Patent ID: 7566557

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a transketolase selected from the group consisting of: a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein (i) the amino acid residue at position 75 of SEQ ID NO: 70 is any amino acid except asparagine, (ii) the amino acid residue at position 332 of SEQ ID NO: 70 is any amino acid except alanine, or (iii) the amino acid residue at position 556 of SEQ ID NO: 70 is any amino acid except valine, or a full complement thereof; and b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 69, wherein the nucleic acid molecule comprises one or more nucleic acid modifications at (i) nucleotide residues 223-225 of SEQ ID NO: 69 such that nucleotide residues 223-225 of SEQ ID NO: 69 encode any amino acid except asparagine, (ii) nucleotide residues 994-996 of SEQ ID NO: 69 such that nucleotide residues 994-996 of SEQ ID NO: 69 encode any amino acid except alanine, or (iii) nucleotide residues 1666-1668 of SEQ ID NO: 69 such that nucleotide residues 1666-1668 of SEQ ID NO: 69 encode any amino acid except valine, or a full complement thereof.