Abstract: The present invention provides a novel ?-glucosidase nucleic acid sequence, designated bgl4, and the corresponding BGL4 amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding BGL4, recombinant BGL4 proteins and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for the synergistic degradation of oligosaccharides by endoglucanases. The invention further provides recombinant host cells containing one or more genes encoding endoglucanses which are capable of the synergistic degradation of oligosaccharides. Preferred host cells of the invention are ethanologenic and capable of carrying out simultaneous saccharification and fermentation resulting in the production of ethanol from complex cellulose substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to increasing the production of a protein of interest from a fugal host. The invention discloses nucleotide sequences comprising, a regulatory region in operative association with xylanase secretion sequence and a gene of interest. The gene of interest encodes a protein selected from a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, industrial, animal feed, food additive and an enzyme. Preferably, the gene of interest encodes a cellulase, hernicellulase, a lignin degrading enzyme, pectinase, protease, or peroxidase. The present invention also relates to vectors and hosts comprising these nucleic acid sequences, and to methods for the production of a protein of interest.

Abstract: Fusion protein comprising a cellulose binding domain and a domain having a high binding affinity for another ligand and detergent compositions comprising such fusion proteins.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which code for enzymes and which are involved in the synthesis of starch in plants. These enzymes concern isoamylases derived from wheat. The invention also relates to vectors and host cells which contain the described nucleic acid molecules, especially transformed plant cells and plants which can be regenerated therefrom, which exhibit an increased or reduced activity of the inventive isoamylases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase, comprising mutations in two, three, four, five or six regions/positions. The variants have increased stability at high temperatures (relative to the parent). The invention also relates to a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding an ?-amylase variant of the invention, a recombinant expression vector which carries a DNA construct of the invention, a cell which is transformed with a DNA construct of the invention, the use of an ?-amylase variant of the invention for washing and/or dishwashing, textile desizing, starch liquefaction, a detergent additive comprising an ?-amylase variant of the invention, a manual or automatic dishwashing detergent composition comprising an ?-amylase variant of the invention, a method for generating a variant of a parent Termamyl-like ?-amylase, which variant exhibits increased.

Abstract: Barley ?-glucosidase is an important enzyme in the conversion of barley starch to fermentable sugars during the industrial production of ethanol, as in brewing and fuel ethanol production. The enzyme is, however, relatively thermolabile, a disadvantage for an enzyme useful in industrial processes which are preferably conducted at elevated temperatures. Site directed mutagenesis has been conducted to make mutant forms of barley ?-glucosidase which have improved thermostability. The sites for this site-directed mutagenesis were selected by sequence comparisons with the sequences of other ?-glucosidase proteins which are more thermostable. The recombinant mutant enzymes thus produced have been demonstrated to improve the thermostability of the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for economically producing N-acetylneuraminic acid without using expensive materials such as pyruvic acid and phosphoenolpyruvic acid. The process comprises: allowing (i) a culture of a microorganism having N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase activity or N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase activity, or a treated matter of the culture, (ii) a culture of a microorganism capable of producing pyruvic acid or a treated matter of the culture, or a culture of a microorganism capable of producing phosphoenolpyruvic acid or a treated matter of the culture, (iii) N-acetylmannosamine, and (iv) an energy source which is necessary for the formation of pyruvic acid or phosphoenolpyruvic acid to be present in an aqueous medium to form and accumulate N-acetylneuraminic acid in the aqueous medium; and recovering N-acetylneuraminic acid from the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to xyloglucanases belonging to family 44 of glycosyl hydrolases and having a relative xyloglucanase activity of at least 30% between pH 5 and pH 8 are derived from the genus Paenibacillus, especially from a strain of Paenibacillus polymyxa or Paenibacillus sp. The xyloglucanases exhibit high performance in conventional detergent compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for utilizing less purified starch in fermentation processes. One example is a recombinant E. coli containing a exogenous extracellular isoamylase activity that is capable of utilizing small oligomers containing (1,6) linkages (including but not limited to isomaltose and panose) in fermentations to produce useful products. The invention is useful in large-scale industrial biofermentations by reducing the cost of the substrate carbohydrate.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of purifying lysosomal proteins, pharmaceutical compositions for use in enzyme replacement therapy, and methods of treating Pompe's disease using purified human acid alpha glucosidase.

Abstract: The invention provides DNA constructs and genetically engineered seeds for the expression of amylopullulanase in plant seeds such as rice seeds. Related methods are also provided for the production of sugars, modified starches, and high protein products, and use of the glutelin promoter in the methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pullulanase variants, wherein the variants have improved properties, for example, altered pH optimum, improved thermostabilty, altered substrate specificity, increased specific activity or altered cleavage pattern. The present invention also relates to methods of making pullulanase variants having at least one altered property based on the three-dimensional structure of a parent pullulanase.

Abstract: The invention describes DNA molecules which code for plant proteins having the biological activity of a debranching enzyme. Furthermore described are transgenic plant cells and plants having reduced or increased debranching enzyme activity, as well as modified starch isolatable from the cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a variant of a parent pullulanase, the variant having at least one altered property as compared to the parent pullulanase. The invention also relates to pullulanase variants and to the use of pullulanase variants of the invention for use in particular starch conversion processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a nucleotide sequence encoding alkaline pullulanase and exhibiting both alkaline &agr;-amylase and alkaline pullulanase activity; a nucleotide sequence encoding alkaline &agr;-amylase possessing an amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO:3; a nucleotide sequence encoding alkaline pullulanase possessing an amino acid sequence described in SEQ ID NO:4; recombinant DNAs containing these nucleotide sequences, and transformed microorganisms harboring the recombinant DNAs. The technique of the present invention enables mass production of alkaline pullulanase exhibiting both alkaline &agr;-amylase and alkaline pullulanase activity.

Abstract: Avian and reptile derived heparanase and nucleic acids encoding same.

Abstract: The invention alters the physical characteristics of storage polyglucans including starch. Methods are provided to modify the polyglucan biosynthesis pathway by simultaneously altering the activity of a pullulanase debranching enzyme and the activity of another polypeptide in the polyglucan biosynthesis pathway. Compositions of the invention include transgenic plants and seeds having a modified polyglucan structure and/or content and elevated phytoglycogen levels. Additional compositions include a grain with increased energy availability for improved feed quality and industrial uses. Further compositions include a polyglucan with improved functional properties useful in a wide range of food and industrial applications.

Abstract: The invention describes DNA molecules which code for plant proteins having the biological activity of a debranching enzyme. Furthermore described are transgenic plant cells and plants having reduced or increased debranching enzyme activity, as well as modified starch isolatable from the cells and plants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered variant of a parent starch debranching enzyme, i.e. a pullulanase or an isamylase, the enzyme variant having an improved thermostability at a pH in the range of 4-6 compared to the parent enzyme and/or an increased activity towards amylopectin and/or glycogen compared to the parent enzyme, to methods for producing such starch debranching enzyme variants with improved thermostability and/or altered substrate specificity, and to a method for converting starch to one or more sugars using at least one such enzyme variant.

Abstract: Methods of reducing cystine containing animal and plant proteins, and improving dough and baked goods' characteristics is provided which includes the steps of mixing dough ingredients with a thiol redox protein to form a dough and baking the dough to form a baked good. The method of the present invention preferably uses reduced thioredoxin with wheat flour which imparts a stronger dough and higher loaf volumes. Methods for reducing snake, bee and scorpion toxin proteins with a thiol redox (SH) agent and thereby inactivating the protein or detoxifying the protein in an individual are also provided. Protease inhibitors, including the, Kunitz and Bowman-Birk trypsin inhibitors of soybean, were also reduced by the NADP/thioredoxin system (NADPH, thioredoxin, and NADP-thioredoxin reductase) from either E. coli or wheat germ. When reduced by thioredoxin, the Kunitz and Bowman-Birk soybean trypsin inhibitors lose their ability to inhibit trypsin.

