Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for the biosynthesis of di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes in the presence of isolated enzymes or in the presence of a recombinant host cell expressing those enzymes. The di- or trifunctional C7 alkanes are useful as intermediates in the production of nylon-7, nylon-7,x, nylon-x,7, and polyesters.

Disclosed herein are cellular derived heparin and heparan sulfate compositions, methods of making and using, and cell lines for making and using.

The present invention provides a method for increasing production of a metabolite by a non-naturally occurring methylotroph, comprising growing the non-naturally occurring methylotroph in a medium comprising methanol. Expression of one or more native genes in the non-naturally occurring methylotroph is changed. Also provided are the non-naturally occurring methylotroph and preparation thereof.

The document provides methods for biosynthesizing isobutene using one or more isolated enzymes such as one or more of a hydratase such as an enzyme classified under EC 4.2.1.- and a decarboxylating thioesterase, or using recombinant host cells expressing one or more such enzymes.

Methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of liver damage or disease in a subject in need thereof are provided. The methods involve providing the sulfated oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol-3-sulfate (25HC3S) to the subject e.g. by 1) administering 25HC3S to the subject; or 2) overexpressing, in the subject, the hydroxysterol sulfotransferase enzyme SULT2B1b, which catalyzes the sulfation of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) to form 25HC3S.

Provided are mucolytic compounds that are more effective, and/or absorbed less rapidly from mucosal surfaces, and/or are better tolerated as compared to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and DTT. The compounds are represented by compounds of Formula I which embrace structures (Ia)-(Ib): ##STR00001##
where the structural variables are as defined herein.

The present disclosure relates to the production of 8-methyl nonanoic acid and medium chain branched fatty acids, e.g., via microbial fermentation.

The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms containing a fatty alcohol, fatty aldehyde or fatty acid pathway, wherein the microbial organisms selectively produce a fatty alcohol, fatty aldehyde or fatty acid of a specified length. Also provided are non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a fatty alcohol, fatty aldehyde or fatty acid pathway, wherein the microbial organisms further include an acetyl-CoA pathway. In some aspects, the microbial organisms of the invention have select gene disruptions or enzyme attenuations that increase production of fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes or fatty acids. The invention additionally provides methods of using the above microbial organisms to produce a fatty alcohol, a fatty aldehyde or a fatty acid.

The invention provides a genetically modified bacterium for production of thiamine; where the bacterium is characterized by a transgene encoding a thiamine monophosphate phosphatase (TMP phosphatase having EC 3.1.3.-) as well as transgenes encoding polypeptides that catalyze steps in the thiamine pathway. The genetically modified bacterium is characterized by enhanced synthesis and release of thiamine into the extracellular environment. The invention further provides a method for producing thiamine using the genetically modified bacterium of the invention; as well as the use of the genetically modified bacterium for extracellular thiamine production.

The present invention provides several non-naturally occurring sulfotransferase enzymes that have been engineered to react with aryl sulfate compounds as sulfo group donors, instead of the natural substrate 3-phosphoadenosine 5-phosphosulfate (PAPS), and with heparosan-based polysaccharides, particularly heparan sulfate, as sulfo group acceptors. Each of the engineered sulfotransferase enzymes have a biological activity characterized by the position within the heparosan-based polysaccharide that receives the sulfo group, including glucosaminyl N-sulfotransferase activity, hexuronyl 2-O sulfotransferase activity, glucosaminyl 6-O sulfotransferase activity, or glucosaminyl 3-O sulfotransferase activity. Methods of using the engineered sulfotransferases to produce sulfated heparosan-based polysaccharides, including polysaccharides having anticoagulant activity, are also provided.