Abstract: Methods are provided to obtain recombinant microbial cells having at least one genetic modification that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell or the buoyant density of inclusion bodies produced within a recombinant microbial cell. Exemplified are genetic modifications that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell expressing heterologous peptides and polypeptides. Increasing expression of the genes ysaB, glyQ, glyS or a combination thereof within the recombinant microbial cell produces cells or inclusion bodies having higher buoyant density. A similar effect was achieved by decreasing or disrupting expression of the endogenous gltA gene. Increases in buoyant density render peptide production more efficient with respect to time and costs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to target enzymatic peracid production to a target surface. The peracid benefit agent produced by the targeted perhydrolytic enzyme can be use for a variety of applications such as bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, and combinations thereof. Specifically, a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme and at least one peptidic component having affinity for a target surface (excluding body surfaces and oral care surfaces) is used in combination with a suitable substrate and a source of peroxygen to enzymatically produce a peracid on or near the surface of the target material. In a preferred aspect, the target surface is a cellulosic material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to treat an oral cavity surface with a peracid-based benefit agent. The peracid benefit agent can be use for oral surface bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, decreasing or removing biofilm, and combinations thereof. The peracid is enzymatically generated from a carboxylic acid ester substrate using a CE-7 carbohydrate esterase having perhydrolytic activity (perhydrolase) in the presence of a source of peroxygen. A fusion protein comprising the perhydrolase coupled to a peptidic component having affinity for an oral cavity surface, either directly or through an optional linker, may be used to target the perhydrolytic activity to the oral cavity surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to target enzymatic peracid production to a target surface. The peracid benefit agent produced by the targeted perhydrolytic enzyme can be use for a variety of applications such as bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, and combinations thereof. Specifically, a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme and at least one peptidic component having affinity for a target surface (excluding body surfaces and oral care surfaces) is used in combination with a suitable substrate and a source of peroxygen to enzymatically produce a peracid on or near the surface of the target material. In a preferred aspect, the target surface is a cellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recombinant expression of a peptide of interest in the form of a fusion protein comprising a solubility tag. The fusion protein comprises at least two portions separated by a cleavable peptide sequence wherein one portion is devoid of cysteine residues and the second portion comprises an effective number of cross-linkable cysteine residues. After cell lysis and isolation of the fusion protein, the fusion protein is subsequently cleaved into a mixture of first and second portions. Oxidative cross-linking is used to selectively precipitate one of the two portions to facilitate simple and effective separation of the peptide of interest.

Abstract: An acid-cleavable peptide linker comprising aspartic acid and proline residues is disclosed. The acid-cleavable peptide linker provides an altered sensitivity to acid-hydrolytic release of peptides of interest from fusion peptides of the formula PEP1-L-PEP2. The inventive linker, L, is described in various embodiments, each of which provides substantially more rapid acid-release of peptides of interest than does a single aspartic acid-proline pair. In an additional aspect, a method of increasing the stability of an acid cleavable linkage to acid hydrolysis is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to treat skin with a peracid-based benefit agent. The peracid benefit agent can be used for a benefit such as the prevention or treatment of acne, skin whitening, skin bleaching, skin conditioning, reducing the appearance of skin wrinkles, skin rejuvenation, reducing dermal adhesions, and preventing, reducing or eliminating body odors or any combination thereof. The peracid may be enzymatically generated from a carboxylic acid ester substrate using an enzyme having perhydrolytic activity (perhydrolase) in the presence of a source of peroxygen. A fusion protein comprising the perhydrolase coupled to a skin-binding domain, either directly or through an optional linker, may be used to target the perhydrolytic activity to the skin surface.

Abstract: Compositions and methods using fusion peptides comprising multi-functional solubility tags are provided. The multi-functional peptidic solubility tags facilitates more efficient fusion peptide production, easier downstream processing of the fusion peptide, and may be used to provide functional surface properties when coupled to a target material.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided using fusion peptides comprising at least one multi-functional solubility tag having an effective number of cross-linkable cysteines residues. The multi-functional peptidic solubility tags facilitate efficient fusion peptide production, easier downstream processing of the fusion peptide, and provide functional surface properties when coupled to a target material while the cross-linkable cysteines provide enhanced durability when binding the fusion peptide to a target material.

