Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel valencene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding such valencene synthase, to a host cell comprising said encoding nucleic acid sequence and to a method or preparing valencene, comprising converting farnesyl diphosphate to valencene in the presence of a valencene synthase according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valencene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding such valencene synthase, to a host cell comprising said encoding nucleic acid sequence and to a method for preparing valencene, comprising converting farnesyl diphosphate to valencene in the presence of a valencene synthase according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel valencene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding such valencene synthase, to a host cell comprising said encoding nucleic acid sequence and to a method for preparing valencene, comprising converting farnesyl diphosphate to valencene in the presence of a valencene synthase according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valencene synthase, to a nucleic acid encoding such valencene synthase, to a host cell comprising said encoding nucleic acid sequence and to a method for preparing valencene, comprising converting farnesyl diphosphate to valencene in the presence of a valencene synthase according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of hydroxytyrosol from microorganisms, whereby a modification of said polynucleotides and/or encoded polypeptides has a direct or indirect impact on yield, production, and/or efficiency of production of hydroxytyrosol in said microorganism. The invention also features polynucleotides comprising the full length polynucleotide sequences of the novel genes and fragments thereof, the novel polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, as well as their functional equivalents. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the production of hydroxytyrosol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzymatic oligopeptide synthesis in the N?C direction, in particular to a process for the preparation of an optionally N-protected oligopeptide C-terminal alkylester comprising the step of reacting the corresponding optionally N-protected oligopeptide C-terminal carboxyamide with an alkyl alcohol, preferably methanol, in the presence of a peptide amidase. The formed C-terminal alkylester can subsequently be used for the coupling with another amino acid residue or oligopeptide. Therefore, inventors have found a very advantageous process for the preparation of oligopeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polypeptides having ?-H-?-amino acid amide racemase activity and nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acids according to the invention. The invention also relates to methods of producing and using the polypeptides according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for isolating polypeptides having ?-H-?-amino acid amide racemase activity, for isolating nucleic acids encoding the same and for isolating microorganisms comprising polypeptides having ?-H-?-amino acid amide racemase activity. The invention also relates to new microorganisms comprising polypeptides having ?-H-?-amino acid amide racemase activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid sequence encoding enantioselective amides with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention also relates to a process for fermentation, comprising a batch and a feed phase, of a microorganism in a fermentation medium, wherein the microorganism expresses a nucleic acid according to the invention and wherein between 0.5 and 50 mg of Zn2+/ml of fermentation medium is fed during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid and/or an enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid amide, in which a mixture of corresponding D- and L-carboxylic acid amides is contacted with a expression product according to the invention in the presence of 0.01 mM–100 mM Zn2+, whereby one of the enantiomers of the carboxylic acid amide is enatiomerically hydrolysed to from corresponding enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid, while the other enantiomer of the carboxylic acid amide remains unchanged.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity is disclosed wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral amine is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity is disclosed wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral amine is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral compound of formula 1 wherein: R1 represents an alkyl or an aryl group R2 represents H, an alkyl or an aryl group Y represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)n—COOR, (CH2)n—CONRR?, CH2OH, or C?N wherein R and R? independently represent H, an alkyl or aryl group, and n represents 0 or 1, is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor wherein the metal is chosen from the groups 5–11 of the periodic system, or for the preparation of a formylated compound with enhanced optical purity from a mixture of the enantiomers of the corresponding not formulated chiral compound in the presence of a formylation agent. Preferably the peptide deformylase is chosen from the class EC 3.5.2.27 or EC 3.5.1.31, and contains the sequences of (I) HEXXH, (ii) EGCLS and (iii) GXGXAAXQ.

