Abstract: A dissolved CO2 change in aqueous solutions affects directly the intracellular pH (pHi) value as it does so by influencing therefore important cellular processes. The enzyme carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) catalyzes the equilibrium of CO2 in aqueous solutions and because it alters the speed at which this equilibrium is reached it was identified as a strong candidate for metabolic engineering. The cell line stably expressing hCAII presented a better initial re-alkalinization of cytoplasm after induced CO2 acid load. The most alkaline pHi value associated to the lowest pHi variations was observed for that cell line in long term increased CO2 levels. In general, the increased CO2 profile triggered the quicker progress of G0G1-cell cycle phase for both transfected and control cell lines.

Abstract: Disclosed are glycosyl hydrolase enzyme variants, particularly variants of certain oxidoreductases of glycosyl hydrolase family 61. Nucleic acids encoding the glycosyl hydrolyase variants, compositions including the glycosyl hydrolase variants, methods of producing the variants, and methods of using the variants are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs as well as a system for producing these compounds. The inventive method is directed to contacting a compound according to Formula I or Formula II with a cannabinoid synthase. Also described is a system for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs by contacting a THCA synthase with a cannabinoid precursor and modifying at least one property of the reaction mixture to influence the quantity formed of a first cannabinoid relative to the quantity formed of a second cannabinoid.

Abstract: A method for separating and purifying recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) from transgenic rice grain, sequentially comprising the steps of: 1) subjecting crude extract of rHSA to cation exchange chromatography to obtain primary product I; 2) subjecting the primary product I to anion exchange chromatography to obtain secondary product II; 3) subjecting the secondary product II to hydrophobic chromatography to obtain purified rHSA. The method may further comprise a step of ceramic hydroxyapatite chromatography prior to the hydrophobic chromatography. The method has the advantages of low cost and easy operation. The resultant rHSA has a purity of about 99% by HPLC.

Abstract: The invention provides tissue repair compositions and methods of making the tissue repair compositions. Also featured are methods of treatment using the tissue repair compositions and articles of manufacture that include the tissue repair compositions.

Abstract: A novel luciferase that is distinct from conventional luciferase has been desired. A luciferase mutant comprising an amino acid sequence in which glutamic acid at position 4, arginine at position 11, leucine at position 18 and valine at position 27 are substituted with other amino acids, in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collagen hydrolysate which is produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of type-B bone gelatin, wherein the collagen hydrolysate is formed from peptides of which at least 50% by weight, in particular at least 70% by weight have a molecular weight of 1,500 Da to 3,500 Da, and which have a mean molecular weight in the range from 4,000 Da to 8,000 Da, in particular in the range from 4,500 Da to 6,000 Da. The invention also relates to the use of this collagen hydrolysate as an active ingredient to maintain and/or improve the health of the bones, in particular to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis. The invention further relates to a nutritional supplement which comprises the collagen hydrolysate.

Abstract: This invention provides an Amycolatopsis sp. strain (zhp06), and a method of using the whole cell preparation of the strain for vanillin production. The strain was deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection on Jul. 26, 2011 with the number of CCTCC NO: M 2011265. Under high concentrations of ferulic acid substrate, the vanillin production by this method can reach more than 10 g/L. The molar conversion rate of ferulic acid is more than 50% and the purity of vanillin is from 80% to 95%. The advantage of this invention includes: repeated use of biocatalyst cells, mild biotransformation condition, low environmental pollution, short production cycle, high product purity and simple purification procedure. It has a great potential for industrial applications.

