Abstract: The present invention provides methods for protein engineering and serine protease variants produced there from. Specifically, the present invention provides serine protease variants having one or more substitutions as compared to a reference serine protease. In addition, the present invention provides compositions comprising these serine protease variants. In some embodiments, the present invention provides cleaning compositions comprising at least one of these serine protease variants.

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 invention provides methods, compositions, and devices for promoting adhesion or migration of endothelial cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a comprehensive model for expression of recombinant peptides by Pichia pastoris. The model uses an easily controllable variable called ‘critical nutrient ratio’ for obtaining a right balance between product synthesis and it's degradation during the fermentation process. The extra cellular concentration of precursor could be increased by about 10 folds and the degradation constants could be reduced by about 10-20 folds for intracellular and extracellular cases respectively by controlling critical nutrient ratio and addition of soya flour hydrolysate and EDTA.

Abstract: An intracellular selection system allows screening for peptide bioactivity and stability. Randomized recombinant peptides are screened for bioactivity in a tightly regulated expression system, preferably derived from the wild-type lac operon. Bioactive peptides thus identified are inherently protease- and peptidase-resistant. Also provided are bioactive peptides stabilized by a stabilizing group at the N-terminus, the C-terminus, or both. The stabilizing group can be a small stable protein, such as the Rop protein, glutathione sulfotransferase, thioredoxin, maltose binding protein, or glutathione reductase, an ?-helical moiety, or one or more proline residues.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes yeast Candida tropicalis (NRRL 12968) for xylitol production, as an alternative and unexplored strain with high bioconversion rate and stability at higher initial xylose concentration. Different parameters are optimized for batch fermentation of xylose to xylitol such as initial xylose concentration, aeration (vvm), agitation (rpm), percent inoculum addition, and oxygen transfer rate. Maximum xylitol yield of 0.7 g/g of xylose is obtained with 3.33% inoculum, 250 g/l of initial xylose concentration, 0.2 vvm of aeration rate, and two stage agitation strategy comprising of 500 rpm for 0-24 hrs and 400 rpm for 24-72 hrs at not more than 72 hrs of fermentation time. The present invention coins a novel process mode of fermentation where the batch process is extended with continuous fermentation at optimum dilution rate of 0.02/hr with effective residence time of 52 hrs. Productivity of ‘batch followed by continuous’ process is 2.5 gm/lit/hr which is 1.

Abstract: A modified laminin characterized in that a laminin or a heterotrimeric laminin fragment has a collagen binding molecule conjugated to at least one site selected from the ? chain N-terminus, the ? chain N-terminus and the ? chain N-terminus, and an extracellular-matrix material comprising the modified laminin, and collagen and/or gelatin serve as an alternative to Matrigel and are useful as an extracellular-matrix material for the formation of a safe three-dimensional tissue structure for regenerative medicine in humans.

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: A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence in which the number of RGD sequences contained per molecular weight of 10 kDa is not less than 0.30; the number of GFPGER sequences contained per molecular weight of 10 kDa is not less than 0.15; and the number of GVMGFP sequences contained per molecular weight of 10 kDa is less than 0.30; is provided. A scaffold composition, a composition for repairing a cartilage tissue, a composition for culturing cartilage cells, and a composition for promoting glycosaminoglycan production, which compositions contain the above polypeptide, are also provided.

Abstract: Bioreactors and methods for cultivating microalgae are provided herein. The bioreactor and methods include features and modifications to improve heterotrophic growth efficiency by providing a light signal.

Abstract: Lipids can be extracted from a microbial biomass that constitutes at least 20% lipids by weight and has a moisture content of less than 4% by weight by applying pressure to the biomass so as to release lipids therefrom, thereby leaving a biomass of reduced lipid content; and collecting the lipids.

