The disclosure provides biocatalysts that halogenate complex chemical compounds in specific and predictable ways. Also disclosed are halogenated complex organic compounds. The disclosure further provides methods for the halogenation of complex chemical compounds and methods of inhibiting the contraction of smooth muscle in mammals.

Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.

The present invention relates to processes to make neosaxitoxin, and analogues and variants thereof, and intermediates in the production of neosaxitoxin in recombinant host cells. Neosaxitoxin and the analogues and variants thereof may be used in the production of pharmaceutical compositions.

A method of demethylizing an opioid to a nor-opioid is provided. The method comprises contacting an opioid with at least one enzyme. Contacting the opioid with the at least one enzyme converts the opioid to a nor-opioid. A method of converting a nor-opioid to a nal-opioid is provided. The method comprises contacting a nor-opioid with at least one enzyme. Contacting the nor-opioid with the at least one enzyme converts the nor-opioid to a nal-opioid.

Disclosed are methods for converting an alkaloid substrate compound into a N-alkylated alkaloid product compound in the presence of an alkyl donor compound and catalytic quantities of an N-alkyltransferase enzyme capable of converting the alkaloid substrate into an alkylated product. The N-alkyltransferase is obtainable from Ephedra sinica.

The present invention discloses a method for promoting the fermentation of Gluconobacter oxydans to produce D-sorbitol dehydrogenase and pyrroloquinoline quinone. The method comprises: Gluconobacter oxydans is inoculated to a fermentation culture medium, fermented and cultured under the conditions of 28-32 C. and 150-180 rpm for 6-24 hours, the fermented solution is centrifuged, and wet bacteria are collected, thus acquiring bacteria cells containing D-sorbitol dehydrogenase and pyrroloquinoline quinone. The method promotes the synthesis of coenzyme pQQ and the enzyme activity of per unit volume D-sorbitol dehydrogenase, Gluconobacter oxydans cultured and acquired using the method is biotransformed to synthesize miglitol precursor 6-deoxy-6-amino(N-hydroxyethyl)--L-furan sorbose (6NSL), the conversion progress of the product 6NSL is increased by 21-35%, and a biotransformation step cycle is reduced from 48 hours to 36 hours. In addition, under a same substrate concentration (60 g/L), the cumulative concentration of the product 6NSL is increased by 10 g/L or more.

The invention relates to a method of cell culture where the cells are modified to reduce the level of synthesis of growth and/or productivity inhibitors by the cell. The invention also relates to a method of cell culture for improving cell growth and productivity, in particular in fed-batch culture of mammalian cells at high cell density. The invention further relates to a method of producing cells with improved cell growth and/or productivity in cell culture and to cells obtained or obtainable by such methods.

Anti-Dandruff Agents A novel anti-dandruff composition comprising spirofuranone-lactam tetramic acid or derivatives thereof, and optionally at least one biologically derivable meroterpene. The spirofuranone-lactam tetramic acid is preferably a bio-active heterospirocyclic secondary metabolite of Aspergillus, such as pseurotin A. The biologically derivable meroterpene may be selected from fumagillin, fumagillin derivative, chlovalicin, or ovalicin. Use of said agents as anti-dandruff actives in anti-dandruff compositions, particularly shampoos and conditioners is also provided. The active is particularly effective against Malassezia yeasts and Malassezia furfur which may cause dandruff. A method of obtaining the anti-dandruff actives from culturing of Peyronellaea sp. strain RKDO347 is also described.

The present invention relates to a process for treating an oil comprising a chlorophyll substrate, the process comprising contacting the oil with a polypeptide having decolorase activity or a composition comprising the polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: a. a polypeptide which has at least 80% identity to amino acids 1 to 318 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and, b. a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that has at least 80% identity to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

A method of preparing neosaxitoxin in quantities of a purity sufficient to allow the compound to be used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is described. The method includes the reductive desulfonation of an unresolved mixture of gonyautoxin 1 (GTX1) and gonyautoxin 4 (GTX4).