Abstract: A process for producing high yields of enantioselective amino acids and chiral amines by reacting a keto acid or ketone and an amino acid donor in the presence of a transaminase biocatalyst to produce a keto acid by-product and an amino acid or amine product. Further reacting the keto acid by-product with a peroxide to increase the yield of additional amino acid or amine product.

Abstract: 4-(Indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of monatin, may be synthesized from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (and/or oxalacetic acid) by using a novel aldolase derived from the genus Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, or Xanthomonas.

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 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: Genes have been isolated from Rhodococcus and Deinococcus which encode a specific lycopene ?-cyclase capable of converting acyclic carotenoids with at least one ?-end group to the corresponding asymmetric carotenoid containing a single ?-ionone ring end group. The genes are new. Transformed host cells expressing the present genes and methods for the bio-conversion of acylic carotenoid substrates to corresponding asymmetric carotenoid are also provided.

Abstract: Transgenic microbial strains are provided which contain the genes required for PHA formation integrated on the chromosome. The strains are advantageous in PHA production processes, because (1) no plasmids need to be maintained, generally obviating the required use of antibiotics or other stabilizing pressures, and (2) no plasmid loss occurs, thereby stabilizing the number of gene copies per cell throughout the fermentation process, resulting in homogeneous PHA product formation throughout the production process. Genes are integrated using standard techniques, preferably transposon mutagenesis. In a preferred embodiment wherein mutiple genes are incorporated, these are incorporated as an operon. Sequences are used to stabilize mRNA, to induce expression as a function of culture conditions (such as phosphate concentration), temperature, and stress, and to aid in selection, through the incorporation of selection markers such as markers conferring antibiotic resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of an organic acid from a fermentation broth which comprises drying the fermentation broth to obtain a dried product, adding the dried product to a lower alcohol in the presence of an acid, and then removing the insoluble material to obtain an organic acid. In accordance with the recovery process of the present invention, organic acids of a high purity can be recovered in high yields from the whole fermentation solution containing various impurities with fewer steps as compared with conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of an organic acid from a fermentation broth which comprises drying the fermentation broth to obtain a dried product, adding the dried product to a lower alcohol in the presence of an acid, and then removing the insoluble material to obtain an organic acid. In accordance with the recovery process of the present invention, organic acids of a high purity can be recovered in high yields from the whole fermentation solution containing various impurities with fewer steps as compared with conventional methods. In an embodiment, the fermentation broth is a whole broth containing insolubles including all microbial biomass present after fermentation. The insolubles are not separated until the organic acid is recovered. Prior to recovery, the organic acid may be esterified to the corresponding ester, and the insolubles are removed to recover the ester.

Abstract: Transgenic microbial strains are provided which contain the genes required for PHA formation integrated on the chromosome. The strains are advantageous in PHA production processes, because (1) no plasmids need to be maintained, generally obviating the required use of antibiotics or other stabilizing pressures, and (2) no plasmid loss occurs, thereby stabilizing the number of gene copies per cell throughout the fermentation process, resulting in homogeneous PHA product formation throughout the production process. Genes are integrated using standard techniques, preferably transposon mutagenesis. In a preferred embodiment wherein mutiple genes are incorporated, these are incorporated as an operon. Sequences are used to stabilize mRNA, to induce expression as a function of culture conditions (such as phosphate concentration), temperature, and stress, and to aid in selection, through the incorporation of selection markers such as markers conferring antibiotic resistance.

Abstract: L-amino acid oxidases (L-AAO) from Rhodococcus species and nucleic acids, vectors and microorganisms expressing such L-AAOs. L-AAOs may be used to selectively transform the L-portion of a racemic mixture of an amino acid into keto acid, and thus purify the corresponding D-amino acid.

Abstract: In a method for producing an oxide which comprises cultivating a strain of microorganism of the genus Gluconobacter, the genus Acetobacter, the genus_Pseudogluconobacter, the genus Pseudomonas, the genus_Corynebacterium, or the genus Erwinia to oxidize a substrate in a culture medium, an assimilable carbon source other than the substrate is admixed in the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the production of ASA from yeast capable of producing ASA from KLG. The present invention provides methods for the production of ASA as well as recombinant yeast capable of producing ASA from a carbon source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for industrially advantageously producing (S)-4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid and for producing compounds which are formed by biosynthesis from the precursor (S)-4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid, for example, for producing the compounds (2S,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-glutamic acid and (2S,4S)-4-hydroxy-L-proline, using a recombinant microorganism carrying a recombinant DNA harboring the DNA fragment encoding 4(S)-4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid aldolase gene.

Abstract: Coal is treated aerobically or anaerobically to produce humic acid, volatile fatty acids, lower alcohols, and/or methane using a consortium of bacteria designated Mic-1 or KSARC56. This process can also be used to convert aromatic compounds, such as phenols and derivatives thereof, to methane and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Coal is treated aerobically or anaerobically to produce humic acid, volatile fatty acids, lower alcohols, and/or methane using a consortium of bacteria designated Mic-1 or KSARC56. This process can also be used to convert aromatic compounds, such as phenols and derivatives thereof, to methane and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for accumulating a poly-3-hydroxy butyric acid in bacterial cells by continuously fermenting a methanol-assimilating bacterium having a capability of producing a poly-3-hydroxy butyric acid, in a single fermentation vessel by using methanol as carbon source at a limited feeding rate of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium such that the retention time for the fermentation is more than 10 hours.

