Abstract: Nucleotide sequences and genetic constructs that can be used to regulate genes encoding enzymes that change carbon flux through metabolic pathways that lead to lactic acid or fumarate production in a host cell, such as a R. oryzae cell, are provided. Methods of manipulating carbon flux in a cell also are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to L-lysine-producing strains of corynebacteria with enhanced lysE gene (lysine export carrier gene), in which strains additional genes chosen from the group comprising the dapA gene (dihydrodipicolinate synthase gene), the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), the dapB gene (dihydrodipicolinate reductase gene) and the pyc gene, but especially the dapA gene and the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), are enhanced and, in particular, over-expressed, and to a process for the preparation of L-lysine.

Abstract: The invention provides a formate dehydrogenase having high specific activity, small Km values for formate and NAD, broad temperature and pH ranges of stability, broad temperature and pH ranges for action, and capable of regenerating a coenzyme with good efficiency in case of being present in an enzymatic reduction reaction system without inactivated. The invention provides the enzyme mentioned above which has characteristics suited for industrial application by screening for soil formate dehydrogenase-producing microorganisms. The invention further provides a DNA containing the gene coding for the enzyme of the invention, a recombinant DNA constructed using a vector, and a transformant obtained by using this plasmid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a muscle-specific protein, Ozz, and nucleic acids encoding the protein, that regulates development and function of muscle cells. The invention further relates to muscle-specific regulated expression of the protein, and of heterologous genes under control of the same regulatory sequences. In a specific example, a murine Ozz protein of 285 amino acids is preferentially expressed by a 1.0 kb mRNA in heart and skeletal muscle. This protein shares significant homology with neuralized proteins, and associates with a number of muscle proteins, including ?-catenin.

Abstract: CrtW carotenoid ketolases are provided useful for the production of astaxanthin. The ketolases genes of the present invention exhibit improved ketolase activity when converting cyclic hydroxylated carotenoid intermediates into astaxanthin. Recombinant expression of the present carotenoid ketolases in host cell producing cyclic hydroxylated carotenoid intermediates enabled increased production of astaxanthin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C). 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. The present invention also relates to the use of said polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of Vitamin C 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 the fermentation product in said microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms.

Abstract: L-Arginine is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium in which an arginine repressor involved in L-arginine biosynthesis is deleted by disrupting a gene coding for the repressor, and which has L-arginine producing ability in a medium to produce and accumulate L-arginine in the medium, and collecting the L-arginine from the medium.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a process for conveniently producing phosphorylase at a high purity using a phosphorylase-producing microorganism. Namely, a process for producing phosphorylase characterized by culturing a phosphorylase-producing microorganism in a medium containing phosphoric acid or its salt at a concentration of 50 mM or above and collecting the phosphorylase thus produced in the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C). 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. The present invention also relates to the use of said polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of Vitamin C 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 the fermentation product in said microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of increasing the production of a fine chemical, e.g., lysine from a microorganism, e.g., Corynebacterium by way of deregulating an enzyme encoding gene, i.e., fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods of increasing the production of lysine in Corynebacterium glutamicum by way of increasing the expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase activity. The invention also provides a novel process for the production of lysine by way of regulating carbon flux towards oxaloacetate (OAA). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods for the production of lysine by way of utilizing fructose or sucrose as a carbon source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C). 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. The present invention also relates to the use of said polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of Vitamin C 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 the fermentation product in said microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified genes that encode proteins that are involved in the synthesis of L-ascorbic acid (hereinafter also referred to as Vitamin C). 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. The present invention also relates to the use of said polynucleotides and polypeptides as biotechnological tools in the production of Vitamin C 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 the fermentation product in said microorganism. Also included are methods/processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms.

Abstract: CrtW carotenoid ketolases are provided that are useful for the production of astaxanthin and other cyclic ketocarotenoids. The mutant ketolase genes of the present invention encode polypeptides characterized by an improvement in astaxanthin synthesis activity when converting cyclic hydroxylated carotenoid intermediates into astaxanthin. Expression of the mutant carotenoid ketolases in heterologous hosts enabled increased production of astaxanthin relative to the Sphingomonas melonis DC18 CrtW.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing L-valine and to a suitable microorganism. The inventive method is characterized by preferably enhancing the transaminase C activity of a coryneform bacterium, especially Corynebacteriuim glutamicum. The organisms so modified have a yield in L-valine which is 35.8% higher than that of non-modified organisms.

Abstract: Provided are a promoter including at least one polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 7, an expression cassette including the same, a vector including the expression cassette, a host cell including the vector, and a method of expressing a gene using the host cell.

Abstract: Provided are an Escherichia species microorganism and Corynebacterium species microorganism that are transformed with a foreign NADP dependent glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene and have the ability to produce L-lysine and a method of producing L-lysine using the microorganisms.

