Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying polyphenol containing plant material(s), wherein said method comprises: mixing at least one polyphenol containing material and at least one solvent to provide a mixture; heating the mixture to eliminate bacterial species present to provide a heated mixture; adding at least one polyphenol modifying strain of lactic acid bacteria and optionally at least one protein source, in optional order or simultaneously, to the heated mixture to provide a fermentation mixture; and subjecting the fermentation mixture to conditions suitable for fermentation of the fermentation mixture to provide a mixture of modified polyphenol containing plant material(s); and optionally eliminating the polyphenol modifying strain of lactic acid bacteria to provide a mixture of modified polyphenol containing plant material(s) free from living lactic acid bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention comprises crystalline polyketide synthases, isolated non-native polyketide synthases having the structural coordinates of said crystalline polyketide synthases, and nucleic acid encoding such non-native polyketide synthases. Also disclosed are methods of producing mutant polyketide synthases, and methods of altering the activity and/or substrate specificity of putative polyketide synthases.

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 invention relates to a method for producing the optically active alkanols of formula (I), wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 5; Cyc represents an optionally substituted, mononuclear or polynuclear, saturated or unsaturated, carbocylic or heterocyclic ring, and R1 represents halogen, SH, OH, NO2, NR2R3 or NR2R3R4+X?, wherein R2, R3 and R4 independently represent H or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group and X? represents a counterion. According to the invention, an enzyme (E) selected from the groups of dehydrogenases, aldehyde reductases and carbonyl reductases is incubated in a medium containing the alkanone of formula (II), wherein n, Cyc and R1 are defined as above, in the presence of reduction equivalents.

Abstract: A cis- or trans-stilbenoid of the general formula (1): in which each of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is hydrogen or hydroxy, or a glycosylated or oligomeric form thereof, is produced by cultivating a micro-organism producing said stilbenoid, in a multi-phase system comprising at least an aqueous first phase containing said micro-organism and a second phase immiscible with said aqueous phase in which (e.g. as which) said stilbenoid accumulates. The second phase may be said stilbenoid or a free or encapsulated solvent compatible with the growth of the micro-organism, for instance an ester.

Abstract: A process for the production of natural ferulic acid, coniferyl alcohol and/or vanillin, includes the bio-conversion of eugenol by a bacteria belonging to the Streptomyces genes including at least one nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8 or any nucleotide sequence having at least 70%, preferably 80% and very preferably 90%, identity with the sequence SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:8.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified microorganisms capable of direct production of hydroxytyrosol (hereinafter also referred to as Hy-T) from a carbon source obtainable from the D-glucose metabolization pathway. The invention also relates to polynucleotide sequences comprising genes that encode proteins which are involved in the synthesis of Hy-T. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the direct production of Hy-T.

Abstract: A method for producing optically active alcohols of formula (Ia) or (Ib), wherein R1, R2 are alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or alkylaryl groups, which in turn can be mono-substituted or poly-substituted with alkyl, halogen, SH, SR2, OH, OR2, NO2, CN, CO, COOR2, NR2R3 or NR2R3R4+X, wherein R2, R3 and R4 independently of each other are H or a low-alkyl or low-alkoxy radical, and X? is a counterion, with the stipulation that R1 is not identical to R2, by reduction of the corresponding ketone, the reduction being performed with a dehydrogenase having the polypeptide sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or NO:4, or having a polypeptide sequence in which up to 25% of the amino acid radicals are modified relative to SEQ ID NO:2 or NO:4 by deletion, insertion, substitution, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A promoter for a polycondensation reaction used together with a catalyst in a polycondensation reaction, the promoter for a polycondensation reaction comprising a pyrogallol compound having a benzene ring of which three hydrogen atoms adjacent to each other are substituted by hydroxyl groups; and a polycondensation resin obtained by polycondensing raw material monomers using the promoter as defined above and the catalyst. A polycondensation resin can be produced using the promoter of the present invention together with a catalyst in a polycondensation reaction, and the polycondensation resin can be used in various applications including, for example, films, sheets, fibers, toner materials for electrophotography, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of hydroxytyrosol from microorganisms, whereby a modification of said polynucleotides and/or encoded polypeptides has a direct or indirect impact on yield, production, and/or efficiency of production of hydroxytyrosol in said microorganism. The invention also features polynucleotides comprising the full length polynucleotide sequences of the novel genes and fragments thereof, the novel polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, as well as their functional equivalents. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the production of hydroxytyrosol.

