Basf Se Corporation

Henkel Ag & Company, Kgaa

Jörg Feesche

Karl-Heinz Maurer

Cornelius Bessler

Stefan Evers

Gerhard Gottschalk

Birgit Veith

Christina Herzberg

Armin Ehrenreich

Heiko Liesegang

Anke Henne

Anke Singer

The present invention relates to 25 hitherto undescribed genes ofand gene products derived therefrom and all sufficiently homologous nucleic acids and proteins thereof. They occur in five different metabolic pathways for the formation of odorous substances. The metabolic pathways in question are for the synthesis of: 1) isovalerian acid (as part of the catabolism of leucine), 2) 2-methylbutyric acid and/or isobutyric acid (as part of the catabolism of valine and/or isoleucine), 3) butanol and/or butyric acid (as part of the metabolism of butyric acid), 4) propyl acid (as part of the metabolism of propionate) and/or 5) cadaverine and/or putrescine (as parts of the catabolism of lysine and/or arginine). The identification of these genes allows biotechnological production methods to be developed that are improved to the extent that, to assist these nucleic acids, the formation of the odorous substances synthesized via these metabolic pathways can be reduced by deactivating the corresponding genes in the micro-organism used for the biotechnological production. In addition, these gene products are thus available for preparing reactions or for methods according to their respective biochemical properties.

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The invention relates to five or four novel genes and the gene products thereof fromand sufficiently similar genes and proteins which are involved in vivo in the formation of polyamino acids. The gene in question is ywsC, ywsC', ywtA, ywtB and ywtD or proteins coded thereby. The gene ywsC, ywsC&#x2032;, ywtA and ywtB can be used to improve biotechnological production methods by microorganisms, wherein they are functionally inactivated; the gene ywtD which codes for a peptide decomposing poly-gamma glutamate can, inversely, contribute to the improvement of biotechnological production methods by increased expression. Said genes can be used positively, preferably to result in a modification or decomposition of poly-gamma glutamate.

Microorganisms providing novel gene products forming or decomposing polyamino acids

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Erkrath, Germany

Jörg Feesche