Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and processes for the efficient preparation of L-methionine. In particular, the present invention relates to processes in which the amount of serine available for the metabolism of the microorganism is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms, in particular C. glutamicum in which the formation of N5,N10-methylene-THF is increased. The present invention also relates to the use of such microorganisms for producing methionine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing the amount of at least one polypeptide in the host cell by expressing a modified nucleotide sequence encoding for a polypeptide in a host cell with said modified nucleotide sequence being derived from a different non-modified nucleotide sequence encoding for a polypeptide of identical amino acid sequence such that the codon usage of the modified nucleotide sequence is adjusted to the codon usage of abundant proteins in the host cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms and methods for producing methionine by reactivation of the MetH enzyme.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a microorganism producing L-arginine and a method of producing L-arginine using the same. The microorganism is a mutant strain of the genus Corynebacterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum CJR0500. The method for L-arginine production comprises activating the mutant strain C. glutamicum CJR0500 in a fermentation medium at 30° C. for 16 hours and then culturing the activated mutant strain for 72 hours with shaking.

Abstract: This invention relates to methionine producing recombinant microorganisms. Specifically, this invention relates to recombinant strains of Corynebacterium that produce increased levels of methionine compared to their wild-type counterparts and further to methods of generating such microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods designed to increase value output of a fermentation reaction that yields a first product, intended for commercialization, such as ethanol, and a fermentation residual used, for example, as animal feed. The methods involve using microorganisms in the fermentation process that have been modified so as to yield a residual having greater value that a residual produced in the process by a microorganism not so modified. In particular, the present invention contemplates using microorganisms in a fermentation process that have been modified to increase production of a nutrient, such as an essential amino acid, thereby reducing the need to supplement the nutrient in the animal's diet. The present invention also provides a modified fermentation residual of higher commercial value. Also provided in the present invention are complete animal feeds, nutritional supplements comprising the subject ferment residuals.

Abstract: The present invention features improved processes and organisms for the production of methionine. The invention demonstrates that a ?metF organism or a ?metE AmetH organism, for example, mutants of C. glutamicum or E. coli, can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), as a source of both sulfur and a methyl group, bypassing the need for MetH/MetE and MetF activity and the need to reduce sulfate, for the synthesis of methionine. Also described in this patent are data implicating MetY (also called MetZ) as an enzyme that incorporates a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, into methionine. A ?metF ?metB strain of C. glutamicum can use a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS, as a source of both sulfide and a methyl group. Furthermore, methionine production by engineered prototrophic organisms that overproduce O-acetyl-homoserine was improved by the addition of a methyl capped sulfide source, e.g., DMDS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microorganisms genetically engineered to increase yield and/or efficiency of biomass production from a carbon source, such as e.g. glucose. Processes for generating such microorganisms are also provided by the present invention. The invention also relates to polynucleotide sequences comprising genes that encode proteins that are involved in the bioconversion of a carbon source such as e.g. glucose into biomass. 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 processes of using the polynucleotides and modified polynucleotide sequences to transform host microorganisms leading to a microorganism with reduced carbon source diversion, i.e. higher yield and/or efficiency of biomass production from a carbon source such as e.g. glucose.

Abstract: A method of producing coryneform bacteria having an improved amino acid or nucleic acid-productivity comprises the steps of introducing a mutation in a promoter sequence of amino acid- or nucleic acid-biosynthesizing genes on a chromosome of a coryneform bacterium so that it is close to a consensus sequence or introducing a change in the promoter sequence of amino acid- or nucleic acid-biosynthesizing genes on the chromosome of a coryneform bacterium by gene recombination so that it is close to a consensus sequence, obtaining mutants of the coryneform amino acid- or nucleic acid-producing microorganism, culturing the mutants and select a mutant capable of producing the intended amino acid or nucleic acid in a large amount. This method allows one of skill in the art to construct a mutant capable of enriching or controlling the expression of an intended gene without using a plasmid and to promote production of amino acids in a high yield, by the recombination or mutation.