Abstract: The invention provides variant phytase enzymes having increased thermal stability relative to their counterpart parent enzymes. The modifications to the enzymes include both single substitutions and various combinations of substitutions that provide improved stability and activity. The invention further provides nucleic acids encoding the variant phytase enzymes, host cells and vectors containing and expressing them, as well as feed compositions useful for providing improved nutrition, particularly with respect to the bioavailability of dietary phosphate, calcium, iron and zinc, among others.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified microorganisms capable of direct production of hydroxytyrosol (hereinafter also referred to as Hy-T) from tyrosol. The invention also relates to polynucleotide sequences comprising genes that encode proteins which are involved in the synthesis of Hy-T from tyrosol. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms. The invention also relates to genetically engineered microorganisms and their use for the conversion of tyrosol into Hy-T.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel alcohol dehydrogenase, a gene for the alcohol dehydrogenase, a vector including the gene, a transformant transformed with the vector, and a method for producing an optically active alcohol by utilizing them. A feature of the present invention directs to a novel polypeptide isolated from Candida maltosa, a DNA coding for the polypeptide, and a transformant producing the polypeptide. Another feature of the present invention directs to a method for producing an optically-active alcohol by reducing a carbonyl compound with the polypeptide or the transformant.

Abstract: Yeast comprising at least one gene encoding vanillyl alcohol oxidase, the sequence of which is the sequence SEQ ID No. 1 or any sequence at least 70%, preferably 80%, very preferably 90% homologous to the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, and methods for producing coniferyl alcohol, ferulic acid and vanillin.

Abstract: Particular aspects provide novel methods for redirecting carbon allocation in plants or cell culture from lignification to inherently more useful and tractable materials, and to facilitate the generation of, e.g., biofuels from the remaining plant roculture biomass. Particular aspects provided novel methods for converting monolignols into allyl/propenyl phenols, and for chavicol/eugenol formation or production. Additional aspects relate to the discovery of novel chavicol/eugenol synthases that convert p-coumaryl/coniferyl alcohol esters into chavicol/eugenol, and to novel compositions (e.g., novel proteins and nucleic acids encoding same), and novel methods using same for producing or forming chavicol/eugenol and other derivatives in cell culture and/or genetically modified plants, and for re-engineering the composition of plant biomass.

Abstract: A genetically engineered micro-organism having an operative metabolic pathway producing cinnamoyl-CoA and producing pinosylvin therefrom by the action of a stilbene synthase is used for pinosylvin production. Said cinnamic acid may be formed from L-phenylalanine by a L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) which is one accepting phenylalanine as a substrate and producing cinammic acid therefrom, preferably such that if the PAL also accepts tyrosine as a substrate and forms coumaric acid therefrom, the ratio Km(phenylalanine)/Km(tyrosine) for said PAL is less than 1:1 and if said micro-organism produces a cinammate-4-hydroxylase enzyme (C4H), the ratio Kcat(PAL)/Kcat(C4H) is at least 2:1.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the microbial production of substituted aromatics. In particular, it relates to the production of hydroxylated aromatics from renewable carbon stocks, like sugars or glycerol, via the metabolic intermediate L-tyrosine. Provided is a microbial host cell capable of producing at least one hydroxylated aromatic from a renewable carbon source, wherein at least one enzyme of said host cell that is involved in the degradation of said at least one hydroxylated aromatic is disabled and wherein the de novo synthesis of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) in said host cell is impeded. Also provided is a method for the microbial production of at least one hydroxylated aromatic from a renewable carbon source, comprising culturing a host cell in the presence of exogenous L-Phe and a renewable carbon source and allowing said host cell to produce said at least one hydroxylated aromatic.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the manufacture of MPA by fermentation under optimal fermentation parameters using a new strain of Penicillium arenicola.

Abstract: We describe a screening method for the identification of glycosyltransferase polypeptides that regioselectively modify aglycones and the use of said glycosyltransferase polypeptides to modify aglycones.

