The genomic DNA of Streptoverticillium sp. 3-7, which produces UK-2, was analyzed to identify a region expected to be a UK-2 biosynthetic gene cluster. Moreover, by colony hybridization, DNAs in the region were successfully isolated. Further, the DNAs were used to prepare a strain in which the genes present in the region were disrupted. The strain was found not to produce UK-2. It was verified that the genomic region was the UK-2 biosynthetic gene cluster. Furthermore, Streptoverticillium sp. 3-7 was transformed by introduction of a vector in which the isolated UK-2 biosynthetic gene cluster was inserted. It was also found out that the UK-2 productivity by the transformant was improved about 10 to 60 times or more in comparison with that of the parental strain. Moreover, it was revealed that 2 copies of the UK-2 biosynthetic gene cluster were present per cell in these transformants, respectively.

The present disclosure relates to the biosynthesis of indigoid dye precursors and their conversion to indigoid dyes. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods of using polypeptides to produce indigoid dye precursors from indole feed compounds, and the use of the indigoid dye precursors to produce indigoid dyes.

The present invention is directed to an industrial fermentation process for cultivating a Bacillus cell in a chemically defined fermentation medium and a method for producing a protein of interest comprising the steps of providing a chemically defined fermentation medium, inoculating the fermentation medium with a Bacillus cell comprising a gene encoding a protein of interest, cultivating the Bacillus cell in the fermentation medium under conditions conductive for the growth of the Bacillus cell and the expression of the protein of interest, wherein the cultivation of the Bacillus cell comprises the addition of one or more feed solutions comprising one or more chemically defined carbon sources and one or more trace element ions to the fermentation medium.

A monooxygenase having an amino acid sequence obtained by mutation of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 is disclosed. The use of the monooxygenase of the present invention in production of chiral sulfoxide-based drugs has advantages including mild reaction conditions, environmental friendliness, high yield, high optical purity of products, less peroxide products, and the like, and therefore the monooxygenase in the present invention has a good industrial application prospect in the production of proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of gastric ulcers.

Disclosed are methods for preparing isoprenoid subunits, as well as methods of employing these isoprenoid subunits for the synthesis of isoprenoids. Also provided are isoprenoids prepared using the methods described herein.

Described are modified nucleic acids encoding an imine reductase enzyme. Also described are modified imine reductase enzymes. In some embodiments, the imine reductase enzymes may be used to produce products and intermediates thereof, such as (S)-nicotine.

The present disclosure relates to the biosynthesis of indigoid dye precursors and their conversion to indigoid dyes. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods of using polypeptides to produce indigoid dye precursors from indole feed compounds, and the use of the indigoid dye precursors to produce indigoid dyes.

Microorganisms and bioprocesses are provided that convert gaseous C1 containing substrates, such as syngas, producer gas, and renewable H.sub.2 combined with CO.sub.2, into nutritional and other useful bioproducts.

Disclosed are a recombinant microorganism for producing a hydrophobic material, which is subjected to cell-membrane engineering in order to be imparted with at least one characteristic among an increase in a cell-membrane area, an increase in formation and secretion of an outer membrane vesicle, and an increase in formation of an inner membrane vesicle, and a cell-membrane engineering method for preparation thereof, whereby an insoluble hydrophobic material can be produced with high efficiency, the recombinant microorganism for high-efficiency production of carotenoids or violacein analogues is useful for producing natural pigments, antioxidants, antibiotics, cosmetic additives, anticancer agents, food additives, or nutritional supplements, and the natural pigment production technology developed herein achieves a great increase in production ability. Therefore, the present invention is effective at preparing a recombinant strain for efficient production of a variety of industrially and medically useful metabolites and at establishing an efficient preparation method.

Methods and compositions herein provide non-naturally occurring γ-butyrolactones (GBLs) in racemic mixtures that increase efficiency and effectiveness of screening for production of antibiotics, and enhance yields and express silent pathways. Non-naturally occurring GBLs were synthesized and found to stimulate antibiotic production in several different streptomycete strains. Antibiotic production by Streptomyces coelicolor was induced by a racemic mixture of non-cognate stereoisomers of VB-D, seven of which are non-naturally occurring. Further, novel A-factor-type GBL analogs stimulated antibiotic production in S. coelicolor. Synthesis in response to the treatment with the non-cognates GBL was observed for known compounds including undecylprodigiosin, desferrioxamine and streptorubin B, as was synthesis of a compound of unknown structure. A group of 37 additional microbial strains was screened by principal component analysis to determine optimal concentrations of each of a panel of four non-cognate synthetic GBLs for addition to cultures with optimal stimulation of secondary metabolites, and large scale fermentations were analyzed and product enhancement by the GBLs was observed.