Abstract: The invention relates to recombinantly produced ?-Glucosidase Variants with enhanced thermoactivity compared to naturally occurring proteins. The invention also provides methods for producing a variant ?-glucosidase polypeptide with improved thermoactivity by identifying performance sensitive positions in a target ?-glucosidase polypeptide and substituting the residue at that position with a thermoactivity enhancing residue.

Abstract: Novel gene sequences from microalgae are disclosed, as well as novel gene sequences useful in the manufacture of triglyceride oils. Also disclosed are sequences and vectors that allow microalgae to be cultivated on sugar cane and sugar beets as a feedstock. In some embodiments, the vectors are useful for the purpose of performing targeted modifications to the nuclear genome of heterotrophic microalgae.

Abstract: The invention features a novel isolated Family B DNA polymerase, a Thermococcus polymerase JDF-3, and mutant recombinant forms thereof. Mutant polymerases of the invention are deficient in 3? to 5? exonuclease activity and/or exhibit reduced discrimination against non-conventional nucleotides relative to the wild-type form of the polymerase.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for enhancing enzymatic ligation between nucleic acid fragments that relies on one or more small molecule enhancers having a size of less than 1000 daltons. For example, enhancement of ligation efficiencies are observed for double-stranded nucleic acid fragments that are blunt-ended, have a single nucleotide overhang at the ligation end, or have staggered ends compared to ligation under similar conditions in the absence of the one or more small molecule ligation enhancer. The use of small molecule enhancers for ligating nucleic acids results in an increased number of transformed host cells after transformation with the ligated molecules. This enhancement can be observed with chemically transformed host cells and with host cells transformed by electroporation.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions related to ONC-T18, D4-desaturases, D5 elongases, their isolation, characterization, production, identification, and use for fatty acid production, as well as organisms containing these compositions and organisms expressing them.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing a product or product precursor of a biosynthetic pathway in a genetically modified host cell. The present invention also provides genetically modified host cells comprising nucleic acids encoding a scaffold polypeptide and nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding two or more enzymes in a biosynthetic pathway. The present invention further provides nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding scaffold polypeptides, for use in a subject method.

Abstract: Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3?-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases.

Abstract: An affinity ligand-matrix conjugate of the structure Z-Spacer-[NX-A]m-NY-A-NK2 is useful for the isolation, separation, purification, characterization, identification or quantification of endotoxins in an aqueous system, wherein m is an integer of at least one; each A independently represents an optionally substituted linear, branched or cyclic saturated hydrocarbon chain containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each X independently represents hydrogen or alkyl; Y is X or A-NX2; and Z is a support matrix attached to the ligand through an optional spacer arm (Spacer).

Abstract: Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3?-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of an enzyme product having a plurality of enzyme activities obtained by fermentation of an Aspergillus strain.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for ligating polynucleotides having a length that is greater than 8 nucleotides on an RNA splint. The ligation reaction provides consistent results in high or low ATP concentrations. The reaction can occur rapidly and is generally at least 10 fold more efficient than T4DNA ligase under optimal conditions for T4DNA ligase and the reaction time is less than 6 hours for example, less than 1 hour.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for expanding cells that are not abundant or are difficult to obtain in pure form in culture, are in short supply (e.g., human cells), or have brief lifetimes in culture, using fusion polypeptide. The fusion polypeptide has a first region having the transport function of herpesviral VP22 protein or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) TAT protein, and a second region with a polypeptide having cell immortalization activity, a polypeptide having telomerase-specific activity, or a polypeptide having telomerase gene activation activity. The resulting cells of the invention are suitable for use in cell therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polypeptide with an glycosyl transferase enzymatic activity for producing dextrans with .alpha.(1.fwdarw.2) sidechains, comprising at least one region for bonding to glucan and a catalytically active region situated beyond the region bonding to glucan. The invention further relates to polynucleotides coding for said enzymes and vectors containing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a microorganism belonging to Enterobacteriaceae in which a function of CsrC RNA has been decreased or lost, and which has the ability to produce and accumulate an amino acid, and a process in which the microorganism is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate the amino acid in the culture, and the amino acid is recovered from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA polymerases with a special mutation which have an enhanced mismatch discrimination, the preparation and use thereof. The thermostable DNA polymerases with this mutation are particularly suitable for diagnostic and molecular-biological methods, e.g., allele-specific PCR.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes and means for the biotechnologically fermentative production of riboflavin (hereinafter also referred to as vitamin B2) and means for the implementation of this process, in particular a modified microbial host cell with increased riboflavin yield. The invention thus provides new processes and means for the regulation of the expression of enzyme activities involved in the riboflavin production of the host cell.

Abstract: A process for purifying laccase from an ectomycorrhizal fruiting body is disclosed. The process includes steps of homogenization, sonication, centrifugation, filtration, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Purified laccase can also be separated into isomers.

Abstract: The present invention provides culture mediums that are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins, such as ADAMTS13. Methods for the expression and purification of ADAMTS proteins are also provided. In some embodiments, the mediums and methods of the invention are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins having high specific activities. Also provided are ADAMTS, e.g., ADAMTS13, protein compositions with high specific activities, which are expressed and purified according to the methods provided herein.

Abstract: DNA and recombinant DNA that encode a peptide-forming enzyme, a method for producing a peptide-forming enzyme, and a method for producing a dipeptide are disclosed. A method for producing a dipeptide includes producing a dipeptide from a carboxy component and an amine component by using a culture of a microbe belonging to the genus Sphingobacterium and having the ability to form the dipeptide from the carboxy component and the amine component, a microbial cell separated from the culture, treated microbial cell product of the microbe or a peptide-forming enzyme derived from the microbe.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are transglutaminase peptide inhibitors which have inhibitory activity against transglutaminase, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising one of them as an active ingredient. The inhibitors or the composition is useful in the prevention and treatment of various diseases caused by aberrant transglutaminase activation, including inflammatory diseases and cancers. Also, methods for treating various inflammatory diseases and cancers and for preparing mutant peptides capable of inhibiting transglutaminase are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photobiological ethanol production and harvesting technology using greenhouse distillation systems with designer photosynthetic organisms, such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria. The designer oxyphotobacteria are created such that the endogenous photobiological regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic process are used for synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The designer use of a pair of NADPH-dependent vs. NAD-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases in the pathway designs offers a special cyclic “transhydrogenase” redox-shuttle function to convert NADPH to NADH for enhanced photobiological ethanol production. Through combined use of a designer photosynthetic organism with a greenhouse distillation system, the waste solar heat associated with the photobiological ethanol-production process is utilized in harvesting the produced ethanol.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in the respective 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway. The invention additionally provides a method for producing 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid. The method can include culturing a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam or hexametheylenediamine producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce the respective product, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, hexametheylenediamine or levulinic acid.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for selection and enrichment of a target gene from a library of polynucleotide sequences such as might be formed from a genome or by random mutagenesis of a genetic sequence. The selection and enrichment occurs in aqueous droplets formed in an emulsion that compartmentalize individual polynucleotides from the library or a plurality of polynucleotides that may include polynucleotides not derived from the library, transcription and translation reagents and optionally additional chemical and enzyme reagents. The selection and enrichment method utilizes a polynucleotide adaptor which when ligated to the polynucleotide fragment enables amplification to occur in the presence of an adaptor specific primer.

Abstract: The present invention includes a crystal comprising a complex of the pro form of a matrix metalloprotease (proMMP) and a small-molecule allosteric processing inhibitor that inhibits that activation of the proMMP, methods for identifying small-molecule allosteric processing inhibitors that inhibit the activation of a proMMP, and methods of treatment using small-molecule allosteric processing inhibitors that inhibit the activation of a proMMP. The present invention relates to the crystal structure of a complex of proMMP9 bound to a small-molecule allosteric processing inhibitor that inhibits activation of proMMP9. The invention further relates to the use of the methods and the crystal and related structural information for designing, selecting and/or optimizing small-molecule allosteric processing inhibitors that inhibit activation of proMMP9 and proMMP9 homologues.

Abstract: Methods, reagents, and kits for (mis)ligating oligonucleotide probes or for identifying at least one target nucleotide are disclosed. One can enhance the generation of misligation product using a ligase under reaction conditions and with reagents where that particular ligase is prone to misligation. Alternatively, one can decrease or avoid generating misligation products using a particular ligase under reaction conditions and using reagents where that ligase is at least less prone to misligation. In certain embodiments, the recombinant ligase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (Afu) is employed due to its unique misligation properties.

Abstract: Chimeric proteins comprising a sequence nonspecific single-stranded nucleic-acid-binding domain joined to a catalytic nucleic-acid-modifying domain are provided. Methods comprising contacting a nucleic acid molecule with a chimeric protein, as well as systems comprising a nucleic acid molecule, a chimeric protein, and an aqueous solution are also provided. The joining of sequence nonspecific single-stranded nucleic-acid-binding domain and a catalytic nucleic-acid-modifying domain in chimeric proteins, among other things, may prevent the separation of the two domains due to their weak association and thereby enhances processivity while maintaining fidelity.

Abstract: Isolated glycyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides and polynucleotides having non-canonical biological activities are provided, as well as compositions and methods related thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving biomass, as well as, the drought resistance of plants. More specifically, the present invention utilizes expression of aspartate carboxylase in plants and plant cells.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide engineered endonucleases that are characterized by both a long recognition sequence and specific cleavage outside of the recognition site. Engineered endonucleases of the invention are useful for manipulating long pieces of DNA.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for efficiently producing a polylactate via microbial fermentation with the use of a sugar as a starting material.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of polynucleotides, primary transcripts and mmRNA molecules.

Abstract: Provided herein are improved methods of culturing a mammalian cell in a conical container, and methods that utilize these culturing methods.

