Provided is a screening method of discovering genes capable of increasing 1,4-BDO production on the basis of proteomics data. Over-expression of proteins screened by the method, NCgl0630 (citrate synthase) and NCgl2145 (hypothetical protein), increase 1,4-BDO productivity. The method may lead to screening of a protein associated with 1,4-BDO productivity, thereby increasing 1,4-BDO productivity, and thus, the method may be recognized as being industrially applicable.

The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a fusion protein, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide, a transformant comprising the expression vector, a method for preparing the fusion protein, and a method for improving skin conditions.

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a modified luciferase polypeptide and substrates. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to an amino acid in SEQ ID NO: 1. The OgLuc variant polypeptide has at least one of enhanced luminescence, enhanced signal stability, and enhanced protein stability relative to the corresponding polypeptide of the wild-type Oplophorus luciferase.

A method for selectively obtaining a natural variant of an enzyme having activity includes (1) a step of detecting an ORF sequence of a protein having enzyme activity from a genome database including base sequences of metagenomic DNA of environmental microbiota; (2) a step of obtaining at least one PCR clone including the ORF sequence having a full length, a partial sequence of the ORF sequence, or a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence which is formed by deletion, substitution, or addition of at least one amino acid residue in an amino acid sequence encoded by the ORF sequence, by performing PCR cloning on at least one metagenomic DNA of the environmental microbiota by using a primer designed based on the ORF sequence; (3) a step of determining a base sequence and an amino acid sequence which is encoded by the base sequence for each PCR clone obtained in the step (2); and (4) a step of selecting a natural variant of an enzyme having activity by measuring enzyme activity of proteins encoded by each PCR clone obtained in the step (2).

An expression method of active goldfish gfTP1 transposase protein comprises: constructing an expression vector comprising a gfTP1 transposase reading frame of a goldfish Tgf2 transposon, after transferred into escherichia coli Rosetta 1 (DE3), culturing an expression strain until absorbance of a bacteria solution under OD.sub.600 reaches 0.3-0.4, adding IPTG, culturing under 21-22 C. in shaking of 150-200 rpm, inducing to express soluble recombinant protein, and purifying to obtain a functionally active transposase. Also provided are an expression plasmid and the expression strain of the goldfish gfTP1 transposase protein, and a use of the strain in transgenosis.

The present invention relates to non-naturally occurring polypeptides useful for preparing armodafinil, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides. The non-naturally occurring polypeptides of the present invention are effective in carrying out biocatalytic conversion of the (i) 2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)acetamide to ()-2-[(R)-(diphenylmethyl)sulfinyl]acetamide (armodafinil), or (ii) benzhydryl-thioacetic acid to (R)-2-(benzhydrylsulfinyl)acetic acid, which is a pivotal intermediate in the synthesis of armodafinil, in enantiomeric excess.

There are provided a highly safe epimerase usable in food industry, and a method for producing a ketose. The epimerase is a ketose 3-epimerase obtainable from a microorganism of the genus Arthrobacter, and having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 of the Sequence Listing, and (1) substrate specificity whereby a D- or L-ketose is epimerized at position 3 to produce a corresponding D- or L-ketose, and (2) the highest substrate specificity for D-fructose and D-psicose among D- and L-ketoses. The ketose 3-epimerase is also represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4 of the Sequence Listing, and epimerizes a D- or L-ketose at position 3 to produce a corresponding D- or L-ketose.

Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.

Genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity are described. Proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidase are described.

Polypeptides having endoglucanase activity, catalytic domains, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides or catalytic domains. Nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides or catalytic domains.