Abstract: A new fermentative process for the preparation of D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine (D-HPG) or D-henylglycine (D-pG) in enantiomerically pure form is disclosed. Precursors for the formation of D-HPG and D-pG are withdrawn form the common aromatic amino acid pathway, converted to p-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate or phenylglyoxylate, and are finally converted to D-HPG or D-pG by the action of a stero-inverting D-aminotransferase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an enantioselective amidase with an amino acid sequence, which amino acid sequence has at least 70% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention also relates to a prcoess for the fermentation, comprising a batch and a feed phase, of a microorganism in a fermentation medium, wherein the microorganism expresses a nucleic acid according to the invention and wherein between 0.5 and 50 mg/l_fermentation medium Zn2+ is fed during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched carboxylic acid and/or an enantiomerically enriched carboxylic acid amide, in which a mixture of the corresponding D- and L-carboxylic acid amides is contacted with an expression product according to the invention in the presence of between 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polypeptides having &agr;-H-&agr;-amino acid amide racemase activity and nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention also relates to vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acids according to the invention. The invention also relates to methods of producing and using the polypeptides according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for isolating polypeptides having &agr;-H-&agr;-amino acid amide racemase activity, for isolating nucleic acids encoding the same and for isolating microorganisms comprising polypeptides having &agr;-H-&agr;-amino acid amide racemase activity. The invention also relates to new microorganisms comprising polypeptides having &agr;-H-&agr;-amino acid amide racemase activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of aspartame involving enzymatic deformylation of an N-formyl-&agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compound by treatment with an enzyme having formylmethionyl peptide deformylase activity and having as a co-factor group 5 to 11 bivalent metal ions. The invention also relates to selective preparation and recovery of aspartame from a mixture of N-formyl-&agr;- and &bgr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compounds by treatment with such enzyme. And finally, the invention relates to one-pot enzymatic synthesis of aspartame from N-formyl-L-aspartic acid and L- or D,L-phenylalanine methyl ester involving an enzymatic deformylation reaction simultaneously with an enzymatic coupling reaction, as well as to one-pot di- or oligopeptide synthesis by simultaneous enzymatic coupling and deformylation reactions in general.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of aspartame involving enzymatic deformylation of an N-formyl-&agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compound by treatment with an enzyme having formylmethionyl peptide deformylase activity and having as a co-factor group 5 to 11 bivalent metal ions. The invention also relates to selective preparation and recovery of aspartame from a mixture of N-formyl-&agr;- and &bgr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compounds by treatment with such enzyme. And finally, the invention relates to one-pot enzymatic synthesis of aspartame from N-formyl-L-aspartic acid and L- or D,L-phenylalanine methyl ester involving an enzymatic deformylation reaction simultaneously with an enzymatic coupling reaction, as well as to one-pot di- or oligopeptide synthesis by simultaneous enzymatic coupling and deformylation reactions in general.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new, microbiological, method for the production of &agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine (Asp-Phe) from the substrates L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) wherein the substrates are contacted, in the presence of ATP, with a non-ribosomal dipeptide synthetase comprising two minimal modules connected by one condensation domain wherein the N- resp. C-terminal modules are recognizing L-Asp and L-Phe, respectively, and the latter module is covalently bound at its N-terminal end to the condensation domain, and wherein each of these minimal modules is composed of an adenylation domain and a 4′-phosphopantetheinyl cofactor containing thiolation domain, and that the Asp-Phe formed is recovered. The present invention also relates to novel DNA fragments or combination of DNA fragments encoding a new Asp-Phe dipeptide synthetase, micro-organisms containing such DNA fragments, as well as to the new Asp-Phe dipeptide synthetases itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of aspartame involving enzymatic deformylation of an N-formyl-&agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compound by treatment with an enzyme having formylmethionyl peptide deformylase activity and having as a co-factor group 5 to 11 bivalent metal ions. The invention also relates to selective preparation and recovery of aspartame from a mixture of N-formyl-&agr;- and &bgr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compounds by treatment with such enzyme. And finally, the invention relates to one-pot enzymatic synthesis of aspartame from N-formyl-L-aspartic acid and L- or D,L-phenylalanine methyl ester involving an enzymatic deformylation reaction simultaneously with an enzymatic coupling reaction, as well as to one-pot di- or oligopeptide synthesis by simultaneous enzymatic coupling and deformylation reactions in general.

Abstract: The invention makes available, by means of an increased provision of intracellular metabolic intermediates, in particular of erythrose 4-phosphate, alternative processes for the microbial preparation of substances, in particular of aromatic amino acids such as L-phenylalanine, in which processes the activity of a transaldolase is increased in a microorganism producing these substances. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the activity of a transketolase or the activity of a transport protein for the PEP-independent uptake of a sugar and/or the activity of a kinase which phosporylates the relevant sugar are/is additionally increased. The invention also relates to gene structures, and to transformed cells carrying these gene structures, which make it possible to implement these processes in a particularly successful manner.