Abstract: Oral care compositions, oral care systems, oral surface-binding peptides, and a method for applying particles to an oral surface are provided. The oral care system comprises at least one peptidic component comprising a first binding element having affinity for an oral surface and a second binding element having affinity for a ligand property of a particle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to treat an oral cavity surface with a peracid-based benefit agent. The peracid benefit agent can be use for oral surface bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, decreasing or removing biofilm, and combinations thereof. The peracid is enzymatically generated from a carboxylic acid ester substrate using a CE-7 carbohydrate esterase having perhydrolytic activity (perhydrolase) in the presence of a source of peroxygen. A fusion protein comprising the perhydrolase coupled to a peptidic component having affinity for an oral cavity surface, either directly or through an optional linker, may be used to target the perhydrolytic activity to the oral cavity surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delivering substrates for a depilatory product using an enzymatically-generated peracid. More specifically, a pH stabilized two component system is provided comprising (a) a first aqueous composition comprising hydrogen peroxide and at least one carboxylic acid ester substrate; wherein the pH of the first aqueous composition is 4.0 or less and (b) a second aqueous component comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity and a buffer, wherein the pH of the second aqueous composition is at least 5.0; wherein the first and second aqueous compositions remain separated until use. The perhydrolytic enzyme catalyst may be in the form of a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme coupled through an optional peptide linker to a peptidic component having affinity for hair.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to target enzymatic peracid production to a target surface. The peracid benefit agent produced by the targeted perhydrolytic enzyme can be use for a variety of applications such as bleaching, whitening, disinfecting, destaining, deodorizing, and combinations thereof. Specifically, a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme and at least one peptidic component having affinity for a target surface (excluding body surfaces and oral care surfaces) is used in combination with a suitable substrate and a source of peroxygen to enzymatically produce a peracid on or near the surface of the target material. In a preferred aspect, the target surface is a cellulosic material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to treat hair with a peracid-based benefit agent. The peracid benefit agent can be used for hair bleaching, hair weakening, hair removal, hair waiving, hair straightening or any combination thereof. The peracid may be enzymatically generated from a carboxylic acid ester substrate using an enzyme having perhydrolytic activity (perhydrolase) in the presence of a source of peroxygen. A fusion protein comprising the perhydrolase coupled to a hair-binding domain, either directly or through an optional linker, may be used to target the perhydrolytic activity to the hair surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delivering substrates for a depilatory product using an enzymatically generated peracid. More specifically, a two component system is provided comprising (a) a first non-aqueous composition comprising a solid source of peroxygen, an ester substrate, and an optional organic cosolvent and (b) an aqueous component having a pH of at least 4 comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolytic activity and a buffer. The perhydrolytic enzyme catalyst may be in the form of a fusion protein comprising a perhydrolytic enzyme coupled through an optional peptide linker to a peptidic component having affinity for hair.

Abstract: Methods are provided to obtain recombinant microbial cells having at least one genetic modification that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell or the buoyant density of inclusion bodies produced within a recombinant microbial cell. Exemplified are genetic modifications that increase the buoyant density of a recombinant microbial cell expressing heterologous peptides and polypeptides. Increasing expression of the genes ysaB, glyQ, glyS or a combination thereof within the recombinant microbial cell produces cells or inclusion bodies having higher buoyant density. A similar effect was achieved by decreasing or disrupting expression of the endogenous gltA gene. Increases in buoyant density render peptide production more efficient with respect to time and costs.

Abstract: An acid-cleavable peptide linker comprising aspartic acid and proline residues is disclosed. The acid-cleavable peptide linker provides an altered sensitivity to acid-hydrolytic release of peptides of interest from fusion peptides of the formula PEP1-L-PEP2. The inventive linker, L, is described in various embodiments, each of which provides substantially more rapid acid-release of peptides of interest than does a single aspartic acid-proline pair. In an additional aspect, a method of increasing the stability of an acid cleavable linkage to acid hydrolysis is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recombinant expression of a peptide of interest in the form of a fusion protein comprising a solubility tag. The fusion protein comprises at least two portions separated by a cleavable peptide sequence wherein one portion is devoid of cysteine residues and the second portion comprises an effective number of cross-linkable cysteine residues. After cell lysis and isolation of the fusion protein, the fusion protein is subsequently cleaved into a mixture of first and second portions. Oxidative cross-linking is used to selectively precipitate one of the two portions to facilitate simple and effective separation of the peptide of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recombinant expression of a peptide of interest in the form of a fusion protein comprising a solubility tag. The fusion protein comprises at least two portions separated by a cleavable peptide sequence wherein one portion is devoid of cysteine residues and the second portion comprises an effective number of cross-linkable cysteine residues. After cell lysis and isolation of the fusion protein, the fusion protein is subsequently cleaved into a mixture of first and second portions. Oxidative cross-linking is used to selectively precipitate one of the two portions to facilitate simple and effective separation of the peptide of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and systems comprising peptide-based reagents for delivery of cosmetic benefit agents to human hair, human skin, or human nail.