Abstract: A novel thermophilic endo-glucanase, nucleic acid encoding the endo-glucase, and uses thereof in converting ligocellulosic material to fermentable sugars.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing efficiently glutamic acid derivatives (including salts thereof) such as monatin by converting a substituted ?-keto acid of formula (1) into a glutamic acid derivative of formula (2) in the presence of an enzyme catalyzing conversion of the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. A cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.

Abstract: A method for the modification of a material comprising a non-starch carbohydrate, which method comprises contacting said material comprising a non-starch carbohydrate with a polypeptide which has peroxidase activity and which is: a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 55% homology with an amino acid sequence set out in any one of: amino acids 21 to 513 of SEQ NO: 2; amino acids 20 to 510 of SEQ ID NO: 4; amino acids 1 to 493 of SEQ ID NO 6; or amino acids 1 to 491 of SEQ ID NO: 8 or b. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence having at least 55% homology with a nucleotide sequence set out in any one of: nucleotides 61 to 1539 of SEQ ID NO: 1; nucleotides 58 to 1530 of SEQ ID NO: 3; nucleotides 1 to 1479 of SEQ ID NO: 5; or nucleotides 1 to 1473 of SEQ ID NO: 7.

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 relates to conjugates of a drug and an amino acid or an amino acid derivative or analog, pharmaceutical compositions that include the conjugates and methods of use thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to conjugates of anti-proliferative drugs and asparagine and glutamine and analogs thereof as compositions for treatment of cancer, and conjugates of imaging agent carriers and amino acids for the diagnosis of tumors and metastases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having a modified amino acid sequence of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (hereinafter abbreviated as GND) derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, said modification being substitution of the amino acid residue(s) at the position(s) corresponding to the 158th and/or the 361st amino acid(s) of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having GND activity; DNA encoding the polypeptide; a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA; a transformant carrying the recombinant DNA; a microorganism carrying the DNA on the chromosome; and a process for producing a useful substance which comprises culturing the transformant or the microorganism in a medium.

Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid is described using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium contains a protein which is able to confer resistance to growth inhibition by L-cysteine.

Abstract: Engineered polypeptides useful in synthesizing acyl amino acids are provided. Also provided are methods of making acyl amino acids using engineered polypeptides. In certain embodiments, an acyl amino acid produced using compositions and/or methods of the present invention comprises cocoyl glutamate.

Abstract: An isolated mutant of coryneform bacteria comprising a gene encodes a polypeptide having 2-methylcitrate dehydratase activity, where the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence in which one of the proteinogenic amino acids except L-proline is present at position 272 or a corresponding or comparable position. In addition, an isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 2-methylcitrate dehydratase enzymic activity, which comprises at position 272 of the amino acid sequence or a corresponding or comparable position a proteinogenic amino acid except L-proline is described. A method for producing a recombinant coryneform bacterium and L-amino acids. A recombinant microorganism, L-Lysine-containing feed additive, and L-Tryptophan-containing feed additive is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amide hydrolase which is with excellent thermostability and stereoselectively hydrolyzes an ?-amino acid amide; a gene encoding the enzyme protein; a novel recombinant vector containing the gene; a transformant containing the recombinant vector; and a process for producing an L-?-amino acid using the transformant.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of food, feed and food supplements comprising high folate levels, whereby the folate is produced by fermentation of Lactobacillus strains on melon fruit extract. Methods for increasing folate production of Lactobacillus strains are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a pharmaceutical agent, food, or beverage for treating or preventing a disease or condition that can be ameliorated by inhibiting serotonin reuptake, comprising a clinically-effective amount of (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-?-carboline-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for the treatment of lignocellulosic material which method comprises contacting said lignocellulosic material with a composition comprising two or more enzyme activities, said enzyme activities being cellulase and/or hemicellulase activities, wherein the pH during the treatment is about 4.5 or lower, and the treatment is carried out at a dry matter content of 15% or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of methionine in an organism such as a microorganism, a non-human animal or plant. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material, plants, microorganisms as well as agricultural compositions and to their use.

