Abstract: An absorbent article is disclosed having a topsheet, a backsheet joined with the topsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a synthetic superabsorbent polymer derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound, wherein said superabsorbent polymer exhibits a defined Saline Flow Conductivity value and Absorption Against Pressure value. Alternately, an absorbent article is disclosed having a synthetic polyolefin derived from a first renewable resource via at least one intermediate compound. The synthetic polyolefin exhibits defined performance characteristics making the polyolefin particularly useful in certain components of the absorbent article. Methods for making the aforementioned absorbent articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a muconate pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a muconate pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce muconate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides with cis-aconitic decarboxylase activity, the cells transformed with such nucleotide sequences, preferably fungal or plant cells, and to methods wherein such transformed cells are use for the production of itaconic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an adipate ester or thioester. The invention further relates to a method for preparing adipic acid from said ester or thioester. Further the invention provides a number of methods for preparing an intermediate for said ester or thioester. Further the invention relates to a method for preparing 6-amino caproic acid (6-ACA), a method for preparing 5-formyl valeric acid (5-FVA), and a method for preparing caprolactam. Further, the invention relates to a host cell for use in a method according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant eukaryotic microbial cell comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous enzyme catalysing the conversion from phosphoenolpyruvate to oxaloacetate whereby ATP is generated. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a dicarboxylic acid such as succinic acid and fumaric acid, comprising fermenting the eukaryotic microbial cell according to the invention in a suitable fermentation medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an itaconate transporting Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporter (MFST) gene sequence and the protein encoded thereby. Preferably said sequence is the nucleic acid that comprises the sequence of ATEG_09972.1 of Aspergillus terreus or homologues thereof. Overexpression of the protein enhances the production of itaconic acid in micro-organisms.

Abstract: Method for producing itaconic acid in yeast cells using glycerol as the substrate. The yeast cells express cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase and optionally, citrate synthase and/or aconitase at high levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus, which has an activity of hydroxylating a compound represented by the formula (I-a): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or an alkali metal, and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or a ring-closed lactone form thereof; a DNA encoding the protein; and a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA.

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: Improved constructs for increasing efficiency of transformation of thermophilic host cells for production of carbon-based products of interest and methods for producing carbon-based products of interest are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a polyketide synthase (PKS) capable of synthesizing a dicarboxylic acid (diacid). Such diacids include diketide-diacids and triketide-diacids. The invention includes recombinant nucleic acid encoding the PKS, and host cells comprising the PKS. The invention also includes methods for producing the diacids.

Abstract: A method for producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), comprising (i) culturing in a culture medium containing a substrate comprising one or more monoaromatic hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene and styrene, one or more strains of Pseudomonas putida selected from the group consisting of F1, mt-2 and CA-3 having the respective accession numbers DSM 6899, NCIMB10432 and NCIMB41162; and (ii) recovering the PHA produced from the culture medium; with the proviso that the substrate cannot comprise styrene in the absence of at least one of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and ortho-, meta- or para-xylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of methacrylic acid or methacrylic esters, comprising the process steps of IA) preparation of 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid by a process comprising the process step of bringing a cell which has been genetically modified in comparison with its wild type in such a way that it is capable of forming more 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid, or polyhydroxyalkanoates based on 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid in comparison with its wild type, into contact with a nutrient medium comprising, as carbon source, carbohydrates, glycerol, carbon dioxide, methanol, L-valine or L-glutamate under conditions under which 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid or polyhydroxyalkanoates based on 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid are formed from the carbon source, if appropriate, isolation of the 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid from the nutrient medium and also, if appropriate, neutralization of the 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid, IB) dehydration of the 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid with formation of methacrylic acid and also, where

Abstract: Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.

Abstract: A method for developing a culture medium using genome information and in silico analysis. In one implementation, the method involves developing a minimal synthetic medium, including the steps of constructing a metabolic network using genome information of prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell, selecting components of the minimal synthetic medium removing any one among external metabolites from the constructed metabolic network and conducting metabolic flux analysis using in silico simulation, and determining a final culture medium by actual culture.

Abstract: Industrial-scale fermentative production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid from terephthalic acid. Also, a protocatechuate 4,5-ring-cleaving enzyme gene-disrupted strain in which the gene coding for (a) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or (b) the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 which has a deletion, substitution, addition and/or insertion of one or more amino acids and exhibits protocatechuate 4,5-ring cleavage activity, present in the chromosomal DNA of microbial cells, has been disrupted; recombinant plasmids comprising the Tph gene and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase gene; transformants obtained by introducing the recombinant plasmids into the disrupted strain; and a process for production of 3-carboxy-cis,cis-muconic acid and/or 3-carboxymuconolactone characterized by culturing the transformants in the presence of terephthalic acid.

