Abstract: Provided is a transformed cell improved in C4 dicarboxylic acid productivity. A transformed cell containing a foreign polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 22 or an amino acid sequence having an identity of at least 80% with any of the sequences.

Abstract: Photosynthetic microorganisms with broadened light absorption capability and increased photosynthetic activity are described. Broadened light absorption is achieved by modifying the microorganism to utilize non-native bilins. Increased photosynthetic activity results from the broadened light absorption and can also result from a decrease in self-shading. The microorganisms include Cyanobacteria, including modified Cyanobacteria.

Abstract: The patent application relates to a method of producing a monomer component from a genetically modified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biomass, wherein the biomass is heated in the presence of a catalyst to release a monomer component from the PHA.

Abstract: A method which enables olefin compound production with a high productivity and an enzyme used in the method, a mutation involving amino acid substitution has been introduced into various sites of diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase (MVD), thus preparing a large number of MVD variants. Next, the result of evaluating the variants for the catalytic activity related to the production of olefin compounds such as isoprene has revealed that MVD whose threonine at position 209 is substituted with a different amino acid has the catalytic activity, and that MVD whose arginine at position 74 is further substituted with a different amino acid in addition to position 209 has the catalytic activity at higher levels.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and one or more three-carbon compounds such as acetone, isopropanol or propene. The MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds described herein are useful as starting material for production of other compounds or as end products for industrial and household use. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a C2 branch pathway and a C3 branch pathway for the production of MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds. Also provided are methods of producing MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally the products MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and one or more three-carbon compounds such as acetone, isopropanol or propene. The MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds described herein are useful as starting material for production of other compounds or as end products for industrial and household use. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a C2 branch pathway and a C3 branch pathway for the production of MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds. Also provided are methods of producing MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally the products MEG and one or more three-carbon compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the manipulation of cofactor usage in a recombinant host cell to increase the formation of desirable products. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a mutation in one or more native enzymes such that their cofactor specificity is altered in such a way that overall cofactor usage in the cell is balanced for a specified pathway and there is an increase in a specific product formation within the cell. In some embodiments, endogenous enzymes are replaced by enzymes with an alternate cofactor specificity from a different species.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding a BREX system are provided. Accordingly there is provided an isolated polynucleotide encoding a BREX system comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the BREX system comprising brxC/pglY, pglZ and at least one of pglX, pglXI, brxP, brxHI, brxHII, brxL, brxD, brxA, brxB, brxF, and brxE, with the proviso that said BREX system does not comprise pglW, and wherein said BREX system confers phage resistance to a bacteria recombinantly expressing same; Also provided is an isolated polynucleotide encoding a BREX system comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the BREX system comprising brxC/pglY, pglZ, pglX, pglW and at least one of brxD and brxHI, and wherein said BREX system confers phage resistance to a bacteria recombinantly expressing same. Also provided are compositions and methods for conferring phage resistance to bacteria or for conferring bacterial susceptibility to phages.