Abstract: Novel mannanases comprising e.g. an amino acid sequence as shown in positions 31-330 of SEQ ID NO:2 or their homologues may be derived from e.g. Bacillus sp. I633, or may be encoded by polynucleotide molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 from nucleotide 91 to nucleotide 990, polynucleotide molecules that encode a polypeptide that is at least 65% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 from amino acid residue 31 to amino acid residue 330, or degenerate nucleotide sequences thereof. The mannanases are alkaline and are useful e.g. in cleaning compositions, in a fracturing fluid useful to fracture a subterranean formation, for modifying plant material, and for treatment of cellulosic fibers.

Abstract: The cyclic tetrasaccharide, cyclo{-6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1-}, may be produced by alternanase hydrolysis of complex carbohydrates other than alternan. Panose, pullulan, &agr;-D-Glcp-(1,6)-&agr;-D-Glcp-(1,3)-D-Glc, and D-glucans having alternating &agr;-(1,6) and &agr;-(1,4) linkages, are all hydrolyzed by alternanase to produce this cyclic tetrasaccharide. In this process, the cyclic tetrasaccharide is produced by contacting a solution of one or more of the above-mentioned complex carbohydrates with an amount of alternanase under conditions effective for activity of the enzyme. The substrate panose used in the reaction may be produced from a variety of polysaccharides or oligosaccharides, including starch, maltose, maltodextrins, pullulan, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzyme preparations consisting essentially of an enzyme which has cellulytic activity and comprises a first amino acid sequence having the following sequence 1 (SEQ ID NO:79) Thr Arg Xaa Xaa Asp Cys Cys Xaa Xaa 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 Xaa Cys Xaa Trp Xaa 10  11  12  13  14

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein defined in the following (A) or (B), and DNA coding for the same: (A) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, or (B) a protein which has the amino acid sequence including substitution, deletion, insertion, or transition of one or several amino acid residues in SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and exhibits activity to eliminate a sialic acid residue from a non-reducing terminal of ganglioside.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified pullulanases useful in the starch industry. The present invention provides methods for producing the modified pullulanase, enzymatic compositions comprising the modified pullulanase, and methods for the saccharification of starch comprising the use of the enzymatic compositions.

Abstract: A DNA fragment coding for alkaline pullulanase, which contains about 6.3 Kb base pairs and has a restriction map shown in FIG. 2, a recombinant vector containing the DNA fragment, and a microorganism carrying the vector. Also disclosed is a method of preparing alkaline pullulanase which comprises culturing a transformant microorganism which has been transformed with a recombinant vector containing a DNA fragment coding for alkaline pullulanase, having a restriction enzyme map shown in FIG. 2 and having about 6.3 Kb base pairs. According to the method of the invention, alkaline pullulanase which is useful as a component of detergents can be mass-produced in a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified pullulanases useful in the starch industry. The present invention provides methods for producing the modified pullulanase, enzymatic compositions comprising the modified pullulanase, and methods for the saccharification of starch comprising the use of the enzymatic compositions.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to novel mutant polynucleotide molecules that encode enzymes that have increased heat stability. These polynucleotides, when expressed in plants, result in increased yield in plants grown under conditions of heat stress. The polynucleotide molecules of the subject invention encode maize endosperm ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) and soluble starch synthase (SSS) enzyme activities. Plants and plant tissue bred to contain, or transformed with, the mutant polynucleotides, and expressing the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides, are also contemplated by the present invention. The subject invention also concerns methods for isolating polynucleotides and polypeptides contemplated within the scope of the invention. Methods for increasing yield in plants grown under conditions of heat stress are also provided.