Abstract: The invention provides yeast strains, and polypeptides encoded by genes of such yeast strains, that have enantiospecific meso-epoxide hydrolase activity. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors. Also embraced by the invention are methods for obtaining containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modulating a selected biological activity of a naturally occurring material having one or more biological activities in an extract of the naturally occurring material, the method comprising incubating the extract in a medium in the presence of an aerobically metabolizing microorganism, under suitable aerobic conditions, for a period of time sufficient to modulate the selected activity with respect to baseline activity of the unincubated extract. The invention also relates to the bioconverted material so prepared, and the use of same in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: Methods to produce resveratrol and/or resveratrol glucoside in a recombinant oleaginous microorganism are provided. Expression of a resveratrol synthase gene in combination with genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway enabled recombinant microbial production of resveratrol in significant amounts.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for the continuous fermentation of a desired product by the establishment of a steady state condition in a reactor followed by the nonsequential discharge of nutrient media through a plurality of intake ports. The nonsequential discharge of a plug of nutrient media causes a localized segment of the fermentation microorganisms to mix with the media while the remainder of the bed of microorganisms remains quiescent. An apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A recombinant micro-organism producing resveratrol by a pathway in which phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) produces trans-cinnamic acid from phenylalanine, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) produces 4-coumaric acid from said trans-cinnamic acid, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) produces 4-coumaroyl CoA from said 4-coumaric acid, and resveratrol synthase (VST) produces said resveratrol from said 4-coumaroyl CoA, or in which L-phenylalanine- or tyrosine-ammonia lyase (PAL/TAL) produces 4-coumaric acid, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL) produces 4-coumaroyl CoA from said 4-coumaric acid, and resveratrol synthase (VST) produces said resveratrol from said 4-coumaroyl CoA. The micro-organism may be a yeast, fungus or bacterium including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, E. coli, Lactococcus lactis, Aspergillus niger, or Aspergillus oryzae.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods utilizing thermostable and novel alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes for biosynthesizing chiral specific molecules for use as precursor molecules in synthesizing pharmaceutical compounds. Particularly, in preferred embodiments, the invention relates to directed engineering of an enzymatic catalytic site of an alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme gene for enhancing enantioselectivity for (S)-enantiomer substrate catalytic activity for providing aryl (S)-enantiomer products in stereomeric excess.

Abstract: The invention relates to radioactively labeled derivatives of (R)-1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid esters, uses, and methods for preparing these compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing the optically active alkanols of formula (I), wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 5; Cyc represents an optionally substituted, mononuclear or polynuclear, saturated or unsaturated, carbocylic or heterocyclic ring, and R1 represents halogen, SH, OH, NO2, NR2R3 or NR2R3R4+X?, wherein R2, R3 and R4 independently represent H or a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group and X? represents a counterion. According to the invention, an enzyme (E) selected from the groups of dehydrogenases, aldehyde reductases and carbonyl reductases is incubated in a medium containing the alkanone of formula (II), wherein n, Cyc and R1 are defined as above, in the presence of reduction equivalents.

Abstract: The invention provides yeast strains, and polypeptides encoded by genes of such yeast strains, that have enantiospecific internal epoxide hydrolase activity. The invention also features nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, vectors containing such nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing such vectors. Also embraced by the invention are methods for obtaining optically active internal epoxides and corresponding optically active internal diols.

Abstract: A biocatalytic method for preparing para-hydroxystyrene from para-hydroxycinnamic acid is described. The method uses an enzyme source having para-hydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase activity to catalyze the decarboxylation of para-hydroxycinnamic acid in a biphasic reaction medium to produce para-hydroxystyrene, which is extracted into the organic phase of the biphasic reaction medium. The method results in a high yield of para-hydroxystyrene due to the decreased exposure of the enzyme source to the inhibitory product. The product is readily recovered from the extractant, or may be chemically derivatized directly in the extractant before recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro resveratrol-rich callus tissue of Vitis thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. which is a callus tissue developed from a tissue culture system containing one or more plant growth regulators (PGRs) and cultured from a stem or a petiole tissue explant of a wild type of V. thunbergii or a cultivated plantlet of V. thunbergii. The cultivated plantlet is in turn derived from a shoot of the wild type of V. thunbergii cultivated in a plantlet culture system containing no PGRs. The in vitro resveratrol-rich callus tissue of V. thunbergii is characterized by its containing at least about 1,000 to 10,000 mg/kg of dried weight of resveratrol, predominantly in the form of trans-resveratrol and/or resveratrol-O-glucoside, and being ready for harvest or subculture in about 30 days.

