Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) polypeptides in prokaryotes to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used. Increased taurine production in prokaryotes could be used as nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic compounds or as a supplement in animal feed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes or eukaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode functional cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) or glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO), taurine-pyruvate aminotransferase (TPAT), TPAT and sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase (SA), taurine dioxygenase (TDO) or the small (ssTDeHase) and large subunits of taurine dehydrogenase (lsTDeHase) polypeptides in plants to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated structures containing degradative enzymes produced from a marine organism. The enzymes produced are based on the carbon source upon which the marine organism is growing. The enzymes are found in structures that can be isolated such that the degradative enzymes are easily harvested.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated structures containing degradative enzymes produced from a marine organism. The enzymes produced are based on the carbon source upon which the marine organism is growing. The enzymes are found in structures that can be isolated such that the degradative enzymes are easily harvested.

Abstract: The present invention describes an approach to increase taurine or hypotaurine production in prokaryotes or eukaryotes. More particularly, the invention relates to genetic transformation of organisms with genes that encode proteins that catalyze the conversion of cysteine to taurine, methionine to taurine, cysteamine to taurine, or alanine to taurine. The invention describes methods for the use of polynucleotides that encode functional cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and sulfinoalanine decarboxylase (SAD) or glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO), taurine-pyruvate aminotransferase (TPAT), TPAT and sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase (SA), taurine dioxygenase (TDO) or the small (ssTDeHase) and large subunits of taurine dehydrogenase (lsTDeHase) polypeptides in plants to increase taurine, hypotaurine or taurine precursor production. The preferred embodiment of the invention is in plants but other organisms may be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated structures containing degradative enzymes produced from a marine organism. The enzymes produced are based on the carbon source upon which the marine organism is growing. The enzymes are found in structures that can be isolated such that the degradative enzymes are easily harvested.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for slowing down the rate at which plant biomaterials, such as lignin, are degraded, thereby improving the terrestrial storage of carbon by reducing the amount of gaseous carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere upon biodegradation. The inventive methods contemplate the modification of plant macromolecules to make them more resistant to degradation as well as the treatment of living and non-living plants with fungicides to prolong the rate of plant breakdown.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a substance, such as an aquatic herbicide, to facilitate the sequestration carbon dioxide by removing a portion of a plant biomass from a body of water.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production and use of custom tailored, bacterial enzyme mixtures or components thereof for degrading biofilms in both industrial and therapeutic applications. The industrial applications include but are not limited to the use biofilm-degrading, multiple specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures for removing or preventing the formation of biofilms in water cooling towers, industrial process piping, heat exchangers, in food processing or food preparation, in potable water systems, reservoirs, swimming pools, or related sanitary water systems, and on membranes such as those used for desalinization, industrial processes, or related applications.

Abstract: Methods and systems for drug discovery and development are disclosed. Methods and system consistent with the present invention discover drugs. One or more databases comprising chemical and biological interaction data and one or more computer-based data analysis programs may be used to identify compounds that have desired activity at two or more molecular targets that are associated with a disease state for which the drug discovery and development are directed.

Abstract: A method of infusing an edible fresh or freshly-cut fruit or vegetable is provided. First, the fruit or vegetable is allowed to reach a state of relative metabolic stasis or inactivity. Next, an infusion comprising an agent to be infused is provided, and the fruit or vegetable is submerged therein. Finally, the infusion is pressurized to a pressure for a time period. The agent to be infused is preferably a quality enhancing agent, a nutritionally beneficial agent, a pharmaceutical agent, or combinations of these. Most preferably, the quality enhancing agent may be an aroma enhancing agent, a flavoring enhancing agent, a sweetening agent, a color enhancing agent, or combinations of these, the nutritionally beneficial agent may be a vitamin, a mineral, an anti-oxidant, a phytochemical, or combinations of these, and the pharmaceutical agent may be a prescription drug, an over-the-counter drug, or combinations of these.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for slowing down the rate at which plant biomaterials, such as lignin, are degraded, thereby improving the terrestrial storage of carbon by reducing the amount of gaseous carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere upon biodegradation. The inventive methods contemplate the modification of plant macromolecules to make them more resistant to degradation as well as the treatment of living and non-living plants with fungicides to prolong the rate of plant breakdown.

Abstract: A method of infusing an edible fresh or freshly-cut fruit or vegetable is provided. First, the fruit or vegetable is allowed to reach a state of relative metabolic stasis or inactivity. Next, an infusion comprising an agent to be infused is provided, and the fruit or vegetable is submerged therein. Finally, the infusion is pressurized to a pressure for a time period. The agent to be infused is preferably a quality enhancing agent, a nutritionally beneficial agent, a pharmaceutical agent, or combinations of these. Most preferably, the quality enhancing agent may be an aroma enhancing agent, a flavoring enhancing agent, a sweetening agent, a color enhancing agent, or combinations of these, the nutritionally beneficial agent may be a vitamin, a mineral, an anti-oxidant, a phytochemical, or combinations of these, and the pharmaceutical agent may be a prescription drug, an over-the-counter drug, or combinations of these.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of recovering a biological molecule from a recombinant microorganism produced using a method based on either protoplast fusion or lipofection. The present invention further provides a method of identifying, isolating, or making a biological molecule from a recombinant microorganism and also encompasses the biological molecule produced by a recombinant microorganism. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of making a recombinant microorganism containing the nucleic acid of a microorganism in an environmental sample, as well as the recombinant microorganisms themselves. Finally, the present invention is directed to a method of making a recombinant library, as well as the recombinant library itself.

Abstract: Protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa include some of the most important causative agents of human and animal diseases, in particular, malaria. The discovery that an organelle found inside parasites of this phylum probably stems from a plastid of plant origin has stimulated research on the effect of chemical herbicidal agents on Apicomplexa. Members of the triazine family and of the dinitroaniline family of herbicides have been found to be active against some Apicomplexa. The present invention extends the list of chemical herbicidal agents active against Apicomplexa to include classes of herbicides active as carotenoid synthesis inhibitory agents in plants and herbicidal agents effective against fatty acid synthesis in plants.

Abstract: Protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa include some of the most important causative agents of human and animal diseases, in particular, malaria. The discovery that an organelle found inside parasites of this phylum probably stems from a plastid of plant origin has stimulated research on the effect of chemical herbicidal agents on Apicomplexa. Members of the triazine family and of the dinitroaniline family of herbicides have been found to be active against some Apicomplexa. The present invention extends the list of chemical herbicidal agents active against Apicomplexa to include classes of herbicides active as carotenoid synthesis inhibitory agents in plants and herbicidal agents effective against fatty acid synthesis in plants.