Abstract: A microorganism which has a gene encoding an enzyme in which feedback inhibition is desensitized by substitution of one or two amino acids in PRPP amidotransferase encoded by purF of Escherichia coli, a gene encoding a protein which is an inactivated repressor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis encoded by purR, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated purine nucleoside phosphorylase encoded by deoD, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated succinyl-AMP synthase encoded by purA, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase encoded by edd, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated phosphoglucose isomerase encoded by pgi and like is bred and a purine nucleoside is produced by culturing the microorganism.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel farnesylated dibenzodiazepinone, named ECO-04601, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives, and to methods for obtaining such compounds. One method of obtaining the ECO-04601 compound is by cultivation of a novel strain of Micromonospora sp., 046-ECO11; another method involves expression of biosynthetic pathway genes in transformed host cells. The present invention further relates to Micromonospora sp. strain 046-ECO11, to the use of and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives as pharmaceuticals, in particular to their use as inhibitors of cancer cell growth, bacterial cell growth, mammalian lipoxygenase, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising ECO-04601 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof. Finally, the invention relates to novel polynucleotide sequences and their encoded proteins, which are involved in the biosynthesis of ECO-04601.

Abstract: A microorganism which has a gene encoding an enzyme in which feedback inhibition is desensitized by substitution of one or two amino acids in PRPP amidotransferase encoded by purF of Escherichia coli, a gene encoding a protein which is an inactivated repressor of purine nucleotide biosynthesis encoded by purR, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated purine nucleoside phosphorylase encoded by deoD, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated succinyl-AMP synthase encoded by purA, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase encoded by edd, a gene encoding an enzyme which is inactivated phosphoglucose isomerase encoded by pgi and like is bred and a purine nucleoside is produced by culturing the microorganism.

Abstract: Methods for the fermentive production of four carbon alcohols are provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably 2-butanol is produced by the fermentive growth of a recombinant bacteria expressing a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms and methods of the invention can also be adapted to produce 2-butanone, an intermediate in the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathways disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to improved microorganisms and methods for the production of methionine and other sulfur containing fine chemicals using the metI gene from Bacillus subtilis or a gene related to metI. In some embodiments of the present invention, the metI gene or another gene is integrated in a fashion that allows for co-production of a water soluble compound such as methionine or other amino acid and a caortenoid compound.

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 invention relates to a process for producing L-lysine or L-lysine-containing feed additives by fermentation, which comprises a) expressing a polynucleotide coding for polypeptide having LL-diaminopimelate aminotransferase activity in a bacterium excreting L-lysine, and b) fermenting the resultant bacterium in a medium under suitable conditions and allowing the resultant L-lysine to accumulate in the fermentation broth.

Abstract: Bacterial polynucleotides and polypeptides are provided in which the polypeptides have a dehydrogenase activity, such as an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity, an uronate, a 4-deoxy-L-erythro-5-hexoseulose uronate (DEHU) ((4S,5S)-4,5 dihydroxy-2,6-dioxohexanoate) hydrogenase activity, a 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-gluconate dehydrogenase activity, a D-mannuronate hydrogenase activity, and/or a D-mannnonate dehydrogenase activity. Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are also provided for converting polysaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, into suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, as well as for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of targeting a protein of interest to an intracellular hydrophobic inclusion body of a bacterial cell by means of a fusion protein comprising a hydrophobic targeting peptide operatively linked with said protein of interest; methods of microbial production of a lipophilic compound of interest by means of a recombinant bacterial host comprising intracellular inclusion bodies having at least one enzyme which is involved in the biosynthesis of said lipophilic compound targeted to said inclusion bodies; as well as corresponding fusion proteins, coding sequences, expression vectors and recombinant hosts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for site-specific directed gene insertion of desired genes or foreign DNA into cellular genomes. The system includes novel vectors for integrating DNA into the genome of different hosts. Methods of using the vectors and transformed hosts are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the production of microorganisms with increased efficiency for methionine synthesis, microorganisms with increased efficiency for methionine synthesis, and methods for determining the optimal metabolic flux for organisms with respect to methionine synthesis.

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 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 folic acid concentration in amino acid producing organisms is reduced or completely removed in order to increase the production of L-serine. The enzymes and genes, which are involved in the biosynthesis of folic acid, can be completely excluded or at least reduced in activity. In a preferred embodiment, SEQ ID NOs: 1-7 are utilized.

Abstract: A novel subtilisin-type alkaline protease from Bacillus pumilus and sufficiently related proteins and derivatives thereof. Also washing and cleaning agents comprising the novel subtilisin-type alkaline protease, sufficiently related proteins and derivatives thereof, corresponding washing and cleaning methods, and washing and cleaning agents and other possible technical uses.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing acrylic acid. The method includes contacting fumaric acid with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylic acid per mole of fumaric acid. Also provided is an acrylate ester. The method includes contacting fumarate diester with a sufficient amount of ethylene in the presence of a cross-metathesis transformation catalyst to produce about two moles of acrylate ester per mole of fumarate diester. An integrated process for process for producing acrylic acid or acrylate ester is provided which couples bioproduction of fumaric acid with metathesis transformation. An acrylic acid and an acrylate ester production also is provided.

Abstract: Microbial biodegradation can be presented as a preferred technique for plastic disposal from the viewpoint of protection of the natural environment, but a problem exists in that plastics are generally not biodegradable. The present invention provides a microorganism capable of degrading a urethane compound and a method for degrading a urethane compound using the microorganism. More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a microorganism capable of degrading a urethane compound used as a source material for polyurethanes and a method for degrading a polyurethane using the microorganism.

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: The present invention provides a polypeptide which has: (i) an amino acid sequence wherein one or more amino acid residues are substituted in the region at positions 20 to 38 from the N terminus of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; or (ii) an amino acid sequence wherein one or more amino acid residues are substituted in the region at positions 20 to 38 from the N terminus of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and one or more amino acid residues are deleted, substituted or added in the region at positions 1 to 19 or 39 to 294; and which has N-acetylglutamate kinase activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to alleles of the sigA gene from coryneform bacteria which code for sigma factors A and a process for the fermentative preparation of L-lysine using bacteria which contain these alleles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel farnesylated dibenzodiazepinone, named ECO-04601, its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives, and to methods for obtaining such compounds. One method of obtaining the ECO-04601 compound is by cultivation of a novel strain of Micromonospora sp., 046-ECO11; another method involves expression of biosynthetic pathway genes in transformed host cells. The present invention further relates to Micromonospora sp. strain 046-ECO11, to the use of ECO-04601 and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives as pharmaceuticals, in particular to their use as inhibitors of cancer cell growth, bacterial cell growth, mammalian lipoxygenase, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising ECO-04601 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof. Finally, the invention relates to novel polynucleotide sequences and their encoded proteins, which are involved in the biosynthesis of ECO-04601.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides that encode proteins having OpcA enzymatic activity. These polynucleotides can be used for increasing lysine biosynthesis in Coryneform glutamicum.

Abstract: A method to increase carotenoid production in carotenogenic microbial host cells is provided by down-regulating or disrupting glycogen synthesis. Disruption of glycogen synthase activity in a carotenogenic microbial host cell significantly increased carotenoid production. Carotenogenic microorganisms are also provided that have been optimized for the production of carotenoid compounds through the down-regulation and/or disruption of glycogen synthase activity.

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: An isolated mutant of a coryneform bacterium comprising a gene coding for a polypeptide having GTP-pyrophosphate kinase activity, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence in which one of the proteinogenic amino acids other than L-proline is present in position 38 or a corresponding or comparable position. In addition, an isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having GTP-pyrophosphate kinase enzyme activity, a vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide, a recombinant microorganism comprising the vector, and a process for preparing the recombinant coryneform bacterium is described. A method for over-expressing a GTP-pyrophosphate kinase, a method of preparing an L-amino acid, an L-lysine comprising and L-tryptophan comprising feed is also described.

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: A method for regulation of gene expression by variation of temperature uses a riboswitch. The riboswitch includes a 5?-UTR construct of crhC which alters its secondary structure in response to temperature, resulting in a more stable transcript at lower temperatures, permitting translation. At higher temperatures, the transcript is destabilized and functionally inactive. The 5?-UTR construct of crhC may be operatively linked to a promoter and a gene and administered to cells with an expression vector.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MCP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MCP proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MCP nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides isolated MCP proteins, mutated MCP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and methods for the improvement of production of a desired compound from C. glutamicum based on genetic engineering of MCP genes in this organism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of recombinant homoserine transsuccinylase enzymes with altered feedback sensitivity (MetA*) and possibly recombinant S-adenosyl methionine synthetase enzymes with reduced activity (MetK*) for the production of methionine, its precursors or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new designer cytokine termed H11, which is constructed by fusion of two soluble components, soluble interleukin 11 receptor (sIL-11 R) and interleukin 11 (IL-11) using their natural sequence and its use for the production of a medicament for treating or preventing a disease selected from the group consisting of a proliferative disease, a cytopathy, radiation damage, an IL-11 dependent inflammatory disorder, IL-11 dependent degenerative disorder and IL-11 dependent or mediated soft tissue disorder.

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 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 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: Coryneform bacterium is modified so that an activity of acetyl-CoA hydrolase is decreased, and succinic acid is produced by using the bacterium.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to recombinant nucleic acids, expression vectors comprising the recombinant nucleic acids, and host cells comprising the expression vectors for expressing a protein of interest.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is disclosed a recombinant microbial host cell having each of the DNA molecules encoding a polypeptide or group of polypeptides that catalyze the conversion: (i) Acetyl-CoA to Acetate and CoA ??(conversion 1) (ii) Acetyl-CoA to Acetoacetyl-CoA and CoA ??(conversion 2) (iii) Acetoacetyl-CoA and Acetate to Acetoacetate and Acetyl-CoA ??(conversion 3.1) (iv) Acetoacetate to Acetone and CO2 ??(conversion 4) (v) Acetone and NAD(P)H and H+ to Isopropanol and NAD(P)+ ??(conversion 5) wherein at least one DNA molecule is heterologous to the microbial host cell and wherein the microbial host cell produces isopropanol. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for the production of isopropanol including providing a recombinant microbial host cell, the host cell of (i) with a fermentable carbon substrate in a fermentation medium under conditions whereby isopropanol is produced, and recovering the isopropanol.

Abstract: An isolated mutant of coryneform bacteria comprising a gene encodes a polypeptide having 2-methylcitrate dehydratase activity, where the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence in which one of the proteinogenic amino acids except L-proline is present at position 272 or a corresponding or comparable position. In addition, an isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having 2-methylcitrate dehydratase enzymic activity, which comprises at position 272 of the amino acid sequence or a corresponding or comparable position a proteinogenic amino acid except L-proline is described. A method for producing a recombinant coryneform bacterium and L-amino acids. A recombinant microorganism, L-Lysine-containing feed additive, and L-Tryptophan-containing feed additive is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid is deleted, substituted or added in an amino acid sequence of isopropylmalate isomerase derived from a microorganism belonging to coryneform bacteria, wherein a coryneform bacterium which produces the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as the sole isopropylmalate isomerase exhibits a partial leucine requirement in a minimal medium; a DNA encoding the polypeptide, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, a microorganism transformed with the recombinant DNA, and a process for producing an L-amino acid using the microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multiple promoters and to expression units comprising them; to the use thereof for regulating transcription and expression of genes; to expression cassettes which comprise multiple promoters or expression units of this kind; to vectors which comprise such expression cassettes; to genetically modified microorganisms which comprise vectors and/or expression units of this kind; and to processes for preparing biosynthetic products by culturing said genetically modified microorganisms.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules, designated MP nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel MP proteins from Corynebacterium glutamicum are described. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing MP nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. The invention still further provides isolated MP proteins, mutated MP proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and methods for the improvement of production of a desired compound from C. glutamicum based on genetic engineering of MP genes in this organism.