Abstract: The invention provides method and compositions to minimize the chlorophyll antenna size of photosynthesis by decreasing TLA2 gene expression, thereby improving solar conversion efficiencies and photosynthetic productivity in green microalgae, under bright sunlight conditions.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains. The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains, and carbohydrate binding domains.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity, catalytic domains and cellulose binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of use of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) to modulate microbial activity, such as to enhance or inhibit the activity of microorganisms. In one example, MSM (such as about 0.5% to 5% MSM) is used to enhance fermentation efficiency, such as to enhance fermentation efficiency associated with the production of beer, cider, wine, a biofuel, dairy product or any combination thereof. Also disclosed are in vitro methods for enhancing the growth of one or more probiotic microorganisms and methods of enhancing growth of a microorganism in a diagnostic test sample. Methods of inhibiting microbial activity are also disclosed. In one particular example, a method of inhibiting microbial activity includes selecting a medium that is susceptible to H1N1 influenza contamination; and contacting the medium with MSM at a concentration of about 10% to about 16% of weight by volume, thereby inhibiting H1N1 influenza microbial activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes, methods, and systems for converting biomass-derived feedstocks to liquid fuels and chemicals. The method generally includes the reaction of a hydrolysate from a biomass deconstruction process with hydrogen and a catalyst to produce a reaction product comprising one of more oxygenated compounds. The process also includes reacting the reaction product with a condensation catalyst to produce C4+ compounds useful as fuels and chemicals.

Abstract: Methods of producing cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials for use in papermaking include treating a cellulosic or lignocellulosic dry feedstock having a first average molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation such that the average molecular weight of the feedstock is reduced to a predetermined level. A method of producing an irradiated paper product includes treating a paper product including a first carbohydrate-containing material having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation so as to provide an irradiated paper product with a second carbohydrate-containing material having a second molecular weight higher than the first molecular weight. Pulp and paper products are produced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell wall degradative systems, in particular to systems containing enzymes that bind to and/or depolymerize cellulose. These systems have a number of applications. Some embodiments relate to a method of producing ethanol using the cell wall degradative systems of the present invention.

Abstract: The process for the production of alcohol and/or solvent from a biomass feedstock comprises the stages for pretreatment (P) of the biomass feedstock, for enzymatic hydrolysis (H) of the pretreated substrate, and for fermenting the hydrolyzate (F). To reduce the size of the fermenters, at least a portion of the solid residue contained in the hydrolyzate is extracted (Ex1) in such a way as to obtain a stream of solid residue (9) comprising lignin and a hydrolyzate (8) that is low in solid residue. Then, the stream of solid residue is washed (L) with a liquid stream in such a way as to recover a sugar-enriched liquid stream (15). The sugar-enriched liquid stream (15) is recycled in the enzymatic hydrolysis stage (H) to be able to upgrade the sugars without providing dilution of the streams in the process.

Abstract: Described is a nucleic acid sequence isolated from Persicaria hydropiper and encoding a drimenol oxidase protein, expression vectors comprising such nucleic acid sequence, chimeric genes comprising such nucleic acid sequence, host cells or host organisms altered to harbour the drimenol oxidase nucleic acid sequence, and the drimenol oxidase protein itself. Methods for producing cinnamolide and/or drimendiol and/or enhanced levels of cinnamolide and/or drimendiol, in a cell or organism harbouring such nucleic acid sequence are provided. Transgenic organisms comprising the nucleic acid sequence or a chimeric gene of the invention are also provided. The present invention especially relates to transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to insects and enhanced insect antifeedant properties.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity, catalytic domains and cellulose binding domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a secreted polypeptide having biological activity, comprising: (a) transforming a fungal host cell with a fusion protein construct encoding a fusion protein, which comprises: (i) a first polynucleotide encoding a signal peptide; (ii) a second polynucleotide encoding at least a catalytic domain of an endoglucanase or a portion thereof; and (iii) a third polynucleotide encoding at least a catalytic domain of a polypeptide having biological activity; wherein the signal peptide and at least the catalytic domain of the endoglucanase increases secretion of the polypeptide having biological activity compared to the absence of at least the catalytic domain of the endoglucanase; (b) cultivating the transformed fungal host cell under conditions suitable for production of the fusion protein; and (c) recovering the fusion protein, a component thereof, or a combination thereof, having biological activity, from the cultivation medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalene-2-ol represented by formula (2), wherein microbial conversion is carried out using a compound(s) represented by formula (1a) and/or (1b) as a substrate, the resulting culture product, in which microorganisms obtained by the microbial conversion are contained, and a solvent having an SP value within the range of 7.5 to 9.0 [(cal/cm3)1/2] are mixed together, and subsequently the aqueous phase is removed therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for converting CO2 and H2 to one or more biologically derived compounds. In some embodiments, the system comprises a host cell comprising one or more nucleic acids encoding genes for a recombinant surface display protein which is capable of tethering an electrocatalyst molecule, such as a cobalt(II) complex supported by tetradentate polypyridyl ligand 2-bis(2-pyridyl)(methoxy)methyl-6-pyridylpyridine (PY4), and enzymes for synthesizing a biologically derived compound, such as an alkane, alcohol, fatty acid, ester, or isoprenoid.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that express retinolic compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant Trichoderma host cells producing Aspergillus fumigatus cellulolytic enzyme compositions and methods of producing and using the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also provides nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A process for conversion of syngas to liquid products that serve as surface acting agents uses the gas stream at a relatively low pressure to eliminate the use of a compressor. The process uses a liquid stream as the primary energy input to a gas injector that intensely mixes gas and the liquid with reduced compression costs while the presence of the liquid product maintains the gas-liquid dispersion as it flows downward to build a static pressure head. The process lowers the required gas pressure by adjusting the elevation of the gas injector such that a conduit receives the gas-liquid dispersion from the outlet of the injector and confines it as it travels downward to enter the bottom of a column of liquid. The liquid product provides a surface acting agent that prolongs the creation and duration of microbubbles in the gas-liquid dispersion.

Abstract: Enzyme compositions including at least a) a cocktail of cellulases from Trichoderma reesei, and b) an enzymatic cocktail from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus including a cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) or c) a recombinant cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) from Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, preferably also including a Family 61 glycoside hydrolase. Also, methods for degrading a lignocellulosic biomass, for producing a fermentation product, for producing gluconic acid, xylonic acid and/or xylobionic acid, for enhancing the production of gluconic acid, xylonic acid and/or xylobionic acid or for increasing the yield of sugars from a lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzyme compositions comprising a polypeptide having cellobiohydrolase II activity, a polypeptide having xylanase activity, and one or more cellulolytic proteins and their use in the degradation or conversion of cellulosic material.

