The invention provides a platform and methods of using the platform for the regulation of the expression of a target gene using exposure to an aptamer ligand (for example, a small molecule). The platform features a polynucleotide gene regulation cassette that is placed in the target gene and includes a synthetic riboswitch positioned in the context of a 5′ intron-alternative exon-3′ intron. The riboswitch comprises an effector region and a sensor region (e.g., an aptamer that binds a small molecule ligand) such that the alternative exon is spliced into the target gene mRNA when the ligand is not present thereby preventing expression of the target gene. When the ligand is present, the alternative exon is not spliced into the target gene mRNA thereby providing expression of the target gene.

A method of deactivating an explosive composition being used in a blasting operation, which method comprises exposing the explosive composition to a micro-organism that is indigenous to the environment in which the explosive composition is being used and that is capable of producing an enzyme that degrades the explosive composition, wherein the explosive composition has associated with it a chemical inducing agent that promotes production of the enzyme by the micro-organism.

Some embodiments of the methods and compositions provided herein relate to the preparation surfactant protein-D (SP-D). Some embodiments include the expression of human SP-D in certain cell lines, and the purification of human SP-D from such cell lines. Some embodiments include the preparation of certain oligomeric forms of human SP-D.

The present invention relates to a novel peptide or a partial sequence thereof for enhancing expression efficiency of a target protein, and a fusion protein comprising the same. The novel peptide according to the present invention can enhance expression efficiency of a target protein, and furthermore, the peptide can also be applied to a solubility-enhancing fusion protein in order to enhance solubility of the target protein, so that solubility as well as expression efficiency of the target protein is enhanced, which allows such a peptide to be usefully used for production of a recombinant target protein.

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical, cosmetic or dermo-cosmetic composition that comprises DAO, for use in the prevention or treatment of diseases or pathological conditions associated with high levels of histamine in blood which involve an increase in pain, preferably fibromyalgia, characterised in that the application of the composition is topical.

The present invention provides a unit and a method useful for more precise phenylalanine measurement. More specifically, the present invention provides a modified phenylalanine dehydrogenase that includes a mutation of at least one amino acid residue so as to improve the characteristics (for example, substrate specificity, solubility, and phenylalanine dehydrogenase activity) of a phenylalanine dehydrogenase related to measurement of phenylalanine, a method for analyzing phenylalanine by measuring phenylalanine contained in a test sample using the modified phenylalanine dehydrogenase, and others.

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.

A method of demethylizing an opioid to a nor-opioid is provided. The method comprises contacting an opioid with at least one enzyme. Contacting the opioid with the at least one enzyme converts the opioid to a nor-opioid. A method of converting a nor-opioid to a nal-opioid is provided. The method comprises contacting a nor-opioid with at least one enzyme. Contacting the nor-opioid with the at least one enzyme converts the nor-opioid to a nal-opioid.

Recombiant microorganisms, plants, and plant cells are disclosed that have been engineered to express recombinant genes encoding UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Such microorgansims, plants, or plant cells can produce steviol glycosides, e.g., Rebaudioside A and/or Rebaudioside D, which can be used as natural sweeteners in food products and dietary supplements.

The present invention provides a composition that enables measurement of glycated hemoglobin in the presence of a stronger surfactant than conventional surfactants. To this end, the present invention provides an amadoriase in which one or more amino acids have been substituted at positions corresponding to positions selected from the group consisting of positions 80, 71, 175, 172, 279, 12, 9, 77, 30, 28, 13, 3, 4, 286, 204, 338, 44, 340, and 194 of the amadoriase derived from the genus Coniochaeta having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 as well as a composition for measurement of glycated hemoglobin comprising an amadoriase that retains activity in the presence of an anionic surfactant. The present invention can provide an enzyme and a composition for measurement of glycated hemoglobin that sufficiently remain stable even when exposed to anionic surfactants.