Abstract: An isolated Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) variant may include an MBD core domain having at least 60% sequence homology relative to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-45 and comprising at least one amino acid substitution relative to the corresponding wildtype MBD in various positions. The isolated MBD variant or the conjugate may be used for determining the methylation state of cytosine residues and/or oxidation state of 5-methylated cytosine residues in a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement in a DNA molecule or for the enrichment of DNA molecules comprising a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement. At least one cytosine nucleobase in the CpG dinucleotide may be modified to be 5-methylcytosine (mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), 5-formylcytosine (fC), or 5-carboxylcytosine (caC).

Abstract: Methods for the differentiation of a 5-hydroxymethyl modification of a cytosine residue of interest in a nucleic acid molecule from (i) a 5-methyl modification of the cytosine residue of interest or (ii) an unmodified cytosine residue of interest, the methods making use of the capability of transcription-activator-like effector (TALE) proteins to preferentially bind with strong affinity to nucleic acid sequences containing non-modified cytosine residues or 5-methyl modified cytosine residues, and to bind, if at all, with only strongly reduced affinity to nucleic acid sequences containing 5-hydroxymethyl modified cytosine residues. The present invention further relates to respective uses of TALE proteins for the differentiation of a 5-hydroxymethyl modification of a cytosine residue of interest in a nucleic acid molecule from (i) a 5-methyl modification of the cytosine residue of interest or (ii) the unmodified cytosine residue of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the differentiation of a 5-hydroxymethyl modification of a cytosine residue of interest in a nucleic acid molecule from (i) a 5-methyl modification of said cytosine residue of interest o,r (ii) said unmodified cytosine residue of interest, said methods making use of the capability of transcription-activator-like effector (TALE) proteins to preferentially bind with strong affinity to nucleic acid sequences containing non-modified cytosine residues or 5-methyl modified cytosine residues, and to bind, if at all, with only strongly reduced affinity to nucleic acid sequences containing 5-hydroxymethyl modified cytosine residues. The present invention further relates to respective uses of TALE proteins for the differentiation of a 5-hydroxymethyl modification of a cytosine residue of interest in a nucleic acid molecule from (i) a 5-methyl modification of said cytosine residue of interest or (ii) said unmodified cytosine residue of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that can incorporate unnatural amino acid into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA polymerases with a special mutation which have an enhanced mismatch discrimination, the preparation and use thereof. The thermostable DNA polymerases with this mutation are particularly suitable for diagnostic and molecular-biological methods, e.g., allele-specific PCR.

Abstract: The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that can incorporate unnatural amino acid into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for isolation of target molecules from a nucleic acid population.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved molecular-biological processing equipment and an improved method of processing biological samples. The invention combines the provision of biologically functional molecules such as nucleic acids and peptides and of derivatives or analogs of these two classes of molecules in miniaturized flow cells with the sequential addition of reagents or fluids and serves for the processing of biological samples, such as proteins, nucleic acids, biogenic small molecules such as e.g. metabolites, viruses or cells, which for this purpose are introduced into the miniaturized flow cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction method for isolating target molecules from a sample with the help of a molecule library.

Abstract: The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that can incorporate unnatural amino acids into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.