Abstract: A biocatalytic method for preparing para-hydroxystyrene from para-hydroxycinnamic acid is described. The method uses an enzyme source having para-hydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase activity to catalyze the decarboxylation of para-hydroxycinnamic acid in a biphasic reaction medium to produce para-hydroxystyrene, which is extracted into the organic phase of the biphasic reaction medium. The method results in a high yield of para-hydroxystyrene due to the decreased exposure of the enzyme source to the inhibitory product. The product is readily recovered from the extractant, or may be chemically derivatized directly in the extractant before recovery.

Abstract: A process for preparing a hydroxylation catalyst by i) embedding a cystochrome P450 monooxygenase in a sol-gel matrix, ii) embedding an enzymatic NADPH-regenerating system in a sol-gel matrix, and combining the two components i) and ii) unless they were already mixed together before the embedding.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide forming (R)-2-chloro-1-(3?-chlorophenyl)ethanol, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and use of the same. The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the following physical and chemical properties (1) to (4): (1) activity: acting on 2-chloro-1-(3?-chlorophenyl)ethanone with NADPH or NADH as a coenzyme, to form (R)-2-chloro-1-(31-chlorophenyl)ethanol; (2) optimum pH for activity: 5.0 to 6.0; (3) optimum temperature for activity: 40° C. to 50° C.; (4) molecular weight: about 40,000 as determined by gel filtration analysis, about 30,000 as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The present invention also relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1 in the sequence listing, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and a transformant producing said polypeptide at high levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of resveratrol in cell cultures. The inventive method consists in: incubating a culture of cells which produce resveratrol naturally, in suspension, in the presence of randomly-methylated ?-cyclodextrin (RMBCD) with a degree of substitution of between 11 and 13 under conditions that allow resveratrol synthesis and the excretion of same into the culture medium; and, if desired, isolating the resveratrol produced from said culture medium. The resveratrol can be used in the production of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel phenalenone derivatives of formula (I) which are formed by the microorganism Penicillium herquei Bainer & Sartory, DSM 14142, during fermentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for reacting (di)amines as substrates in the presence of a lysine oxidase arid a reducing agent, resulting in alcohols, diols or cyclic secondary amines. In a particular embodiment, the invention is directed to methods of preparing cyclic secondary amines suitable for ultimately synthesizing piperidine-2-carboxylic acid and proline derivatives, useful, for example as thrombin inhibitors.

Abstract: An in vivo method for the production of pHS via a recombinant host cell is disclosed. The host cell expresses at least one gene encoding a polypeptide having para-hydroxycinnamic acid decarboxylase activity in combination with either at least one gene encoding a polypeptide having tyrosine ammonia lyase activity or at least one gene encoding a polypeptide having phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide efficiently forming (R)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and use of the same. The present invention relates to a polypeptide having the following physical and chemical properties (1) to (4): (1) activity: acting on N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with NADH or NADPH as a coenzyme, to form (R)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol; (2) optimum pH for activity: 5.5 to 6.0; (3) optimum temperature for activity: 50° C. to 55° C.; (4) molecular weight: about 55,000 as determined by gel filtration analysis, about 28,000 as determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The present invention also relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1 in the sequence listing, a polynucleotide coding for said polypeptide, and a transformant producing said polypeptide at high levels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oxidoreductase apoenzyme variants which are enzymatically inactive but have coenzyme-binding properties. Further, the present invention relates to DNA sequences encoding these oxidoreductase apoenzyme variants, expression vectors containing such DNA sequences and the use of these oxidoreductase apoenzyme variants in diagnostic applications.