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 relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aerobic coryneform bacterium transformant in which a lactate dehydrogenase gene is disrupted, and a pyruvate carboxylase gene is recombined so as to be highly expressed by a genetic engineering method. The aerobic coryneform bacterium transformant of the present invention can produce dicarboxylic acids from saccharides at a high production rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to production of lysine, and provides several isolated polynucleotide molecules useful for the production of L-lysine. One such polynucleotide encodes an aspartate kinase (ask), an aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) and a dihydrodipicolinate reductase. Other polypeptides encode ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, and a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (ddh); ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, ddh, and an ORF2 polypeptide; and ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, ddh, ORF2 and a diaminopimelate decarboxylase. The invention further provides methods of making and using the polynucleotides, and methods to increase the production of L-lysine. The invention further provides use of isolated polynucleotide molecules encoded by genes native to bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium. The invention further provides host cells bearing the isolated polynucleotide molecules of the invention.

Abstract: Zein-based peptide tags, referred to here as inclusion body tags (IBTs), are disclosed useful for the generation of insoluble fusion peptides. The fusion peptides comprise at least one inclusion body tag operably linked to a peptide of interest. Expression of the fusion peptide in a host cell results in a product that is insoluble and contained within inclusion bodies in the cell and/or cell lysate. The inclusion bodies may then be purified and the protein of interest may be isolated after cleavage from the inclusion body tag.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a follistatin variant capable of specifically inhibiting GDF-8 activity without inhibiting activin activity.

Abstract: L-Glutamic acid is produced by culturing a microorganism in which an expression of L-glutamic acid-export gene, a yhfK gene, is enhanced or overexpressed, in a medium to produce and cause accumulation of L-glutamic acid in the medium, and collecting L-glutamic acid from the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the gnd gene from coryneform bacteria coding for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases which contain at position 329 or a comparable position of the amino acid sequence any amino acid other than L-valine, and to processes for the production of amino acids, preferably L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by fermentation using bacteria that contain these alleles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel phytases, in particular, of fungal origin, and also to their respective methods of production. The present invention relates more particularly to novel phytases derived from fungi of the Penicillium genus, in particular of the Penicillium sp. CBS 109899 strain, and also to the polynucleotides encoding these phytases. The invention also relates to vectors containing the polynucleotides, and to transformed host organisms expressing the phytases.

Abstract: Novel polynucleotides derived from microorganisms belonging to coryneform bacteria and fragments thereof, polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, polynucleotide arrays comprising the polynucleotides and fragments thereof, recording media in which the nucleotide sequences of the polynucleotide and fragments thereof have been recorded which are readable in a computer, and use of them.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of increasing the production of a fine chemical, e.g., lysine from a microorganism, e.g., Corynebacterium by way of deregulating an enzyme encoding gene, i. e., glycerol kinase. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods of increasing the production of lysine in Corynebacterium glutamicum by way of increasing the expression of glycerol kinase activity. The invention also provides a novel process for the production of lysine by way of regulating carbon flux towards oxaloacetate (OAA). In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods for the production of lysine by way of utilizing fructose or sucrose as a carbon source.

Abstract: L-Glutamic acid is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium having L-glutamic acid producing ability, in which trehalose synthesis ability is decreased or deleted by, for example, disrupting the otsA gene derived from a coryneform bacterium source, coding for trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid in the medium, and collecting the L-glutamic acid from the medium.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleotide sequences of the gpm gene which encode phosphoglycerate mutase, and fermentation processes for the preparation of amino acids, especially L-lysine, using corynebacteria wherein the gpm gene is amplified.

Abstract: An RNA ligase derived from bacteriophage TS2126 which infects Thermus scotoductus, nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences of open reading frame (ORF) and polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acids, are described.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence of the threonine operon of E. coli with a deletion of all or part of a nucleotide fragment of ?56 to ?18, a recombinant vector containing the above nucleotide sequence, and a transformed host cell containing the recombinant vector are provided. A method for producing L-threonine comprising culturing the transformed host cell is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metF) gene.

Abstract: A pyruvate carboxylase gene having SEQ ID NO:1 as well as an amino acid sequence having SEQ ID NO:2 expressed by the pyruvate carboxylate gene are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for microbial production of amino acids of the aspartate and/or glutamate family in which the pyruvate carboxylase activity is increased by genetically changing the pyruvate carboxylase gene having SEQ ID NO:1 through expression of a microorganism which produces the corresponding amino acid having SEQ ID NO:2.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a heterologous protein by making a coryneform bacterium to produce and efficiently extracellularly secrete (secreto-production) an industrially useful heterologous protein. According to the present invention, a genetic construct is used where a gene sequence encoding an intended protein which is ligated to the downstream of a sequence encoding the signal peptide derived from a coryneform bacterium, the gene construct is introduced into a mutant coryneform bacterium which has a capacity of secreting the heterologous protein at least 2-fold higher than the wild type Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13869, the mutant coryneform bacterium is cultured and the extracellularly released heterologous protein is recovered.