Abstract: An organic material production system using biomass material includes: a hydrothermal decomposition apparatus (13) that causes the biomass material (11) and hot compressed water (12) to countercurrently contact with each other and undergo hydrothermal decomposition, and that transfers a lignin component and a hemicellulose component into the hot compressed water, so as to separate the lignin component and the hemicellulose component from a biomass solid residue; a cellulose enzymatic saccharification device (17) that treats, with an enzyme, cellulose in the biomass solid residue, so as to enzymatically saccharify the cellulose to a first sugar solution containing hexose; an alcohol fermenter (18) that produces alcohols by fermentation using the obtained first sugar solution; a sulfuric acid decomposition device (33) that decomposes, with sulfuric acid, the hemicellulose component in hot water (30) discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus, which contains the eluted lignin component and the elut

Abstract: An L-amino acid can be produced by culturing a bacterium which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family, and has an enhanced ability to use a fatty acid. The bacterium is capable of producing the L-amino acid in a culture medium containing a fatty acid or a hydrolysate of an oil-and-fat as a carbon source, thereby producing and accumulating the L-amino acid in a culture.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide from coryneform bacteria, comprising a polynucleotide sequence chosen from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO. 4, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO. 2 or SEQ ID NO.

Abstract: A coryneform bacterium transformant prepared by transferring an exogenous gene which encodes a protein having a sugar transporter function into a coryneform bacterium capable of utilizing D-xylose.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards an asymmetric enzymic process for preparing optically active organic compounds. The process according to the invention is carried out in what are termed miniemulsions. The invention also relates to an enzymic reaction mixture which exhibits a miniemulsion.

Abstract: There is provided a convenient and inexpensive method of producing a compound which has a high activity of inhibiting replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is useful for preventing and treating a liver disease caused by HCV infection.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for enhanced fermentation of molasses using transglucosidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel D-amino acid oxidase isolated and purified from Candida intermedia, a gene encoding the D-amino acid oxidase, a recombinant plasmid containing the gene, and a transformant into which the D-amino acid oxidase gene has been introduced, as well as a production method of D-amino acid oxidase including culturing the transformant. Moreover, the present invention relates to a production method of L-amino acids, 2-oxo acids or cyclic imines, which include reacting racemic amino acids with the D-amino acid oxidase, more preferably, a production method of L-amino acids, which includes reacting racemic amino acid with the D-amino acid oxidase, amino acid dehydrogenase and an enzyme having a coenzyme-regenerating activity. According to the present invention, L-amino acids, 2-oxo acids or cyclic imines can be produced with good efficiency in an industrial scale.

Abstract: A method of fractionating biomass, by permeability conditioning biomass suspended in a pH adjusted solution of at least one water-based polar solvent to form a conditioned biomass, intimately contacting the pH adjusted solution with at least one non-polar solvent, partitioning to obtain an non-polar solvent solution and a polar biomass solution, and recovering cell and cell derived products from the non-polar solvent solution and polar biomass solution. Products recovered from the above method. A method of operating a renewable and sustainable plant for growing and processing algae.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of the cpxR gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of one or more of the cynT, cynS, cynX and/or cynR genes.

Abstract: A microorganism belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which has an L-amino acid-producing ability and has been modified so that the kdp system is enhanced, is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate an L-amino acid in the medium or cells of the microorganism, and the L-amino acid is collected from the medium or cells to produce the L-amino acid.

Abstract: Improved enzyme systems, recombinant cells, and processes employing the same to produce biosynthetic D-1,2,4-butanetriol; D-1,2,4-butanetriol prepared thereby and derivatives thereof; D-1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate prepared therefrom; and enzymes and genes useful in the enzyme systems and recombinant cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the opcA gene of coryneform bacteria, which encode variants of the OpcA subunit of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.49), and to processes for preparing amino acids, in particular L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by using bacteria which harbor said alleles.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, and more specifically to monomeric and dimeric forms of Anthozoan fluorescent proteins. In one aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, where the variants have a reduced propensity to tetramerize, and form dimeric or monomeric structures. In a further aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, the variants being characterized by more efficient maturation than corresponding fluorescent proteins from which they are derived. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, including fluorescent protein monomers and dimers.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, engineered microorganisms and methods that allow efficient conversion of soy carbohydrates to industrial chemicals by fermentation. In some embodiments, the invention provides microbial cells engineered to have increased efficiency in utilizing a soy carbon source (e.g., soy molasses, soy meal, and/or soy hulls) as compared to a parent cell. In some embodiments, microbial cells are engineered to have altered (e.g., increased) expression or activity of one or more carbohydrate modifying enzymes (e.g., glycosidases). In some embodiments, microbial cells are engineered to have altered localization of carbohydrate modifying enzymes (e.g., glycosidases). In some embodiments, engineered microbial cells provided herein are used to produce industrial chemicals (e.g., surfactin) using soy components as primary or sole carbon sources.

Abstract: The invention is directed to DNA sequences from coryneform bacteria, particularly Corynebacterium glutamicum, which encode a protein having transaldolase enzymatic activity. The invention also encompasses processes for the fermentative production of L-amino acids using bacteria in which a gene encoding transaldolase is amplified.

Abstract: The invention describes a novel composition of matter obtained from the leaves of green plants, which is useful in promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Specifically, that the invention describes a hydrolysate prepared from plant leaf biomass (leaf biomass hydrolysate or ‘LBH’) which dramatically stimulates the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Use of LBH as a fermentation substrate can also stimulate rapid production of organic acids and other organic compounds. LBH can be used as a substrate to promote the fermentation-based production of biobased industrial chemicals or biofuels, LBH can be utilized as a prebiotic to promote the growth of beneficial probiotic organisms, hi addition, LBH may also be useful in stimulating the fermentation-based production of other products, examples of which include preservatives, antibiotics, antigens, vaccines, amino acids, vitamins, recombinant proteins, bioremediation treatments, and immobilized enzymes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing L-amino acids by fermenting recombinant microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family, characterized in that a) the desired L-amino acid-producing microorganisms, in which the yjcG-ORF, or nucleotide sequences or alleles encoding the gene product, is/are enhanced, in particular overexpressed, is cultured in a medium under conditions under which the desired L-amino acid is accumulated in the medium or in the cells, and b) the desired L-amino acid is isolated, with, where appropriate, constituents of the fermentation broth, and/or the biomass remaining in its/their entirety or in portions (from ?0 to 100%) in the isolated product or being removed completely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for selective conjugation of bioactive moieties to a polymer or polymerisable compound. The method is more specifically related to the selective conjugation of bioactive moieties to a pendant carboxylic acid, ester or thioester group in which the pendant group is part of a polymer or a polymerisable compound, wherein the method comprises contacting the polymer or polymerisable compound with a hydrolytic enzyme to catalyse the conjugation between the bioactive moiety and the pendant carboxylic acid, ester or thioester group. The conjugation of the bioactive moieties may occur prior to, during or after polymerization of the polymerisable compound. The conjugation of the bioactive moieties may also occur after the polymer is given a form.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aminoacylase having superior abilities in specifically acylating and hydrolyzing e-amino group of Lys, and a method of producing N?-acyl-L-lysine. The present invention provides N?-acyl-L-lysine-specific aminoacylase containing the amino acid sequence of SERPXTTLLRNGDVH (X unknown) at the N-terminal, and a method of producing N?-acyl-L-lysine comprising acting the aminoacylase on L-Lys and a carboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid having an average particle size of 1 to 120 ?m to a medium so that the concentration of the crystals of the amino acid becomes 0.5 g/l or more, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture; and a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid to a medium so that the total surface area of the crystals of the amino acid in the medium becomes 0.02 m2/l, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an aqueous glucose solution from the starch components of Triticeae grains, for example from rye, triticale or in particular wheat grains. The invention also relates to a glucose-based fermentation method for manufacturing organic compounds in which the glucose manufactured for fermentation is produced from the starch components of Triticeae grains by way of a method according to the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having transferase activity, e.g., transaminase activity, e.g., d-amino-acid transferase activity, and/or oxidoreductase activity, e.g., dehydrogenase activity, e.g., damino-acid dehydrogenase activity, and/or catalyze the transfer of a chemical group, catalyze transamination, catalyze the reaction: D-alanine+2-oxoglutarate<=>pyruvate+D-glutamate, and/or catalyze an oxidation-reduction reaction, catalyze the removal of hydrogen atoms, and/or catalyze the reaction: D-amino acid+H2O+acceptor<=>a 2-oxo acid+NH3+reduced acceptor.

Abstract: Engineered polypeptides useful in synthesizing acyl amino acids are provided. Also provided are methods of making acyl amino acids using engineered polypeptides. In certain embodiments, an acyl amino acid produced using compositions and/or methods of the present invention comprises cocoyl glutamate.

