Host cells that are engineered to produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIAs) precursors, such as norcoclaurine (NC) and norlaudanosoline (NL), are provided. The host cells may have one or more engineered modifications selected from: a feedback inhibition alleviating mutation in a enzyme gene; a transcriptional modulation modification of a biosynthetic enzyme gene, an inactivating mutation in an enzyme; and a heterologous coding sequence. Also provided are methods of producing a BIA of interest or a precursor thereof using the host cells and compositions, e.g., kits, systems etc., that find use in methods of the invention.

Host cells that are engineered to produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIAs) precursors, such as norcoclaurine (NC) and norlaudanosoline (NL), are provided. The host cells may have one or more engineered modifications selected from: a feedback inhibition alleviating mutation in a enzyme gene; a transcriptional modulation modification of a biosynthetic enzyme gene, an inactivating mutation in an enzyme; and a heterologous coding sequence. Also provided are methods of producing a BIA of interest or a precursor thereof using the host cells and compositions, e.g., kits, systems etc., that find use in methods of the invention.

The present invention concerns the use of castanospermine or other alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of Zika virus infections. Aspects of the invention include methods for treating or preventing Zika virus infection by administering an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (e.g., an alpha-glucosidase I inhibitor) to a subject in need thereof; methods for inhibiting a Zika virus infection in a cell in vitro or in vivo; pharmaceutical compositions; packaged dosage formulations; and kits for treating or preventing Zika virus infection.

The present invention concerns the use of castanospermine or other alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of Zika virus infections. Aspects of the invention include methods for treating or preventing Zika virus infection by administering an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (e.g., an alpha-glucosidase I inhibitor) to a subject in need thereof; methods for inhibiting a Zika virus infection in a cell in vitro or in vivo; pharmaceutical compositions; packaged dosage formulations; and kits for treating or preventing Zika virus infection.

A method for producing cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, the method comprising allowing a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase to act on L-pipecolic acid to generate cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, wherein the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase comprises the polypeptide (A), (B) or (C) below: (A) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11; (B) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11 except that one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent

L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity; or (C) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with an identity of not less than 60% to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity.

A method for producing cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, the method comprising allowing a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase to act on L-pipecolic acid to generate cis-5-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acid, wherein the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase comprises the polypeptide (A), (B) or (C) below: (A) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11; (B) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11 except that one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, and/or added, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent

L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity; or (C) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with an identity of not less than 60% to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or 11, which polypeptide has 2-oxoglutarate-dependent L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase activity.

A novel process is provided for the efficient preparation of an asymmetric compound of structural formula I: ##STR00001##
employing dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). The DKR process involves an enzymatic enantioselective amination reaction catalyzed by transaminases. The process can be used to manufacture key intermediates in the preparation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors which may be useful for the treatment of cancer.

A novel process is provided for the efficient preparation of an asymmetric compound of structural formula I: ##STR00001##
employing dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR). The DKR process involves an enzymatic enantioselective amination reaction catalyzed by transaminases. The process can be used to manufacture key intermediates in the preparation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors which may be useful for the treatment of cancer.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for increasing production of an alkaloid product through the epimerization of a (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid to a (R)-1-benyzlisoquinoline alkaloid via an engineered epimerase in an engineered host cell. A (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid is contacted with said engineered epimerase. Contacting said (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid with said engineered epimerase converts said (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid to said (R)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for increasing production of an alkaloid product through the epimerization of a (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid to a (R)-1-benyzlisoquinoline alkaloid via an engineered epimerase in an engineered host cell. A (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid is contacted with said engineered epimerase. Contacting said (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid with said engineered epimerase converts said (S)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid to said (R)-1-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid.