Abstract: The present disclosure provides RNA-guided endonucleases, nucleic acids encoding same, and compositions comprising same. The present disclosure provides ribonucleoprotein complexes comprising: an RNA-guided endonuclease of the present disclosure; and a guide RNA. The present disclosure provides methods of modifying a target nucleic acid, using an RNA-guided endonuclease of the present disclosure and a guide RNA.

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: The presently claimed invention offers programmable and precise regulation of Cas9 functions by utilizing a set of compact Cas9 derivatives created by deleting conserved HNH and/or REC-C domains based on the structural information across variant class 2 CRISPR effectors. In addition, a novel strategy for engineering the dimeric gRNA-guided nuclease by splitting the mini-dSaCas9 and fusing the FokI domain right after the split point is claimed to increase the on-target DNA cleavage efficiency and potentially reduce the off-target effect because of a closer proximity of dimeric Fold nuclease to the target sequence. By combining the optimized and compact gRNA expression cassette and the downsized SaCas9 derivatives, the entire CRISPR/Cas system with different effector domains for transactivation, DNA cleavage and base editing is loaded into a single AAV virus. Such an all-in-one AAV-CRISPR/Cas9 system will be particularly appealing in biomedical applications that require safe and efficient delivery in vivo.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a biofilm-related infection and methods of preventing and treating biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, implants, and non-medical surfaces comprising administering at least one soluble microbial protein that is encoded by an exopolysaccharide biosynthetic operon or functional gene cluster, wherein the protein comprises a glycosyl hydrolase domain. The present disclosure further provides particular soluble glycosyl hydrolases and compositions thereof.

Abstract: A fusion chimeric protein is described herein that can assemble a functional carboxysome core, which is able to fix carbon by taking atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into useful carbon-containing compounds such as 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA).

Abstract: Disclosed are a mutant microorganism for producing succinic acid exhibiting improved activity of conversion of oxaloacetate to malate through the introduction of genes encoding a malate dehydrogenase, wherein an amino acid residue that interacts with a pyrophosphate moiety of NADH through an amide functional group of a main chain of malate dehydrogenase is glutamine (Gln), and a method of producing succinic acid using the same. The mutant microorganism producing succinic acid according to the present invention is capable of producing a high concentration of succinic acid at the highest productivity compared to other mutant microorganisms reported to date when the microorganism is cultured in a limited medium. In addition, the mutant microorganism is capable of producing succinic acid at higher productivity and product concentration through further advanced fermentation technology.

Abstract: Hybrid reverse transcriptases formed from portions of FLVRT and MLVRT are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are Taq DNA polymerase mutants which exhibit enhanced efficiency in qPCR compared to the wild type Taq DNA polymerase. Such mutants include: V62S, V64S, A70F, F73A, A77F, P253G, E255K, D257R, A259F, A271F, L288S, E289K, S357I, L361S, L376S, P382G, T385I, G418P, R419D, E421K, L461S, A472F, E497K, L498S, E524K, D551R, R556D, S679I, L789S, E189K/E507K/E742K (See Sequence Listing Guide for the mutants' amino acid and protein sequences).

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 invention relates to materials and methods for the production of ethanol. More particularly, the present invention provides genetically modified strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae having enhanced tolerance for ionic liquid (IL) toxicity. Also provided are methods of using such genetically engineered yeast strains for improved IL-mediated hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for industrial-scale production of various fuels, chemical feedstocks, and synthetic polymers.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a detergent comprising a deoxyribonuclease (DNase). The present invention further relates to methods and uses of the detergent comprising a deoxyribonuclease (DNase) for laundering.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids of aldehyde dehydrogenase variants. The invention also provides cells expressing aldehyde dehydrogenase variants. The invention further provides methods for producing 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde (3-HBal) and/or 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO), or an ester or amide thereof, comprising culturing cells expressing an aldehyde dehydrogenase variant or using lysates of such cells. The invention additional provides methods for producing 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde (4-HBal) and/or 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO), or an ester or amide thereof, comprising culturing cells expressing an aldehyde dehydrogenase variant or using lysates of such cells.

Abstract: The invention includes a mutant Taq polymerase or biologically active fragment thereof, which can significantly extend and amplify a target sequence in comparison to wild type Taq polymerase, where the extension mixture includes asymmetrical cyanine dye, including SYBR Green I. The mutant Taq polymerase, or a biologically active fragment thereof, has one or more substitutions differing from the wild type as shown in Table I.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide corresponding to SEQ ID No. 2 and uses thereof for treating at least one of diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions for linking DNA binding domains and cleavage domains (or cleavage half-domains) to form non-naturally occurring nucleases. Also described are methods of making and using compositions comprising these linkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an immobilized capping enzyme, preferably an immobilized Vaccinia virus capping enzyme. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an immobilized cap-specific nucleoside 2?-O-methyltransferase, preferably an immobilized Vaccinia virus cap-specific nucleoside 2?-O-methyltransferase. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for immobilizing said enzymes and to a method of using said enzymes for the addition of a 5?-cap structure to RNAs. Moreover, the present invention relates to an enzyme reactor for performing the capping reaction using said immobilized enzymes and the subsequent separation of the 5?-capped RNA product. In addition, the present invention relates to a kit comprising the capping enzyme and/or the cap-specific nucleoside 2?-O-methyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved DNA polymerases, in particular, type A DNA polymerases, that may be better suited for applications in recombinant DNA technologies. Among other things, the present invention provides modified DNA polymerases derived from directed evolution experiments designed to select mutations that confer advantageous phenotypes under conditions used in industrial or research applications.

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: The invention is directed to a patchoulol synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding said patchoulol synthase, to an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, to a host cell comprising said expression vector, to a method of preparing patchoulol and elemol, and preferably also pogostol, and to a method of preparing a patchoulol synthase.

Abstract: Aspects of this invention inter alia relate to novel systems for targeting, editing or manipulating DNA in a cell, comprising one or more heterologous vector(s) encoding a SluCas9 nuclease from Staphylococcus lugdunensis or variants thereof, and one or more guide RNAs (gRNAs), or a SluCas9 nuclease or variant thereof and one or more gRNAs.