Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial strains, capable of utilizing glycerol as a carbon source for the fermentative production of succinic acid, wherein said strains are genetically modified so that they comprise a deregulation of their endogenous pyruvate-formate-lyase enzyme activity, as well as to methods of producing organic acids, in particular succinic acid, by making use of such microorganism. The present invention also relates to the downstream processing of the produced organic acids by cation exchange chromatography.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic phytase with elevated thermostability, elevated stability to acids at p H 2, elevated stability to pepsin and with a broadened active p H range, and to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a synthetic phytase and to the use of the phytase in an animal feed for reducing the phosphate content in the slurry and to animal feed additives and animal feeds comprising the synthetic phytase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically modified microorganisms capable of producing beta-glucans, characterized in that said genetically modified microorganism overexpresses (i) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-?-D-glucan synthase-activity, and/or (ii) a polypeptide having 1,3-?-D-glucan synthase-activity, compared to a corresponding non-modified control microorganism of the same strain. The present invention also relates to the use of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-?-D-glucan synthase-activity or the use of such a polypeptide for producing ?-glucans. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing ?-glucans comprising the introduction of a promoter upstream of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-?-D-glucan synthase-activity thereby increasing the expression of said polynucleotide, or a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 1,3-?-D-glucan synthase-activity into a microorganism being able to synthesize ?-glucans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic phytase with elevated thermostability, elevated stability to acids at pH 2, elevated stability to pepsin and with a broadened active pH range, and to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a synthetic phytase and to the use of the phytase in an animal feed for reducing the phosphate content in the slurry and to animal feed additives and animal feeds comprising the synthetic phytase.

Abstract: The present invention features improved processes and organisms for the production of methionine. The invention demonstrates that a ?metF organism or a ?metE AmetH organism, for example, mutants of C. glutamicum or E. coli, can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), as a source of both sulfur and a methyl group, bypassing the need for MetH/MetE and MetF activity and the need to reduce sulfate, for the synthesis of methionine. Also described in this patent are data implicating MetY (also called MetZ) as an enzyme that incorporates a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, into methionine. A ?metF ?metB strain of C. glutamicum can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, as a source of both sulfide and a methyl group. Furthermore, methionine production by engineered prototrophic organisms that overproduce O-acetyl-homoserine was improved by the addition of a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MR nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MR proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described which are involved in biosynthesis of a fine chemical, e.g., methionine biosynthesis. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MR nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides methods of producing methionine from microorganisms, e.g., C. glutamicum, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms which overexpress or underexpress at least one MR molecule of the invention under conditions such that methionine is produced. Also featured are methods of producing a fine chemical, e.g., methionine, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms having selected MR genes deleted or mutated under conditions such that the fine chemical, e.g., methionine, is produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nulceotide sequences encoding enzymatically active cobalamin-methionine synthase and functional fragments thereof being modified in comparison to the respective wild-type enzyme such that said enzymes show reduced product inhibition by methionine. The present invention also relates to polypeptides being encoded by such nucleotide sequences and host cells comprising such nucleotide sequences. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing methionine in host organisms by making use of such nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the field of nucleic acid manipulation and particularly DNA manipulation, and uses thereof. Specifically, the invention pertains to methods involving the joining of nucleic acids and uses of such joined nucleic acids, for example for creating transformed microorganisms. Also, the invention pertains to materials useful in such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding enzymatically active cobalamin-methionine synthase and functional fragments thereof that are modified in comparison to the respective wild-type enzyme such that said enzymes show reduced product inhibition by methionine. The present invention also relates to polypeptides being encoded by such nucleotide sequences and host cells comprising such nucleotide sequences. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for producing methionine in host organisms by making use of such nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: The invention relates to a synthetic phytase having an increased thermal stability and also to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a synthetic phytase, and the use of the phytase in an animal feed for reducing the phosphtate content in manure, and also animal feed additives and animal feeds comprising the synthetic phytase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and methods for producing methionine by reactivation of the MetH enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and processes for the efficient preparation of L-amino acids such as L-methionine. In particular, the present invention relates to microorganisms and processes in which the formation and/or accumulation of homolanthionine in the methionine pathway is reduced and/or prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an enzyme preparation which catalyzes the degradation of formaldehyde for reducing the formaldehyde content in a formaldehyde-containing formulation. In a preferred embodiment, the enzyme preparation contains a formaldehyde dismutase from a Pseudomonas putida strain. Further, the invention refers to a process for reducing the formaldehyde content in cross-linking agents for textile finishing or in polymer dispersions used, e.g. in construction chemistry. Further the invention relates to the use of an enzyme preparation which catalyzes the degradation of aldehydes for reducing the formaldehyde content in an aldehyde-containing formulation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a novel variant of the formaldehyde dismutase from Pseudomonas putida.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial strains, capable of utilizing glycerol as a carbon source for the fermentative production of succinic acid, wherein said strains are genetically modified so that they comprise a deregulation of their endogenous pyruvate-formate-lyase enzyme activity, as well as to methods of producing organic acids, in particular succinic acid, by making use of such microorganism. The present invention also relates to the downstream processing of the produced organic acids by cation exchange chromatography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of increasing the production of a fine chemical, e.g., lysine from a microorganism, e.g., Corynebacterium by way of deregulating an enzyme encoding gene, i.e., fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods of increasing the production of lysine in Corynebacterium glutamicum by way of increasing the expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity. The invention also provides a novel process for the production of lysine by way of regulating carbon flux towards oxaloacetate (OAA). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods for the production of lysine by way of utilizing fructose or sucrose as a carbon source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MR nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MR proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described which are involved in biosynthesis of a fine chemical, e.g., methionine biosynthesis. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MR nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides methods of producing methionine from microorganisms, e.g., C. glutamicum, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms which overexpress or underexpress at least one MR molecule of the invention under conditions such that methionine is produced. Also featured are methods of producing a fine chemical, e.g., methionine, which involve culturing recombinant microorganisms having selected MR genes deleted or mutated under conditions such that the fine chemical, e.g., methionine, is produced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method utilizing a microorganism with reduced isocitrate dehydrogenase activity for the production of fine chemicals. Said fine chemicals may be amino acids, monomers for polymer synthesis, sugars, lipids, oils, fatty acids or vitamins and are preferably amino acids of the aspartate family, especially methionine or lysine, or derivatives of said amino acids, especially cadaverine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism having a reduced isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in comparison to the initial microorganism and the use of such microorganisms in producing fine chemicals such as aspartate family amino acids and their derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multiple promoters and to expression units comprising them; to the use thereof for regulating transcription and expression of genes; to expression cassettes which comprise multiple promoters or expression units of this kind; to vectors which comprise such expression cassettes; to genetically modified microorganisms which comprise vectors and/or expression units of this kind; and to processes for preparing biosynthetic products by culturing said genetically modified microorganisms.