Roche Vitamins Inc.

Novozymes A/s

Dsm IP Assets B.v.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Novozymes Als

Adolphus Van Loon

Luis Pasamontes

Markus Wyss

Andrea Tomschy

Kurt Vogel

Dirk Kostrewa

Hans-Peter Hohmann

Michel Tessier

Allan Svendsen

David Mitchell

Martin Lehmann

S&oslash;ren Flensted Lassen

Soren Flensted Lassen

Adelbert Bacher

Holger L&uuml;ttgen

Martin Lehman

Dariya Fedorovych

Sabine Eberhardt

Vasyl V Demchyshyn

Yuriy R Boretskyy

Lyubov Ya Babyak

Markus H&uuml;mbelin

Walter Schurter

Heinrich Winfried Schlieker

Anne Fran&ccedil;oise Mayer

Rual Lopez-Ulibarri

Karsten Hellmuth

Gerald Richter

The present invention relates to phytase variants, their preparation and uses, which phytase variants, when aligned according to FIG., are amended as compared to a model phytase in at least one of a number of positions. Preferred model phytases are basidiomycete and ascomycete phytases, such asphytase andphytases. Preferred phytase variants exhibits amended activity characteristics, such as improved specific activity and/or improved thermostability.

Phytase variants

A process for the production of a modified phytase with a desired property improved over the property of the corresponding unmodified phytase is disclosed, as well as modified phytases, polynucleotides encoding modified phytases, and animal feed including modified phytases.

Modified phytases

The present invention relates to heat tolerant phytases and DNA sequences which code therefor. The phytases are useful in hydrolyzing phytate to inositol and inorganic phosphates. The phytases are valuable feed additives.

Heat tolerant phytases

The present invention relates to phytase variants, their preparation and uses, which phytase variants, when aligned according to FIG. are amended as compared to a model phytase in at least one of a number of positions. Preferred model phytases are basidiomycete and ascomycete phytases, such as Peniophora phytase and Aspergillus phytases. Preferred phytase variants exhibits amended activity characteristics, such as improved specific activity and/or improved thermostability.

Novel proteins of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins are disclosed which provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoid precursors and carotenoids, especially &bgr;-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and cantaxanthin.

Fermentative carotenoid production

Phytase variants, their preparation and uses, which phytase variants, when aligned according to FIG. , are amended as compared to a model phytase in at least one of a number of positions. Preferred model phytases are basidiomycete and ascomycete phytases, such as Peniophora phytase and Aspergillus phytases. Preferred phytase variants exhibits amended activity characteristics, such as improved specific activity and/or improved thermostability.

Phytase varinats

The present invention provides a transformed yeast strain containing a DNA sequence transcriptionally linked to a promoter functional in such yeast cells, which when expressed in a suitable host cell, encodes at least one polypeptide having riboflavin biosynthetic activity. Using such transformants, improved levels of riboflavin production are achieved. Processes of producing riboflavin from such transformants are also provided.

Riboflavin production

The present invention provides a recombinant bacterium for the over-production of riboflavin. The recombinant bacterium has has been transformed by three or four vectors, two of which each comprise either a DNA sequence coding for the riboflavin synthesizing enzymatic activities of,or a DNA sequence which is substantially homologous and one or more transcription elements and a third and/or fourth vector comprising either a DNA sequence coding for the ribA gene product of,or a DNA sequence which is substantially homologous and optionally a transcription element whereby one or a plurality of copies of each of these vectors has/have been integrated at three or four different sites within the bacterium's chromosome.

A method for producing a protein by culturing a cell capable of expressing the protein and which contains a methylotrophic yeast promoter for an enzyme of the methanol metabolic pathway controlling expression of the protein, in a fermentative batch process comprising a batch phase and a feeding phase, under conditions such that dissolved oxygen is continually present in the culture medium throughout the process, and about 1% to about 100% of the carbon source during the feeding phase is a sugar or sugar polymer, which sugar or sugar polymer is provided in such an amount that the sugar or sugar polymer is continually depleted by the cell and therefore is substantially undetectable in the culture medium; and isolating the protein on completion of the feeding phase.

Protein production process

Novel proteins of Flavobacrerium sp. R1534 and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins are disclosed which provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoid precursors and carotenoids, especially .beta.-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and cantaxanthin. Processes are also provided for preparing zeaxanthin by culturing a transformed host cell containing an expression cassette that includes a polynucleotide having a DNA sequence which encodes the GGPP synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtE), the prephytoene synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtB), the phytoene desaturase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtI), the lycopene cyclase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtY), or the .beta.-carotene hydroxylase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtZ). The polynucleotide is substantially free of other polynucleotides of Flavobacterium sp. R1534. The process further includes isolating the zeaxanthin from such cells or the culture medium.

Growing community of inventors

Rheinfelden, Switzerland

Adolphus Van Loon