Abstract: The instant disclosure is generally related to compositions and methods for obtaining and constructing Bacillus licheniformis host cells (e.g., protein production host cells, cell factories) having increased protein production capabilities. Certain embodiments of the disclosure are directed to efficient genetic modifications of B. licheniformis cells and the subsequent selection of such B. licheniformis cells having increased protein production capabilities. Certain other embodiments of the disclosure are generally related to methods and compositions for producing/obtaining auxotrophic B. licheniformis cells, wherein certain other embodiments of the disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for restoring prototrophy in auxotrophic B. licheniformis cells, and expressing genes of interest (GOIs) in such restored prototrophy B. licheniformis cells.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, containing a crRNA and an endonuclease as active ingredients is disclosed. The composition can be customized according to the needs of patients or cell types by specifically treating cancer cells on the basis of specific binding properties of DNA and RNA. The nuclease activity of a CRISPR PLUS system, containing both an endonuclease and an exonuclease can be activated by means of the binding between crRNA and a gene specifically found in cancer cells. Therefore, the cancer treatment effect of the composition is more specific than that of other anti-cancer agents that have been developed up till now.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to downregulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach.

Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.

Abstract: Described herein are recombinant microbial host cells comprising biosynthetic pathways and their use in producing oxidation products and downstream products, e.g., melatonin and related compounds, as well as enzyme variants, nucleic acids, vectors and methods useful for preparing and using such cells. In specific aspects, the present invention relates to monooxygenases, e.g., amino acid hydroxylases, with a modified cofactor-dependency, and to enzyme variants and microbial cells providing for an improved supply of cofactors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism which exhibits i) a conversion activity from D-ribulose-5-phosphate into D-arabinose-5-phosphate, increased in comparison with the same, non-modified microorganism; ii) a cleavage catalysis activity from D-arabinose-5-phosphate into D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and glycolaldehyde, increased in comparison with the same, non-modified microorganism; iii) an oxidation activity from glycolaldehyde into glycolate, increased in comparison with the same, non-modified microorganism; and iv) an oxidation activity from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate into 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, decreased in comparison with the same, non-modified microorganism. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing glycolic acid from pentoses and/or hexoses, using such a recombinant microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing the phospholipid content in an oil or fat composition and polypeptides having PI-specific phospholipase C activity as well as polypeptides having PC, PE-specific phospholipase C activity and combinations thereof capable of catalyzing this reduction. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a genetically modified bacterial cell capable of improved iron-sulfur cluster delivery, characterized by a modified gene encoding a mutant Iron Sulfur Cluster Regulator (IscR) as well as one or more transgenes encoding polypeptides that enhance the biosynthesis of either biotin, lipoic acid or thiamine. The invention provides a method for producing either biotin, lipoic acid or thiamine using the genetically modified bacterium of the invention; as well as for the use of the genetically modified bacterial cell for either biotin, lipoic acid or thiamine production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel esterases, more particularly to esterase variants having improved activity and/or improved thermostability compared to the esterase of SEQ ID NO:1 and the uses thereof for degrading polyester containing material, such as plastic products. The esterases of the invention are particularly suited to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, and material containing polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a microorganism that makes it possible to produce muconic acid from a lignin-derived aromatic compound with sufficient economic efficiency and without depending on the type of lignin, and a method of producing muconic acid using the microorganism. The objective can be achieved by a transformed microorganism wherein the host microorganism is a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas that has pcaH gene, pcaG gene, catA gene, and catB gene on its chromosome, and that can assimilate an aromatic compound derived from syringyl lignin; and wherein the transformed microorganism lacks at least one gene selected from the group consisting of pcaH gene and pcaG gene on its chromosome, lacks catB gene on its chromosome, and expresses aroY gene inserted; and a method of producing muconic acid using the transformed microorganism and the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to identify peptides and small molecule moieties that are able to modulate protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Some moieties can disrupt specific PPIs within a complex, or disrupt variant-specific PPIs. Some moieties can alternatively bridge between two proteins in a protein-specific or a variant-specific manner. The methods described enable generation of compounds able to modulate PPI networks within cells with implications for drug development for pathological conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant polypeptide therapeutics having an engineered O-linked amino acid (AA) glycosylation sequence (motif), which is covalently linked to O-glycan(s) (tag). Recombinant O-glycosylated polypeptides may be produced in mammalian cells to present natural or un-natural O-glycan structures through metabolic labelling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a beer tittering agent via enzyme catalyzed bioconversion of hop-derived isoalpha acids to dihydro-(rho)-isoalpha acids and to the novel enzyme catalysts which may be employed in such a process.

Abstract: A co-therapeutic regimen comprising AAV9-mediated intrathecal/intracisternal and/or systemic delivery of an expression cassette containing a hIDS gene and two or more immunosuppressants is provided herein. Also provided are methods and kits containing these vectors and compositions useful for treating Hunter syndrome and the symptoms associated with Hunter syndrome.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

Abstract: Modified DNase I protein in which one or more amino acids of a DNase I protein are modified non-cellularly, are provided. The modified DNase I protein exhibits a DNA hydrolytic activity in the presence of actin and an improved DNA hydrolytic activity compared to a homologous non-modified DNase I protein. Processes of preparing the modified DNase I protein and uses thereof in, for example, reducing a DNA content in sputum and/or in treating a disease or condition associated with excess extracellular DNA in a fluid, secretion or tissue of a subject, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides, glycosylated ent-kaurenol, and glycosylated ent-kaurenoic acid.

Abstract: Reactions are disclosed herein comprising water, alpha-glucose-1-phosphate (alpha-G1P), an acceptor molecule, and an alpha-1,4-glucan phosphorylase. Novel alpha-1,4-glucan phosphorylase enzymes are also disclosed. Additional disclosures herein regard sucrose phosphorylase enzymes and methods of use thereof to produce alpha-G1P.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically engineered yeasts having a heterologous trehalase gene and fermentation processes for using such yeasts. The yeasts can express trehalase in a quantity sufficient to convert significant amounts of trehalose to glucose, thereby improving the yield of the product in a fermentation, and/or reducing or eliminating the need to add exogenous trehalase to the fermentation. The yeasts can also include other heterologous genes for expressing enzymes useful for improving yield and/or for reducing or eliminating the need to add exogenous enzymes to the fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides engineered phosphopentomutase (PPM) enzymes, polypeptides having PPM activity, and polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Methods for producing PPM enzymes are also provided. The present invention further provides compositions comprising the PPM enzymes and methods of using the engineered PPM enzymes. The present invention finds particular use in the production of pharmaceutical compounds.