Abstract: Genetically modified strains of C. tropicalis, which will not revert to wild-type activity at the POX 4 and/or POX 5 locus, are disclosed. The strains are ?-oxidation blocked and have been transformed through homologous recombination with a construct which deletes a portion of the POX 4 and/or POX 5 gene. The modified strains may be used to increase yields of dicarboxylic acids produced in host cells of the strains. Methods for blocking the ?-oxidation pathway in a C. tropicalis host cell are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing fermentation product from various carbon sources containing glycerol using Corynebacteria. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for producing fermentation product from carbon sources containing glycerol or a part of glycerol with high yield and high productivity, by fermenting Corynebacteria introduced with the foreign gene glpDFK facilitating the use of glycerol and accumulating industrially useful amino acids in the culture medium.

Abstract: Systems for detecting molecular modifications and the presence and/or activity of enzymes and/or other agents involved in facilitating or otherwise regulating such modifications.

Abstract: The present invention particularly discovered strains that are capable of producing a long-chain dicarboxylic acid by culturing microorganisms belonging to Candida vini Candida entamophila, Candida blankii and Pichia farinosa which has the ability to produce a long-chain dicarboxylic acid in a liquid medium containing a straight-chain saturated hydrocarbon (tridecane) as substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a particulate construct comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate to serve as microcapsules containing a drug, and serving a slow releasing preparation not associated with a practically unacceptable initial burst release but showing a practically acceptable zero-order release for a certain period and a producing method for such particulate construct, and a slow releasing preparation of a high drug content capable of stably incorporating the drug in the particulate construct such as microcapsules, and a producing method for such preparation.

Abstract: DNA constructs and genetically engineered microbial strains constructed using these DNA constructs, which produce a nuclease enzyme with specificity for DNA and/or RNA, are provided. These strains secrete nuclease into the periplasm or growth medium in an amount effective to enhance productivity and/or recovery of polymer, and are particularly suited for use in high cell density fermentation processes. These constructs are useful for modifying microbial strains to improve production and recovery processes for polymers such as intracellular proteins, such as enzymes, growth factors, and cytokines; for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates; and for producing extracellular polysaccharides, such as xanthan gum, alginates, gellan gum, zooglan, hyaluronic acid and microbial cellulose.

Abstract: Provided are a novel microorganism and a method for purifying 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with high purity using the microorganism. The microorganism is Pseudomonas sp. Strain HN-72 isolated from soil and has the ability to convert 2-formyl-6-naphthoic acid contained as an impurity in a crude naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, which is an oxidation product of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, to 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid. The Pseudomonas sp. strain HN-72 has excellent effects in producing high-purity 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid in high yield.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.

Abstract: Non-amino organic acids such as succinic acid, malic acid and fumaric acid are produced by reacting bacterial cells or treated bacterial cells of a coryneform bacterium with an organic raw material in an aqueous medium containing magnesium carbonate and/or magnesium hydroxide, and a certain range of concentration of a monovalent cation, while maintaining the pH within a certain range without increasing the volume of the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for making or modifying oils, e.g., plant, animal or microbial oils, such as vegetable oils or related compounds, that are low in a particular fatty acid(s), for example, low linoleic oils, low linolenic oils, low palmitic oils, low stearic oils or oils low in a combination thereof.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient industrial method for obtaining (S)-2-pentanol, (S)-2-hexanol, 1-methylalkyl malonic acid and 3-methyl carboxylic acid at a high optical purity. The present invention provides a method of producing (S)-2-pentanol or (S)-2-hexanol which comprises allowing certain types of microorganisms or transformed cells, a product obtained by treating said microorganisms or cells, a culture solution of said microorganisms or cells, and/or a crude purified product or purified product of a carbonyl reductase fraction obtained from said microorganisms or cells, to act on 2-pentanone or 2-hexanone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fungal host cells that are transformed with a nucleic acid construct encoding a fungal oxygen-binding proteins or fragments thereof that comprise the oxygen-binding domain. Upon transformation of the host cell with the construct, the oxygen-binding protein confers to the host cell improved fermentation characteristics as compared to untransformed host cells. These characteristics include e.g. increases in oxygen uptake rates, biomass densities, volumetric productivities and/or product yields. The invention further relates to fermentation processes in which the host cells are used and to fungal oxygen binding proteins, in particular fungal flavohemoglobins and hemoglobin domains, and to nucleotides sequences encoding these proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide a method for agglomerating particles of a poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid and enlarging its particle size. The present invention provides a method for agglomerating a poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid which comprises suspending particles of the poly-3-hydroxyalkanoic acid in a hydrophilic solvent or a mixture comprising water and a hydrophilic solvent, and stirring the obtained suspension at a temperature not more than the boiling point of said suspension.

