Provided herein are compositions and methods for uncoupling the yield and productivity of an isoprenoid compound produced in a host cell. In some embodiments, the yield and productivity are uncoupled by genetically modifying the host cell to reduce flux through the citric acid cycle (TCA). In other embodiments, the yield and productivity are uncoupled by reducing the levels of ATP in the host cell.

A method, comprising the steps of providing a sample containing contaminating nucleoside diphosphates and/or nucleoside triphosphates, such as ATP and/or ATP analogues including deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates; reducing the amount of the contaminating nucleoside diphosphates and/or nucleoside triphosphates in the sample with an apyrase enzyme, wherein said apyrase enzyme is a Shigella flexneri apyrase; and performing an analysis of the sample, wherein said analysis comprises an assay that would have been affected by the contaminating nucleoside diphosphates and/or nucleoside triphosphates had they not been reduced in the reduction step.

Methods and compounds for conferring site-specific or local immune privilege.

The present disclosure is directed to a modified plant cell, plant tissue, plantlet, plant part, plant, and progeny thereof containing a combination of apyrase genes, including at least one modified gene and/or at least one additional apyrase gene. The disclosure is also directed to a method of making a modified plant with a modified apyrase gene and/or an additional apyrase gene. The modified plant generally exhibits at least one improved characteristic over the plant line from which it was derived. The disclosure also relates to a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an apyrase enzyme as disclosed.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

A method of preparing for analysis of a sample is shown and described. In one embodiment, the method includes soaking at least one sample collector in an apyrase solution, and removing the apyrase solution. The result is preparing the sample collector by removing adenosine triphosphate from the sample collector.

A detoxification method includes the steps of inducing flow of patient blood through an extracorporeal device inlet and outlet in fluid connection to the circulatory system of a patient. Biological agents including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained within patient blood can be detoxified by passing patient blood over a biochemical reactor surface having attached or immobilized Saccharomyces boulardii alkaline phosphatase enzyme, with the biochemical reactor being contained within the extracorporeal device. An acyloxyacyl hydrolase enzyme may also be used on the biochemical reactor surface.

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor and/or survival factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor and/or a different survival factor.

The present invention features bifunctional, soluble ecto-enzymes that are engineered to hydrolyze extracellular nucleotide triphosphates (e.g., ATP) to a nucleoside (e.g., adenosine), through the fusion of the ectodomains (ECD) of an ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase) and a nucleotide monophosphatase (NMPAse), such as an ecto-5′ nucleotidase (eN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), or an acid phosphatase (AP). Also described are methods of use thereof, e.g. for limiting and decreasing inflammation and sequelae.

A genetically engineered strain having high-yield of L-valine is disclosed. Starting from Escherichia coli W3110, an acetolactate synthase gene alsS of Bacillus subtilis is inserted into a genome thereof and overexpressed; a ppGpp 3′-pyrophosphate hydrolase mutant R290E/K292D gene spoTM of Escherichia coli is inserted into the genome and overexpressed; a lactate dehydrogenase gene ldhA, a pyruvate formate lyase I gene pflB, and genes frdA, frdB, frdC, frdD of four subunits of fumaric acid reductase are deleted from the genome; a leucine dehydrogenase gene bcd of Bacillus subtilis replaces a branched chain amino acid transaminase gene ilvE of Escherichia coli; and an acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase mutant L67E/R68F/K75E gene ilvCM replaces the native acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase gene ilvC of Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the L-valine fermentation method is improved by using a two-stage dissolved oxygen control. The L-valine titer and the sugar-acid conversion rate are increased.