Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the microbiological industry, and specifically to the production of L-serine or L-serine derivatives using genetically modified bacteria. The present invention provides genetically modified microorganisms, such as bacteria, wherein the expression of genes encoding for enzymes involved in the degradation of L-serine is attenuated, such as by inactivation, which makes them particularly suitable for the production of L-serine at higher yield. The present invention also provides means by which the microorganism, and more particularly a bacterium, can be made tolerant towards higher concentrations of serine. The present invention also provides methods for the production of L-serine or L-serine derivative using such genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention features compositions comprising fusion polypeptides comprising an RNA binding polypeptide operationally linked to an RNA modifying enzyme (e.g., adenosine deaminase, cytidine deaminase), and methods of use therefore.

Abstract: The present invention provides high efficiency targeted and marker-less single, double, triple, quadruple, and quintuple integrations by using CRISPR in host cells, including Pichia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immobilized poly(N)polymerase (PNP), methods of producing said PNP and uses thereof. Further disclosed is an enzyme reactor and kit comprising the PNP for producing polynucleotidylated ribonucleic acid poly(N)RNA)molecules which are useful in gene therapy, immunotherapy, protein replacement therapy and/or vaccination.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods that include one or more of: (1) a “CasZ” protein (also referred to as a CasZ polypeptide), a nucleic acid encoding the CasZ protein, and/or a modified host cell comprising the CasZ protein (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same); (2) a CasZ guide RNA that binds to and provides sequence specificity to the CasZ protein, a nucleic acid encoding the CasZ guide RNA, and/or a modified host cell comprising the CasZ guide RNA (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same); and (3) a CasZ transactivating noncoding RNA (trancRNA) (referred to herein as a “CasZ trancRNA”), a nucleic acid encoding the CasZ trancRNA, and/or a modified host cell comprising the CasZ trancRNA (and/or a nucleic acid encoding the same).

Abstract: A bacteriophage RNA polymerase variant is provided. In some embodiments, the variant may have increased thermostability relative to the corresponding wild type bacteriophage RNA polymerase and/or wild type T7 RNA polymerase. Compositions, kits and methods that employ the variant are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides modified griffithsin polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, as well as corresponding nucleic acids, vectors, cells, fusion proteins, constructs, conjugates, and methods of inhibiting viral infection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, kits, systems and apparatus that are useful for nucleic acid polymerization. In particular, modified polymerases and biologically active fragments thereof, such as modified Taq polymerases, are provided that allow for improved nucleic acid amplification. In some aspects, the disclosure provides modified polymerases having improved thermostability, accuracy, processivity and/or read length as compared to a referenceTaq polymerase. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to modified polymerases or biologically active fragments thereof, useful for amplification methods, and in practically illustrative embodiments, emulsion PCR.

Abstract: Compositions that include polymerases with features for improving entry of nucleotide analogues into active site regions and for coordinating with the nucleotide analogues in the active site region are provided. Methods of making the polymerases and of using the polymerases in sequencing and DNA replication and amplification as well as kinetic models of polymerase activity and computer-implemented methods of using the models are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for nucleic acid amplification and detection. Specifically, disclosed herein are compositions and methods that allow for amplification of nucleic acids at a wide variety of temperatures. This includes a polymerase which is thermostable at high temperatures, and a method of amplification that can be conducted at relatively low temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for replicating, amplifying, and sequencing of nucleic acids using the thermostable, bifunctional replicase “TthPrimPol” from Thermus thermophilus HB27. The TthPrimPol enzyme is extremely tolerant to alterations of the nucleotides of the template nucleic acid. Therefore, in one aspect the invention discloses methods for replicating, amplifying and sequencing of damaged polynucleotide templates.

Abstract: A new CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein, termed “CasM,” is described, as well as polynucleotides encoding the same and methods of using CasM for site-specific genome engineering. CasM proteins are capable of targeting and cleaving single-stranded RNA.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of glyco-engineering and, more specifically, to eukaryotic cells wherein both an endoglucosaminidase is present and made deficient in UDP-galactose 4-epimerase (GalE). Typically, a glycoprotein is also present in the cells. These cells can be used to deglycosylate or partly deglycosylate the (exogenous) glycoprotein, in particular, without the need for adding an extra enzyme. Methods are also provided for the application of these cells in protein production.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for specific cleavage of DNA molecules using single-stranded guides and Argonaute (Ago) proteins are described.

Abstract: Provided are nucleic acids encoding engineered polymerases comprising at least one modification in a motif A and/or at least one modification in a motif B of the polymerase and engineered polymerases encoded by the nucleic acids. Also provided are engineered DNA polymerases comprising a variant of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:3, the variant being at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 and comprising an amino acid substitution at one or more positions selected from the group consisting of L408, Y409, P410, R484, A/L485, and I486. Methods, vectors, kits, and compositions comprising the nucleic acids and compositions, methods and kits comprising the engineered polymerases are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of specific terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis, to methods of synthesizing nucleic acids, and to the use of kits comprising said enzymes in a method of nucleic acid synthesis. The invention also relates to the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases and 3?-blocked nucleotide triphosphates in a method of template independent nucleic acid synthesis.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method for preparing lipase with high ester synthesis activity by using surfactant, belonging to the field of enzyme engineering. The present disclosure provides a method for obtaining a lipase with high ester synthesis activity by adding different surfactants with different concentrations in a lipase aqueous solution and then freeze-drying. The lipase meets the requirement in non-aqueous catalysis. Mixing a variety of lipase with no ester synthesis activity or low activity at suitable concentration and an appropriate concentration of the surfactant in the solution can produces lipases with significantly improved ester synthesis activity, meanwhile changing the hydrolytic activity of the lipase. Increased ester synthesis activity makes lipase more suitable for industrial applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, kits, systems and apparatus that are useful for nucleic acid polymerization. In particular, modified polymerases and biologically active fragment thereof are provided that allow for nucleic acid amplification. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to modified polymerases useful for nucleic acid sequencing, genotyping, copy number variation analysis, paired-end sequencing and other forms of genetic analysis. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to modified polymerases useful for the generation of nucleic acid libraries or nucleic acid templates for use in various downstream processes. In some aspects, the disclosure relates to the identification of homologous amino acid mutations that can be transferred across classes or families of polymerases to provide novel polymerases with altered catalytic properties. In some aspects, the disclosure provides modified polymerases having enhanced catalytic properties as compared to a reference polymerase.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compositions with polymerase activity and methods of using the compositions.