Abstract: A method for the determination of the responsiveness of an individual to mistletoe lectin or to (an) mistletoe lectin single chain(s), wherein the expression of a membrane-bound receptor for mistletoe lectin is characteristic of a corresponding responsiveness.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of microorganisms that produce 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) from glycerol, whereas glycerol is simultaneously the substrate carbon source for 1,2-PD- and biomass production. The invention demonstrates that any type of glycerol serves as carbon substrate for 1,2-PD biosynthesis. The microorganism is a recombinant organism, preferentially an E. coli K12 strain or a derivative thereof, particularly a strain, which is inactivated in competing pathways that lower 1,2-PD production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for the cleaning of the skin, said composition comprising or consisting of one or more compounds of formula (I) wherein represents a single bond or double bond; R1 and R2 are independently selected from H, linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl, linear or branched C1 to C4 alkenyl, linear or branched C1 to C4 alkinyl, and linear or branched C1 to C4 alkanoyl; R4 is selected from H, linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl, linear or branched C1 to C4 alkenyl, and linear or branched C1 to C4 alkinyl; and R3 and R5 are independently selected from H, OH and halogen, or R3 and R5 together are O to form an epoxid, wherein represents a single bond in case R3 and R5 together are O. Also provided are means and methods for the prevention or reduction of biofilm formation on an intracorporeal device and/or for the removal of biofilm from an intracorporeal device, wherein said biofilm comprises or consists of bacteria of the genus Propionibacterium.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the preparation of novel nitrile hydratases. These latter are preferably obtained from nonculturable organisms by means of a PCR-based screening, in metagenome DNA libraries, using special degenerate primers.

Abstract: By treatment with hydrophobins, cellulosic materials such as paper, cardboard, cotton or, especially, wood-based materials, such as solid wood, glued wood products or particle board, can be effectively protected against absorption of and attack by water and/or moisture.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which encode fusion proteins which contain as components at least one effector module, a processing module and a targeting module. The nucleic acid molecules according to the invention preferably also encode a modulator module and/or an affinity module. The invention furthermore relates to vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules, hosts transformed with the vectors according to the invention, fusion proteins encoded by nucleic acids according to the invention or produced by the hosts according to the invention as well as to medicaments containing the polypeptides or vectors according to the invention. The invention thus also concerns corresponding processes, uses and kits.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides which have the biological activity of an NAD- or NADP-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides, to non-human hosts or host cells and to reaction systems which may be used for preparing desired products. The polypeptides of the invention are preferably used in the preparation, starting from aldehydes or ketones, of primary and enantiomerically pure secondary alcohol's which may serve as intermediates for medicaments. Alternatively, the polypeptides of the invention may also be employed in the reverse reaction, i.e. the oxidation of alcohol's with the formation of aldehydes or ketones.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the preparation of novel nitrile hydratases. These latter are preferably obtained from nonculturable organisms by means of a PCR-based screening, in metagenome DNA libraries, using special degenerate primers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel system for expressing nitrile hydratase. In this system, the nitrile hydratases, which are composed of subunits, are formed such that the respective subunits are located on different plasmids and are expressed simultaneously in E. coli.

Abstract: The present invention describes new microorganisms specifically for use as expression systems for rhamnose-in-ducible promoters. Due to the combination of rhamnose and recombination deficiency artificially created in these organisms, ex-pression systems which require less of the expensive rhamnose for induction and therefore can be induced more inexpensively, and have a higher genetic stability are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the isolation and/or purification of nucleic acid molecules suitable to bind and/or inactivate inhibitors of the activity of reagents or enzymes used for DNA manipulation and to separate a plurality of nucleic acid molecules with respect to their size. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the isolation of a nucleic acid molecule comprising applying a sample to the device of the invention wherein said nucleic acid molecule preferably represents a fraction of the metagenome of a given habitat. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the generation of at least one gene library comprising nucleic acid molecules isolated by the method of the invention and to a nucleic acid molecule isolated by the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method for the determination of the responsiveness of an individual to mistletoe lectin or to (an) mistletoe lectin single chain(s), wherein the expression of a membrane-bound receptor for mistletoe lectin is characteristic of a corresponding responsiveness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new glycosyl hydrolases with an amyloltic activity and nucleic acids coding for said gylcosyl hydrolases, A PCR-based method for identifying and preparing new gylcosyl hydrolases from metagenome DNA and several possible technical uses for such glycosyl hydrolases with an amylolytic activity. Washing and cleaning products containing such enzymes, and methods and possible uses corresponding thereto are particularly interesting.

Abstract: Described herein are a novel group of &agr;-amylases belonging to a common sequence region as well as proteins with amylolytic function which are sufficiently similar to these &agr;-amylases. Also described are methods for production of such enzymes, as well as various possible uses for such amylolytic proteins, in particular in detergents and cleaning agents. Also described herein is a PCR-based method for identifying and producing novel &agr;-amylases from isolated nucleic acids, in particular from DNA isolated from collections of microorganisms, as well as particular primer oligonucleotides which may be used in the described method.

Abstract: The invention relates to biocatalysts showing alcohol dehydrogenase activity obtainable from Rhodococcus ruber, their preparation, their use in the oxidation of secondary alcohols and/or the reduction of ketones, as well as nucleic acids coding for these alcohol dehydrogenases and microorganisms transformed with nucleic acids coding for these biocatalysts and their use for producing the biocatalyst or oxidizing secondary alcohols and/or reducing ketones.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which encode fusion proteins which contain as components at least one effector module, a processing module and a targeting module. The nucleic acid molecules according to the invention preferably also encode a modulator module and/or an affinity module. The invention furthermore relates to vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules, hosts transformed with the vectors according to the invention, fusion proteins encoded by nucleic acids according to the invention or produced by the hosts according to the invention as well as to medicaments containing the polypeptides or vectors according to the invention. These medicaments are particularly significant for the therapy of diseases associated with a pathological reproduction and/or increased activity of cell populations.