The present application relates to the technical field of biocatalysis and biosynthesis, and specifically discloses a blue pigment and a biosynthesis method thereof. In the present application, an indigoidine synthetase and a 4-phosphopantetheinyl transferase are expressed by a metabolically engineered strain to catalyze the biosynthesis of the blue pigment N-acetyl-indigoidine from glutamine and N-acetylglutamine, and a molecular structure of the blue pigment is inferred by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, etc. The present application achieves the catalytic synthesis of N-acetyl-indigoidine from glutamine and N-acetylglutamine in Escherichia coli (E. coli), Corynebacterium glutamicum (C. glutamicum), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), and Streptomyces. Compared with indigoidine, N-acetyl-indigoidine has a maximum absorption wavelength of 584 nm, and a stable color having high brightness that is not easy to fade. Thus, the blue pigment shows an extensive application range and a promising industrial production prospect.

Devices, systems and methods for biological sensing and communication using optogenetics and electronics are described. One example method includes generating a light beam incident on multiple regions in a device, wherein each region comprises an optogenetic system to generate, upon interacting with the light beam, biosensors, wherein an interaction between the biosensors and stimulus molecules in each region is associated with a threshold for a production of an output molecule or an alteration of an output property of the output molecule, the biosensors, or the stimulus molecules, wherein the production or the alteration is based on a value associated with an information source, detecting an output received from one or more of the multiple regions corresponding to the output molecule or the output property in that region, and generating an electric signal associated therewith, and processing the electrical signal to determine the value associated with the information source.

A method for producing a cannabinoid by contacting cannabigerolic acid with a cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is from an organism other than Cannabis sativa. Also disclosed is a recombinant cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris that includes in its genome a nucleic acid encoding the above cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is expressed in the recombinant cell in an active form.

A recombinant microbial host cell having improved in vivo conversion of reticuline and derivatives thereof (such as thebaine and/or oripavine) to relevant downstream opioids (such as neopinone, oripavine, northebaine, nororipavine or morphinone) and related compounds (such as heroin, morphine, codeine, thebaine, oripavine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone or nalbuphine), wherein the microbial (such as fungal) host cell is heterologously expressing at least one functional transporter protein capable of transporting reticuline or a derivative thereof (such as thebaine and/or oripavine) and a heterologously expressed enzyme capable of acting upon reticuline or a derivative thereof. The invention also relates to uses of the microbial host cells and methods of making an opioid compound and/or opioid precursor compound and/or opioid derivative of interest.

Provided herein are genetically modified host cells, compositions, and methods for improved production of vanillin and/or glucovanillin. The host cells, compositions, and methods described herein provide an efficient route for the heterologous production of vanillin and/or glucovanillin and any compound that can be synthesized or biosynthesized from either or both.

Described are compositions and methods related to hybrid yeast that produces an increased amount of ethanol from starch-containing substrates compared to its parental yeast. Such yeast is well-suited for use in fuel alcohol production to increase yield.

Methods of standardizing a fermentation process may include obtaining a fluidic sample, measuring one or more physical parameters of the sample, comparing the measurement of the physical parameter of the material to a baseline value of the physical parameter for the fermentation process, and responsive to a deviation of the measurement of the physical parameter from the baseline value, determining a remediation action based on a correlation between the physical parameter and regulatory genes of a fermentation organism.

A starter for producing sourdough is provided. The starter includes Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y3-1 (KCTC 15070BP) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides M1-2 (KCTC 15071BP). The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y3-1 (KCTC 15070BP), Leuconostoc mesenteroides M1-2 (KCTC 15071BP), and Bacillus belezensis Kh2-2 (KCTC 14642BP) are used in a weight ratio of 6 to 7:2 to 3:1 to 2.

Microbial starter cultures. More specifically, a method for preparing a microbial culture such as a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter culture wherein at least one microbial strain such as a lactic acid bacteria and at least one inactivated yeast strain is inoculated in a culture medium.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a microbial cell product, said method comprising: providing an aqueous suspension comprising microbial cells; subjecting said suspension to mechanical cell disintegration at a temperature in the range of 15-35 C., preferably at a pH value in the range of 9-11, to obtain an aqueous suspension comprising disintegrated microbial cells; separating the suspension to provide an extract enriched in small cell fragments, and an extract enriched in large cell fragments; and combining at least a portion of each extract, to provide said microbial cell product. The invention further relates to a microbial cell product obtained or obtainable with said method. The invention further relates to the use of said product in foodstuffs, for example as a substitute for egg-white; in animal foodstuffs; and/or in cosmetic formulations.