Abstract: A recombinant microbial host cell is provided capable of producing astaxanthin from ?-carotene without a measurable concomitant accumulation of ketolated or hydroxylated intermediates such as adonixanthin, zeaxanthin, adonirubin, echinenone, 3-hydroxyechinenone, 3?-hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, and ?-cryptoxanthin. Specifically, a ?-carotene producing microbial host cell was engineered to express two heterologous genes, a ?-carotene ketolase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in combination with a carotenoid hydroxylase from Brevundimonas vesicularis or Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abstract: Novel bacterial genes, microorganisms and processes for improving the manufacture of 5R clavams, eg. clavulanic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions, including pharmaceuticals, comprising glycosylated kinamycins. The compositions and methods of the invention can be used to treat infections, i.e., as antibiotics, and as anti-tumor agents. The compositions of the invention can also act as act as electrophilic azo-coupling agents in vitro or in vivo. The invention also provides enzymes capable of generating kinamycin, nucleic acids that encode them, antibodies that bind to them, and methods for making and using them.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chloramphenicol gene cluster and methods of use thereof. Such gene clusters are useful for production of chloramphenicol.