Abstract: L-Cysteine is produced by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce L-cysteine and modified so that expression of emrAB, emrKY, yojIH, acrEF, bcr, or cusA gene should be enhanced in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in the medium and collecting the L-cysteine from the medium. Genes coding for novel L-cysteine-excreting proteins are identified, and utilized for breeding of L-cysteine-producing microorganism to provide a novel method of producing L-cysteine.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to improved microorganisms and methods for the production of methionine and other sulfur containing fine chemicals using the metI gene from Bacillus subtilis or a gene related to metI. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metI gene or another gene is integrated in a fashion that allows for co-production of a water soluble compound such as methionine or other amino acid and a caortenoid compound.

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 the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of the leuO gene.

Abstract: An L-amino acid is produced by culturing an L-amino acid-producing bacterium which belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and which has been modified so that the activity of an iron transporter is increased by enhancing expression of one or more genes of the following genes: tonB gene, fepA gene, and fecA.

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 the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to enhance expression of at least one gene of the fucPIKUR operon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of L-amino acids by the fermentation of recombinant microorganisms of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The microorganisms produce the desired L-amino acid and overexpress the E. coli or S. typhimurium yibD gene encoding the putative glycosyl transferase enzyme. The microorganisms are cultivated in a medium under conditions in which the desired L-amino acid is enriched in the medium or in the cells. The amino acid is then isolated, optionally with constituents of the fermentation broth, and/or all or part (?0 to 100%) of the biomass.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the gnd gene from coryneform bacteria coding for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases which contain at position 329 or a comparable position of the amino acid sequence any amino acid other than L-valine, and to processes for the production of amino acids, preferably L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by fermentation using bacteria that contain these alleles.

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 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 rspAB operon.

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 rcsA gene.

Abstract: A solution to be treated containing monatin and impurities is treated with a nonpolar resin having aromatic rings, whereby monatin is separated from the solution. Treatment with the nonpolar resin having aromatic rings results in efficient separation of monatin under a mild pH condition.

Abstract: An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a microorganism which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is able to produce an L-amino acid, wherein the bacterium has been modified to enhance orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activity is enhanced, in a medium to produce and cause accumulation of an L-amino acid in the medium or cells, and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium or the cells.

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 a gene coding for sRNA.

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 sfmACDFH-fimZ cluster and/or the fimZ 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 the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of the bolA gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of L-amino acids by fermentation of recombinant microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family, characterized in that a) the microorganisms producing the desired L-amino acid and wherein the lamB-gene or nucleotide sequence coding for the gene product maltoporin is amplified, particularly overexpressed, are cultivated in a medium in conditions enabling the desired L-amino acid to be enriched in the medium or in cells, and b) the desired L-amino acid is isolated, wherein constituents of the fermentation broth and/or biomass remain in the entirety thereof or in parts thereof (=0 bis 100%) in the isolated product or are fully removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and methods for producing at least one sulfur-containing compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metH) gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of recombinant homoserine transsuccinylase enzymes with altered feedback sensitivity (MetA*) and possibly recombinant S-adenosyl methionine synthetase enzymes with reduced activity (MetK*) for the production of methionine, its precursors or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing L-threonine, L-valine, L-proline, L-leucine, L-methionine and L-arginine using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia wherein L-amino acid productivity of the bacterium is enhanced by enhancing an activity of proteins coded by b2682 and b2683 genes, or protein coded by b1242 or b3434 gene.

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: There is provided a process for producing an optically active 2-alkylcysteine or a salt thereof, characterized by allowing cells of microorganism or treated products thereof having an activity of stereoselective hydrolysis of the amide bond of a 2-alkyl-L-cysteinamide or a salt thereof to act on a 2-alkylcysteinamide consisting of a mixture of D- and L-isomers or a salt thereof; and allowing the obtained 2-alkyl-L-cysteine and 2-alkyl-D-cysteinamide to react with an aldehyde or a ketone, or an acetal or ketal thereof, so as to derive therefrom a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof and a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxamide or a salt thereof, thereby efficiently separating and obtaining a 2-alkyl-L-cysteine or a salt thereof, or a 2-alkyl-D-cysteine or a salt thereof. There is also provided a process for producing a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof from the 2-alkylcysteine or a salt thereof.

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: A method of producing methionine, derivatives or precursors thereof comprising culturing a microorganism modified to enhance production of cysteine in a culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulfur and recovering methionine from the culture medium. A microorganism for fermentative production of methionine or its derivatives in which production of methionine or derivatives thereof, wherein the microorganism enhances production of cysteine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for converting plant cell wall polysaccharides into one or more products, comprising: treating the plant cell wall polysaccharides with an effective amount of a spent whole fermentation broth of a recombinant microorganism, wherein the recombinant microorganism expresses one or more heterologous genes encoding enzymes which degrade or convert the plant cell wall polysaccharides into the one or more products.

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 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 discloses a method for therapeutically treating an animal, including a human, for psychosomatic, depressive and neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, schizophrenia, epilepsy, spasm and chronic pain. Administration of a suitable DP IV inhibitor causes the reduction of activity in the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase (DP IV or CD 26) or of DP IV—like enzyme activity in the brain of mammals and leads as a causal consequence to a reduced degradation of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and similar substrates by DP IV and DP IV-like enzymes. Such treatment will result in a reduction or delay in the decrease of the concentration of functionally active neuronal NPY (1-36).

Abstract: In a method for producing an L-amino acid by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce an L-amino acid in a medium to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in the medium and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium, a Gram-negative bacterium having the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and modified so that 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase activity or 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase activity, or activities of the both are enhanced is used as the microorganism.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of preparing an L-methionine production strain by overexpressing proteins involved in L-methionine biosynthesis in an L-threonine production strain, a strain prepared by the method, and a method of producing L-methionine using the strain.