Abstract: A film of the present invention contains a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins. The decomposition temperature of the film is 240 to 260° C. The film absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 to 300 nm and has a light transmittance of 85% or more at a wavelength of 400 to 780 nm. The film is transparent and colorless in a visible light region. A method for producing a film of the present invention includes: dissolving a polypeptide derived from spider silk proteins in a dimethyl sulfoxide solvent to prepare a dope; and cast-molding the dope on a surface of a base. Thus, the present invention provides a spider silk protein film that can be formed easily and has favorable stretchability, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a collagen membrane that has particular mechanical properties.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to modify a wild-type enzyme that is less reactive in the presence of an organic solvent to provide altered carbonyl reductases having better reactivity in the presence of the organic solvent than the wild-type enzyme, and/or to provide transformants producing such reductases. The present inventors have found altered carbonyl reductases having better reactivity in the presence of an organic solvent than the wild-type enzyme, from among a mutant enzyme library prepared by randomly mutating the wild-type enzyme gene, thereby arriving at completion of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the isomerization of glucose by reduction to sorbitol and subsequent oxidation to fructose, in which the redox cofactors NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH are regenerated in a one-pot-reaction, wherein one of the two redox cofactors is obtained in the reduced form thereof and the other redox cofactor in the oxidized form thereof as a result of at least two additional enzymatically catalyzed redox reactions (product forming reactions) taking place in the same reaction batch, wherein a) in the regeneration reaction, which transfers the reduced cofactor back to its originally oxidized form, oxygen or a compound of the general formula R1C(O)COOH is reduced, and b) in the regeneration reaction, which transfers the oxidized cofactor back to its originally reduced form, a compound of the general formula R2CH(OH)R3 is oxidized, wherein R1, R2 and R3 have different meanings in the compounds, characterized in that a mixture of glucose and fructose is used as a starting material.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for making a variety of products. The methods involve mixing sucker ring teeth (SRT) protein and a plasticizer or a solvent to obtain a mixture of the SRT protein and the plasticizer. When the SRT is mixed with a plasticizer it is heated to between 32° C. and 195° C. to obtain an SRT protein melt. The melt is used to form a wide variety of products. When the SRT is mixed with a solvent, such as an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent, a solution of the SRT protein is formed, and is subsequently used to forming a product from the solution, wherein the product contains SRT protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs as well as a system for producing these compounds. The inventive method is directed to contacting a compound according to Formula I or Formula II with a cannabinoid synthase. Also described is a system for producing cannabinoids and cannabinoid analogs by contacting a THCA synthase with a cannabinoid precursor and modifying at least one property of the reaction mixture to influence the quantity formed of a first cannabinoid relative to the quantity formed of a second cannabinoid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, a recombinant microorganism, to a method for producing alanine and to the use of the recombinant nucleic acid molecule or the recombinant microorganism for the fermentative production of alanine.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a series of techniques for producing 1,4-butanediol from methanol or the like. Provided is a recombinant cell prepared by introducing a gene encoding at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthase, CoA-dependent succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA transferase, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase, 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase, into a host cell which is a methylotroph, wherein the gene is expressed in the host cell, and the recombinant cell is capable of producing 1,4-butanediol from at least one C1 compound selected from the group consisting of methane, methanol, methylamine, formic acid, formaldehyde, and formamide.

Abstract: A method for the identification and localization of proteins or other biomolecules of a histologic tissue section comprises enzymatically digesting the biomolecules of two similar tissue sections while substantially preserving the biomolecule positions in the tissue sections. Next, a mass spectrometric image of the digest products in one of the tissue sections is acquired. Then, the digest products of the other tissue section are extracted and separated and the mass spectra and daughter ion spectra of all the digest products are acquired. A list of all identifiable biomolecules of the tissue section is created by comparing the mass spectra and daughter ion spectra with spectra in biomolecule structure databases or spectral libraries. Finally, the biomolecules in the list are assigned to digest products of the same mass in the mass spectra used to create the mass spectrometric image of the thin tissue section.

Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for site-specific modification of proteins by incorporation of an aldehyde tag. Enzymatic modification at a sulfatase motif of the aldehyde tag through action of a formylglycine generating enzyme (FGE) generates a formylglycine (FGly) residue. The aldehyde moiety of FGly residue can be exploited as a chemical handle for site-specific attachment of a moiety of interest to a polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inducing osteogenesis in a subject comprising administrating a chitosan material to the a subject in need of osteogenesis, wherein the chitosan material having a chitosan with a degree of deacetylation at the range of 70%˜90%, and the chitosan is 0.15% by weight of the chitosan material. The method of the present invention can induce bone-forming and promote osseointegration around an implant.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in part, formulations comprising a beta-lactamase. Particularly, modified-release formulations comprising a beta-lactamase are provided which release a substantial amount of the beta-lactamase in the intestines. Therapeutic uses of the beta-lactamase formulations are also provided.