Abstract: The invention provides a fusion protein comprising, from N-terminus to C-terminus: a) a first portion of a Family B G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that comprises transmembrane helix (TM)-1, TM2 and TM3 of the GPCR; b) a stable protein domain; and c) a second portion of the GPCR comprising TM4, TM5, TM6 and TM7 of the GPCR. The invention also provides a method of crystallising a GPCR comprising providing the fusion protein of the invention and crystallising it to obtain crystals.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an organism having an ergothioneine productivity that is capable of easily producing ergothioneine within a short period of time at a high yield, as compared with a conventional technology, and, therefore, enables ergothioneine production on an industrial scale. This purpose can be achieved by a transformed fungus into which a gene encoding enzyme (1) or genes encoding enzymes (1) and (2) have been inserted and in which the inserted gene(s) are overexpressed. (1) an enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide from histidine and cysteine in the presence of S-adenosyl methionine, iron (II) and oxygen. (2) An enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing ergothioneine from hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide using pyridoxal 5?-phosphate as a coenzyme.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant meganucleases engineered to recognize and cleave recognition sequences present in a mutant RHO P23H allele. The invention further relates to the use of such recombinant meganucleases in methods for treating retinitis pigmentosa, wherein the mutant RHO P23H allele is preferentially targeted, cleaved, and inactivated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polypeptide having the enzymatic activity of reduction of NADP+ using electrons from reduced ferredoxin (Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase activity), a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence encoding such polypeptide and uses thereof. The invention relates to the modulation of the Ferredoxin NADP+ reductase activity in a microorganism by varying the expression level of the polynucleotide coding for such polypeptide. The invention also relates to the production of commodity chemicals, especially ethanol, n-butanol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,2-propanediol, isopropanol and acetone by fermenting microorganisms wherein their Ferredoxin NADP+ reductase activity is modulated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a ?-galactosidase mutant, and a preparation method and application thereof, belonging to the fields of gene engineering and enzyme engineering. Amino acids of specific sites in the ?-galactosidase are mutated, the ?-galactosidase is transferred into a recombinant bacterium, and enzymatic transformation is performed under optimized conditions, so that the yield of galactooligosaccharide produced by the mutant reaches 59.8%, which is increased by about 70% as compared with that of wild enzyme, thereby implementing the increase of the galactooligosaccharide yield. The present invention has very high industrialized application value.

Abstract: The invention further relates to a process for the enzymatic synthesis of an (oligo)peptide. The invention relates to a method for designing an enzymatic synthesis process of an (oligo)peptide, comprising identifying two or more (oligo)peptide fragments of an (oligo)peptide, which fragments are (oligo)peptides suitable for preparing the (oligo)peptide by enzymatic condensation of the two or more peptide fragments using a ligase. The invention relates to a method for designing an enzymatic synthesis process of a cyclic (oligo)peptide, comprising identifying a non-cyclic (oligo)peptide from which the cyclic (oligo)peptide can be prepared by cyclisation, catalysed by a cyclase. The invention further relates to a process for the enzymatic synthesis of an (oligo)peptide.

Abstract: Described herein is a chemostat-like continuous cell culture system that combines certain advantages of perfusion open systems and chemostat open systems to improve the culturing of mammalian cells, e.g., genetically modified cells, particularly in serum-free or chemically-defined media. The continuous culture system described herein involves culturing mammalian cells in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d?1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I) R1-A-COOR2??(I), wherein R1 is hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 or —CH2NH2, R2 is an alkyl group, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4 carbons, in the presence of a cell. The process comprises a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution, wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to ketoreductases and the use thereof. The ketoreductases of the invention are particularly useful for enzymatically catalyzing the reduction of ketones to chiral secondary alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mutants with cyclase activity and use thereof in a method for biocatalytic cyclization of terpenes, such as in particular for the production of isopulegol by cyclization of citronellal; a method for the preparation of menthol and methods for the biocatalytic conversion of further compounds with structural motifs similar to terpene.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to omega-hydroxylated fatty acid derivatives and methods of producing them. Herein, the disclosure encompasses a novel and environmentally friendly production method that provides omega-hydroxylated fatty acid derivatives at high purity and yield. Further encompassed are recombinant microorganisms that produce omega-hydroxylated fatty acid derivatives through selective fermentation.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an organism having an ergothioneine productivity that is capable of easily producing ergothioneine within a short period of time at a high yield, as compared with a conventional technology, and, therefore, enables ergothioneine production on an industrial scale. This purpose can be achieved by a transformed fungus into which a gene encoding enzyme (1) or genes encoding enzymes (1) and (2) have been inserted and in which the inserted gene(s) are overexpressed. (1) an enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide from histidine and cysteine in the presence of S-adenosyl methionine, iron (II) and oxygen. (2) An enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing ergothioneine from hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide using pyridoxal 5?-phosphate as a coenzyme.