The present disclosure relates to genetically engineered host cells and methods of producing a lipid-derived compound by employing such host cells. In particular embodiments, the host cell includes a first mutant gene encoding a cytoplasmic tRNA thiolation protein. Optionally, the host cell can include other mutant genes for decreasing fatty alcohol catabolism, decreasing re-importation of secreted fatty alcohol, or displaying other useful characteristics, as described herein.

The present invention relates to a polypeptide having lipolytic enzyme activity, selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having at least 65% sequence identity to amino acids 21 to 309 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under medium stringency conditions with the polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 65% sequence identity to the polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (d) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a), (b) or (c) that has lipolytic enzyme activity.

The present invention provides engineered polypeptides that are useful for the asymmetric synthesis of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids under industrial-relevant conditions. The engineered polypeptides disclosed in this invention were developed through directed evolution based on the ability of catalytic synthesis of (2S, 3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl) propanoic acid. The present disclosure also provides polynucleotides encoding engineered polypeptides, host cells capable of expressing engineered polypeptides, and methods of producing β-hydroxy-α-amino acids using engineered polypeptides. Compared to other processes of preparation, the use of the engineered polypeptides of the present invention for the preparation of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids results in high purity of the desired stereoisomers, mild reaction conditions, low pollution and low energy consumption. So, it has good industrial application prospects.

The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides of the invention to release xylose and in animal feed.

The invention relates to the ADH3 promoter; polynucleotide sequences, vectors and expression cassettes including DNA regions responsible for the regulation of the ADH3 promoter; the host cells, including these vectors and expression cassettes, and, the recombinant proteins performed with the developed cells. In the scope of the invention, deletion analyzes in the ADH3 promoter were performed to identify regions that affect promoter strength and significant data was obtained in the formation of mutant ADH3 promoters. Deletion of the nucleotides between 539 and 638 (−361 to −262) in SEQ ID NO: 1 resulted in a 63% increase in ADH3 promoter activity. Five different synthetic promoters were created using positive regulatory regions identified and approximately 165% to 200% promoter activities were achieved with these promoters.

An acyl-ACP thioesterase consisting of an amino acid sequence of the 72.sup.nd to 233.sup.rd amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, an acyl-ACP thioesterase gene encoding the protein, a transformant having the gene, and a method of producing a lipid using the transformant.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

The present disclosure describes a DNA fragment mixture for the prevention or for the treatment of at least one pathogenic, parasitic or infesting species of plants or of the environment, wherein the DNA mixture consists of random fragments of total DNA of at least one pathogenic, parasitic, or infesting species, and/or at least one phylogenetically similar species, against which the prevention and treatment are directed. Further, the disclosure describes a process and related system for improvement of the production/growth of microorganisms at high yield in bioreactors or photobioreactors, or of plants in different culture systems, where the nucleic acids of the organisms produced/grown by such a process are removed from the culture medium and the culture medium, deprived of these nucleic acid, is used again in the process.

The invention relates to an endocellulase catalytic domain comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functionally equivalent variant of said catalytic domain that substantially maintains or improves its catalytic activity. The invention also relates to a polypeptide, a nucleic acid, an expression cassette, a vector or a host cell. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of an endocellulase catalytic domain or the polypeptide of the invention for hydrolysing cellulose, producing bioethanol or as a detergent. The invention also relates to a method for hydrolysing cellulose and for producing bioethanol.

This invention provides microbial organisms, particularly yeasts such as Yarrowia lipolytica, that have one or more disrupted genes. The gene disruption(s) may yield improved production of fatty acyl-CoA derivatives.