Methods for evolving cells or strains towards improved methyltransferase activity, particularly SAM-dependent methyltransferase activity, as well as to cells and strains useful in such methods and methods of using the evolved cells in the production of methylated products.

Methods for evolving cells or strains towards improved methyltransferase activity, particularly SAM-dependent methyltransferase activity, as well as to cells and strains useful in such methods and methods of using the evolved cells in the production of methylated products.

Provided is a method for producing L-methionine in which O-phospho-L-homoserine and methanethiol are enzymatically converted into L-methionine and H3PO4. Such a conversion is achieved by an enzyme called O-phospho-L-homoserine (OHPS) dependent methionine synthase. Also described are O-phospho-L-homoserine (OHPS) dependent methionine synthases, i.e. proteins which are able to enzymatically convert O-phospho-L-homoserine and methanethiol into L-methionine and H3PO4 as well as microorganisms which have been genetically modified so as to be able to produce L-methionine from O-phospho-L-homoserine and methanethiol. Furthermore described are methods to screen for enzymes that catalyze the conversion of O-phospho-L-homoserine and methanethiol into L-methionine and H.sub.3PO.sub.4.

A method of the bio-production of methionine and/or of its derivatives thereof from a reduced source of sulfur, such as MeSH or MeSNa including genetically modified yeasts, having an increased ability to produce methionine and/or its derivatives thereof, as compared to the parent yeasts.

Provided is a method of recovering phosphoric acid from a fermentation broth or a waste liquid thereof and reusing the recovered phosphoric acid in fermentation.

A method of the bio-production of methionine and/or of its derivatives thereof from a reduced source of sulfur, such as MeSH or MeSNa including genetically modified yeasts, having an increased ability to produce methionine and/or its derivatives thereof, as compared to the parent yeasts.

An enzymatically catalyzed method for producing L-glufosinate or a phosphoester of L-glufosinate can be performed. An activated L-homoserine H.sub.A is reacted with a substrate S selected from methylphosphinic acid and the esters of methylphosphinic acid. The method makes accessible new substrates in the enzymatic production of L-glufosinate and its phosphoesters.

Methods for evolving cells or strains towards improved methyltransferase activity, particularly SAM-dependent methyltransferase activity, as well as to cells and strains useful in such methods and methods of using the evolved cells in the production of methylated products.

An enzymatically catalyzed method for producing L-glufosinate or a phosphoester of L-glufosinate can be performed. An activated L-homoserine H.sub.A is reacted with a substrate S selected from methylphosphinic acid and the esters of methylphosphinic acid. The method makes accessible new substrates in the enzymatic production of L-glufosinate and its phosphoesters.

Plant seeds with increased protein and methionine content and having a modified expression of a cystathionine -synthase (CGS) polypeptide, modified expression of a low methionine content (< about 1.0% methionine) storage protein polypeptide, or modified expression of both are provided. Methods for modifying expression of CGS polypeptides and polynucleotides and low methionine content seed storage polypeptides and polynucleotides include genome editing to modify the MTO1 regulatory region of CGS to create feedback insensitive methionine production and low methionine content polypeptides to create proteome rebalancing toward high methionine content storage protein production, and transformation with recombinant DNA constructs to enhance or suppress expression are disclosed herein.