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 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.

The present invention is generally directed to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins, formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins. Methods for stimulating plant growth and for protecting plants from pathogens by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium are also described. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plant roots.

The invention relates to a recombinant strain of Bacillus subtilis, wherein pyruvate carboxylase BalpycA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate ferredoxin dehydrogenase gor, isocitrate NAD.sup.+ dehydrogenase icd, malate quinone dehydrogenase mqo, pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase porAB and nitrogenase ferritin cyh are integrated and expressed in the recombinant strain. The invention also discloses use of the recombinant strain in fermentation production of acetylglucosamine. The recombinant Bacillus subtilis of the invention eliminates the central carbon metabolism overflow of the Bacillus subtilis and balances the intracellular reducing force, and the fermentation yield of acetylglucosamine is greatly improved.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for using modified hydrogenotrophic microorganisms capable of biologically utilizing or converting CO and/or CO.sub.2 gas, optionally in the presence of H.sub.2, into methionine.

An enzyme protein that allows production of an optically active -hydroxyamino acid, specifically a monooxygenase having two kinds of hetero (different) subunits. Also, systems and methods using the monooxygenases.

The present application discloses a microorganism engineered to express one or more enzymes which enhances the microorganism's ability to produce C.sub.2-4 alkene, and/or ethylene from C.sub.2-4 alkanol or thiol, optionally ethanol. The process of producing C.sub.2-4 alkanol and/or ethylene by the engineered microorganism is also discussed.

The present invention is generally directed to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins and formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins. Methods for stimulating plant growth, for protecting plants from pathogens, and for enhancing stress resistance in a plant by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium are also described. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plants.

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for in vivo production or biosynthesis of metabolites in foreign cells using the combination of (i) one or more ferredoxin dependent enzyme(s) and (ii) a ferredoxin (Fd)/ferredoxin-NADP.sup.+ reductase (FNR) system. The ferredoxin dependent enzymes and the Fd/FNR system are from the same species or from a different but matching species.

Provided are biosynthetic processes for producing sterol derivatives, and to non-naturally occurring organisms capable of producing sterol derivatives. More specifically, genetically modified non-naturally occurring organisms for producing KCEA, KCDA, and related compounds, from cholesterol, ?-sitosterol, campesterol and their analogs, are provided.