Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for generating downhole electricity from wells or similar apertures that penetrate sufficiently deep into the subsurface to allow liquid water to be converted to steam. In the preferred embodiment, a well that reaches to a point in the subsurface where the ambient temperature at depth is significantly above the boiling point of water (i.e., greater than 212° F.) will be used, said steam providing the force necessary to turn the blades of a turbine which, in turn, provides rotational force a downhole generator, thereby resulting in the generation of electricity.

Abstract: There is provided herein a system and method for generating downhole electricity from wells or similar apertures that penetrate sufficiently deep into the subsurface to allow liquid water to be converted to steam. In the preferred embodiment, a well that reaches to a point in the subsurface where the ambient temperature at depth is significantly above the boiling point of water (i.e., greater than 212° F.) will be used, said steam providing the force necessary to turn the blades of a turbine which, in turn, provides rotational force a downhole generator, thereby resulting in the generation of electricity.

Abstract: The present invention features improved methods for the enhanced production of pantoate and pantothenate utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate biosynthetic enzyme activities and having modified methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTF) biosynthetic enzyme activities. In particular, the invention features methods for enhancing production of desired products by increasing levels of a key intermediate, ketopantoate, by increasing enzymes or substrates that contribute directly or indirectly to its synthesis. Recombinant microorganisms and conditions for culturing same are also are featured. Also featured are compositions produced by such microorganisms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the increased production of biotin and the biotin precursor dethiobiotin using a bacterium that produces a lysine-utilizing DAPA aminotransferase. The method involves the use of a bacterium that is either grown in the presence of lysine or deregulated for lysine biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention features improved methods for the enhanced production of pantoate and pantothenate utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate biosynthetic enzyme activities and having modified methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTF) biosynthetic enzyme activities. In particular, the invention features methods for enhancing production of desired products by increasing levels of a key intermediate, ketopantoate, by increasing enzymes or substrates that contribute directly or indirectly to its synthesis. Recombinant microorganisms and conditions for culturing same are also are featured. Also featured are compositions produced by such microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention features improved methods for the enhanced production of pantoate and pantothenate utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate biosynthetic enzyme activities and having modified methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTF) biosynthetic enzyme activities. In particular, the invention features methods for enhancing production of desired products by increasing levels of a key intermediate, ketopantoate, by increasing enzymes or substrates that contribute directly or indirectly to its synthesis. Recombinant microorganisms and conditions for culturing same are also featured. Also featured are compositions produced by such microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of producing B6 vitamers that involve culturing an organism overexpressing an enzyme that catalyzes a step in the biosynthesis of a B6 vitamer under conditions such that a B6 vitamer is produced. The present invention further features methods of producing B6 vitamers that involve culturing recombinant microorganisms having increased activity of at least one B6 vitamer biosynthetic enzyme, e.g., YaaD or YaaE, or a homologue thereof, or Epd, PdxA, PdxJ, PdxF, PdxB, PdxH, and/or Dxs, or a homologue thereof.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for the identification of compounds and compositions useful as antibiotics and antibacterial agents. In particular, the invention features methods for the identification of modulators of a previously unidentified target protein, termed CoaX. High-throughput assay systems are featured as well as assay kits for the identification of CoaX modulators. Also featured are coaX nucleic acid molecules and purified CoaX proteins, as well as recombinant vectors and microorganisms including the gene, coaX.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of producing panto-compounds (e.g., pantothenate) using microorganisms in which the pantothenate biosynthetic pathway and/or the isoleucine-valine biosynthetic pathway and/or the coenzymeA biosynthetic pathway has been manipulated. Methods featuring ketopantoate reductase overexpressing microorganisms as well as aspartate ?-decarboxylase overexpressing microorganisms are provided. Methods of producing panto-compounds in a precursor-independent manner and in high yield are described. Recombinant microorganisms, vectors, isolated nucleic acid molecules, genes and gene products useful in practicing the above methodologies are also provided. The present invention also features a previously unidentified microbial pantothenate kinase gene, coaX, as well as methods of producing panto-compounds utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate kinase activity. Recombinant microorganisms, vectors, isolated coaX nucleic acid molecules and purified CoaX proteins are featured.

Abstract: The present invention features improved methods for the enhanced production of pantoate and pantothenate utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate biosynthetic enzyme activities and having modified methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTF) biosynthetic enzyme activities. In particular, the invention features methods for enhancing production of desired products by increasing levels of a key intermediate, ketopantoate by enzymes that contribute to its synthesis. Recombinant microorganisms and conditions for culturing same are also are featured. Also featured are compositions produced by such microorganisms.

Abstract: A DNA sequence having a yeast ENO2 promoter functionally fused to a heterologous gene.

Abstract: The present invention involves methods of improving the Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR.TM.) amplification schemes by modifying at least one probe end so that the probability of the probe contributing to spurious ligation and signal development is greatly reduced. Only after specific hybridization of the modified probe with true target are the modified ends "corrected" by endonuclease IV in a target dependent fashion to allow participation of the probe in the enzymatic ligation reaction. Specific modifications include 3' phosphate blocking groups and nucleic acid overhangs containing an abasic site at the point of ligation. Further embodiments include probes modified to contain ribonucleotide moieties which, after amplification, can be cleaved by RNase to destroy the amplification products and reduce the risk of contamination.

Abstract: A vector having a gene for resistance to an antibiotic otherwise capable of killing a host yeast cell, the gene being transcribed from a yeast promoter sequence and the vector being capable of being integrated into a chromosome of the host yeast cell; and a diploid or greater ploidy yeast cell transformed by such a vector with heterologous DNA.

Abstract: A vector including a DNA sequence encoding a secretory signal sequence substantially identical to the secretory signal-encoding sequence of a glucoamylase gene from Saccharomyces diastaticus or S. cerevisiae; and upstream from the signal-encoding sequence, a DNA sequence capable of promoting transcription in yeast (e.g., a high yield promoter, such as the promoter of the triose phosphate isomerase gene), transcription of the signal-encoding sequence being under the control of the transcription-promoting sequence, a site for the insertion into the vector of a heterologous DNA sequence, in reading frame with the signal-encoding sequence. The vector is useful as an expression vector in yeast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds which are derivatives of acidic phallotoxins and correspond to the formula: ##STR1## (NBD-acid phallotoxins) their preparation, and their use in fluorescent staining of F-actin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds which are derivatives of acidic phallotoxins and correspond to the formula: ##STR1## (NBD-acid phallotoxins) their preparation, and their use in fluorescent staining of F-actin.