Abstract: What is provided is a method of treating a patient having a tumor comprising administering an effective amount of adenosine deaminase, preferably polyalkylene oxide conjugated, to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: Recombinant processes are provided whereby additional genes are introduced into E. coli which have been genetically engineered to produce PHA so that the improved strains produce PHA homopolymers and copolymers directly from diols. In preferred embodiments, PHAs containing 4-hydroxybutyrate monomers are produced directly from 1,4-butanediol; PHAs containing 5-hydroxyvalerate are produced from 1,5-pentanediol; PHAs containing 6-hydroxyhexanoate (6HH) are produced from 1,6-hexanediol; PHAs containing 3-hydroxypropionate are produced from 1,3-propanediol; PHAs containing 2-hydroxypropionate (lactate) are produced from 1,2-propanediol (propylene glycol); PHAs containing 2-hydroxyethanoate (glycolate) are produced from 1,2-ethanediol (ethylene glycol). Genes encoding these same enzyme activities can be introduced or their expression amplified in wild type PHA producers to improve the production of PHA homopolymers and copolymers directly from diol and other alcohol feedstocks.

Abstract: A device, system and method for producing glycosylated proteins in plant culture, particularly proteins having a high mannose glycosylation, while targeting such proteins with an ER signal and/or by-passing the Golgi. The invention further relates to vectors and methods for expression and production of enzymatically active high mannose lysosomal enzymes using transgenic plant root, particularly carrot cells. More particularly, the invention relates to host cells, particularly transgenic suspended carrot cells, vectors and methods for high yield expression and production of biologically active high mannose Glucocerebrosidase (GCD). The invention further provides for compositions and methods for the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases.

Abstract: A crystal comprising human isoglutaminyl cyclase having a characterized space group of P1211 and unit cell dimensions of +/?5% of a=126.51 ?, b=109.68 ?, c=159.53 ?, ?=90.0°, ?=104.9° and ?=90.0°.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of polynucleotides, primary transcripts and mmRNA molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering apparatus and method for mixing a compound of solid and fluid phases, separating the phases and/or extracting fluid from the compound. One embodiment of the invention discloses a filtering apparatus comprising a first filter section accommodating a first group of filter members, and a second filter section accommodating a second group of filter members, a piping system providing pipelined fluid communication between the filter sections and between a filter section and said filter section's corresponding group of filter members, the piping system configured such that the filter members form filtered fluid openings of the filtering apparatus, and circulation means, such as a pump, configured for passing fluid in a forward flow and/or in a reverse flow between the filter sections. In particular the invention may be used for the mashing process in a beer brewing procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a cytosine deaminase (CD)-expressing, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant microorganism which can grow in anaerobic tumor tissues, can express CD, and has a resistance to 5-FU at a concentration that is at least effective for antitumor activity. More specifically, the method is a method (A) comprising performing subculture or acclimation culture of a CD-expressing microorganism which can grow in anaerobic tumor tissues, in the presence of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), or a method (B) comprising (1) performing subculture or acclimation culture of a microorganism which can grow in anaerobic tumor tissues and does not express CD, in the presence of 5-FU to produce a 5-FU-resistant microorganism and (2) transforming the 5-FU-resistant microorganism by introducing a CD gene. The present invention also provides the CD-expressing, 5-FU-resistant microorganism and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides having promoter activity the juse of the isolated polynucleotides for the procuction of a polypeptide. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing a desired polypeptide using the polypeptide having promoter activity.

Abstract: Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3?-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases.

Abstract: Disclosed are mutant DNA polymerases having increased 3?-mismatch discrimination relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The mutant polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the mutant DNA polymerases.

Abstract: Method for incorporating a lysine derivative (particularly an N?-benzyloxycarbonyl-lysine (Z-Lys) derivative) having useful functional group such as heavy atom, selenium, reactive functional group, fluorescent group or crosslinker, which is suitable as a non-natural amino acid, into a desired protein in a site-specific manner. A mutant pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase has substitution of at least one amino acid residue selected from tyrosine residue at position 306, leucine residue at position 309 and cysteine residue at position 348 each constituting a pyrrolysine-binding site in the amino acid sequence for pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase of SEQ ID NO:2. The substitution of the amino acid residue is: of tyrosine residue at position 306 by glycine or alanine residue, of leucine residue at position 309 by glycine or alanine residue, and/or of a cysteine residue at position 348 by valine, serine or alanine residue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant yeast comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous enzyme that catalyses the conversion of malic acid to fumaric acid. The invention further relates to a process for the production of a dicarboxylic acid wherein the yeast according to the present invention is used.

Abstract: Methods for the fermentative production of four carbon alcohols is provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably isobutanol is produced by the fermentative growth of a recombinant bacterium expressing an isobutanol biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.

Abstract: Polypeptides having alkanoyl-CoA activity have been identified and characterized, as have nucleic acids encoding these polypeptides. Expression or over-expression of the nucleic acids alters levels of cannabinoid compounds in organisms. The polypeptides may be used in vivo or in vitro to produce cannabinoid compounds.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acids encoding polypeptides that exhibit butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzyme activity are disclosed, along with molecular criteria for preparing such nucleic acids, including codon optimization. Methods of preparing modified and/or truncated BChE molecules having selected properties, especially selective formation of monomers, are also described. Vectors and cells containing and/or expressing the nucleic acids are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the enhancement of the reactivation of thermostable reversibly inactivated enzymes comprising reactivating at least one thermostable reversibly inactivated enzyme in the presence of one or more nitrogen containing compounds.