Abstract: The invention provides methods related to evaluating the methylation status of a polynucleotide that includes an internal control.

Abstract: Provided are methods, reagents, and kits for evaluating cancer, such as prostate cancer, in a subject. Disclosed methods of evaluating cancer include methods of diagnosing cancer, methods of prognosticating cancer and methods of assessing the efficacy of cancer treatment. The methods include assaying a biological sample for methylation of a CpG island associated with specified genes. Provided reagents and kits include primers suitable for amplifying at least a portion of a target CpG islands associated with specified genes.

Abstract: The invention provides methods related to evaluating the methylation status of a polynucleotide that includes an internal control.

Abstract: A method of increasing production of a methylmalonyl-CoA derivative in a bacterium is disclosed that includes providing a bacterium that produces a methylmalonyl-CoA derivative in which methylmalonyl-CoA mutase function has been inhibited and culturing the bacterium in a medium containing an effective amount of methylmalonyl-CoA or a precursor thereof to increase the production of the methylmalonyl-CoA derivative by the bacterium. The production of the methylmalonyl-CoA derivative is increased when compared to production of the methylmalonyl-CoA derivative by the bacterium when cultured in a medium without the effective amount of methylmalonyl-CoA or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides methods related to evaluating the methylation status of a polynucleotide that includes an internal control.

Abstract: A process of increasing the cellular production of biologically active compounds is provided. The process is particularly useful for increasing antibiotic production by bacterial cells. The process includes the step of inhibiting the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Abstract: A process of increasing the cellular production of biologically active compounds is provided. The process is particularly useful for increasing antibiotic production by bacterial cells. The process includes the step of inhibiting the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of separating non-ribosomal transcribed RNA (nrRNA) fragments from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and rRNA fragments. The method comprises (i) providing a sample comprising rRNA, rRNA fragments, and nrRNA fragments, and (ii) providing a plurality of probes. The probes hybridize to RNA targeting sequences of at least 50% of the contiguous regions of the rRNA and to rRNA fragments comprising the rRNA targeting sequences. The method further comprises (iii) adding the plurality of probes to the sample, (iv) hybridizing the probes to the rRNA and rRNA fragments to form rRNA-probe complexes and rRNA fragment-probe complexes, and (v) separating the rRNA-probe complexes and rRNA fragment-probe complexes. The invention also provides a method of amplifying an nrRNA fragment, a method of analyzing nrRNA expression, a method of determining the level of nrRNA in a sample, and a kit and system useful in any of the foregoing methods.

Abstract: A method for copying the methylation patterns of molecules of genomic DNA (MGD) during isothermal amplification of the MGD comprising obtaining MGD, copying the methylation patterns of the MGD using a DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme, while isothermally amplifying the MGD using a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity, under conditions that simultaneously promote activity of the DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme and the DNA polymerase; a method for copying the methylation patterns in double-stranded DNA molecules during isothermal amplification of the DNA molecules comprising obtaining DNA molecules, contacting the DNA molecules with transposable elements and an enzyme, which can randomly insert the transposable elements into the DNA molecules, copying the methylation patterns of the DNA molecules using a DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme, while isothermally amplifying the DNA molecules using a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity, under conditions that simultaneously promote activit

Abstract: Consumable biotech strain improvement products are presented, as well as methods of preparation and using them. The technology is based on reversible, single-crossover insertion vectors, such as plasmids or phage. Because the single crossover event is reversible in the absence of drug selection, the products cannot be maintained in a useful form without knowledge of the drug selection agent. Consumable strain improvement products can be constructed with 1st generation reverse engineering protections, having at least 25%-75% of the effectiveness of the equivalent traditional (permanent) strain improvement product under laboratory condition.

Abstract: A process of increasing the cellular production of secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics, is provided. The process is particularly useful for increasing antibiotic production by bacterial cells, especially erythromycin. The process includes the step of increasing the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Abstract: A method for copying the methylation patterns of molecules of genomic DNA (MGD) during isothermal amplification of the MGD comprising obtaining MGD, copying the methylation patterns of the MGD using a DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme, while isothermally amplifying the MGD using a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity, under conditions that simultaneously promote activity of the DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme and the DNA polymerase; a method for copying the methylation patterns in double-stranded DNA molecules during isothermal amplification of the DNA molecules comprising obtaining DNA molecules, contacting the DNA molecules with transposable elements and an enzyme, which can randomly insert the transposable elements into the DNA molecules, copying the methylation patterns of the DNA molecules using a DNA methylation-maintenance enzyme, while isothermally amplifying the DNA molecules using a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity, under conditions that simultaneously promote activit

Abstract: A process of increasing the cellular production of biologically active compounds is provided. The process is particularly useful for increasing antibiotic production by bacterial cells. The process includes the step of inhibiting the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are DNA expression constructs containing an &agr;-amylase promoter sequence derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus, an &agr;-amylase leader sequence derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus, and a DNA sequence encoding a pullulanase derived from Bacillus naganoensis. Microbial hosts transformed to contain the expression constructs secret function pullulanases. Also disclosed is a process for making recombinant pullulanases utilizing the expression constructs and a recombinant pullulanase which can be produced in Bacillus subtilis.