Isomerases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them

Abstract

This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids. Thus, the invention provides enzymes, compositions, methods for production of pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical intermediates, antibiotics, sweeteners, peptide enzymes, peptide hormones, fuel and fuel additive compositions, foods and food additives, beverage and beverage additives, feeds and feed additives, drugs and drug additives, dietary supplements, textiles, wood, paper, pulp, and detergents comprising the polypeptides or polynucleotides in accordance with the invention.

1 . An isolated, synthetic or recombinant comprising
 (a) a nucleic acid (polynucleotide) encoding at least one polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a sequence having at least about 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more or complete (100%) sequence identity to the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:57, SEQ ID NO:59, SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:71, SEQ ID NO:73, SEQ ID NO:75, SEQ ID NO:77, SEQ ID NO:79, SEQ ID NO:81, SEQ ID NO:83, SEQ ID NO:85, SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:89, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:93, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:99, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:107, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:111, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:119, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:133, SEQ ID NO:135, SEQ ID NO:137, SEQ ID NO:139, SEQ ID NO:141, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:147, SEQ ID NO:149, SEQ ID NO:151, SEQ ID NO:153, SEQ ID NO:155, SEQ ID NO:157, SEQ ID NO:159, SEQ ID NO:161, SEQ ID NO:163, SEQ ID NO:165, SEQ ID NO:167, SEQ ID NO:169, SEQ ID NO:171, SEQ ID NO:173, SEQ ID NO:175, SEQ ID NO:177, SEQ ID NO:179, SEQ ID NO:181, SEQ ID NO:183, SEQ ID NO:185, SEQ ID NO:187, SEQ ID NO:189, SEQ ID NO:191, SEQ ID NO:193, SEQ ID NO:195, SEQ ID NO:197, SEQ ID NO:199, SEQ ID NO:201, SEQ ID NO:203, SEQ ID NO:205, SEQ ID NO:207, SEQ ID NO:209, SEQ ID NO:211, SEQ ID NO:213, SEQ ID NO:215, SEQ ID NO:217, SEQ ID NO:219, SEQ ID NO:221, SEQ ID NO:223, SEQ ID NO:225, SEQ ID NO:227, SEQ ID NO:229, SEQ ID NO:231, SEQ ID NO:233, SEQ ID NO:235, SEQ ID NO:237, SEQ ID NO:239, SEQ ID NO:241, SEQ ID NO:243, SEQ ID NO:245, SEQ ID NO:247, SEQ ID NO:249, SEQ ID NO:251, SEQ ID NO:253, SEQ ID NO:255, SEQ ID NO:257, SEQ ID NO:259, SEQ ID NO:261, SEQ ID NO:263, SEQ ID NO:265, SEQ ID NO:267, SEQ ID NO:269, SEQ ID NO:271, SEQ ID NO:273, SEQ ID NO:275, SEQ ID NO:277, SEQ ID NO:279, SEQ ID NO:281, SEQ ID NO:283, SEQ ID NO:285, SEQ ID NO:287, SEQ ID NO:289, SEQ ID NO:291, SEQ ID NO:293, SEQ ID NO:295, SEQ ID NO:297, SEQ ID NO:299, SEQ ID NO:301, SEQ ID NO:303, SEQ ID NO:305, SEQ ID NO:307, SEQ ID NO:309, SEQ ID NO:311, SEQ ID NO:313, SEQ ID NO:315, SEQ ID NO:317, SEQ ID NO:319, SEQ ID NO:321, SEQ ID NO:323, SEQ ID NO:325, SEQ ID NO:327, SEQ ID NO:329, SEQ ID NO:331, SEQ ID