Abstract: L-Arginine is produced by culturing a microorganism which has L-arginine producing ability and has been modified so that expression of lysE gene should be enhanced, such a microorganism further modified so that an arginine repressor should not function normally, or such a microorganism further modified so that intracellular activity of an enzyme in L-arginine biosynthetic pathway should be enhanced in a medium to produce and accumulate L-arginine in the medium and collecting the L-arginine from the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide from Corynebacterium glutamicum having a polynucleotide sequence which encodes the sugar import protein K (msiK) gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the msiK gene is present in enhanced form and a vector which carries at least the msiK gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the fermentative production of sulfur-containing fine chemicals, in particular L-methionine, by using bacteria which express a nucleotide sequence coding for a methionine synthase (metA) gene.

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: An isolated polynucleotide which contains a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising: (a) a polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide coding for a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, (b) a polynucleotide coding for a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, (c) a polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of (a) or (b), and (d) a polynucleotide containing at least 15 consecutive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of (a), (b), or (c), and a fermentation process for the preparation of L-amino acids using corynebacteria in which at least the pknD gene is amplified, and to the use, as hybridization probes, of polynucleotides containing the sequences according to the invention.

Abstract: Provided are a protein complex having the F0F1-ATPase activity; a DNA encoding the protein complex; a method for producing the protein complex, using the DNA; and a method for producing nucleoside 5?-triphosphate using the protein. The present invention further provides a recombinant DNA with the DNA inserted therein; a transformant carrying the recombinant DNA; and a method for producing a protein complex, using the transformant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein having an activity of giving a lysozyme insensitivity to a lysozyme-sensitive microorganism belonging to Corynebacterium glutamicum; DNA which codes for the protein; a recombinant vector containing the DNA; a transformant obtained by introducing the recombinant vector into a host cell; a bacterium having a lysozyme sensitivity in which the activity of the protein is inactivated; and a method for producing an amino acid using the bacterium.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the coryneform bacterium mqo gene which encodes malate quinone oxidoreductases which contain any amino acid apart from L-serine at position 111, or a comparable position, in the amino acid sequence, and to processes for fermentatively preparing amino acids, preferably L-lysine, L-tryptophan and L-proline, using bacteria which comprise these alleles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding nitric oxide synthases. The isolated nucleic acid molecules and their encoded protein or polypeptides are useful in methods for attaching a nitrogen group to a target moiety of a compound and for synthesizing a nitrogen-modified compound in a transgenic host cell. The present invention also relates to expression systems and host cells containing the nucleic acids of the present invention, as well as a method of recombinantly producing the nitric oxide synthases of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention related to an isolated nucleic acid consisting of a fragment of the polynucleotide of Corynebacterium glutamicum citA gene or a fragment of the full complement of the polynucleotide of the C. glutamicum citA gene wherein said fragment is at least 30 consecutive nucleotide in length, and the vector and host cell harboring these nucleic acids.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide containing a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group comprising a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID no. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID no.2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide containing at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and a process for the fermentative production of L-amino acids with enhancement of the ptsH gene coding for component H of the phosphotransferase system, and the use of the above polynucleotides as primer or hybridisation probe.

Abstract: A coryneform bacterium which has an L-glutamic acid-producing ability and grows at least at the same growth rate as a non-mutated strain or a wild-type strain and has intracellular ?-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity which is less than half that of the non-mutated or wild-type strain, and is obtained by introducing a mutation into a coding region or an expression control region of the chromosomal odhA gene encoding the E1o subunit of the ?-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence chosen from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence which is identical to the extent of at least 70% to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the mikE17 gene is present in attenuated form, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptide sequence having the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or muteins thereof having the ability to bind cAMP and repress the expression of the aceB gene of C. glutamicum and which can be obtained from SEQ ID NO:1 by inserting, deleting or substituting up to 20% of the amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel microorganisms, Brevibacterium lactofermentum CJJA21 (Accession No. KCCM-10222), which is resistant to sodium azide, and Brevibacterium lactofermentum CJJA22 (Accession No. KCCM-10223), which is resistant to ?-aminobutyric acid. These microorganisms are capable of producing L-glutamine in a higher yield than the known strains. The present invention further provides processes for producing L-glutamine using the microorganisms of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of a novel human RPS6KA6-related gene variant (RPS6KA6V). The invention also provides a process for producing the polypeptide of the variant. The invention further provides a use of the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of the gene variant in diagnosing T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.