Abstract: Host cells, such as E. coli, are provided with an expression system for making starter units required for biosynthesis of polyketides using the ato pathway.

Abstract: Recombinant host cells that comprise recombinant DNA expression vectors that drive expression of a product and a precursor for biosynthesis of that product can be used to produce useful products such as polyketides in host cells that do not naturally produce the product or produce the product or precursor at low levels due to the absence of the precursor or the presence of the precursor in rate limiting amounts.

Abstract: A multiple-plasmid system for heterologous expression of polyketides facilitates combinatorial biosynthesis. The method can be extended to any modular polyketide synthase (PKS) or non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) and has the potential to produce thousands of novel natural products, including ones derived from further modification of the PKS or NRPS products by tailoring enzymes.

Abstract: Regions of sequence identity are recurrent in some modular polyketide synthase (PKS) gene clusters. Such sequences are potentially detrimental to the stability of PKS gene clusters and expression plasmids for the genes in the gene cluster. PKS gene and gene cluster stability can be improved, and reproducible polyketide titers can be obtained using those genes and gene clusters when the regions of sequence identity are reduced or eliminated by replacing one or more identical or homologous segments with non-homologous segments that encode the same or a substantially similar amino acid sequence.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo ACP synthase.

Abstract: A multiple-plasmid system for heterologous expression of polyketides facilitates combinatorial biosynthesis. The method can be extended to any modular polyketide synthase (PKS) or non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) and has the potential to produce thousands of novel natural products, including ones derived from further modification of the PKS or NRPS products by tailoring enzymes.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases (PKSs) and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase.

Abstract: Peptoids are provided which are polymers comprised of monomer units wherein the monomer units include at least some substitute amino acids and may include conventional amino acids. The peptoids can be synthesized in large numbers so as to provide libraries of peptoids which can be screened in order to isolate peptoids of desired biological activity. Although the peptoids may include amino acids, they preferably include only substituted amino acids and are designed in a manner so as to have a particular biological activity. Certain peptoids are designed to mimic as closely as possible the activity of known proteins. Other peptoids are designed so as to have greater or lesser activity than known proteins and may be designed so as to block known receptor sites and/or elicit a desired immunogenic response and thereby act as vaccines. In that the peptoids are comprised of substitute amino acids they can be designed to have structures which natural proteins cannot conform to.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo ACP synthase.

Abstract: Peptoids are provided which are polymers comprised of monomer units wherein the monomer units include least some substitute amino acids and may include conventional amino acids. The peptoids can be synthesized in large numbers so as to provide libraries of peptoids which can be screened in order to isolate peptoids of desired biological activity. Although the peptoids may include amino acids, they preferably include only substituted amino acids and are designed in a manner so as to have a particular biological activity. Certain peptoids are designed to mimic as closely as possible the activity of known proteins. Other peptoids are designed so as to have greater or lesser activity than known proteins and may be designed so as to block known receptor sites and/or elicit a desired immunogenic response and thereby act as vaccines. In that the peptoids are comprised of substitute amino acids they can be designed to have structures which natural proteins cannot conform to.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synthesizing biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides. The apparatus includes plural reaction vessels in which subunit coupling to biopolymers in a particle suspension is carried out. The vessels are connected to common valving structure for use in mixing the suspension and removing suspension liquid. In one embodiment, a robotic arm in the apparatus is operable to transfer reaction solution to the reaction vessels, and to transfer particle suspensions from the reaction vessels to a mixing vessel and back to the reaction vessels. The method can be used to produce preferably equi-molar amounts of different-sequence biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Abstract: Mixtures of peptoids are provided. The subject peptoid mixtures comprise at least five non-homopolymeric polymers of differing sequences having a selected number of monomer units. The polymers of the subject mixtures are preferably selected from the group of compounds of the general formula: X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 --CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(O--CHR--CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NH--CHR--CS).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NOH--CHR--CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(O--CHR--CH.sub.2 --CO).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NH--CHR--CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.2).sub.n --Xb, Xa--(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.2).sub.n --X.sub.b, X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --NHCO).sub.n --X.sub.b and X.sub.a --(NR--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --OCO).sub.n X.sub.b, where each R is independently a side chain capable of interaction with a protein, carbohydrate, lipid or nucleic acid; n is an integer from 2 to 50, inclusive; and X.sub.a and X.sub.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual peptides or families thereof which have a target property and optionally to determine the amino acid sequence of a selected peptide or peptides to permit synthesis in practical quantities is disclosed. In general outline, the method of the invention comprises synthesizing a mixture of randomly or deliberately generated peptides using standard synthesis techniques, but adjusting the individual concentrations of the components of a mixture of sequentially added amino acids according to the coupling constants for each amino acid/amino acid coupling. The subgroup of peptides having the target property can then be selected, and either each peptide isolated and sequenced, or analysis performed on the mixture to permit its composition to be reproduced. Also included in the invention is an efficient method to determine the relevant coupling constants.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synthesizing biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides. The apparatus includes plural reaction vessels in which subunit coupling to biopolymers in a particle suspension is carried out. The vessels are connected to common valving structure for use in mixing the suspension and removing suspension liquid. In one embodiment, a robotic arm in the apparatus is operable to transfer reaction solution to the reaction vessels, and to transfer particle suspensions from the reaction vessels to a mixing vessel and back to the reaction vessels. The method can be used to produce preferably equi-molar amounts of different-sequence biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Abstract: Antibodies are recovered and isolated from the sera of a number "n" of patients each of which have or have had the same given disease so that each of the "n" patients has, within a large number of different antibodies, some antibodies uniquely associated with the same disease of interest. The antibodies of a first patient are bound to a support surface. To carry out initial screening libraries of molecules are brought into contact with the bound antibodies of the first patient under conditions where binding will occur. Secondary screening is then carried out by extracting and labeling the antibodies of a second patient and using the labeled antibodies to probe the molecules (peptides) isolated in the initial screening. Many of the non-disease specific antibodies (of the second patient) will not bind to the molecules (peptides) of the isolated bacteriophage which bound to the antibodies of the first patient.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual peptides or families thereof which have a target property and optionally to determine the amino acid sequence of a selected peptide or peptides to permit synthesis in practical quantities is disclosed. In general outline, the method of the invention comprises synthesizing a mixture of randomly or deliberately generated peptides using standard synthesis techniques, but adjusting the individual concentrations of the components of a mixture of sequentially added amino acids according to the coupling constants for each amino acid/amino acid coupling. The subgroup of peptides having the target property can then be selected, and either each peptide isolated and sequenced, or analysis performed on the mixture to permit its composition to be reproduced. Also included in the invention is an efficient method to determine the relevant coupling constants.

