Abstract: This invention relates to a recombinant Pichia pastoris formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide and the simultaneous reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to its reduced form (NADH). Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. Further related are isolated, recombinant P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, and antibodies that specifically bind to P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, fragments, or variants. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated P. pastoris FDH nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using P. pastoris FDH in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to an novel Gluconobacter oxydans 2-ketoreductase useful for the synthesis of chiral alcohols. Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase enzymes, and enzyme fragments and variants thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. Further related are isolated G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, and antibodies that specifically bind to G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase polypeptides, fragments, or variants. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a recombinant Pichia pastoris formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of formate to carbon dioxide and the simultaneous reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to its reduced form (NADH). Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. Further related are isolated, recombinant P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, and antibodies that specifically bind to P. pastoris FDH polypeptides, fragments, or variants. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated P. pastoris FDH nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using P. pastoris FDH in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to an novel Gluconobacter oxydans 2-ketoreductase useful for the synthesis of chiral alcohols. Also related are isolated nucleic acids encoding G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase enzymes, and enzyme fragments and variants thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising these nucleic acids. Further related are isolated G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, and antibodies that specifically bind to G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase polypeptides, fragments, or variants. The invention also relates to methods of obtaining isolated G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase nucleic acids, polypeptides, and antibodies, and methods of using G. oxydans 2-ketoreductase in various reactions for industrial or pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: An enzymatic hydroxylation process for the preparation of compounds useful as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and/or as intermediates in the preparation of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors uses a microorganism or an enzyme derived from, or having the structure of an enzyme derived from, said microorganism, which is capable of catalyzing the hydroxylation process.

Abstract: A method for the production of taxanes such as taxol. The method includes inducing formation of callus cells by contacting an explant tissue with a liquid medium without complete submergence of the tissue in the medium. The callus cells formed are employed in a liquid suspension cell culture to produce one or more taxanes.

Abstract: Enzymatic hydrolysis and esterification processes for the preparation of compounds useful as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and/or as intermediates in the preparation of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences, particularly DNA sequences, coding for all or part of a lipase of Pseudomonas fluorescens, wherein said lipase has the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the BamHI/HindIII insert of the plasmid pRJ-Ltac1 from Escherichia coli BL21/pRJ-Ltac1 deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, expression vectors containing the DNA sequences, host cells containing the expression vectors, and methods utilizing these materials. The invention also concerns polypeptide molecules comprising all or part of a lipase of Pseudomonas fluorescens, wherein said lipase has the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the plasmid pRJ-Ltac1 from Escherichia coli BL21/pRJ-Ltac1 BamHI/HindIII insert of deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, and methods for producing these polypeptides.

Abstract: A method for the induction of callus cells capable of producing taxanes from explant tissue by partially submerging the explant tissue in a liquid culture medium on a membrane raft, resulting in callus formation. The induction of callus cells by this method provides direct transfer of the cells formed to a liquid medium for a suspension cell culture preparation of taxanes. Thus, there is no need of a separate growth or proliferation step in the method of this invention. Furthermore, callus cells can be produced by the method; and also disclosed is a method for the use of the callus cells so produced in a suspension cell culture preparation for taxanes.