Abstract: Barley &agr;-glucosidase is an important enzyme in the conversion of barley starch to fermentable sugars during the industrial production of ethanol, as in brewing and fuel ethanol production. The enzyme is, however, relatively thermolabile, a disadvantage for an enzyme useful in industrial processes which are preferably conducted at elevated temperatures. Site directed mutagenesis has been conducted to make mutant forms of barley &agr;-glucosidase which have improved thermostability. The sites for this site-directed mutagenesis were selected by sequence comparisons with the sequences of other &agr;-glucosidase proteins which are more thermostable. The recombinant mutant enzymes thus produced have been demonstrated to improve the thermostability of the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzyme with galactanase activity, a DNA construct encoding the enzyme with galactanase activity, a method of producing the enzyme, an enzyme composition comprising said enzyme with galactanase activity, and the use of said enzyme and enzyme composition for a number of industrial applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acids obtainable from potato which encode isoamylases, a type of starch branching enzyme, particularly SEQ ID NOS:1-3 or variants encoding SEQ ID NOS:4-6; vectors comprising the nucleic acids; plant cells and plants transformed therewith; and methods for making plants which produce starches with modified branching characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a starch conversion process of the type which includes a debranching step wherein an isoamylase being active at the process conditions prevailing is used for debranching the starch and to the use of thermostable isoamylases for starch conversion. The invention further relates to an isolated isoamylase obtained from a strain of the genus Rhodothermus and to cloned DNA sequences encoding isoamylases derived from a strain of Rhodothermus or Sulfolobus, to expression vectors comprising said DNA sequence, host cells comprising such expression vectors, and finally to methods for producing said isoamylases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA sequences which, on the codogenic strand, code plant debranching enzymes whose transcripts formed in transgenic plants code new proteins with the enzymatic activity of debranching enzymes which in transgenic plants reduce the degree of branching of amylopectin starch. The invention also relates to DNA sequences which on the codogenic strand code plant debranching enzymes whose transcripts formed in transgenic plants prevent the synthesis of proteins with the enzymatic activity of debranching enzymes, which in transgenic plants increases the degree of branching of amylopectin starch, and also to recombinant plasmids on which these DNA sequences are localized and which can be introduced into plant cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermophilic alkaliphilic bacteria designated Thermopallium natronophilum and thermophilic alkaliphilic polypeptides obtainable therefrom. It also provides compositions, particularly detergent compositions comprising the polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding all or a substantial portion of a corn pullulanase. The invention also relates to the construction of chimeric genes encoding all or a portion of a corn pullulanase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of corn pullulanase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and mutants thereof, methods to produce and purify this enzyme as well as methods to treat certain genetic disorders including- &agr;-L-iduronidase deficiency and mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS 1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered variant of a parent starch debranching enzyme, i.e. a pullulanase or an isamylase, the enzyme variant having an improved thermostability at a pH in the range of 4-6 compared to the parent enzyme and/or an increased activity towards amylopectin and/or glycogen compared to the parent enzyme, to methods for producing such starch debranching enzyme variants with improved thermostability and/or altered substrate specificity, and to a method for converting starch to one or more sugars using at least one such enzyme variant.