Abstract: Antibodies are recovered and isolated from the sera of a number "n" of patients each of which have or have had the same given disease so that each of the "n" patients has, within a large number of different antibodies, some antibodies uniquely associated with the same disease of interest. The antibodies of a first patient are bound to a support surface. To carry out initial screening libraries of molecules are brought into contact with the bound antibodies of the first patient under conditions where binding will occur. Secondary screening is then carried out by extracting and labeling the antibodies of a second patient and using the labeled antibodies to probe the molecules (peptides) isolated in the initial screening. Many of the non-disease specific antibodies (of the second patient) will not bind to the molecules (peptides) of the isolated bacteriophage which bound to the antibodies of the first patient.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual peptides or families thereof which have a target property and optionally to determine the amino acid sequence of a selected peptide or peptides to permit synthesis in practical quantities is disclosed. In general outline, the method of the invention comprises synthesizing a mixture of randomly or deliberately generated peptides using standard synthesis techniques, but adjusting the individual concentrations of the components of a mixture of sequentially added amino acids according to the coupling constants for each amino acid/amino acid coupling. The subgroup of peptides having the target property can then be selected, and either each peptide isolated and sequenced, or analysis performed on the mixture to permit its composition to be reproduced. Also included in the invention is an efficient method to determine the relevant coupling constants.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual peptides or families thereof which have a target property and optionally to determine the amino acid sequence of a selected peptide or peptides to permit synthesis in practical quantities is disclosed. In general outline, the method of the invention comprises synthesizing a mixture of randomly or deliberately generated peptides using standard synthesis techniques, but adjusting the individual concentrations of the components of a mixture of sequentially added amino acids according to the coupling constants for each amino acid/amino acid coupling. The subgroup of peptides having the target property can then be selected, and either each peptide isolated and sequenced, or analysis performed on the mixture to permit its composition to be reproduced. Also included in the invention is an efficient method to determine the relevant coupling constants.

Abstract: A method to obtain selected individual peptides or families thereof which have a target property and optionally to determine the amino acid sequence of a selected peptide or peptides to permit synthesis in practical quantities is disclosed. In general outline, the method of the invention comprises synthesizing a mixture of randomly or deliberately generated peptides using standard synthesis techniques, but adjusting the individual concentrations of the components of a mixture of sequentially added amino acids according to the coupling constants for each amino acid/amino acid coupling. The subgroup of peptides having the target property can then be selected, and either each peptide isolated and sequenced, or analysis performed on the mixture to permit its composition to be reproduced. Also included in the invention is an efficient method to determine the relevant coupling constants.