The present invention relates to a method for promoting acetylglucosamine synthesis of Bacillus subtilis, which belongs to the field of genetic engineering. The present invention adopts the recombinant Bacillus subtilis BSGNKAP2 as a starting strain, exogenously introducing pyruvate carboxylase BalpycA derived from Bacillus cereus, eliminating the central carbon metabolism overflow of the Bacillus subtilis and avoiding the synthesis of the by-product acetoin; further, five exogenous reducing force metabolic reactions are introduced to replace the reaction of generating NADH in glycolysis pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle to reconstruct intracellular reducing force metabolism, which specifically comprise glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate ferredoxin dehydrogenase, isocitrate NAD.sup.+ dehydrogenase, a malate quinone dehydrogenase, a ketoacid ferredoxin oxidoreductase and a nitrogenase ferritin. In a shake-flask fermentation process using a complex medium, acetylglucosamine yield of the recombinant strain BSGNKAP8 is 24.50 g/L, acetylglucosamine/glucose yield is 0.469 g/g, respectively 1.97 times and 2.13 times of those of the starting strain BSGNKAP2.

The present invention relates to methods and means for producing nitrogenase polypeptides in the mitochondria of plant cells.

Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.

Compositions, methods, and systems for modifying sterol metabolism in a subject is disclosed. In some embodiments, the subjects may be administered one or more mammalian cells modified to express at least one sterol degrading enzyme derived from a bacterium. In many embodiments, the cell is a macrophage or monocyte stably expressing three or more enzymes that aid in opening the β ring of cholesterol. The disclosed compositions and methods may be useful in lowering cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the subject may have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis.

The present invention relates to the provision of an enzymatic method for the preparation of 2,6-bis(hydroxymethyl) pyridine (Formula I) using as substrate 2,6-Dimethlypyridine (2,6-lutidene) and the multicomponent xylene monooxygenase comprising XylM and XylA from Pseudomonas putida (Arthrobacter siderocapsulatus). The enzymatic method of the present invention is advantageous over conventional synthetic preparations, providing access to the title compound with a one-step enzymatic procedure.

The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms for producing biological hydrogen. In addition, the invention relates to nucleic acid constructs and processes for modifying microorganisms for enabling the production of hydrogen therefrom.

Provided is a method of activating gene expression using a protein having 90% or more sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:45. The protein activates the expression of a gene upon induction with a medium-chain or long-chain alkane or a medium-chain or long-chain fatty acid methyl ester. Also provided is a whole-cell catalytic system regulated by a medium-chain or long-chain alkane or a medium-chain or long-chain fatty acid methyl ester. The system includes a recombinant microbial cell expressing the protein and an alkane monooxygenase. Also provided is a method of preparing a medium-chain or long-chain alkane terminal oxidation product using the whole-cell catalytic system.

The present disclosure provides engineered gram-positive microbes that are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and deliver such to plants in a targeted, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner. The utilization of the taught microbial products will enable farmers to realize more productive and predictable crop yields without the nutrient degradation, leaching, or toxic runoff associated with traditional synthetically derived nitrogen fertilizer.

The present invention relates to methods and means for producing nitrogenase polypeptides in the mitochondria of plant cells. The present disclosure provides plant cells that express one or more MTP-Nif fusions and/or translational NifD-NifK and NifE-NifN fusions. The present disclosure also provides nucleic acid constructs encoding these fusions as well as expression constructs for expression and targeting of the fusions to the mitochondria of plant cells. The present disclosure also provides transgenic plants comprising the plant cells of the invention and products obtained therefrom.

Disclosed herein are biohybrid protein complexes capable of using light energy to photocatalyze the reduction of N.sub.2 into NH.sub.3. Also provided are methods of using biohybrid protein complexes to enzymatically reduce N.sub.2 to NH.sub.3 using light rather than chemical energy as the driving force. These methods may also include the production and isolation of ammonia, hydrogen or both.