Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying polypeptides that have enzymatic activity associated with nutrient and/or energy homeostasis, and thus, are involved in the development of one or more cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, e.g., cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. One such method comprises identifying a polypeptide as a member of the adiponutrin family of proteins. As such, the invention is related to the polynucleotides and polypeptides belonging to the adiponutrin family, and provides novel isolated and purified polynucleotides and polypeptides of a novel member of the adiponutrin family, patatin-like phospholipase domain 1 (PNPLA1). Also provided are methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides related to or provided by the invention for screening a test compound, e.g., a small molecule, antibody, etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mutant Escherichia coli SS373 and the production of succinic acid by using the above strain. In detail, a novel E. coli SS373 (W3110 pta::Tn10 ldhA::Km) with the deficiency in the acetate and lactate forming pathways was constructed by genetic engineering technique. An aerobically grown SS373 was then cultured by means of the anaerobic condition shift during the succinate producing stage, which resulted in the efficient production of succinic acid with a higher yield.

Abstract: A method for separating oxidation catalysts used for producing trimellitic acid, which comprises the steps of: adding water to a reactor effluent in a volume ratio of water to the reactor effluent of 0:1 to 11:1, the reactor effluent being in a slurry state and resulting from oxidizing pseudocumene with air in an acetic acid and in the presence of cobalt, manganese and bromine catalysts; heating the mixture of water and the reactor effluent to a temperature of 25.degree. to 140.degree. C. to make the slurry be a diluted reactor effluent in a liquid phase; passing the diluted reactor effluent through ion exchange resins, to adsorb cobalt, manganese and bromine ions on the resins; regenerating the resins with an eluting solution; and isolating the oxidation catalysts from an effluent, shows recoveries of at least 99 wt % for cobalt, at least 99 wt % for manganese and at least 90 wt % for bromine.