Abstract: A microorganism strain secreting S-adenosylmethionine having increased activity of the cmr (mdfA) gene product is provided.

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 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 invention relates to a method for producing an amino acid comprising culturing a microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium or Brevibacterium wherein said microorganism is partially or completely deficient in at least one of the gene loci of the group which is formed by otsAB, treZ and treS, and subsequent isolation of the amino acid from the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metH) gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by fermentation using bacteria in which a nucleotide sequence encoding an S-adenosylmethionine synthase (metK) gene is expressed.

Abstract: L-cysteine is produced by culturing an Escherichia bacterium having L-cysteine producing ability and containing a gene encoding an O-acetylserine sulphydrylase B or MalY regulatory protein that is modified so that cysteine desulfhydrase activity is reduced or eliminated. The bacterium is cultured in a medium to produce and cause accumulation of L-cysteine in the medium, and collecting L-cysteine from the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the gnd gene from coryneform bacteria coding for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases which contain at position 329 or a comparable position of the amino acid sequence any amino acid other than L-valine, and to processes for the production of amino acids, preferably L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by fermentation using bacteria that contain these alleles.

Abstract: O-acetylserine, L-cysteine and sulphurous compounds derived therefrom may be produced using a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia which harbors a mutant feedback-resistant serine acetyltransferases in which the amino acid sequence corresponding to positions from 89 to 96 in a wild-type serine acetyltransferase is replaced with any one of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 9, and feedback inhibition by L-cysteine in the bacterium is desensitized.

Abstract: According to the process for producing amino acid or salt thereof in the present invention, in the adsorption step, an amino acid-containing aqueous solution is fed into a pressure tight column so that a free amino acid is adsorbed on a carbonate-type anion exchange resin packed in the pressure tight column. Subsequently, in the elution step, eluent liquid containing a hydrogen carbonate ion and/or a carbonate ion is injected into the pressure tight column in a pressurized state to elute the amino acid adsorbed on the anion exchange resin and simultaneously to regenarate the anion exchange resin into the carbonate-type. In the case of purifying an acidic amino acid, an aqueous ammonium carbonate solution is employed as the eluent liquid. In the case of purifying a neutral amino acid, an aqueous carbonic acid solution, an aqueous hydrogen carbonate solution, an aqueous ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution or an aqueous ammonium carbonate solution is employed as the eluent liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mutated pyruvate carboxylase gene from Corynebacterium. The mutant pyruvate carboxylase gene encodes a pyruvate carboxylase enzyme which is resistant to feedback inhibition from aspartic acid. The present invention also relates to a method of replacing the wild-type pyruvate carboxylase gene in Corynebacterium with this feedback-resistant pyruvate carboxylase gene. The present invention further relates to methods of the production of amino acids, preferably lysine, comprising the use of this mutant pyruvate carboxylase enzyme in microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metF) gene.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel compounds comprising a ubiquitination recognition element and a protein binding element. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds for modulating the level and/or activity of a target protein. The compounds are useful for the treatment of disease such as infections, inflammatory conditions, cancer and genetic diseases. The compounds are also useful as insecticides and herbicides.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metA) gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of L-amino acids by fermentation of recombinant microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein a) the yfiD ORF and/or the pflB gene or nucleotide sequences coding for the gene products are overexpressed in the microorganisms producing the desired L-amino acid, and the microorganisms are cultured in a medium under conditions in which the desired L-amino acid is enriched in the medium or in the cells; and b) the desired L-amino acid is isolated, in a manner such that constituents of the fermentation broth and/or the biomass in its entirety or in portions (>0 to 100%) either remain in the isolated product or are completely removed.

Abstract: A process for producing a 2-alkylcysteinamide, which comprises hydrolysis of a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxamide represented by the general formula (2) or a salt thereof: wherein R represents a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms; and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms, or R1 and R2 are linked together to form an alicyclic, structure having 4–7 carbon atoms, excluding the case where both R1 and R2 are hydrogen, to give a 2-alkylcysteinamide represented by the general formula (1) or a salt thereof wherein R represents a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms. Cells of a microorganism or treated products thereof having activity of stereoselective hydrolysis of a 2-alkyl-L-cysteinamide are allowed to act on the compound represented by the general formula (1) to yield a 2-alkyl-L-cysteine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a homoserine transsuccinylase, which exhibits reduced sensitivity towards L-methionine or SAM in comparison with a homoserine transsuccinylase wild-type enzyme, whereby the latter comprises an amino acid sequence containing a TyrGlnXaaThrPro sub-sequence, the Thr of said sub-sequence lying between positions 285 and 310 of the amino acid sequence and position 1 being filled by the starter methionine. The inventive homoserine transsuccinylase is characterized in that in comparison with the wild-type enzyme at least 2 amino acids are modified, said modification taking place in the Thr of the sub-sequence or in the C-terminal.

Abstract: A methane-utilizing microorganism capable of producing L-amino acid, for example, bacteria belonging to type I, type X or type II in the taxonomic categorization methane-utilizing bacteria such as Methylomonas albus, Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylosinus trichosporium, is cultivated in a culture medium in contact with gas containing methane which is the main source of carbon, to allow the L-amino acid to be produced and accumulated in the medium, and the L-amino acid is collected from the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of simultaneously identifying and determining the levels of expression of cysteine-containing proteins in normal and perturbed cells, a method for proteomic analysis, a process for preparing fusion proteins, and compounds and reagents related thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a food material containing high quantities of cysteine. In this method, a yeast extract is prepared from yeast cells that contains ?-glutamylcysteine and the extract is concentrated by controlling the temperature to be not greater than 60° C. to prepare a food material in a liquid form, wherein the concentration of solids is at least 10% and the resulting food material is maintained at 70 to 130° C.