Abstract: A process for forming a color and odor stable polycarboxylic acid or polyhydroxy acid is provided. The process is carried out by fermenting a mixture containing a substrate which can be converted by fermentation into a polycarboxylic acid or a polyhydroxy acid, an organism capable of transforming the substrate by fermentation in a fermentation medium containing a source of carbon and energy, a source of inorganic nitrogen, a source of phosphate, a metal, a biotin which is substantially free of particulate matter and bacteria.

Abstract: Biooxidation reactions can be controlled by a method which comprises the steps of: (1) independently adding a substrate and a co-substrate at predetermined rates to a bioxidation reaction mixture comprised of a biocatalyst; (2) measuring the oxygen consumption rate and carbon dioxide evolution rate from the reaction mixture; (3) determining the instantaneous rates of substrate and cosubstrate consumption by solving simultaneous equations relating carbon dioxide evolution rate and oxygen consumption rate to the substrate oxidation stoichiometry, the cosubstrate combustion stoichiometry, and optionally the biomass formation stoichiometry; (4) simultaneously adjusting the substrate and cosubstrate addition rates to the rates of substrate oxidation and cosubstrate consumption in order to maximize the rate of product formation while simultaneously minimizing the rate of cosubstrate usage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus, which has an activity of hydroxylating a compound represented by the formula (I-a): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or an alkali metal, and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or a ring-closed lactone form thereof; a DNA encoding the protein; and a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the kinetic resolution of racemic functionalized epoxides in the presence of microorganisms, crude or pure preparations thereof comprising a polypeptide having epoxide hydrolase activity. Preferred microorganisms are yeasts and bacteria which may also be recombinant.

Abstract: A process for producing biopolymers comprises passing nitrogen deficient wastewater through a treatment system comprising micro-organisms which grow aerobically in nitrogen deficient wastewater, and controlling the environment in the treatment system by maintaining a sufficiently stable dissolved oxygen level to thereby encourage the growth and/or activity of micro-organisms which produce the biopolymers, and recovering the biomass produced and the biopolymers.

Abstract: A polyester containing aromatic moieties is contacted with microorganisms having the activity of decomposing the polyester to decompose or reduce it. Preferably, either or both of Trichosporon FERM BP-6445 or Arthrobacter FERM BP-6444 was contacted with the polyester to decompose or reduce it. A fiber made of the polyester or a cloth made of such fiber may be reduced by contacting it with the microorganisms having the activity of decomposing the polyester.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of an organic acid, such as a heat stable lactic acid, from a feed stream which contains at least one of an organic acid amide, an organic acid ammonium salt, or an alkylamine-organic acid complex. The feed stream is mixed with at least one azeotroping agent. The azeotroping agent is a hydrocarbon capable of forming at least one azeotrope with the organic acid that is produced by the thermal decomposition of the amide, ammonium salt, or complex in the feed stream. Preferably the azeotrope is a heteroazeotrope. The mixture of the feed stream and the azeotroping agent is heated to produce a vapor stream. The azeotrope is a component of the vapor stream. The vapor stream can be condensed to a liquid stream, and the organic acid is recovered in the liquid stream that is produced. When the azeotrope is a heteroazeotrope, the vapor stream can be condensed into a liquid stream, which can be separated into a first phase and a second phase.

Abstract: A polyester containing aromatic moieties is contacted with microorganisms having the activity of decomposing the polyester to decompose or reduce it. Preferably, either or both of Trichosporon FERM BP-6445 or Arthrobacter FERM BP-6444 was contacted with the polyester to decompose or reduce it. A fiber made of the polyester or a cloth made of such fiber may be reduced by contacting it with the microorganisms having the activity of decomposing the polyester.

Abstract: A method is provided which biosynthesizes a PHA having an epoxy group on a side chain with improved physicochemical properties. Specifically, a method of producing a polyester containing an epoxy group in a side chain thereof using alkene as a raw material is provided which comprises the steps of bringing alkene into contact with a microorganism having an ability to uptake alkene and convert it to a polyester and allowing the microorganism to convert the alkene into a polyester containing an epoxy group in a side chain thereof. Further, a method of producing a crosslinked polymer is provided which comprises reacting the polyester obtained by the above mentioned method with a diamine compound.