Abstract: The discriminating capability of hybridization assays is increased by a combination of labelled primers which produce amplificates of one strand of a nucleic acid with a capture probe which is complementary to the same strand of the nucleic acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing aqueous phytase-containing liquids involving culturing microorganisms of the genus Aspergillus or Trichoderma in a medium containing assimilable carbon and nitrogen sources (e.g., glucose and ammonium ions), filtering the medium, and subjecting the resulting filtrate to ultra-filtration to give an aqueous composition having at least 14,000 FTU/g. This aqueous liquid optimally can be used to prepare granulates that can be incorporated in animal feedstuffs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protein disulfide isomerases which are encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes with (i) the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or (ii) the DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, under the following conditions: presoaking in 5×SSC and prehybridizing for 1 h at ˜40° C. in a solution of 5×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, and 50 &mgr;g of denatured sonicated calf thymus DNA, followed by hybridization in the same solution supplemented with 50 &mgr;Ci 32-P-dCTP labelled probe for 18 h at ˜40° C. followed by washing three times in 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 40° C. for 30 minutes; and fragments thereof. The present invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding the protein disulfide isomerases, compositions comprising said protein disulfide isomerases and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a starch branching enzyme. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the starch branching enzyme, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the starch branching enzyme in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are DNA expression constructs containing an &agr;-amylase promoter sequence derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus, an &agr;-amylase leader sequence derived from Bacillus stearothermophilus, and a DNA sequence encoding a pullulanase derived from Bacillus naganoensis. Microbial hosts transformed to contain the expression constructs secret function pullulanases. Also disclosed is a process for making recombinant pullulanases utilizing the expression constructs and a recombinant pullulanase which can be produced in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel aerobic, Gram-positive alkaliphilic bacteria which have been isolated from in and around alkaline soda lakes. These alkaliphiles have been analyzed according to the principles of numerical taxonomy with respect to each other and also to a collection of known bacteria. In addition, these bacterial taxa are further circumscribed by an analysis of the lipid components which serve as chemotaxonomic markers. The alkaliphiles of the present invention produce alkalitolerant enzymes which are capable of performing their functions at high pH which makes them uniquely suited for applications requiring such extreme conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered variant of a parent starch debranching enzyme, i.e. a pullulanase or an isamylase, the enzyme variant having an improved thermostability at a pH in the range of 4-6 compared to the parent enzyme and/or an increased activity towards amylopectin and/or glycogen compared to the parent enzyme, to methods for producing such starch debranching enzyme variants with improved thermostability and/or altered substrate specificity, and to a method for converting starch to one or more sugars using at least one such enzyme variant.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermophilic alkaliphilic bacteria designated Thermopallium natronophilum and thermophilic alkaliphilic polypeptides obtainable therefrom. It also provides compositions, particularly detergent compositions comprising the polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variant of a parent Termamyl-like &agr;-amylase, comprising mutations in two, three, four, five or six regions/positions. The variants have increased stability at high temperatures (relative to the parent). The invention also relates to a DNA construct comprising a DNA sequence encoding an &agr;-amylase variant of the invention, a recombinant expression vector which carries a DNA construct of the invention, a cell which is transformed with a DNA construct of the invention, the use of an &agr;-amylase variant of the invention for washing and/or dishwashing, textile desizing, starch liquefaction, a detergent additive comprising an &agr;-amylase variant of the invention, a manual or automatic dishwashing detergent composition comprising an &agr;-amylase variant of the invention, a method for generating a variant of a parent Termamyl-like &agr;-amylase, which variant exhibits increased.

Abstract: Novel cyclodextrin glycosyl transferases (CGTase) can be produced by anaerobic cultivation of strains of Thermoanaerobacter or Thermoanaerobium. They are more thermostable than known CGTases and have temperature optimum about 95° C. The novel CGTases can be used for starch liquefaction at pH 4.5 and temperature exceeding 100° C. in the production of dextrose or ethanol. They can also be used for conversion of liquefied starch to cyclodextrin at a temperature of 80-90° C. A method for enzymatically converting solid and liquefied starch into cyclodextrin using cyclodextrin glycosyl transferases (CGTase) elaborated by thermophilic obligate anaerobic strains belonging to the genus Clostridium. These CGTases are characterized by thermostability and a capability to liquefy starch and/or to convert liquefied starch to cyclodextrin at pH 5.0-5.5 and 60-90° C.

Abstract: The invention describes DNA molecules which code for plant proteins having the biological activity of a debranching enzyme. Furthermore described are transgenic plant cells and plants having reduced or increased debranching enzyme activity, as well as modified starch isolatable from transgenic cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a starch conversion process of the type which includes a debranching step wherein an isoamylase being active at the process conditions prevailing is used for debranching the starch and to the use of thermostable isoamylases for starch conversion. The invention further relates to an isolated isoamylase obtained from a strain of the genus Rhodothermus and to cloned DNA sequences encoding isoamylases derived from a strain of Rhodothermus or Sulfolobus, to expression vectors comprising said DNA sequence, host cells comprising such expression vectors, and finally to methods for producing said isoamylases.