Abstract: We describe a bioorganic process for the preparation of cyclopentanone and cyclopentenone derivatives of formula ##STR1## by .beta.-oxidation of appropriate substrates, carried out by means of microorganisms.The process is useful for preparation of 3-oxo-2-pentyl-1-cyclopentaneacetic and (Z)-3-oxo-2-(2-pentenyl)-1-cyclopentane-acetic acids and their methyl esters, compounds useful in the perfume and flavor industries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid, by mixing glyoxylic acid, pyruvic acid and a microorganism to form the optically active 4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A production process of optically active amino acids comprising causing a microorganism belonging to Rhodococcus, Mycobacterium, Arthrobacter, Nocardiopsis or Bacillus sp. and having nitrile-hydrolyzing activity to act on a nitrile or derivative thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of .alpha.-hydroxy acids or .alpha.-hydroxyamides in which an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile compound or a mixture consisting of an aldehyde and prussic acid, which corresponds to the nitrile compound, is allowed to undergo a microbial reaction to produce the corresponding .alpha.-hydroxy acid or .alpha.-hydroxyamide, wherein the improvement resides in that phosphite ions or hypophosphite ions are allowed to be present in the reaction system. According to the present invention, since hydrolysis or hydration of nitrile compounds can be carried out by constantly keeping a low concentration level of aldehydes which are considered to be a cause of the enzyme inhibition in the reaction system, the enzyme activity can be maintained stably for a prolonged period of time and the formed acids or amides can therefore be accumulated in a high concentration.

Abstract: Pyrrolo-quinoline quinone (PQQ) is microbiologically produced by culturing a bacterium in a medium containing methanol, methylamine or a mixture thereof as a carbon source and recovering PQQ from the culture medium. The bacteria are strains of Methylobacterium, Ancylobacter, Hyphomicrobium, Xanthobacter, Thiobacillus, Microcyclus and Achromobacter.

Abstract: A process for biologically producing an .alpha.-hydroxyamide or an .alpha.-hydroxy acid represented by formula (III) ##STR1## wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group or a substituted or unsubstituted and saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic group; and X represents an amido group or a carboxyl group, comprising reacting an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile represented by formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above, or a mixture of an aldehyde represented by formula (II):R--CHO (II)wherein R is as defined above, and hydrogen cyanide with a microorganism capable of producing such an amide or acid from the corresponding .alpha.-hydroxynitrile is disclosed, in which the reaction system contains a sulfite ion, a disulfite ion or a dithionite ion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a general method of enzymatic synthesis of isotopically labeled carbohydrates, sugars and nucleosides. Labeled citric acid cycle intermediates, amino acids and ribose mononucleotides may be rapidly and conveniently synthesized from labeled pyruvate, lactate or L-alanine. The method employs a novel nicotinamide dinucleotide regeneration system which permits use of low NADH levels. The method may be manipulated to allow labeling at a variety of carbon/hydrogen sites.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence coding for a repressor protein for regulating gene expression comprises about a 687 bp nucleotide region beginning about 81 bases upstream from the 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase structural gene shown in FIG. 3. The repressor protein comprises about 229 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence is useful for regulating gene expression in recombinant expression vectors. The vectors and E. coli cells transformed with the vectors are useful for preparing Pseudomonas cepacia 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for cloning and producing the NcoI restriction endonuclease by 1) introducing the restriction endonuclease gene from N. corallina into a host whereby the restriction gene is expressed; 2) fermenting the host which contains the plasmid encoding and expressing the NcoI restriction endonuclease activity, and 3) purifying the NcoI restriction endonuclease from the fermented host which contains the plasmid encoding and expressing the NcoI restriction endonuclease activity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KLG) from 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid (2,5-DKG) using a DNA sequence encoding 2,5-DKG reductase. The 2-KLG is a precursor for the synthesis of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

Abstract: This invention provides a continuous bioconversion process in which a non-growth toluene substrate is bio-oxidized by a specific microbe mutant strain to accumulated extracellular muconic acid at a bioreactor production rate of at least about 5 grams of muconic acid per liter of fermentation medium per hour.Essential features of the invention process include a continuous feed of whole cell-containing fermentation broth from an auxiliary cell growth and enzyme induction fermentation zone into the main fermentation zone, and a purge stream of whole cell-containing fermentation broth from the main fermentation zone.

Abstract: A process for carrying out enzymatic oxidations is described.

Abstract: Yeasts of the genus cryptococcus, preferably of the species C. Laurentii, form, in the presence of aminoacids, an L-aminoacid oxidase which stereospecifically converts L-aminoacids and their derivatives into the corresponding .alpha.-ketoacids. The immobilized cells are advantageously used for this conversion, which can also be used to resolve racemates.

Abstract: 2-keto-L-gluonic acid (2-KLG) is prepared from 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid (2,5-DKG) using a microorganism containing the enzyme 2,5-DKG reductase produced by an expression plasmid encoding a gene for the enzyme. The product, 2-KLG is a precursor for the synthesis of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

Abstract: A D-aminoacid transaminase which converts CPC with .DELTA.-keto acids into .DELTA.-ketoadipinyl-7-ACA can be isolated from Bacillus Licheniformis ATCC 9945. This transamination can be applied to other D-amino acids and can also be used for the preparation of D-amino acids from .DELTA.-keto acids. The enzyme is also suitable for resolving racemates of D,L-amino acids and for detection of .DELTA.-keto acids alongside L-amino acids.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved bioconversion system in which a non-growth organic substrate is bio-oxidized to a carboxylic acid product, and the carboxylic acid product is recovered as a precipitate and the resultant fermentation broth is suitable for recycle to the bioreactor. A useful water-insoluble salt is also recovered as a byproduct of the process.

Abstract: An improved fermentation process for producing carboxylic acids, especially fumaric acid, is disclosed. The improvement comprises growing fungi of genus Rhizopus in the presence of an effective amount of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters having fatty acid residues of 12 to 24 carbons, and triglyceride mixtures.