Abstract: The invention features isolated cytochrome P450 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules, as well as expression vectors and transgenic plants containing these molecules. In addition, the invention features uses of such molecules in methods of increasing the level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen in a transgenic plant, in methods for producing altered compounds, for example, hydroxylated compounds, and in methods of producing isoprenoid compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity, the polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity with amino acids 22 to 450 of SEQ ID NO: 4; b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity with the polypeptide encoded by the amylase encoding part of the polynucleotide inserted into a plasmid present in the E. coli host deposited under the Budapest Treaty with DSMZ under accession number DSM 15334; c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence which has at least 70% identity with the sequence shown from position 68 to 1417 in SEQ ID NO: 3; and d) a fragment of (a), (b) or (c) that has alpha-amylase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes a terpene synthase and is selected from among: a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the sequence of nucleotides set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 5; b) a nucleic acid molecule that is a fragment of (a); c) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides that is complementary to (a) or (b); and d) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a terpene synthase having at least or at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identity to any one of (a)-(c); wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a terpene synthase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A method of producing a prenyl alcohol(s) by culturing a mutant cell into which a fusion gene of farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene has been introduced and recovering the prenyl alcohol(s) from the resultant culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for converting a substrate of formula (III) and/or (IV) into a product of formula (I) or (II) comprising the following reactions: a) oxidation of at least one terminal C-atom, b) dehydratation, c) decarboxylation and d) reduction and/or amination. At least step b is enzyme-catalyzed. In a preferred embodiment, all reactions are enzymatically catalyzed. The enzymes catalyzing the reactions are selected from oxidoreductases, decarboxylases, dehydratases and/or aminotransferases. The process may be performed in a cell-free in vitro production system or in an improved fermentative production system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing sclareol, the method comprising contacting a particular polypeptide having a sclareol synthase activity with labdenediol diphosphate (LPP). In particular, the method may be carried out in vitro or in vivo to produce sclareol, a very useful compound in the fields of perfumery and flavoring. The present invention also provides the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide used in the method. A nucleic acid derived from Salvia sclarea and encoding the polypeptide of the invention, an expression vector containing the nucleic acid, as well as a non-human organism or a cell transformed to harbor the same nucleic acid, are also part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides method and compositions to minimize the chlorophyll antenna size of photosynthesis by decreasing TLA1 gene expression, thereby improving solar conversion efficiencies and photosynthetic productivity in plants, e.g., green microalgae, under bright sunlight conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of enzymatic hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic material, comprising the steps of: a) pretreating the lignocellulosic material to obtain a slurry having a pH of less than 6; b) adding NaOH, Ca(OH)2 and/or CaO to the slurry to increase its pH to at least 8, said addition being carried out at a slurry temperature of at least 60° C.; c) reducing the pH of the slurry to below 7; and optionally cooling the slurry from step b) to a temperature below 60° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for pre-treating cellulosic material and processes for improving hydrolysis thereof. In particular, cellulosic material such as woody biomass is contacted with one or more enzymes in a re-pulping step. The cellulosic material is then contacted with one or more enzymes to improve hydrolysis of the cellulosic material. The hydrolysis is also enzymatically enhanced by use of an amylase and/or mannanase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having alpha-glucuronidase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transformed Yarrowia lipolytica comprising an exogenous polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having sucrose invertase activity. Also disclosed are methods of using the transformed Y. lipolytica.

Abstract: Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95% content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The invention relates to xylanases and to polynucleotides encoding the xylanases. In addition, methods of designing new xylanases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The xylanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic saccharification of a lignocellulosic raw material, including adding a pretreated lignocellulosic raw material as a material suitable for an enzymatic saccharification reaction, together with an electrolyte containing a water-soluble salt, to water that contains a celluolose saccharification enzyme; saccharifying the raw material by an enzymatic saccharification reaction, as a suspension of the raw material having an electrical conductivity adjusted to 5-25 mS/cm; separating and recovering a reaction product and an enzyme-containing solution from the enzymatically saccharified treatment suspension; and recycling the recovered enzyme-containing solution as the enzyme for the enzymatic saccharification step.

Abstract: The invention features isolated cytochrome P450 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules, as well as expression vectors and transgenic plants containing these molecules. In addition, the invention features uses of such molecules in methods of increasing the level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen in a transgenic plant, in methods for producing altered compounds, for example, hydroxylated compounds, and in methods of producing isoprenoid compounds.

Abstract: Methods to convert lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars with enzymes that degrade the lignocellulosic material are provided, as well as novel combinations of enzymes, including those that provide a synergistic release of sugars from plant biomass.

Abstract: The invention provides variants of the Azospirillum irakense CelA ?-glucosidase that have improve ?-glucosidase activity, particularly improved thermoactivity, compared to the wild type enzyme. The invention further provides related polynucleotides, vectors, host cell, and methods for making and using the variants.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a novel NAD+-independent myo-inositol 2-dehydrogenase which converts myo-inositol into scyllo-inosose in the absence of NAD+; a novel enzyme scyllo-inositol dehydrogenase which stereospecifically reduces scyllo-inosose into scyllo-inositol in the presence of NADH or NADPH; and a novel microorganism which belongs to the genus Acetobacter or Burkholderia and can convert myo-inositol into scyllo-inositol. By using these enzymes or the microorganism, scyllo-inositol is produced. Furthermore, scyllo-inositol is purified by adding boric acid and a metal salt to a liquid mixture containing scyllo-inositol and a neutral saccharide other than scyllo-inositol to form a scyllo-inositol/boric acid complex, separating the complex from the liquid mixture, dissolving the thus separated complex in an acid to give an acidic solution or an acidic suspension and then purifying scyllo-inositol from the acidic solution or the acidic suspension.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.