a high yield rate, from the transformant of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Rhodanobacter ginsenosidimutans KCTC22231T-derived ginsenoside glycosidase and use thereof. The polypeptide has an activity of converting PPD (protopanaxadiol)-type saponins into in vivo absorbable and highly active deglycosylated saponins, by selective hydrolysis of a bond at a particular position of ginsenoside. The present invention also relates an amino acid sequence constituting the polypeptide, a nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the nucleic acid sequence, and a transformant transformed with the vector. The invention further provides a method for preparing Rhodanobacter ginsenosidimutans KCTC22231T-derived ginsenoside glycosidase by culturing the transformant, a method for converting PPD (protopanaxadiol)-type major ginsenoside into a rare ginsenoside that is absorbable in vivo using the protein, and a composition for converting PPD-type saponins into in vivo absorbable saponins, having the protein as an active ingredient.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for improving the xylose-metabolizing ability of a yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability. The method comprises steps of: soaking the yeast strain having xylose-metabolizing ability in an acetic-acid-containing solution; and then, culturing the yeast strain in a xylose-containing medium to perform ethanol fermentation.

Abstract: A means for enhancing the yield of a harvesting part of a crop is provided. A yield enhancing agent for a harvesting part selected from the group consisting of seed, fruit, hypocotyl, root and stem in a crop, the yield enhancing agent comprising: 5-aminolevulic acid or a derivative thereof represented by the following formula (1), or a salt thereof; and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3 (1), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, wherein the yield enhancing agent is an agent to be applied at the time when the harvesting part of the crop becomes enlarged.

Abstract: Provided is a novel high-expression promoter, namely a GAL1 promoter, derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus. Also provided are the following, characterized by the use of the provided high-expression promoter; a recombinant polynucleotide containing said high-expression promoter; a vector containing said recombinant polynucleotide; a transformant obtained by introducing said recombinant polynucleotide or vector into yeast; a method using said transformant for high expression of a target gene; and a method using said transformant to manufacture the gene product of a target gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising: (i) a bacterial alkaline enzyme exhibiting endo-beta-1,4-glucanase activity (E.C. 3.2.1.4); and (ii) a bleach catalyst that is capable of accepting an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and transferring the oxygen atom to an oxidizeable substrate.

Abstract: Transdermal drug delivery patches and methods of their production are described. The patches can be made such that the accommodate highly plasticizing drugs such as selegiline and/or the use of protonated forms of various drugs.