Abstract: A gene cluster has been isolated from an Acinetobacter sp. that encodes the enzymes expected to convert cyclohexanol to adipic acid. The entire gene cluster has been cloned and all open reading frames have been sequenced. Cosmid clones have been identified containing the gene cluster. Demonstration of conversion of cyclohexanol to adipic acid has been made with the recombinant E. coli host strain containing the cosmids.

Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included. The resulting carboxylic acid is hydrogenated to produce a saturated carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A fermentation medium containing: (a) a source of metabolizable carbon and energy; (b) a source of inorganic nitrogen; (c) a source of phosphate; (d) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, and mixtures thereof; and (e) biotin, substantially free of particulate matter and bacteria.

Abstract: A process for recovering carboxylic acids from an aqueous mixture such as a fermentation broth using a solvent containing at least one olefin without the need for first removing the spent microorganism cells is provided. A co-solvent which increases the partition coefficient of the solvent relative to the carboxylic acid may optionally be included. The resulting carboxylic acid is hydrogenated to produce a saturated carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Newly-isolated and purified metabolites which are effective in regulating the development of at least one filamentous fungal microorganism species are disclosed. These compounds, which are referred to as conidiogenol and conidiogenone, may be used to induce conidiation in and/or to inhibit the growth of populations of such fungal species. The compounds are preferably produced by culture of the fungal species Penicillium cyclopium, and may be subsequently recovered from the culture medium and purified. Methods of using and methods of producing these compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a process for oxidation of a hydroxy group of C1 and/or C2 and/or C3 and/or C4 and/or C5 and/or C6 of a sugar monomer of an oligo- or a polysaccharide comprising contacting, in an aqueous medium, the oligo- or the polysaccharide with a phenol oxidizing enzyme and an enhancing agent, whereby an oligo- or a polysaccharide with altered characteristics compared to the native oligo- or polysaccharide is created.

Abstract: The present invention provides fatty alcohol oxidase (FAO) proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding the FAO proteins. Also provided are analogs, derivatives, and enzymatically active fragments of the FAO proteins. Vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules encoding the FAO proteins, analogs, derivatives and enzymatically active fragments thereof are also provided. In addition, FAO signature peptides and isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the signature peptides are provided by the present invention. Methods of producing or increasing production of a subject FAO protein, methods for increasing aldehyde production during the second step of the &ohgr;-oxidation pathway of fatty acids, methods for increasing production of a ketone from an alcohol during the second step of the &ohgr;-oxidation pathway of fatty acids, and methods for increasing production of a dicarboxylic acid are also provided.

Abstract: A 10 kb gene cluster has been isolated from Rhodococcus ruber SC1 comprising genes encoding enzymes useful for the synthesis of dodecanoic diacid from cyclododecanone and other cyclic intermediates. The six specific open reading frames have been identified that are associated with dodecanoic diacid biosynthesis. In addition to the expected substrates the enzymes of the instant invention have moderate specificity for C11-C15 compounds.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the molecular weight of a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing at least one of a unit: —[OCH((CH2)mR1)CH2C(O)]— (m=1-8; R1 is a residue having a ring structure of any of phenyl and thienyl structure), and a unit: —[OCH((CH2)kC6H1)R2)CH2C(O)]— (k=0-8; R2 denotes a substituent on the cyclohexyl group including H, CN, NO2, halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5 or C3F7), wherein a microorganism is cultivated in the presence of a hydroxyl group-containing compound, which is capable of producing the polyhydroxyalkanoate from R3(CH2)qCH2CH2COOH (q=1-8; R3 contains a residue having a ring structure of phenyl or thienyl) or R4C6H10(CH2)rCH2CH2COOH (r=0-8; R4 denotes a substituent on the cyclohexyl group including H, CN, NO2, halogen, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7).

Abstract: This invention relates to a biocatalytic process to produce terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid from p-xylene and m-xylene, respectively. Terephthalic acid has been prepared by oxidizing p-xylene with bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia. Conversion of p-xylene into terephthalic acid is accomplished by a single bacterial strain that produces all of the requisite enzymes. In addition, this invention relates to the preparation of isophthalic acid from a mixture of m- and p-xylene.

Abstract: A novel pathway for the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate is provided. A method of synthesizing a recombinant polyhydroxyalkanoate monomer synthase is also provided. These recombinant polyhydroxyalknoate synthases are derived from multifunctional fatty acid synthases or polyketide synthases and generate hydroxyacyl acids capable of polymerization by a polyhydroxyalknoate synthase.