Patent ID: 7871796
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
1. A method of obtaining a bacterium comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a catalytic protein catalyzing a chemical reaction involving a target substrate, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a Gram negative bacterium comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous candidate catalytic protein, wherein said catalytic protein is expressed in soluble form in the periplasm of said bacterium; (b) contacting said bacterium with a target substrate capable of diffusing into said bacterium, wherein said target substrate comprises a molecule containing a scissile amide bond, a scissile carboxylic ester bond, a scissile phosphate ester bond, a scissile sulfonate ester bond, a scissile carbonate ester bond, a scissile carbamate bond, a scissile thioester bond, a nucleic acid, or a polypeptide and said candidate catalytic protein catalyzes a chemical reaction involving said target substrate and wherein said chemical reaction yields at least a first substrate product; and (c) selecting said bacterium based on the presence of said first substrate product.