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 invention provides a heat-resistant DNA polymerase mutant with high amplification activity. Particularly, the present invention uses protein directed evolution technology to construct a random mutation library for the polymerase active domain of Taq enzyme, and gradually adds screening pressure, so that unsuitable mutations will be eliminated naturally, and mutations with dominant traits will gradually accumulate. Finally, a series of amino acid sites and their mutations that are critical to Taq enzyme amplification and polymerization performance will be selected, and a Taq enzyme mutant with high amplification activity will be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glucosyltransferases with modified amino acid sequences. Such engineered enzymes exhibit improved alpha-glucan product yields and/or lower leucrose yields, for example. Further disclosed are reactions and methods in which engineered glucosyltransferases are used to produce alpha-glucan.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microbial host cell comprising an operative biosynthetic metabolic pathway capable of producing one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of L-dopa, dopamine, (S)-Norcoclaurine and derivatives thereof; said pathway comprising a heterologous L-tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH) converting L-Tyrosine into L-dopa capable of increasing the cell production of the Compound compared to a reference L-tyrosine hydroxylase having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 58.

Abstract: Provided are: a DNA polymerase mutant having reverse transcriptase activity, the DNA polymerase mutant including a sequence consisting of twelve specific amino acids A1-A12, wherein the DNA polymerase mutant having reverse transcriptase activity is characterized in that the A3 and/or A10 amino acid is substituted by a basic amino acid residue different from that prior to the introduction of mutation; a kit and a composition including the DNA polymerase; a method for producing the DNA polymerase; and a method for modifying an existing DNA polymerase having reverse transcriptase activity.

Abstract: A number of T4 DNA ligase mutants exhibiting enhanced ligation activity in the presence of high salt concentrations compared to the wild-type ligase were engineered, characterized, and selected via gel electrophoresis of ligation products from a standard ligation assay. Ligase catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the 5? and 3? ends of complementary cohesive ends or blunt ends of duplex DNA, a process that is vital to numerous molecular biology processes including cloning and sequencing.

Abstract: This invention relates to fabric and home care products comprising one or more cold water proteases and processes for making and using such products. Such compositions provide improved cleaning and freshness. Such cold water proteases may be derived from parent enzymes, including BPN? subtilisin and subtilisin derived from Bacillus lentus, by substitution, insertion and/or deletion of one or more of the parent enzymes' amino acids.

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: Linalool synthase variants are disclosed. The variants preferably comprise an amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid substitutions. Variants producing a greater linalool yield and/or higher linalool:nerolidol ratio compared with the corresponding wild type linalool synthase are also disclosed. A method comprising the conversion of geranyl pyrophosphate to linalool using a linalool synthase variant is also disclosed.

Abstract: The subject application pertains to compositions and methods for enhancing reverse transcriptase (RT) activity and/or reducing the inhibition of RT by inhibitors, such as formalin, tannic acid and/or heparin. In some embodiments, RT inhibition is reduced by the addition of potassium glutamate, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, poloxamer 188, or any combination thereof to a reaction mixture comprising a polymerase. In other embodiments, RT is enhanced through the addition of a polyvinyl sulfonic acid sodium salt (PVSA) to a reaction mixture. The subject application also provides oligonucleotide primers for use in the reverse transcription of target sequences and its enhancement. These primers have high GC content or low GC content. Methods of using a RT inhibition reducer or a RT enhancer in a composition with an RNA template and RT improves RT yield, RT sensitivity, or RT tolerance to various chemicals are also provided.

Abstract: Protein enriched micro-vesicles and methods of making and using the same are provided. Aspects of the methods include maintaining a cell having a membrane-associated protein comprising a first dimerization domain and a target protein having a second dimerization domain under conditions sufficient to produce a micro-vesicle from the cell, wherein the micro-vesicle includes the target protein. Also provided are cells, reagents and kits that find use in making the micro-vesicles, as well as methods of using the micro-vesicles, e.g., in research and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to compositions, methods, and/or kits for producing vaccinia capping enzyme. For example, active, heterodimers of vaccinia capping enzyme may be produced as fusions comprising D1 and D12 subunits. Vaccinia capping enzyme fusion proteins may further comprise a linker.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for the assembly and modification of non-ribosomal peptide synthases (NRPS). The system uses novel well defined building blocks (units) comprising condensation subdomains. This strategy allows for the efficient combination of assembly units referred to as eXchange Units (XU2.0) independent on their natural occurring specificity for the subsequent NRPS adenylation domain. The system of the invention allows for the easy assembly of NRPS having any amino acid sequence of choice, without any restrictions due to natural occurring NRPS units. The system also allows the exchange of natural NRPS building blocks with the inventive XU2.0 leading to the production of modified peptides. The invention provides the system, their individual exchange units, nucleic acids encoding these units, as well as methods and uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are DNA polymerases having increased 5?-3? strand displacement activity and substantially reduced 5?-3? exonuclease and endonuclease activity relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the DNA polymerases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the stereo selective production of a trans-diol or a cis-diol or a hydroxyketone comprising the step(s) (i) conversion of a trans-diol or a cis-diol to a hydroxyketone and/or (ii) conversion of a hydroxyketoneto a cis-diol or a trans-diol, catalyzed by an enzyme, which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: or wherein the enzyme comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. The present invention also relates to the use of an enzyme encoded by a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or wherein the enzyme comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 for the conversion of a trans-diol to a cis-diol or for the conversion of a trans-diol or a cis-diol to a hydroxy ketone and/or the conversion of a hydroxyketone to a trans-diol or a cis-diol.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces a compound containing an N-acyl-amino group by an enzymatic method. Specifically, a method of producing a compound containing an N-acyl-amino group includes producing the compound containing an N-acyl-amino group by reacting a compound containing an amino group with a compound containing a carboxyl group in the presence of an enzyme having an ability to bond a carboxyl group and an amino group in an ATP dependent manner to form an amide bond.

Abstract: Provided herein are engineered variants of archaeal, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic polymerases that exhibit enhanced thermostability, enhanced incorporation of 3? modified nucleotides, and improved uracil-tolerance, in polymerase-catalyzed nucleotide extension reactions relative to wild type polymerase enzymes. Also provided are uses of the engineered polymerases for forming complexed polymerases, forming binding complexes and forming ternary complexes, and uses for conducting nucleic acid sequencing reactions.

Abstract: Provided are mutant polymerases having DNA polymerase activity and reverse transcriptase activity or strand displacement activity, along with target nucleic acid amplification methods employing such mutant polymerases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lysosomal protein composition comprising a plurality of lysosomal proteins that are potentially diversely glycosylated according to a glycosylation pattern, wherein said glycosylation pattern has at least 45% paucimannosidic N-glycans; a method of manufacturing the lysosomal protein composition in a bryophyte plant or cell, and medical and non-medical uses of the lysosomal protein composition. E.g. the lysosomal protein can be ?-Galactosidase for the treatment of Fabry Disease or ?-Glucoceramidase for the treatment of Gaucher's Disease. The unique glycosylation results in improved therapeutic efficacy—surprisingly even without mannose-6-phosphate that is common for CHO cell produced lysosomal proteins.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism that efficiently produces a PUFA and a method for producing a PUFA using the microorganism. The present invention relates to a microorganism capable of producing a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), in which a gene encoding an exogenous polyketide synthase dehydratase (PS-DH) domain having a higher activity against 3-hydroxyhexanoyl acyl carrier protein (3-hydroxyhexanoyl ACP) than an endogenous FabA-like ?-hydroxyacyl-ACP dehydratase (FabA-DH) domain has been introduced into a microorganism having a PUFA metabolic pathway, and the like.