Abstract: Methods for the fermentive production of four carbon alcohols are provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably 2-butanol is produced by the fermentive growth of a recombinant bacteria expressing a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms and methods of the invention can also be adapted to produce 2-butanone, an intermediate in the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathways disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are isolated laccase enzymes and nucleic acids encoding them. Also provided are mediators for laccase reactions. Also provided herein are methods for using laccases to oxidize lignins and other phenolic and aromatic compounds, such as for bio-bleaching and decolorization of wood pulp under high temperature and pH conditions to facilitate a substantial reduction in use of bleaching chemicals, as well as for treatment of fibers.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of determining 1,5-anhydroglucitol, including using (a) a protein which consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a protein which consists of an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution and/or addition of one or more amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and which has sorbose dehydrogenase activity; or (c) a protein which consists of an amino acid sequence having a homology of at least 60% with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and which has sorbose dehydrogenase activity.

Abstract: Methods for the evolution of NADPH specific ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes to acquire NADH specificity are provided. Specific mutant ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes isolated from Pseudomonas that have undergone co-factor switching to utilize NADH are described.

Abstract: Methods for the evolution of NADPH specific ketol-add reductoisomerase enzymes to acquire NADH specificity are provided. Specific mutant ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes isolated from Pseudomonas that have undergone co-factor switching to utilize NADH are described.

Abstract: A method of increasing cellular NADPH levels by expressing one or more genes that encode an enzyme that causes the production of NADPH. The system is combined with other enzymes that require NADPH, thus improving the overall yield of the desired product.

Abstract: The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: Methods for the evolution of NADPH binding ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes to acquire NADH binding functionality are provided. Specific mutant ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes isolated from Pseudomonas that have undergone co-factor switching to bind NADH are described.

Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing axonal degradation in neuropathic diseases in mammals are disclosed. The methods can comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing sirtuin activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. The methods can also comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing NAD activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. Also disclosed are methods of screening agents for treating a neuropathies and recombinant vectors for treating or preventing neuropathies.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of producing fatty alcohols from recombinant host cells comprising genes encoding heterologous fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) enzymes. The disclosure further relates to FAR enzymes and functional fragments thereof derived from marine bacterium and particularly marine gamma proteobacterium such as Marinobacter and Oceanobacter; polynucleotides encoding the FAR enzymes and vectors and host cells comprising the same.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods of use thereof for labeling peptide and proteins in vitro or in vivo. The methods described herein employ lipoic acid ligase or mutants thereof, and lipoic acid analogs recognized by lipoic acid ligase and lipoic acid ligase mutants.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a monovalent succinate salt includes: a) fermenting a carbohydrate source to succinic acid by means of a micro-organism, b) adding a alkaline earth metal hydroxide, carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate, the alkaline earth metal being calcium or magnesium, as neutralising agent during the fermentation in an aqueous medium and causing the formation of calcium succinate or magnesium succinate, c) reacting the alkaline earth metal succinate salt in an aqueous medium with a monovalent hydroxide, carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate base to form an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate and a monovalent succinate salt, d) separating the monovalent succinate salt from the alkaline earth metal hydroxide, carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate, and e) recycling the alkaline earth metal hydroxide, carbonate and/or hydrogencarbonate to step b.

Abstract: The invention describes novel pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of virus infections and cancer. The pharmaceutical compositions include mutant oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) that have either enhanced cell permeability, reduced oxidative potential, improved antiviral activity, improved enzymatic activity, or absent enzymatic activity. The pharmaceutical compositions have improved drug properties and retain or have enhanced antiviral activity relative to their native forms. The pharmaceutical compositions further include chemically modified oligoadenylate synthetases, such chemical modifications being designed to increase serum stability and reduce immunogenicity in vivo. Such chemical modifications further increase drug stability and manufacturability in vitro. Compositions composed of more than ninety novel modifications are described. Also described are antibodies to polypeptides of the invention.

Abstract: The bacteriolytic effect of a bacterial cell wall lytic enzyme can be increased by the addition of a surfactant to the enzyme. As a result, the time required for lysis of cariogenic bacterium with the bacterial cell wall lytic enzyme can be shortened, and the practical utility of the bacterial cell wall lytic enzyme (such as automutanolysin) as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for dental caries can be improved.

Abstract: In a step of contacting an organic material including formic acid ions and a carbon source other than the formic acid ions with a microorganism having a formate dehydrogenase gene and a hydrogenase gene under an anaerobic condition, concentration of the formic acid ions in the organic material is set to be not less than 0.01 mol/L and not more than 0.5 mol/L, and concentration of the carbon source is set to not less than 0.1 mmol/L and not more than 200 mmol/L. This allows continuously producing hydrogen for a long time, without dropping the ability of the microorganism to produce hydrogen.

Abstract: Methods for the fermentive production of four carbon alcohols are provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably 2-butanol is produced by the fermentive growth of a recombinant bacteria expressing a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms and methods of the invention can also be adapted to produce 2-butanone, an intermediate in the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathways disclosed herein. Specifically disclosed herein are the use of coenzyme B12-independent butanediol dehydratases that catalyzes the substrate to product conversion of 2,3-butanediol to 2-butanone in the process of producing 2-butanol and 2-butanone.

Abstract: Proteins including engineered sequences which inhibit proteases are disclosed, including proteins having two or more engineered Kunitz domains, and uses of such proteins.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to engineered P450 polypeptides and use of such polypeptides in chemoenzymatic methods to construct selectively protected carbohydrates, which are useful as building blocks for preparation of carbohydrate derivatives and oligosaccharides

Abstract: The technology relates in part to biological methods for producing adipic acid and engineered microorganisms capable of such production.

Abstract: The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.