Abstract: The invention relates to cysteine containing peptides of the structure XXCCXXXXXXXCXXXCXXXXXXQXXCXXXCXCXXXXXXXCXXXXXX, of the structure XXCCXXXXXXXCXXXCXXXXXXXXXCXXXCXCXXXXTXXCXXXXXX and of the structure XXCCXXXXXXXCXXXCXXXXXXXXXXCXXXCXCXXXXXXXXCXXXXXX, wherein X, independently of one another, represents any naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to nucleic acid sequences encoding said peptides, to vectors comprising said sequences, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions containing said peptides and their use as pharmaceutics, particularly for the treatment of cancers.

Abstract: Biologically active peptides that are derived from or are similar to sequences identical with the N-terminus of the oS1 fraction of milk casein. These peptides are capable of stimulating and enhancing immune response, protecting against viral infection, normalizing serum cholesterol levels, and stimulating hematopoiesis. The casein-derived peptides are non-toxic and can be used to treat and prevent immune pathologies, hypercholesterolemia, hematological disorders and viral-related diseases.

Abstract: Methods for producing membrane-spanning polypeptides in high yields, with native conformation, and/or in soluble form include solubilizing in non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents, as well as use of promoters and expression vectors for expressing high yields of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cells. Mutated promoters provide tight control of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cell hosts.

Abstract: Modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more molecular weight increasing compounds, for example, polyamino acids, polyethylene glycol polymers, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions comprising the modified exendin or the agonist thereof are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, and more specifically to monomeric and dimeric forms of Anthozoan fluorescent proteins. In one aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, where the variants have a reduced propensity to tetramerize, and form dimeric or monomeric structures. In a further aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, the variants being characterized by more efficient maturation than corresponding fluorescent proteins from which they are derived. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, including fluorescent protein monomers and dimers.

Abstract: This work describes a new class of short polypeptides that can self-assemble to form regular nanotubes with an average diameters of about 50 nm. These peptides (7 to 8 amino acids) have a structure very similar to those observed in surfactant molecules with a defined hydrophilic head group constituting of charged amino acids and a lipophilic tail made out of hydrophobic amino acids such as alanine, valine or leucine. Cryo-TEM micrographs show numerous three-fold junctions connecting the self-assembling nanostructures and thus leading to the formation of a rather dense network of entangled nanotubes. Additionally, the observation of clear openings at the end of the supramolecular structures confirms the presence of tubular organization.

Abstract: Biologically active peptides that are derived from or are similar to sequences identical with the N-terminus of the ?S1 fraction of milk casein. These peptides are capable of stimulating and enhancing immune response, protecting against viral infection, normalizing serum cholesterol levels, and stimulating hematopoiesis. The casein-derived peptides are non-toxic and can be used to treat and prevent immune pathologies, hypercholesterolemia, hematological disorders and viral-related diseases, alone or in combination with other peptides or blood cell stimulating factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the polypeptides known as muscle calcineurin interacting proteins (MCIPs). These molecules binding to calcineurin and, in so doing, modulate its functions, which includes phosphate removal as part of a pathway coupling Ca2+ to cellular responses in muscle. MCIPs form a physical complex with the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, and increased levels of MCIPs correspond to a reduced ability of calcineurin to stimulate transcription of certain target genes. Methods to exploit these observation are provided and include screening for modulators of MCIP expression and binding to calcineurin, methods of diagnosis of MCIP defects, and methods for treating cardiomyopathies, including cardiac hypertrophy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising IGF-I or an IGF-I variant N-terminally linked to the C-terminus of a propeptide. The invention relates also to a method involving the use of the aforementioned fusion protein in the production of a lysine-PEGylated IGF-I or IGF-I variant. The method comprises the steps of cultivating a prokaryotic host cell comprising an expression vector containing a nucleic acid encoding the fusion protein and causing the cell to express the fusion protein, recovering and PEGylating said fusion protein, cleaving said PEGylated fusion protein with IgA protease, and recovering lysine-PEGylated IGF-I or IGF-I variant. The invention relates also to a lysine-PEGylated IGF-I or IGF-I variant produced using the above method. In addition, the invention relates to a method for treating a neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease using the lysine-PEGylated IGF-I or IGF-I variant and a composition comprising the lysine-PEGylated IGF-I or IGF-I variant.