The present invention is directed to a transgenic plant including a mutated form of a cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) encoding gene, wherein the transgenic plant has a reduced ethylene production rate, a reduced respiration rate or both. Further provided are methods for prolonging the development to ripening period of a plant or a part derived from same, and for producing an agent suitable for increasing shelf life of a plant or a part derived from same.

The present invention is broadly concerned with new in vitro glycosylation methods that provide rational approaches for producing glycosylated proteins, and the use of glycosylated proteins. In more detail, the present invention comprises methods of glycosylating a starting protein having an amino sidechain with a nucleophilic moiety, comprising the step of reacting the protein with a carbohydrate having an oxazoline moiety on the reducing end thereof, to covalently bond the amino sidechain of the starting protein with the oxazoline moiety, wherein the glycosylated protein substantially retains the structure and function of the starting protein. Target proteins include oxidase, oxidoreductase and dehydrogenase enzymes. The glycosylated proteins advantageously have molecular weights of at least about 7500 Daltons. In a further embodiment, the present invention concerns the use of glycosylated proteins, fabricated by the methods disclosed herein, in the assembly of amperometric biosensors.

Provided herein are methods of managing, preventing, or treating a neuronal disorder in a subject, such as Alzheimer's disease, comprising monitoring the expression level of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) in the subject over an observation period of time, and administering to the subject an effective amount of a therapy for managing, preventing or treating the neuronal disorder.

A genetically modified microorganism of the genus Gluconacetobacter has decreased pyrroloquinoline-quinone (PQQ)-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) activity of and increased glucose permease activity. The microorganism has enhanced productivity cellulose and is useful for the manufacture of microbial cellulose.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

Yeast cells having a reductive TCA pathway from pyruvate or phosphoenolpyruvate to succinate, and which include at least one exogenous gene overexpressing an enzyme in that pathway, further contain an exogenous transhydrogenase gene.

Microorganisms comprising modifications for producing pyruvate, ethanol, and other compounds. The microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate activity of one or more of pyruvate dehydrogenase, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, phosphate acetyltransferase, acetate kinase, pyruvate oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase, cytochrome terminal oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, pyruvate formate lyase, pyruvate formate lyase activating enzyme, and isocitrate lyase. The microorganisms optionally comprise modifications that enhance expression or activity of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase. The microorganisms are optionally evolved in defined media to enhance specific production of one or more compounds. Methods of producing compounds with the microorganisms are provided.

The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.

Provided herein are recombinant host cells having an active 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid (3-HP) pathway wherein the host cells comprise a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase (3-HPDH). Also described are methods of using the recombinant cells to produce 3-HP and derivatives of 3-HP (e.g., acrylic acid).

Compositions, methods, and kits are disclosed directed at haptens, immunogens and immunoassays for oxycodone and metabolites thereof. The compounds are exemplified by compounds of the Formula I. The method comprises providing in combination in a medium (i) a sample suspected of containing oxycodone and/or oxycodone metabolites, a compound of the Formula I wherein R.sup.4 or R.sup.5 is a label, and an antibody for oxycodone or a metabolite thereof. The medium is examined for the presence of a complex comprising the labeled compound of Formula I where the presence of such as complex indicates the presence of oxycodone or oxycodone metabolite in the sample.