Disclosed is a continuous process for separating or extracting proteins from a low grade mixture of a protein of interest, other proteins, impurities, and salts in a continuous simulated moving bed separation process. The invention provides for direct extraction of heme protein and plant protein from a crude mixture of such proteins, other proteins, impurities and salts using the chromatographic technique of simulated moving bed (SMB) continuous chromatography. The SMB process combines the steps of feed loading, adsorbent washing, product elution, adsorbent regeneration, and adsorbent equilibration. The novel strong anion exchange resin adsorbent is a quaternary amine cross-linked microcellulose wherein the microcellulose is cross-linked with epichlorohydrin and the quaternary amine is 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride which exhibits selective adsorption of proteins and complete regeneration. Purified protein separated in this manner may provide human health benefits by providing greater medicinal and nutrition opportunities from low quality protein sources.

The present invention relates to a vector system for transformation of Chlorella vulgaris, a Chlorella vulgaris transformation method using same, and a Chlorella vulgaris transformant.

Provided is a method for plant improvement with the aim of increasing the light use efficiency of a plant. By expressing a light energy absorption and transduction (LEAT) protein in the plant, and by utilizing light energy absorbed to interact with a related methyl-quinone derivative in the plant body, such as plastoquinone, to catalyze water splitting and to release oxygen, the present invention increases the light use efficiency of the plant. The method effectively extends the utilization of light energy by the plant, thus increasing photosynthesis efficiency and yield.

The present invention relates to a vector system for transformation of Chlorella vulgaris, a Chlorella vulgaris transformation method using same, and a Chlorella vulgaris transformant.

The invention relates to yeast cells modified to express a functional type I RuBisCO enzyme, and a class II phosphoribulokinase. The expression of these enzymes recreates a Calvin cycle in said yeasts in order to enable the yeasts to use carbon dioxide.

A process of obtaining a protein preparation from biological tissues selected from the group comprising seeds eg. legume seeds, algae eg. macro or microalgae, bacteria eg. cyanobacteria, animal products, said process comprises the steps of: lysing said biological tissues to extract protein; and submitting at least a portion of said extracted material to an activated charcoal; whereby a portion is removed by or adsorbed onto said activated charcoal; and/or submitting a portion of extracted material to a solution containing EDTA eg. of 10 to 40 mM; and/or submitting a portion of extracted material to a solution containing NaCl eg. of 5 to 15% (w/v); and/or submitting a portion of extracted material to a bentonite concentration; and/or submitting a portion of extracted material to a solution containing phytate eg. of 7.5 to 30 mM; and/or submitting a portion of extracted material to a phosphate eg. of 25 to 100 mM; whereby one or more of the following proteins are isolated: legume seed proteins, RuBisCO, soluble protein from leafy vegetables either edible or non-edible, macro or micro algae protein, cyanobacteria protein, animal products protein.

A recombinant yeast cell comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein, which protein comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 01 or an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% sequence identity, preferably at least 95%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 01.

A recombinant yeast cell functionally expressing: a) a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having ribulose-1,5-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity (EC4.1.1.39; Rubisco), a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having phosphoribulokinase activity (EC2.7.1.19; PRK) and optionally one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding for molecular chaperones for the protein having ribulose-1,5-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity; and b) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having transketolase activity (EC 2.2.1.1), wherein the expression of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein having transketolase activity is under control of a promoter (the TKL promoter), which TKL promoter has an anaerobic/aerobic expression ratio for the transketolase of 2 or more.

A recombinant yeast cell functionally expressing: a nucleic acid sequence encoding a native protein having transketolase activity (EC 2.2.1.1); and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous protein having transketolase activity (EC 2.2.1.1).

The invention relates to a recombinant yeast cell, in particular a transgenic yeast cell, functionally expressing one or more recombinant, in particular heterologous, nucleic acid sequences encoding ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (Rubisco) and phosphoribulokinase (PRK). The invention further relates to the use of carbon dioxide as an electron acceptor in a recombinant chemotrophic micro-organism, in particular a eukaryotic micro-organism.