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.

Provided herein are engineered pyocyanine demethylases having replacements in in positions A53, I73, A87, T91, M99, A129 and K141 of pyocyanine demethylase PodA of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a derivative thereof and related phenazine degrading agents, compositions methods and systems, as well as a combined administration of one or more pyocyanine demethylases and antibiotics and/or antibiotics resulting in a synergic inhibition of viability of phenazine producing bacteria, and related phenazine degrading agents, compositions methods and systems.

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of plant genetic engineering, and discloses a gene for controlling the rice grain number per panicle and its use. Nucleotide sequence of OsCKX11 is SEQ ID NO. 1, nucleotide sequence for coding protein region is SEQ ID NO. 2, amino acid sequence of the encoded protein is SEQ ID NO. 3. The disclosure constructs an OsCKX11-knocked-out vector using CRISPR/Cas9, and identifies multiple independent homozygous lines through PCR amplification and sequencing methods, and provides a mutant in which specific knockout of gene OsCKX11 of the rice leads to an increase in cytokinin levels and an increase in grain number per panicle. Based on the biological function of OsCKX11 to increase the rice grain number per panicle, methods such as gene editing, natural allele replacement, RNA interference, or molecular assisted breeding can be used to improve existing rice varieties.

The present disclosure provides processes for producing alkylated fatty acids and derivatives thereof. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing a terminal alkyl transferase and a fatty acid into a bioreactor. The process includes introducing an internal methyl transferase and internal methyl reductase into the bioreactor or a second bioreactor. The process includes obtaining an alkylated fatty acid having a methyl substituent located at an internal carbon atom of the fatty acid and a methyl substituent or ethyl substituent located at a carbon atom alpha to the terminal carbon atom of the fatty acid.

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.

The present disclosure provides processes for producing alkylated fatty acids and derivatives thereof. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing a terminal alkyl transferase and a fatty acid into a bioreactor. The process includes introducing an internal methyl transferase and internal methyl reductase into the bioreactor or a second bioreactor. The process includes obtaining an alkylated fatty acid having a methyl substituent located at an internal carbon atom of the fatty acid and a methyl substituent or ethyl substituent located at a carbon atom alpha to the terminal carbon atom of the fatty acid.

Fusion proteins comprising a DNA binding domain, e.g., a TAL effector repeat array (TALE) or zinc finger array, and a catalytic domain comprising a sequence that catalyzes histone demethylation, and methods of use thereof.

Fusion proteins comprising a DNA binding domain, e.g., a TAL effector repeat array (TALE) or zinc finger array, and a catalytic domain comprising a sequence that catalyzes histone demethylation, and methods of use thereof.

Provided are modified bacteria for use in bioleaching rare earth elements (REEs). The modified bacteria contain at least one engineered genetic change that is correlated with improved bioleaching of the REEs, relative to REE bioleaching by unmodified bacteria of the same species as the modified bacteria. Also provided is a method for extracting REEs by contacting a composition containing REEs with biolixiviant produced by the modified bacteria. Kits that include containers that hold the modified bacteria are also provided.