The present invention relates to protein nanocages comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the protein cages as well as methods for treating or diagnosing hyperpigmentation disorders or other melanocyte-related disorders using the protein nanocages or pharmaceutical compositions. In the preferred embodiment, the protein nanocage is composed of Bacillus stearothermophilus E2 protein of pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex (E2), with a skin penetrating and cell permeating SPACE moiety, and a melanocyte-targeting moiety of alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone.

The present application relates to a microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium having L-isoleucine producing ability which comprises a protein having an activity of citramalate synthase, and a method for producing L-isoleucine using the same.

Methods for increasing the genetic stability of genetically enhanced microbial host cells capable of producing a compound of interest are disclosed.

An engineered microorganism(s) with novel pathways for the conversion of short-chain hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals (e.g. carboxylic acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and their alpha-, beta-, and omega-functionalized derivatives) is described. Key to this approach is the use of hydrocarbon activation enzymes able to overcome the high stability and low reactivity of hydrocarbon compounds through the cleavage of an inert CH bond. Oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent activation enzymes can be exploited for this purpose, which when combined with appropriate pathways for the conversion of activated hydrocarbons to key metabolic intermediates, enables the generation of product precursors that can subsequently be converted to desired compounds through established pathways. These novel engineered microorganism(s) provide a route for the production of fuels and chemicals from short chain hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.

This invention relates to metabolically engineered microorganism strains, such as bacterial strains, in which there is an increased utilization of malonyl-CoA for production of a chemical product, which includes 3-hydroxypropionic acid.

An engineered microorganism(s) with novel pathways for the conversion of short-chain hydrocarbons to fuels and chemicals (e.g. carboxylic acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and their alpha-, beta-, and omega-functionalized derivatives) is described. Key to this approach is the use of hydrocarbon activation enzymes able to overcome the high stability and low reactivity of hydrocarbon compounds through the cleavage of an inert CH bond. Oxygen-dependent or oxygen-independent activation enzymes can be exploited for this purpose, which when combined with appropriate pathways for the conversion of activated hydrocarbons to key metabolic intermediates, enables the generation of product precursors that can subsequently be converted to desired compounds through established pathways. These novel engineered microorganism(s) provide a route for the production of fuels and chemicals from short chain hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane.

The present invention provides immunogens which can be used for vaccines against non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). The protein targeted is NTHi PDE1 and is highly conserved making it a vital component necessary for bacterial pathogenesis. The protein preferably includes the C terminal fragment after cleavage between Asn269 and Gly270, when compared to the wild-type PDE1 amino acid sequence. Nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, immunogenic compositions, treatments and methods of diagnosis are disclosed.

The present invention provides methods and compositions for reducing lactate production and increasing polypeptide production in cultured cells. In one aspect, the invention provides a method comprising culturing cells expressing a) a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and b) an siRNA specific for a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK). In another aspect, the invention provides cultured cells or vectors comprising an siRNA specific for a LDH and an siRNA specific for a PDHK.

Microbial strains with desirable carbohydrate productions characteristics and methods of making and using the same are provided herein.

The present disclosure relates to a novel pyruvate dehydrogenase variant, a polynucleotide encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase variant, a microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium producing L-amino acid, which includes the pyruvate dehydrogenase variant, and a method for producing an L-amino acid using the microorganism.