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 provides a protein having a &bgr;1,3-galactosyltransferase activity derived from a microorganism; a DNA encoding the protein; a recombinant DNA containing the DNA and a vector; a transformant obtained by introducing the recombinant DNA into a host cell; a method for producing a protein having a &bgr;1,3-galactosyltransferase activity using the transformant; and a method for producing a galactose-containing carbohydrate using the transformant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule which comprises genes for biosynthesizing acarbose and homologous pseudo-oligosaccharides; to oligonucleotide primers for the PCR amplification of the molecule; to proteins which can be obtained by expressing the genes located on a molecule; to vectors and host cells which comprise the above-mentioned DNA molecule; to proteins which are encoded by the DNA molecule; to proteins which are expressed by means of said vectors in said host cells; to processes for preparing acarbose by introducing the characterized genes into appropriate host organisms and/or eliminating these genes from the host organisms; to processes for completing the gene cluster of genes for biosynthesizing acarbose, to processes for isolating analogous gene clusters in organisms other than Streptomyces glaucescens GLA.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1→4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1→3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1→4 to Gal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase of increased product specificity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protein which presents identical or different catalytically active domains of glycosyltransferases and has a processive action. In particular, the same protein is successively active in at least two successive process steps.

Abstract: Methods for the production of a mucin-type glycopeptide comprising a transglycosylation using a sugar acceptor such as peptide and a sugar donor as an oligosaccharide with an endo-&agr;-N-acetylgalactosaminidase under a given condition is disclosed. The method provides a new practical way to produce mucin-type glycopeptides in industry and can provide an sufficient amount of the mucin-type glycopeptides in a practical use.

Abstract: The present invention describes two novel proteins having fructosyltransferase activity. Both enzymes are derived from lactobacilli, which are food-grade micro-organisms with the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status. One of these proteins produces an inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, while the other produces a levan and fructo-oligosaccharides. According to the invention lactobacilli capable of producing an inulin and/or a levan and/or fructo-oligosaccharides using one or both of the fructosyltransferases can be used as a probiotic or a symbiotic.

Abstract: The structure and specificity of a recombinant &agr;2,3-sialyltransferase from Campylobacter spp., is disclosed. Also provided are methods for using the &agr;2,3-sialyltransferase in the production of desired carbohydrate structures and nucleic acids that encode the sialyltransferase.

Abstract: General methods for monitoring the activity of MurG, a GlcNAc transferase involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, is disclosed. More particularly, the synthesis of simplified substrate analogs of Lipid I (the natural substrate for MurG), which function as acceptors for UDP-GlcNAc in an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by MurG, is described. Assays using the substrate analogs of the invention are further disclosed, which are useful for identifying a variety of other substrates, including inhibitors of MurG activity, for facilitating mechanistic and/or structural studies of the enzyme and for other uses. High throughput assays are also described.

Abstract: A conjugate vaccine for Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis comprising isolated lipooligosaccharide from which esterified fatty acids have been removed, to produce a detoxified lipooligosaccharide (dLOS), or from which lipid A has been removed, to produce a detoxified oligosaccharide (OS), which is linked to an immunogenic carrier. The vaccine is useful for preventing otitis media and respiratory infections caused by M. catarrhalis in mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polysaccharides containing &agr;-1,4-glucan chains. According to the inventive method, a glucosyl group acceptor undergoes a chain prolongation reaction by reacting it with saccharose in the presence of an amylosaccharase. The amount of the glucosyl group acceptor in the reaction mixture is chosen in such a way that the mole ratio of the available ends of the glucosyl group acceptor to the saccharose is at least 1:1,000 and/or the weight ratio of the glucosyl group acceptor to the saccharose is at least 1:0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparing commercial quantities of glucose and/or fructose from sucrose, a process of preparing commercial quantities of glucose and a polyfructan from sucrose, a reactor for practicing same, a process of preparing commercial quantities of fructose and a polyglucan from sucrose and a reactor for practicing same.

Abstract: This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant glucosyltransferases, heretofore undescribed, that exhibit catalytic activity with p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBA) as a substrate and only attach glucose to the aromatic carboxyl group of pHBA, to form the pHBA glucose ester. These enzymes have potential applications both in vitro and in vivo, and their primary amino acid sequences can be used to identify other proteins that have similar kinetic properties.

Abstract: The inventors have discovered some striking, and not previously predicted structural similarities and differences between the structure of Novamyl and the reported structures of CGTases, and based on this they have constructed variants of maltogenic alpha-amylase having CGTase activity and variants of CGTase having maltogenic alpha-amylase activity. Further, on the basis of sequence homology between Novamyl and CGTases, the inventors have constructed hybrid enzymes with one or more improvements to specific properties of the parent enzymes, using recombinant DNA methodology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of transferring at least two saccharide units with a polyglycosyltransferase, a polyglycosyltransferase and a gene encoding such a polyglycosyltransferase.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated CGTases und isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the CGTases. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing and using the CGTases, in particular to cleaning and detergent composition comprising such CGTases.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that various proteins, such as Fringe, Brainiac and homologues and orthologues thereof, possess glycosyltransferase activity. Fringe and Brainiac have been found to possess glycosyltransferase activity in transfering sugar residues onto certain proteins, so affecting the binding of effector molecules to these proteins. This discovery allows the design of drug molecules that specifically target this interaction, and has implications for the treatment of various diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing maltose syrup, wherein starch is treated with a hexosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.1) and then a beta-amylase and/or a maltogenic amy-lase, or variant thereof. The invention also relates to an intermediate product suitable as staring material in maltose production processes.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene (isolated nucleic acid molecule) encoding the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase which produces a considerable amount of &ggr;-cyclodextrin (&ggr;-CD) from the substrates selected from among starch and starch decomposition products such as dextrin, amylopectin and amylose; recombinant plasmids comprising this gene; transformants transformed with the recombinant plasmid; methods of manufacturing the cyclodextrin glucanotransferase by employing these transformants to act upon the substrates selected from among starch and decomposition products thereof and causing the production of &ggr;-CD as a main product; and methods of manufacturing &ggr;-CD and CD-comprising compositions having a desired CD balance (&agr;-, &bgr;- and &ggr;-CD balance) employing this recombinant cyclodextrin glucanotransferase.

Abstract: Processes for preparing oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycolipids, glycoproteins, and other saccharide compositions are provided which involve the enzyme facilitated transfer of a preselected saccharide unit from a donor moiety to an acceptor moiety. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, saccharide compositions having a plurality of saccharide units are prepared by appending the saccharide units in iterative fashion to acceptor moieties which are themselves saccharide compositions prepared in accordance with this invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides combinatorial methods for rapidly generating a diverse library of glycorandomized structures, comprising incubating one or more aglycons and a pool of NDP-sugars in the presence of a glycosyltransferase. The glycosyltransferase may be one that is associated with or involved in production of natural secondary metabolites, or one which is putatively associated with or involved in production of natural secondary metabolites. The glycosyltransferase may show significant flexibility with respect to its NDP-sugar donors and/or its aglycons. NDP-sugar donors may be commercially available, or may be produced by utilizing mutant or wild type nucleotidyltransferases significant flexibility with respect to their substrates.

Abstract: A method for preparing saccharide compositions is disclosed. The method is reiterative and comprises the following three steps. (i) A glycosyltransferase capable of transferring a preselected saccharide unit to an acceptor moiety is isolated by contacting the acceptor moiety with a mixture suspected of containing the glycosyltransferase under conditions effective to bind the acceptor moiety and the glycosyltransferase and thereby isolate the glycosyltransferase. The acceptor moiety is a protein, a glycoprotein, a lipid, a glycolipid, or a carbohydrate. (ii) The isolated glycosyltransferase is then used to catalyze the bond between the acceptor moiety and the preselected saccharide unit. (iii) Steps (i) and (ii) are repeated a plurality of times with the intermediate product obtained in the first iteration of the method being used as the acceptor moiety of the second iteration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel microorganism and a method for producing fructooligosaccharides and neofructooligosaccharides.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;-sialylated oligosaccharide glycosides. Specifically, in the disclosed methods, &agr;2,3-sialyltransferase is used to transfer an analogue of sialic acid, employed as its CMP-nucleotide derivative, to the non-reducing sugar terminus of an oligosaccharide having a fucosyl group in the penultimate saccharide unit to the non-reducing sugar terminus. The analogue of sialic acid and the oligosacchairde employed in this method are selected to be compatible with the sialyltransferase employed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of modified starch obtainable by treating amylose containing starch in aqueous medium with an enzyme from the group of the &agr;-1,4-&agr;-1,4-glucosyl transferases (EC 2.4.1.25) or an enzyme the activity of which corresponds to that of enzymes from the group just mentioned, as an agent for forming a thermoreversible gel. The invention also relates to products in the form of a thermoreversible gel having as gel-forming substance a modified starch as defined. The invention further relates to the use of a modified starch as defined in the form of an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention embraces methods and compositions which employ antimicrobial compositions which are &agr;-alkylglucosides and esters thereof.

Abstract: The use of human polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminytransferase T-4 (GalNAc-T4) to glycosylate substrates is disclosed. The action of GalNAc-T4 can complement the activities of GalNAc-T1, -T2 and -T3. The glycosylated substrates are useful in preparation of vaccines and anti-inflammatory agents. A method of producing the soluble form of the enzyme is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methodology for polymer grafting by a polysaccharide synthase and, more particularly, polymer grafting using the hyaluronate synthase from Pasteurella multocida. The present invention also relates to coatings for biomaterials wherein the coatings provide protective properties to the biomaterial and/or act as a bioadhesive. Such coatings could be applied to electrical devices, sensors, catheters and any device which may be contemplated for use within a mammal. The present invention further relates to drug delivery matrices which are biocompatible and may comprise combinations of a biomaterial or a bioadhesive and a medicament or a medicament-containing liposome. The biomaterial and/or bioadhesive is a hyaluronic acid polymer produced by a hyaluronate synthase from Pasteurella multocida.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for practical in vitro synthesis of gangliosides and other glycolipids. The synthetic methods typically involve enzymatic synthesis, or a combination of enzymatic and chemical synthesis. One or more of the enzymatic steps is preferably carried out in the presence of an organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing functional sugar polymers comprising transferring a monosaccharide or oligosaccharide to an acceptor, removing by-products, separating polymers which have not achieved the desired chain length and recycling these underdeveloped polymers, and an apparatus for producing same.

Abstract: A process for preparing polyvalent, physiologically degradable carbohydrate-containing polymers by enzymatic glycosylation reactions is described. The carbohydrate-containing polymers thus prepared may be used for preparing carbohydrate building blocks. The polyvalent carbohydrate-containing polymers of the invention cause no intolerance reactions in vivo, either in their intact form or in the form of degradation products. The carbohydrate side chain of the carbohydrate-containing polymer is assembled by enzymatic glycosylation reactions in homogeneous aqueous buffer systems directly on a biodegradable polymer. The yields of the glycosylation reaction are significantly improved over known processes, and are often quantitative. This also provides a significant increase in the loading densities. A process for preparing free oligosaccharides by means of the carbohydrate-containing polymers of the invention is also described.

Abstract: A bacterial &agr;1,3-fucosyltransferase gene and deduced amino acid sequence is provided. The gene is useful for preparing &agr;1,3-fucosyltransferase polypeptide, and active fragment thereof, which can be used in the production of oligosaccharides such as Lewis X, Lewis Y, and siayl Lewis X, which are structurally similar to certain tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens found in mammals. These product glycoconjugates also have research and diagnostic utility in the development of assays to detect mammalian tumors. In addition the polypeptide of the invention can be used to develop diagnostic and research assays to determine the presence of H. pylori in human specimens.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for practical in vitro sialylation of glycoproteins, including recombinantly produced glycoproteins. The methods are useful for large-scale modification of sialylation patterns.

Abstract: A method for preparing saccharide compositions is disclosed. The method is reiterative and comprises the following three steps.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel transferase that acts on a saccharide, as a substrate, composed of at least three sugar units wherein at least three glucose residues on the reducing end are linked &agr;-1,4 so as to transfer the &agr;-1,4 lingages to a &agr;-1,&agr;-1 linkages; a process for producing the transferase; a gene coding for the same; and a process for producing an oligosaccharide by using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of transferring at least two saccharide units with a polyglycosyltransferase, a polyglycosyltransferase and a gene encoding such a polyglycosyltransferase.

Abstract: Processes for preparing oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycolipids, glycoproteins, and other saccharide compositions are provided which involve the enzyme facilitated transfer of a preselected saccharide unit from a donor moiety to an acceptor moiety. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, saccharide compositions having a plurality of saccharide units are prepared by appending the saccharide units in iterative fashion to acceptor moieties which are themselves saccharide compositions prepared in accordance with this invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant thermostable enzyme which has a molecular weight of about 54,000-64,000 daltons and a pI of about 5.6-6.6, and releases trehalose from non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit and a degree of glucose polymerization of at least 3. The enzyme has a satisfactorily-high thermostability, i.e. it is not substantially inactivated even when incubated in an aqueous solution (pH 7.0) at 85° C. for 60 min, and this facilitates the production of trehalose on an industrial scale and in a satisfactorily-high yield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme having &bgr;1→4 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT-IV) activity; a gene encoding the enzyme; a recombinant DNA comprising the gene; a host cell comprising the recombinant DNA; a method for producing an enzyme protein having GnT-IV activity comprising culturing the host cell in a medium; and a saccharide in which the sugar chain is modified using a GnT-IV. According to the present invention, a novel GnT-IV, a method for producing the enzyme and a gene coding for the enzyme are provided. With the GnT-IV of the present invention, it has become possible to produce a saccharide having a branching structure which could not be formed with conventional glycosyltransferases. Thus, the GnT-IV of the invention is useful not only for producing or improving glycoconjugate type pharmaceuticals, reagents and foods, but also for modifying the sugar chain structure of any biopolymer.

Abstract: A method for preparing saccharide compositions which is reiterative and includes the following three steps. (i) A glycosyltransferase capable of transferring a preselected saccharide unit to an acceptor moiety is isolated by contacting the acceptor moiety with a mixture suspected of containing the glycosyltransferase under conditions effective to bind the acceptor moiety and the glycosyltransferase and thereby isolate the glycosyltransferase. The acceptor moiety is a protein, a glycoprotein, a lipid, a glycolipid, or a carbohydrate. (ii) The isolated glycosyltransferase is then used to catalyze the bond between the acceptor moiety and the preselected saccharide unit. (iii) Steps (i) and (ii) are repeated a plurality of times with the intermediate product obtained in the first iteration of the method being used as the acceptor moiety of the second iteration.

Abstract: This invention contemplates improved methods of enzymatic production of carbohydrates especially fucosylated carbohydrates. Improved syntheses of glycosyl 1- or 2-phosphates using both chemical and enzymatic means are also contemplated. The phosphorylated glycosides are then used to produce sugar nucleotides that are in turn used as donor sugars for glycosylation of acceptor carbohydrates. Especially preferred herein is the use of a disclosed method for fucosylation.

Abstract: The present invention embraces methods and compositions which employ antimicrobial compositions which are &agr;-alkylglucosides and esters thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme having &bgr;1→4 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnT-IV) activity; a gene encoding the enzyme; a recombinant DNA comprising the gene; a host cell comprising the recombinant DNA; a method for producing an enzyme protein having GnT-IV activity comprising culturing the host cell in a medium; and a saccharide in which the sugar chain is modified using a GnT-IV.

Abstract: The present invention describes the identification, purification, recombinant production and characterization of novel O-fucosyltransferase enzymes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the enzymatic synthesis of &agr;-sialylated oligosaccharide glycosides. Specifically, in the disclosed methods, &agr;2,3-sialyltransferase is used to transfer an analogue of sialic acid, employed as its CMP-nucleotide derivative, to the non-reducing sugar terminus of an oligosaccharide having a fucosyl group in the penultimate saccharide unit to the non-reducing sugar terminus. The analogue of sialic acid and the oligosacchairde employed in this method are selected to be compatible with the sialyltransferase employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human glutathione s-transferase (HGST) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HGST. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding HGST and a method for producing HGST. The invention also provides for agonists, antibodies, or antagonists specifically binding HGST, and their use, in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other diseases associated with the expression of HGST. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding HGST for the treatment of cancer and other diseases associated with the expression of HGST. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding HGST.

Abstract: ppGaNTase-T6 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing ppGaNTase-T6 polypeptides and polynucleotides in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: The structure and specificity of the recombinant &agr;-2,3-sialyltransferases from Neisseria spp, are disclosed. Their use in the production of desired carbohydrate structures is also provided.

Abstract: A conjugate vaccine for Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae comprising lipooligosaccharide from which esterified fatty acids have been removed conjugated to an immunogenic carrier. The vaccine is useful for prevention of otitis media and respiratory infections in mammals.