The present invention provides novel biocatalysts and associated methods of use for the oxidative desymmetrization of fused bicyclic proline analogues to produce APIs and intermediates. The novel biocatalysts of the present disclosure are engineered monoamine oxidase enzymes with improved solubility, thermostability, and activity on fused bicyclic proline compounds, as compared to a reference monoamine oxidase. In particular, the engineered monoamine oxidase enzymes of the present disclosure require reduced enzyme loading for the manufacturing of APIs and intermediates, as compared to a reference monoamine oxidase enzyme.

The gene encoding N-methylputrescine oxidase (MPO) and constructs comprising such DNA are provided, including methods of regulating MPO expression independently or with other alkaloid biosynthesis genes to modulate alkaloid production in plants and host cells. MPO genes or fragments thereof are useful for reducing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, for increasing pyrrolidine or tropane alkaloid production in plants, and for producing an MPO enzyme in host cells.

MPO1 and MPO2 can be regulated for either decreasing or increasing alkaloid levels in plants, in particular in Nicotiana plants. In particular, suppressing or overexpressing one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used to decrease or increase nicotine and nicotinic alkaloid levels in tobacco plants. Suppression or overexpression of one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used in combination with modification of expression of other genes encoding enzymes on the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway such as A622, NBB1, PMT, and QPT.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for the production of heterologous proteins in a cell including axonemes. The cells include a nucleic acid encoding a fusion protein expressed in the axoneme. The fusion protein includes an axonemal protein linked to a heterologous protein, and the fusion protein provides axonemal function to the cell.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

Genetically engineered microorganisms, e.g., genetically engineered bacteria, compositions and formulations thereof, as well as methods for characterizing, dosing, and determining the activity of the bacteria, compositions, and formulations, e.g., using a live cell counting method are disclosed.

Provided are methods and compositions for activating oligonucleotide aptamer-deactivated DNA polymerases, comprising cleaving the aptamer by endonuclease V enzymatic activity to reduce or eliminate binding of the oligonucleotide aptamer to the DNA polymerase, thereby activating DNA synthesis activity of the DNA polymerase in a reaction mixture. Mixtures for use in methods of the invention are also provided. The oligonucleotide aptamers of the present invention are circular and comprise one or more deoxyinosine nucleotides providing for aptamer-specific recognition and cleavage of the circular aptamer by the endonuclease V enzymatic activity. Exemplary oligonucleotide aptamers, mixtures and methods employing endonuclease V enzymatic activity are provided. The methods can be practiced using kits comprising a DNA polymerase-binding oligonucleotide aptamer and at least one endonuclease V enzymatic activity having oligonucleotide aptamer-specific recognition to provide for specific cleavage of the aptamer by the endonuclease V enzymatic activity.

Materials and methods related to gene targeting (e.g., gene targeting with transcription activator-like effector nucleases; “TALENS”) are provided.

Provided are methods and compositions for activating oligonucleotide aptamer-deactivated DNA polymerases, comprising cleaving the aptamer by endonuclease V enzymatic activity to reduce or eliminate binding of the oligonucleotide aptamer to the DNA polymerase, thereby activating DNA synthesis activity of the DNA polymerase in a reaction mixture. Mixtures for use in methods of the invention are also provided. The oligonucleotide aptamers of the present invention are circular and comprise one or more deoxyinosine nucleotides providing for aptamer-specific recognition and cleavage of the circular aptamer by the endonuclease V enzymatic activity. Exemplary oligonucleotide aptamers, mixtures and methods employing endonuclease V enzymatic activity are provided. The methods can be practiced using kits comprising a DNA polymerase-binding oligonucleotide aptamer and at least one endonuclease V enzymatic activity having oligonucleotide aptamer-specific recognition to provide for specific cleavage of the aptamer by the endonuclease V enzymatic activity.

The disclosure discloses preparation of an L-amino acid deaminase mutant and application thereof, belonging to the technical field of gene engineering. Through pmirLAAD protein modification, analysis of a flexible loop structure around a binding site of the pmirLAAD product, and design of the best mutant, the modification method of the disclosure overcomes the defect that the catalytic efficiency of the previous wild-type enzyme is reduced due to product inhibition, and is tested by experiments. Compared with the control, the catalytic efficiency (1.61 mM.sup.−.Math.min.sup.−1) and the product inhibition constant (5.4 mM) of the finally obtained best mutant pmirLAAD.sup.M4 are respectively increased by 5.2 times and 5.7 times. The yield of α-ketoisovaleric acid can reach 96.5 g/L, and the transformation rate is greater than 97%. By adopting the method of the disclosure, the cost can be greatly reduced, and the industrialization process of production of α-ketoisovaleric acid by an enzymatic transformation method is accelerated.