Genetically modified microorganisms that have the ability to convert carbon substrates into chemical products such as isobutanol are disclosed. For example, genetically modified methanotrophs that are capable of generating isobutanol at high titers from a methane source are disclosed. Methods of making these genetically modified microorganisms and methods of using them are also disclosed.

Provided is a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae for producing 2,3-butanediol, wherein all GPD1 and GPD2 genes involved in glycerol biosynthesis are removed and a gene encoding NADH oxidase is introduced, and wherein pyruvate decarboxylase activity is inactivated and Candida tropicalis PDC1 gene encoding Candida tropicalis pyruvate decarboxylase 1-is introduced, and wherein expression of the Candida tropicalis PDC1 gene is regulated by a GPD2 promoter.

The present disclosure relates to a novel acetohydroxy acid synthase, a microorganism comprising the same, or a method for producing an L-branched-chain amino acid using the same.

A system and method for controlling metabolic enzymes or pathways in cells to produce a chemical above the levels of a wild-type strain is disclosed. The system utilizes cells, including yeasts, bacteria, and molds, having at least two genes capable of being controlled bi-directionally with light, where one gene is turned from off to on when exposed to light and another gene is turned from on to off when exposed to light, the two genes reversing when the light is turned off. Cells may utilize any number of sequences that benefit chemical production, including sequences that: encode for constitutive transcription of light-activated transcription factor fusions; encode for a metabolic enzyme; encode for a repressor; induce expression of metabolic enzymes; and an endogenous or exogenous activator expressed by a constitutive promoter, inducible promoter, or gene circuit. These systems may be coupled to biosensors or protein cascade systems, enabling the monitoring or automation of the fermentation process to optimize production of a desired product. These systems may also allow for optimization and periodic operation of a bioreactor using light pulses.

Multi-carbon compounds such as ethanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, fatty (or aliphatic long chain) alcohols, fatty acid methyl esters, 2,3-butanediol and the like, are important industrial commodity chemicals with a variety of applications. The present invention provides metabolically engineered host microorganisms which metabolize methane (CH.sub.4) as their sole carbon source to produce multi-carbon compounds for use in fuels (e.g., bio-fuel, bio-diesel) and bio-based chemicals. Furthermore, use of the metabolically engineered host microorganisms of the invention (which utilize methane as the sole carbon source) mitigate current industry practices and methods of producing multi-carbon compounds from petroleum or petroleum-derived feedstocks, and ameliorate much of the ongoing depletion of arable food source farmland currently being diverted to grow bio-fuel feedstocks, and as such, improve the environmental footprint of future bio-fuel, bio-diesel and bio-based chemical compositions.

Methods and materials related to producing isobutyric acid are disclosed. Specifically, isolated nucleic acids, polypeptides, host cells, methods and materials for producing isobutyric by direct microbial fermentation from a carbon source are disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a novel acetohydroxy acid synthase, a microorganism comprising the same, or a method for producing an L-branched-chain amino acid using the same.

The present invention discloses a CLALS protein, its coding gene and use in predicting the herbicide resistance of a watermelon. The herbicide resistance of a watermelon to be tested in which the amino acid residue at position 190 from N-terminus of the CLALS protein is only a non-proline residue or a watermelon to be tested in which the amino acid residue at position 190 from N-terminus of the CLALS protein is a non-proline residue and a proline residue is stronger than that of a watermelon to be tested in which the amino acid residue at position 190 from N-terminus of the CLALS protein is only a proline residue. Experiments have shown that the type of the amino acid residue at position 190 from the N-terminus of CLALS protein can be used as a detection target to predict the herbicide resistance of a watermelon to be tested. The invention has great application value.

The present invention is directed to lentil plants having increased resistance to an imidaizolinone herbicide. One such plant described herein is the RH44 lentil variety. The present invention also includes seeds produced by these lentil plants and methods of controlling weeds in the vicinity of these lentil plants.

The present invention relates to a method for managing flea beetles from the family of Chrysomelidae in Brassica crops. The invention further relates to seed and a kit of parts for use in this method. The invention also relates to the use of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum MBI600 for managing flea beetles in Brassica crops.