Abstract: The present invention provides engineered enzymes generated from protein scaffolds combined with Specificity Determining Regions, the production thereof and the use of said engineered enzymes for research, nutritional care, personal care and industrial purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides method for the treatment of a disease by applying a medicament comprising a protease with a defined specificity is capable to hydrolyze specific peptide bonds within a target substrate related to such disease. The proteases with such a defined specificity can further be used for related therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A method for the production of biopolymers with modified properties wherein at least one cycle comprising the following steps is completed: (a) providing a population of single-stranded polynucleotide molecules, wherein individual polynucleotide molecules comprise homologous and heterologous sequence segments and wherein individual ones of said single-stranded polynucleotide molecules can form double-stranded polynucleotide molecules with other ones of said single-stranded polynucleotide molecules within said population; (b) forming double-stranded polynucleotide molecules from the population of single-stranded polynucleotide molecules provided according to step (a) comprising double-stranded polynucleotide molecules with different heterologous sequence segments; (c) partially and exonucleolytically degrading the single-strands of the double-stranded polynucleotide molecules produced according to step (b); and (d) temple-directed single-stand synthesizing the degraded ends of the partially degraded double

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the selective combinatorial randomization (SCR) of polynucleotides at specific sites which comprises providing a double stranded polynucleotide sequence having at least one differing site and selectively randomizing the polynucleotide at or in the proximity to the differing sites without the need for a determination of the sequence position of the differing site.

Abstract: A method for analyzing properties of a sample by measuring fluorescence parameters in multiple foci, comprises the steps of splitting a collimated primary laser beam with a splitting device into at least two collimated secondary laser beams and deflecting the secondary laser beams such that they propagate at different propagation angles with respect to an optical axis of a focussing optic, focussing the secondary laser beams with the focussing optic into at least two volume elements in the sample, detecting light emitted from the volume elements with a detecting device, and evaluating the detected light for obtaining the properties to be analyzed. Furthermore, a device for implementing this method is described. The invention is particularly suited for high-throughput screening applications.

Abstract: A process for generating sequence-specific proteases by screening-based directed evolution is disclosed. The use of the process provides proteases recognizing and cleaving user-definable amino-acid sequences with high sequence-specificity. Proteases obtainable by the process can be used in a variety of medical, diagnostic and industrial applications.

Abstract: Described is a solid phase substrate (F, M) for adhesive coupling with at least one reaction substrate which includes at least one connecting layer (2) which is fixed to a solid phase layer (1), accounts for at least one functional area (3) of the solid phase layer (1) and consists of a material that forms an adhesive connection with surfaces of polymeric, plastic, glass or semi-conducting materials or metal. Also described is a functional reaction substrate with such a solid phase substrate and methods for sample processing.

Abstract: A method of fluorescence measurement on analytes, marked with different fluorescent markers, which have spectrally different fluorescence emissions, in a sample is described, having the following steps: illumination of the sample in the measurement volume using a laser to excite the fluorescence emission of the at least two fluorescent markers, the illumination of the measurement volume being performed with a maximum of one single laser line, having an excitation intensity sufficiently high that the fluorescent markers are jointly excited through 2-photon absorptions, detection of the fluorescence emission using at least two detector devices which are designed for light detection in different spectral ranges in accordance with the spectral fluorescence properties of the fluorescent markers, and performance of a cross-correlation and/or coincidence analysis of detector signals of the detector devices. A measurement device for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns an autofluorescent fusion protein suitable for use as a protease substrate, a nucleic acid sequence which encodes this fusion protein, and a method of using the fusion protein and/or the nucleic acid sequence in a dual color, confocal fluorometric assay for the detection and quantification of proteolytic activity or proteolytic inhibitory activity in samples or cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides subtilisin variants with improved characteristics, including improved substrate affinity, catalytic activity, catalytic efficiency and stability under washing conditions as well as overall wash performance. The subtilisin variants are therefore useful additives in cleaning compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting reactions and conformational changes of analytes in a sample by coincidence analysis, as follows: the sample is marked with at least two different fluorescent dyes and then illuminated with at least one laser in order to stimulate the emission of fluorescence; the fluorescence signals are detected by at least two detection units and each signal is broken down into any simultaneous time segments with the desired time slot widths; the number of signals contained in at least one time segment and/or the time intervals between signals in the time segments are detected; a coincidence analysis of the data detected is carried out for at least one time segment of the first detection unit with at least one isochronous time segment of the second detection unit; statistics are produced showing the results of the coincidence analysis and/or the results are subjected to a threshold value analysis, and these statistics or a combination of more statistics are evaluated for the

Abstract: A process is described for the purification of recombinant interleukin-8, which allows the production of interleukin-8 under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions.