Phillips Petroleum Company

Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.

William D Prevatt

George T Sperl

Gregory P Thill

Kotikanyadan Sreekrishna

Geneva R Davis

Kathryn A Barr

Sharon A Hopkins

Patricia Koutz

Kotikanyadanam Sreekrishna

A method for producing one or more Bacillus toxin polypeptides by culturing methylotrophic yeast cells which have a gene(s) capable of expressing the Bacillus toxin polypeptide(s) in such cells under conditions that the gene(s) is/are transcribed is provided. The toxin polypeptide encoding segment of the gene(s) has a G+C content of about 40%-55%, and preferably comprises methylotrophic yeast codons. The preferred species of yeast for expressing such synthetic Bacillus toxin gene(s) is Pichia pastoris. Bacillus toxin polypeptides encoded by synthetic genes are expressed at high levels in transformed methylotrophic yeast cells. The toxin expressing cells may be administered as live cells or heat-killed whole cells to provide an insecticidal composition for killing susceptible insect larvae. Also provided by the present invention are DNAs capable of transforming methylotrophic yeast to express one or more Bacillus toxin polypeptides, cultures of such yeast cells transformed with such DNAs and novel Bacillus toxin polypeptides made by the method of the invention. The transformed yeast cells of the present invention are readily ingested as food by insect larvae which are susceptible to the toxin polypeptides.

Production of Bacillus entomotoxins in methylotrophic yeast

A process for the production of HSA in Pichia pastoris cells comprising cultivating Pichia pastoris cells capable of expressing HSA at a pH of about 5.7 to about 6.4 contemporaneously with the expression of HSA.

Expression of human serum albumin in Pichia pastoris

The present invention provides a process for the cell fusion of strains of Phaffia rhodozyma thereby providing novel strains of Phaffia rhodozyma.

Spheroplast fusions of Phaffia rhodozyma cells

A novel strain of P. pastoris and an alcohol oxidase free of catalase activity produced therefrom is provided.

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Bartlesville, OK, United States of America

William D Prevatt