Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions produced from microorganisms that are capable of producing high levels of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA(n-3)), and methods for producing the compositions. The invention is further directed to microbial strains and derivatives therefrom, biomasses, and microbial oils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant E. coli strain characterized in that the organisms contains a gene coding for a protein having esterase activity. Such E. coli is suitable for the preparation of a protein with esterase activity, whereby the expression takes place without coexpression of GroEL and/or GroES from a plasmid. The expression of glutathione reductase and/or thioredoxin reductase may be abolished by mutation. Furthermore, the ability of the organism to grow under oxygen-rich conditions has been restored by mutation. The expression of the gene of the protein with esterase activity is unaccompanied by the expression of an additional gene encoding a heat shock chaperone protein.

Abstract: Escherichia. coli mutants which can be used for the synthesis of D-amino acids, and to such a process. The mutants are distinguished by deficiencies in particular enzymes which break down D-amino acids and include those which produce D-amino acids via the carbamoylase/hydantoinase route.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant E. coli strain characterized in that the organisms contains a gene coding for a protein having esterase activity. Such E. coli is suitable for the preparation of a protein with esterase activity, whereby the expression takes place without coexpression of GroEL and/or GroES from a plasmid. The expression of glutathione reductase and/or thioredoxin reductase may be abolished by mutation. Furthermore, the ability of the organism to grow under oxygen-rich conditions has been restored by mutation. The expression of the gene of the protein with esterase activity is unaccompanied by the expression of an additional gene encoding a heat shock chaperone protein.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched amine, is performed by a) cleaving a racemic mixture of a reaction product of i) a chiral amine and ii) an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; or b) reacting an amine with an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; and c) separating the enantiomerically enriched amide from the enantiomerically enriched amine, wherein the acyl donor is a sulphonylacetic acid ester. The process (1) leads to high enantioselectivities, and (2) high reactivities, (3) is based on an acyl donor accessible in a simple manner, (4) is suitable for a large number of very different substrates and/or (5) is suitable for carrying out at high substrate concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a whole cell catalytic system for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched ?-amino acid from a corresponding hydantoin wherein hydantoinase, L-carbamoylase and hydantoin racemase are coexpressed in a recombinant micro-organism wherein the genes coding for these three enzymes are located on a single replicon. The present invention further relates to the use of such a whole cell catalytic system according in the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched L-?-amino acid from a corresponding hydantoin.

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 nonhuman 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 alcohols 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 alcohols with the formation of aldehydes or ketones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active alcohols from ketones with the aid of whole-cell catalysts comprising an alcohol dehydrogenase and also an enzyme capable of cofactor regeneration, a substrate concentration of at least 500 mM of ketone being provided for the conversion and the conversion being carried out without the addition of an “external” cofactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific Escherichia. coli mutants which can be used for the synthesis of D-amino acids, and to such a process. The mutants are distinguished by deficiencies in particular enzymes which break down D-amino acids and include those which produce D-amino acids via the carbamoylase/hydantoinase route.

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: A process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched amine, is performed by a) cleaving a racemic mixture of a reaction product of i) a chiral amine and ii) an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; or b) reacting an amine with an acyl donor, in the presence of a hydrolase, to obtain a mixture of an enantiomerically enriched amide and an enantiomerically enriched amine; and c) separating the enantiomerically enriched amide from the enantiomerically enriched amine, wherein the acyl donor is a sulphonylacetic acid ester. The process (1) leads to high enantioselectivities, and (2) high reactivities, (3) is based on an acyl donor accessible in a simple manner, (4) is suitable for a large number of very different substrates and/or (5) is suitable for carrying out at high substrate concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening process for hydantoin racemases and to novel hydantoin racemases, to the nucleic acid sequences coding therefor and to a proces for mutagenesis. Hydantoin racemases are of interest in connection with the production of enantiomerically enriched amino acids from racemic hydantoins.

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 specific E. coli mutants which can be used for the synthesis of D-amino acids, and to such a process. The mutants are distinguished by deficiencies in particular enzymes which break down D-amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening process for hydantoin racemases and to novel hydantoin racemases, to the nucleic acid sequences coding therefor and to a proces for mutagenesis. Hydantoin racemases are of interest in connection with the production of enantiomerically enriched amino acids from racemic hydantoins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds of formula (I): from the corresponding hydantoins by means of an enzymatic process. The L-compound is preferably formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new D-carbamoylase and the gene sequences which code for this from the organism Arthrobacter crystallopoietes DSM 20117. Plasmids, vectors, microorganisms, particular primers and specific possible uses of the enzymes according to the invention are also mentioned. The invention moreover describes a new process for the discovery of enzymes which can be employed in a process for the preparation of D-amino acids starting from 5′-substituted hydantoins.

Abstract: The present invention provides enzymatic processes for the production of enantiomer-enriched u-substituted carboxylic acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new D-carbamoylase and the gene sequences which code for this from the organism Arthrobacter crystallopoietes DSM 20117. Plasmids, vectors, microorganisms, particular primers and specific possible uses of the enzymes according to the invention are also mentioned. The invention moreover describes a new process for the discovery of enzymes which can be employed in a process for the preparation of D-amino acids starting from 5′-substituted hydantoins.

Abstract: Rec-hydantoinases which may be obtained in more active form by a the process described herein. The invention also relates, inter alia, to a rechydantoinase from the organism Arthrobacter crystallopoietes DSM20117, to nucleic acids which code for such a protein and to vectors containing said nucleic acids and to uses thereof.