Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a cyclic peptide compound or a salt thereof which comprises contacting a cyclic lipopeptide compound or a salt thereof with an acylase derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas to deacylate the lipid acyl moiety of said cyclic lipopeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a library of host cells, a plurality of which comprise an assembled polynucleotide at a target locus, which method comprises: (a) providing a plurality of polynucleotides comprising two or more polynucleotide subgroups, wherein: (i) a plurality of polynucleotides in each polynucleotide subgroup comprises sequence encoding a peptide or polypeptide and/or a regulatory sequence; (ii) a plurality of peptides or polypeptides encoded by, or a plurality of regulatory sequences comprised within, each polynucleotide subgroup share an activity and/or function; (iii) at least one polynucleotide subgroup comprises at least two non-identical polynucleotide species; (iv) a plurality of polynucleotides of each polynucleotide subgroup comprises sequence enabling homologous recombination with a plurality of polynucleotides from one or more other polynucleotide subgroups; and (v) a plurality of polynucleotides in two polynucleotide subgroups comprise a nucleotide

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutant prokaryotic penicillin G acylase derived from a wild-type penicillin G acylase characterized in that the mutant is having an amino acid substitution at one or more amino acid positions selected from the group consisting of amino acid positions A3, A77, A90, A144 A192, B24, B109, B148, B313, B460 and B488 according to the amino acid numbering of the Escherichia coli penicillin G acylase having the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID No: 1.

Abstract: A method to construct eukaryotic cells having a target sequence in a chromosomal DNA sequence replaced by a desired replacement sequence is disclosed.

Abstract: We disclose a method to construct eukaryotic cells having a target sequence in a chromosomal DNA sequence replaced by a desired replacement sequence, comprising: modifying a parent eukaryotic cell with a preference for NHR to provide a eukaryotic cell having an increased HR/NHR ratio as compared to the parent cell, providing a DNA molecule comprising a first DNA fragment comprising a desired replacement sequence flanked at its 5? and 3? sides by DNA sequences substantially homologous to sequences of the chromosomal DNA flanking the target sequence and a second DNA fragment comprising an expression cassette comprising a gene encoding a selection marker operably linked to regulatory sequences functional in the eukaryotic cell, transforming the modified eukaryotic cells with the DNA molecule, selecting transformed progeny cells having the DNA molecule inserted into the chromosome, deselecting transformed progeny cells having the DNA molecule inserted into the chromosome via NHR by expression of the selection mar

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of variant polynucleotides using a combination of mutagenesis of a starting population of polynucleotides and recombination of the mutated polynucleotides. The process comprises the steps of subjecting a population of polynucleotides to (a series of) two (or more) separate PCR's comprising a first PCR with a forward mutation-specific primer for a position to be mutated and a reverse universal primer and a second PCR with a forward universal primer and a reverse mutation-specific primer for a position to be mutated. The products of the (series of) two (or more) PCR's are assembled by a polymerase, preferably in one tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of variant polynucleotides using a combination of mutagenesis of a starting population of polynucleotides and recombination of the mutated polynucleotides. The process comprises the steps of subjecting a population of polynucleotides to (a series of) two (or more) separate PCR's comprising a first PCR with a forward mutation-specific primer for a position to be mutated and a reverse universal primer and a second PCR with a forward universal primer and a reverse mutation-specific primer for a position to be mutated. The products of the (series of) two (or more) PCR's are assembled by a polymerase, preferably in one tube.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of variant polynucleotides using a reassembly process of preferably blunt-ended restriction enzyme fragments prepared form a starting population of heterologous polynucleotides in the presence of a thermostable ligase.

Abstract: Heterologous protein secretion from Gram-positive bacteria, in particular from Bacilli has, with few exceptions, met with little success. Incompatibility of the heterologous proteins with the protein secretion machinery of the host is the main cause of this effect. This limiting factor for the production of heterologous proteins in commercially significant concentrations from Bacillus subtilis is removed by overexpressing the Bacillus subtilis protein FtsY or FtsY protein in combination with overexpression of other members of the bacterial signal recognition particle. Said gene(s) is(are) overexpressed in Bacillus host cells expressing a heterologous protein which then shows an increased amount of the heterologous protein secreted in the surrounding medium.

Abstract: Heterologous protein secretion from Gram-positive bacteria, in particular from Bacilli has, with few exceptions, met with little success. Incompatibility of the heterologous proteins with the protein secretion machinery of the host is the main cause of this effect. This limiting factor for the production of heterologous proteins in commercially significant concentrations from Bacillus subtilis is removed by overexpressing the Bacillus subtilis protein FtsY or FtsY protein in combination with overexpression of other members of the bacterial signal recognition particle. Said gene(s) is(are) overexpressed in Bacillus host cells expressing a heterologous protein which then shows an increased amount of the heterologous protein secreted in the surrounding medium.

Abstract: Heterologous protein secretion from Gram-positive bacteria, in particular from Bacilli has, with few exceptions, met with little success. Incompatibility of the heterologous proteins with the protein secretion machinery of the host is the main cause of this effect. This limiting factor for the production of heterologous proteins in commercially significant concentrations from Bacillus subtilis is removed by overexpressing the Bacillus subtilis protein FtsY or FtsY protein in combination with overexpression of other members of the bacterial signal recognition particle. Said gene(s) is(are) overexpressed in Bacillus host cells expressing a heterologous protein which then shows an increased amount of the heterologous protein secreted in the surrounding medium.

Abstract: An improved process for production of an N-acylated cephalosporin is described. The process utilizes an Acremonium strain which has been modified to express an acyl transferase of a filamentous fungus and is selected for production of the N-acylated cephalosporin at a level which is equal to or higher than the production of the corresponding &agr;-aminoadipyl-7-cephalosporins in the strain.