Abstract: A gene containing a DNA having the nucleotide sequence encoding any one of the amino acid sequences of the following (a) to (e): (a) an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) an amino acid sequence having the sequence homology of 80% or more with (a); (c) an amino acid sequence having the sequence homology of 90% or more with (a); (d) an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2; (e) an amino acid sequence encoded by a DNA having the nucleotide sequence having the sequence homology of 80% or more with (d).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods comprising NAD(P)H oxidases, particularly bacterial oxidases, nucleic acids, recombinant plasmid vectors and recombinant proteins therein encoded, and host cells comprising the oxidases and nucleic acids. The present invention also comprises an isolated bacterial oxidase that oxidizes both NADH and NADPH. Methods for producing the enzymes and enzymatic reactions comprising use of NAD(P)H oxidases and products of such reactions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production and recovery of multifunctional aromatic compounds from a fermentation medium. Preferred multifunctional aromatic compounds include para-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA), cinnamic acid (CA), and para-hydroxystyrene (pHS). The multifunctional aromatic compounds may be produced in a biphasic growth medium comprising a fermentation medium having a specified volume of an extractant. The multifunctional aromatic compounds are extracted into the extractant and recovered by standard means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the stereoselective enzymatic reduction of 1-halo-2-oxo-3-(protected)amino-4-substituted-butanes utilizing certain species of Rhodococcus and Brevibacterium. The product 1-halo-2-hydroxy-3-(protected)amino-4-substituted-butanes, which are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of compounds that are inhibitors of ACE, renin and HIV proteases, are obtained in high yield and, particularly, in very high diastereomeric purity. The process is advantageously highly selective for the (3S,2R) enantiomer of the product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of synthesis of a substituted or unsubstituted carbinol compound, comprising the steps of subjecting the corresponding substituted or unsubstituted aromatic aldehyde to acyloin condensation mediated by yeast in the presence of either (a) a supereritical fluid or (b) a liquefied gas, and recovering the carbinol compound. Preferably the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a particularly preferred embodiment the aromatic aldehyde is benzaldehyde and the carbinol is phenylacetylcarbinol, according to the reaction (I): in which the benzaldehyde, the pyruvic acid, or both may optionally be substituted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzymatic process for the preparation of optically active chiral alcohols using tuberous root Daucus carota; particularly invention relates to an enzymatic process for the preparation of optically active alcohols by enantioselective reduction of corresponding ketones using tuberous root Daucus carota.

Abstract: Polynucleotides, such as DNA, are provided which accelerate the biosynthesis of a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, ML-236B, in an ML-236B producing micro-organism when introduced in the ML-236B producing micro-organism. Pravastatin, which is an HM-CoA reductase inhibitor, can be obtained using Streptomyces carbophilus by microbial conversion of ML-236B produced by Pencillium citrinum. The polynucleotides encode a gene (such as micA (polyketide synthase), mlcB (polyketide synthase), micE (efflux pump) or mlcR (transcription factor). Provided are vectors into which such polynucleotides are incorporated; host cells transformed by such vectors; and proteins expressed by such vectors. A method for producing ML-236B using such polynucleotides and/or proteins which comprises recovering ML-236B from a culture of the host cell.

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: A process of separating a single desired stereoisomer from a racemic mixture of eight stereoisomers of a compound of formula (III), wherein R1 represents an isopropanol group, an isopropyl group or an isopropylene group, includes the steps of: contacting the racemic mixture in a suitable organic solvent with an esterifying agent and a stereospecific enzyme which stereoselectively esterifies the —OH group of the desired stereoisomer, for a time sufficient to convert a desired percentage of the desired stereoisomer to a compound of formula (IV), wherein R1 is as defined above and R4 is an alkyl or an aryl group, to give a first reaction product including the compound of formula (IV), the organic solvent, the unconverted stereoisomers of the compound of formula (III), excess esterifying agent and by-products of the reaction; and separating the compound of formula (IV) from the first reaction product.

Abstract: A catalase-dependent enzymatic oxidation process wherein a substrate to be oxidized is contacted with catalase in the absence of hydrogen peroxide is provided. Also provided are methods for using this process in a variety of biomedical, clinical and diagnostic applications as well as industrial processes. A method for stimulating the enzymatic oxidation process by treatment with ultraviolet light and uses for this method are also provided.

Abstract: A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of quinic acid from a carbon source is provided. Methods of producing quinic acid from a carbon source based on the synthesis scheme as well as conversion of quinic acid to hydroquinone are also provided.