Abstract: An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing a processed product of a microalga which promotes production and accumulation of the L-amino acid by the bacterium. The process product is produced by disrupting the culture of the microalga, and/or extracting the culture of the microalga, or fractionating the culture of the microalga or the disrupted culture. The processed product contains a mixture of organic substances produced by the microalga, a hydrolysate of the disrupted microalga culture, and/or an extract or fractionation product of the microalga culture. The processed product can also contain a saccarification product of starch or a hydrolysate of fats and oils. The bacterium is cultured to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in culture, and the L-amino acid is collected from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-proline, glycine, L-serine, L-threonine, L-cysteine, L-tyrosine, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, L-lysine, L-histidine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid and useful as medicament, chemical agent, food material and feed additive at high industrial efficiency, the method comprising culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the amino acid and having resistance to an aminoquinoline derivative in a medium, producing and accumulating the amino acid in the present invention in the culture, and recovering the amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid is provided which includes culturing in a medium a microorganism of the Enterobacteriaceae family which has an ability to produce an L-amino acid and which has been modified so as to enhance the mannose PTS activity, accumulating the L-amino acid in the medium or in cells, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium or cells.

Abstract: A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, and which liquor comprises lignin, wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer, with the proviso that the treatment system and does not include a cationic polymer having an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 4 dl/g.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a target substance utilizing a microorganism by culturing the microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate the target substance in the medium, and then collecting the target substance from culture. The microorganism is imparted with isomaltase activity, or modified to increase isomaltase activity.

Abstract: An organic material production system includes: a pretreatment device (12) that pulverizes a biomass material (11); a hydrothermal decomposition apparatus (14) that hydrothermally decomposes a pulverized biomass (13) by causing it to countercurrently contact with hot compressed water (15), elutes lignin components and hemicellulose components into the hot compressed water (15), and separates the lignin components and the hemicellulose components from a biomass solid residue; a first enzymatic hydrolysis device (19-1) that treats cellulose in a biomass solid residue (17), discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus, with an enzyme (18) to enzymatically hydrolyze it to a sugar solution containing hexose; a fermenter (21) that produces ethanol by fermentation using a sugar solution (20) obtained by the first enzymatic hydrolysis device (19-1); and a refiner 25 that refines an alcohol fermentation liquid (22), so as to separate it into ethanol (23) and a residue (24).

Abstract: A synthesis method of aromatic amino acids according to one aspect of the present invention includes a process of preparing thermostable enzyme, a process of amino-transferring reaction and a process of product precipitation and enzyme recycling. The process of preparing thermostable enzyme comprises an isolation step of the gene of Thermus thermophilus aspartate aminotransferase (TtAspAT), a construction step of the TtAspAT gene in an expression vector, and a transformation step of host cells with the TtAspAT gene-harboring vector for producing a plurality of TtAspAT. The process of amino-transferring reaction catalyzed by TtAspAT, in which an amino group from an amino donor is transferred to the carbonyl group of a keto acid (the amino acceptor) through an amino-transferring reaction at the temperature between 50° C. and 80° C. for a reaction time from 30 to 90 minutes to produce aromatic amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a preparation method of an L-threonine producing strain by utilizing a novel L-threonine importer identified from Corynebacterium glutamicum. The method can be advantageously used for the production of L-threonine by increasing the fermentation concentration of Lthreonine and the yield per unit thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a product of a reaction catalyzed by a protein having 2-oxoglutarate-dependent enzyme activity such as (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine or a salt thereof using a bacterium transformed with a DNA fragment containing a gene coding for a protein having 2-oxoglutarate-dependent enzyme activity such as L-isoleucine dioxygenase activity; and wherein said bacterium has the ability to produce a product such as (2S,3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-isoleucine.

Abstract: A microorganism is provided which can metabolize a carbon source at a specific pH in a liquid medium containing L-glutamic acid at a saturation concentration and the carbon source, and which has ability to accumulate L-glutamic acid in an amount exceeding the amount corresponding to the saturation concentration in the liquid medium at the pH. Also provided is a method for producing L-glutamic acid by fermentation, which comprises culturing the microorganism in a liquid medium of which pH is adjusted to a pH at which L-glutamic acid is precipitated, to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid and precipitate L-glutamic acid in the medium.