A composition that efficiently produces cellulose includes cell extracts derived from a tunicate of ascidian class or yeast expressing tunicate cellulose synthase, at least one divalent cation of calcium ion and magnesium ion, cellobiose and UDP-glucose. The composition has a pH in the range of 6.6-7.2.

Disclosed herein is in vitro cellulose synthesis reconstituted from purified BcsA and BcsB proteins from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Further disclosed is that BcsB is essential for catalysis by BcsA. The purified BcsA-B complex produces cellulose chains of a degree of polymerization in the range 200-300. Catalytic activity of native proteins depends on the presence of cyclic-di-GMP, but is independent of lipid-linked reactants. Further disclosed is strict substrate specificity of cellulose synthase for UDP-glucose. Truncation analysis of BcsB localized the region required for activity of BcsA within its C-terminal membrane-associated domain. Further disclosed are crystal structures of the cyclic-di-GMP-activated BcsA-B complex revealing that cyclic-di-GMP releases an auto-inhibited state of the enzyme by breaking a salt bridge which otherwise tethers a conserved gating loop that controls access to and substrate coordination at the active site. Unexpectedly, disrupting the salt bridge by mutagenesis generates a constitutively and fully active cellulose synthase.

The present disclosure relates to the production of oligosaccharides, especially Human milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) using a genetically engineered cell which has decreased or total loss of function of phosphoglycerol transferase I and II and/or phosphoethanolamine transferase and/or glucans biosynthesis protein C to reduce oligosaccharide by-products and/or increase oligosaccharide production.

Provided is a plant or plant part comprising a polynucleotide encoding a mutated cellulose synthase (CESA) polypeptide, wherein the expression of said polynucleotide confers to the plant or plant part tolerance to CESA-inhibiting herbicides, such as azines.

The present invention refers to a plant or plant part comprising a polynucleotide encoding a wildtype or mutated cellulose synthase (CESA) polypeptide, the expression of said polynucleotide confers to the plant or plant part tolerance to CESA-inhibiting herbicides, such as azines.

The present invention relates generally to polysaccharide synthases. More particularly, the present invention relates to (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan synthases. The present invention provides, among other things, methods for influencing the level of (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan produced by a cell and nucleic acid and amino acid sequences which encode (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan synthases.

The present invention relates generally to polysaccharide synthases. More particularly, the present invention relates to (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan synthases. The present invention provides, among other things, methods for influencing the level of (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan produced by a cell and nucleic acid and amino acid sequences which encode (1,3;1,4)--D-glucan synthases.

The present invention refers to a method for controlling undesired vegetation at a plant cultivation site, the method comprising the steps of providing, at said site, a plant that comprises at least one nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a wild-type or a mutated protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) which is resistant or tolerant to a PPO-inhibiting herbicide by applying to said site an effective amount of said herbicide. The invention further refers to plants comprising wild-type or mutated PPO enzymes, and methods of obtaining such plants.

Described herein are biological devices and methods for using the same to produce carbo sugars. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing a cellulose synthase and galactomannan galactosyltransferase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for altering the viscosity of petroleum oil using the carbo sugars are also described herein. Finally, methods for degreasing or decontaminating water mixed with petroleum oil or other fatty substances or a surface coated with petroleum oil or other fatty substances using the carbo sugars are described herein.

The present invention refers to a plant or plant part comprising a polynucleotide encoding a mutated cellulose synthase (CESA) polypeptide, the expression of said polynucleotide confers to the plant or plant part tolerance to CESA-inhibiting herbicides, such as azines.