Abstract: This invention relates to novel plant thymidine kinases and their use in gene therapy. More specifically the invention provides novel thymidine kinases derived from tomato. In further aspects the invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding the tomato thymidine kinase of mutant thereof, vector constructs comprising the polynucleotide, host cells carrying the polynucleotide or vector, methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, methods of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals, methods for biocontrol of plants, methods of synthesizing monophosphates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the plant thymidine kinases of the invention. In a preferred embodiment the invention provides a unique combination of a plant thymidine kinase and the nucleoside analog nucleoside analog AZT (3?-azido-3?-deoxythymidine) to treat abnormal cell growth.

Abstract: This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising plant deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes (dNK) capable of phosphorylating nucleoside analogs and to medical use of said dNKs. More specifically the invention relates to the medical use of deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes derived from (Arabidopsis thaliana), from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), from maize (Zea mays) or from rice (Oryza sativa). The invention also relates to methods of sensitizing cells to prodrugs, and to methods of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals using said plant dNKs. In another aspect the invention relates to plant derived deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes provided in isolated form from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), from maize (Zea mays) or from rice (Oryza sativa).

Abstract: A recombinant Drosophila melanogaster deoxynucleoside kinase that remains stable during the synthesis of nucleoside monophosphate without the addition of stabilizing SH reagents or stabilizing proteins, and that accepts all four natural deoxynucleotides is provided. In addition, the invention concerns DNA sequences, vectors, transformed cells, a method for production of the recombinant kinase as well as its use for preparing nucleoside monophosphates.

Abstract: Recombinant kinase remaining stable during the synthesis of necleoside monophosphate without the addition of stabilizing SH reagents, without stabilizing proteins and accepting all four natural deoxynucleotides, obtainable from insect cells such as e.g. Drosophila Melanogaster. In addition, the invention concerns DNA sequences, vectors, transformed cells, a method for production of the recombinant kinase as well as its use for preparing nucleoside monophosphates.

Abstract: This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising plant deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes (dNK) capable of phosphorylating nucleoside analogs and to medical use of said dNKs. More specifically the invention relates to the medical use of deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes derived from (Arabidopsis thaliana), from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), from maize (Zea mays) or from rice (Oryza sativa). The invention also relates to methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, and to methods of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals using said plant dNKs. In another aspect the invention relates to plant derived deoxyribonucleoside kinase enzymes provided in isolated form from loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), from tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum), from maize (Zea mays) or from rice (Oryza sativa).

Abstract: This invention relates to novel plant thymidine kinases and their use in gene therapy. More specifically the invention provides novel thymidine kinases derived from tomato, pine, rice or thale cress. In further aspects the invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding the plant thymidine kinases, vector constructs comprising the polynucleotide, host cells carrying the polynucleotide or vector, methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, methods of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals, methods for biocontrol of plants, methods of synthesizing monophosphates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the plant thymidine kinases of the invention. In a preferred embodiment the invention provides a unique combination of a plant thymidine kinase and the nucleoside analog AZT to treat abnormal cell growth.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel multi-substrate deoxyribonucleoside kinase variants. More specifically the invention provides novel deoxyribonucleoside kinase variants derived from insects or lower vertebrates, in particular from Drosophila melanogaster, from Bombyx mori, or from Xenopus laevis, novel polynucleotides encoding multi-substrate nucleoside kinase variants, vector constructs comprising the polynucleotide, host cells carrying the polynucleotide or vector, methods of sensitising cells to prodrugs, method of inhibiting pathogenic agents in warm-blooded animals, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising deoxyribonucleoside kinase variants of the invention.

Abstract: Recombinant kinase remaining stable during the synthesis of nucleoside monophosphate without the addition of stabilizing SH reagents, without stabilizing proteins and accepting all four natural deoxynucleotides, obtainable from insect cells such as e.g. Drosophila Melanogaster. In addition, the invention concerns DNA sequences, vectors, transformed cells, a method for production of the recombinant kinase as well as its use for preparing nucleoside monophosphates.

Abstract: The invention describes industrial fermentation of a Saccharomyces yeast species for production of a heterologous product encoded by a plasmid or DNA contained in said Saccharomyces yeast species which method utilizes the substrate more efficiently and without fermentative metabolism resulting in formation of ethanol and other unwanted primary products of fermentative activity whereby high yields of the heterologous product are obtained. The Saccharomyces yeast species is preferably a Crabtree negative Saccharomyces species in particular Saccharomyces kluyveri.