NO:333, SEQ ID NO:335, SEQ ID NO:337, SEQ ID NO:339, SEQ ID NO:341, SEQ ID NO:343, SEQ ID NO:345, SEQ ID NO:347, SEQ ID NO:349, SEQ ID NO:351, SEQ ID NO:353, SEQ ID NO:355, SEQ ID NO:357, SEQ ID NO:359, SEQ ID NO:361, SEQ ID NO:363, SEQ ID NO:365, SEQ ID NO:367, SEQ ID NO:369, SEQ ID NO:371, SEQ ID NO:373, SEQ ID NO:375, SEQ ID NO:377, SEQ ID NO:379, SEQ ID NO:381, SEQ ID NO:383, SEQ ID NO:385, SEQ ID NO:387, SEQ ID NO:389, SEQ ID NO:391, SEQ ID NO:393, SEQ ID NO:395, SEQ ID NO:397, SEQ ID NO:399, SEQ ID NO:401, SEQ ID NO:403, SEQ ID NO:405, SEQ ID NO:407, SEQ ID NO:409, SEQ ID NO:411, SEQ ID NO:413, SEQ ID NO:415, SEQ ID NO:417, SEQ ID NO:419, SEQ ID NO:421, SEQ ID NO:423, SEQ ID NO:425, SEQ ID NO:427, SEQ ID NO:429, SEQ ID NO:431, SEQ ID NO:433, SEQ ID NO:435, SEQ ID NO:437, SEQ ID NO:439, SEQ ID NO:441, SEQ ID NO:443, SEQ ID NO:445, SEQ ID NO:447, SEQ ID NO:449, SEQ ID NO:451, SEQ ID NO:453, SEQ ID NO:455, SEQ ID NO:457, SEQ ID NO:459, SEQ ID NO:461, SEQ ID NO:463, SEQ ID NO:465, SEQ ID NO:467, SEQ ID NO:469, SEQ ID NO:471, SEQ ID NO:473, SEQ ID NO:475, SEQ ID NO:477, SEQ ID NO:479, SEQ ID NO:481, SEQ ID NO:483, SEQ ID NO:485, SEQ ID NO:487, SEQ ID NO:489, SEQ ID NO:491, SEQ ID NO:493, SEQ ID NO:495 or SEQ ID NO:497, wherein the nucleic acid encodes at least one polypeptide having an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity, or encodes a polypeptide or peptide capable of generating an isomerase specific antibody, e.g., a racemase specific antibody, e.g., an amino acid racemase, an alanine racemase, and/or an epimerase specific antibody (a polypeptide or peptide that acts as an epitope or immunogen),   (b) a nucleic acid (polynucleotide) encoding at least one polypeptide or peptide, wherein the nucleic acid comprises a sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:33, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:37, SEQ ID NO:39, SEQ ID NO:41, SEQ ID NO:43, SEQ ID NO:45, SEQ ID NO:47, SEQ ID NO:49, SEQ ID NO:51, SEQ ID NO:53, SEQ ID NO:55, SEQ ID NO:57, SEQ ID NO:59, SEQ ID NO:61, SEQ ID NO:63, SEQ ID NO:65, SEQ ID NO:67, SEQ ID NO:69, SEQ ID NO:71, SEQ ID NO:73, SEQ ID NO:75, SEQ ID NO:77, SEQ ID NO:79, SEQ ID NO:81, SEQ ID NO:83, SEQ ID NO:85, SEQ ID NO:87, SEQ ID NO:89, SEQ ID NO:91, SEQ ID NO:93, SEQ ID NO:95, SEQ ID NO:97, SEQ ID NO:99, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:103, SEQ ID NO:105, SEQ ID NO:107, SEQ ID NO:109, SEQ ID NO:111, SEQ ID NO:113, SEQ ID NO:115, SEQ ID NO:117, SEQ ID NO:119, SEQ ID NO:121, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:133, SEQ ID NO:135, SEQ ID NO:137, SEQ ID NO:139, SEQ ID NO:141, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:145, SEQ ID NO:147, SEQ ID NO:149, SEQ ID NO:151, SEQ ID NO:153, SEQ ID NO:155, SEQ ID NO:157, SEQ ID NO:159, SEQ ID NO:161, SEQ ID NO:163, SEQ ID NO:165, SEQ ID NO:167, SEQ ID NO:169, SEQ ID NO:171, SEQ ID NO:173, SEQ ID NO:175, SEQ ID NO:177, SEQ ID NO:179, SEQ ID NO:181, SEQ ID NO:183, SEQ ID NO:185, SEQ ID NO:187, SEQ ID NO:189, SEQ ID NO:191, SEQ ID NO:193, SEQ ID NO:195, SEQ ID NO:197, SEQ ID NO:199, SEQ ID NO:201, SEQ ID NO:203, SEQ ID NO:205, SEQ ID NO:207, SEQ ID NO:209, SEQ ID NO:211, SEQ ID NO:213, SEQ ID NO:215, SEQ ID NO:217, SEQ ID NO:219, SEQ ID NO:221, SEQ ID NO:223, SEQ ID NO:225, SEQ ID NO:227, SEQ ID NO:229, SEQ ID NO:231, SEQ ID NO:233, SEQ ID NO:235, SEQ ID NO:237, SEQ ID NO:239, SEQ ID NO:241, SEQ ID NO:243, SEQ ID NO:245, SEQ ID NO:247, SEQ ID NO:249, SEQ ID NO:251, SEQ ID NO:253, SEQ ID NO:255, SEQ ID NO:257, SEQ ID NO:259, SEQ ID NO:261, SEQ ID NO:263, SEQ ID NO:265, SEQ ID NO:267, SEQ ID NO:269, SEQ ID NO:271, SEQ ID NO:273, SEQ ID NO:275, SEQ ID NO:277, SEQ ID NO:279, SEQ ID NO:281, SEQ ID NO:283, SEQ ID NO:285, SEQ ID NO:287, SEQ ID NO:289, SEQ ID NO:291, SEQ ID NO:293, SEQ ID NO:295, SEQ ID NO:297, SEQ ID NO:299, SEQ ID NO:301, SEQ ID NO:303, SEQ ID NO:305, SEQ ID NO:307, SEQ ID NO:309, SEQ ID NO:311, SEQ ID NO:313, SEQ ID NO:315, SEQ ID NO:317, SEQ ID NO:319, SEQ ID NO:321, SEQ ID NO:323, SEQ ID NO:325, SEQ ID NO:327, SEQ ID NO:329, SEQ ID NO:331, SEQ ID NO:333, SEQ ID NO:335, SEQ ID NO:337, SEQ ID NO:339, SEQ ID NO:341, SEQ ID NO:343, SEQ ID NO:345, SEQ ID NO:347, SEQ ID NO:349, SEQ ID NO:351, SEQ ID NO:353, SEQ ID NO:355, SEQ ID NO:357, SEQ ID NO:359, SEQ ID NO:361, SEQ ID NO:363, SEQ ID NO:365, SEQ ID NO:367, SEQ ID NO:369, SEQ ID NO:371, SEQ ID NO:373, SEQ ID NO:375, SEQ ID NO:377, SEQ ID NO:379, SEQ ID NO:381, SEQ ID NO:383, SEQ ID NO:385, SEQ ID NO:387, SEQ ID NO:389, SEQ ID NO:391, SEQ ID NO:393, SEQ ID NO:395, SEQ ID NO:397, SEQ ID NO:399, SEQ ID NO:401, SEQ ID NO:403, SEQ ID NO:405, SEQ ID NO:407, SEQ ID NO:409, SEQ ID NO:411, SEQ ID NO:413, SEQ ID NO:415, SEQ ID NO:417, SEQ ID NO:419, SEQ ID NO:421, SEQ ID NO:423, SEQ ID NO:425, SEQ ID NO:427, SEQ ID NO:429, SEQ ID NO:431, SEQ ID NO:433, SEQ ID NO:435, SEQ ID NO:437, SEQ ID NO:439, SEQ ID NO:441, SEQ ID NO:443, SEQ ID NO:445, SEQ ID NO:447, SEQ ID NO:449, SEQ ID NO:451, SEQ ID NO:453, SEQ ID NO:455, SEQ ID NO:457, SEQ ID NO:459, SEQ ID NO:461, SEQ ID NO:463, SEQ ID NO:465, SEQ ID NO:467, SEQ ID NO:469, SEQ ID NO:471, SEQ ID NO:473, SEQ ID NO:475, SEQ ID NO:477, SEQ ID NO:479, SEQ ID NO:481, SEQ ID NO:483, SEQ ID NO:485, SEQ ID NO:487, SEQ ID NO:489, SEQ ID NO:491, SEQ ID NO:493, SEQ ID NO:495 or SEQ ID NO:497,   wherein the polypeptide or peptide has an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity or is capable of generating an isomerase-specific antibody, e.g., a racemase-specific antibody, e.g., an amino acid racemase-specific antibody, an alanine racemase-specific antibody, and/or an epimerase-specific antibody (a polypeptide or peptide that acts as an epitope or immunogen),   and the stringent conditions comprise a wash step comprising a wash in 0.2×SSC at a temperature of about 65° C. for about 15 minutes;   (c) a nucleic acid encoding at least one polypeptide having an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity, wherein the polypeptide comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:38, SEQ ID NO:40, SEQ ID NO:42, SEQ ID NO:44, SEQ ID NO:46, SEQ ID NO:48, SEQ ID NO:50, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:54, SEQ ID NO:56, SEQ ID NO:58, SEQ ID NO:60, SEQ ID NO:62, SEQ ID NO:64, SEQ ID NO:66, SEQ ID NO:68, SEQ ID NO:70, SEQ ID NO:72, SEQ ID NO:74, SEQ ID NO:76, SEQ ID NO:78, SEQ ID NO:80, SEQ ID NO:82, SEQ ID NO:84, SEQ ID NO:86, SEQ ID NO:88, SEQ ID NO:90, SEQ ID NO:92, SEQ ID NO:94, SEQ ID NO:96, SEQ ID NO:98, SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102, SEQ ID NO:104, SEQ ID NO:106, SEQ ID NO:108, SEQ ID NO:110, SEQ ID NO:112, SEQ ID NO:114, SEQ ID NO:116, SEQ ID NO:118, SEQ ID NO:120, SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO:136, SEQ ID NO:138, SEQ ID NO:140, SEQ ID NO:142, SEQ ID NO:143, SEQ ID NO:146, SEQ ID NO:148, SEQ ID NO:150, SEQ ID NO:152, SEQ ID NO:154, SEQ ID NO:156, SEQ ID NO:158, SEQ ID NO:160, SEQ ID NO:162, SEQ ID NO:164, SEQ ID NO:166, SEQ ID NO:168, SEQ ID NO:170, SEQ ID NO:172, SEQ ID NO:174, SEQ ID NO:176, SEQ ID NO:178, SEQ ID NO:180, SEQ ID NO:182, SEQ ID NO:184, SEQ ID NO:186, SEQ ID NO:188, SEQ ID NO:190, SEQ ID NO:192, SEQ ID NO:194, SEQ ID NO:196, SEQ ID NO:198, SEQ ID NO:200, SEQ ID NO:202, SEQ ID NO:204, SEQ ID NO:206, SEQ ID NO:208, SEQ ID NO:210, SEQ ID NO:212, SEQ ID NO:214, SEQ ID NO:216, SEQ ID NO:218, SEQ ID NO:220, SEQ ID NO:222, SEQ ID NO:224, SEQ ID NO:226, SEQ ID NO:228, SEQ ID NO:230, SEQ ID NO:232, SEQ ID NO:234, SEQ ID NO:236, SEQ ID NO:238, SEQ ID NO:240, SEQ ID NO:242, SEQ ID NO:244, SEQ ID NO:246, SEQ ID NO:248, SEQ ID NO:250, SEQ ID NO:252, SEQ ID NO:254, SEQ ID NO:256, SEQ ID NO:258, SEQ ID NO:260, SEQ ID NO:262, SEQ ID NO:264, SEQ ID NO:266, SEQ ID NO:268, SEQ ID NO:270, SEQ ID NO:272, SEQ ID NO:274, SEQ ID NO:276, SEQ ID NO:278, SEQ ID NO:280, SEQ ID NO:282, SEQ ID NO:284, SEQ ID NO:286, SEQ ID NO:288, SEQ ID NO:290, SEQ ID NO:292, SEQ ID NO:294, SEQ ID NO:296, SEQ ID NO:298, SEQ ID NO:300, SEQ ID NO:302, SEQ ID NO:304, SEQ ID NO:306, SEQ ID NO:308, SEQ ID NO:310, SEQ ID NO:312, SEQ ID NO:314, SEQ ID NO:316, SEQ ID NO:318, SEQ ID NO:320, SEQ ID NO:322, SEQ ID NO:324, SEQ ID NO:326, SEQ ID NO:328, SEQ ID NO:330, SEQ ID NO:332, SEQ ID NO:334, SEQ ID NO:336, SEQ ID NO:338, SEQ ID NO:340, SEQ ID NO:342, SEQ ID NO:344, SEQ ID NO:346, SEQ ID NO:348, SEQ ID NO:350, SEQ ID NO:352, SEQ ID NO:354, SEQ ID NO:356, SEQ ID NO:358, SEQ ID NO:360, SEQ ID NO:362, SEQ ID NO:364, SEQ ID NO:366, SEQ ID NO:368, SEQ ID NO:370, SEQ ID NO:372, SEQ ID NO:374, SEQ ID NO:376, SEQ ID NO:378, SEQ ID NO:380, SEQ ID NO:382, SEQ ID NO:384, SEQ ID NO:386, SEQ ID NO:388, SEQ ID NO:390, SEQ ID NO:392, SEQ ID NO:394, SEQ ID NO:396, SEQ ID NO:398, SEQ ID NO:400, SEQ ID NO:402, SEQ ID NO:404, SEQ ID NO:406, SEQ ID NO:408, SEQ ID NO:410, SEQ ID NO:412, SEQ ID NO:414, SEQ ID NO:416, SEQ ID NO:418, SEQ ID NO:420, SEQ ID NO:422, SEQ ID NO:424, SEQ ID NO:426, SEQ ID NO:428, SEQ ID NO:430, SEQ ID NO:432, SEQ ID NO:434, SEQ ID NO:436, SEQ ID NO:438, SEQ ID NO:440, SEQ ID NO:442, SEQ ID NO:444, SEQ ID NO:446, SEQ ID NO:448, SEQ ID NO:450, SEQ ID NO:452, SEQ ID NO:454, SEQ ID NO:456, SEQ ID NO:458, SEQ ID NO:460, SEQ ID NO:462, SEQ ID NO:464, SEQ ID NO:466, SEQ ID NO:468, SEQ ID NO:470, SEQ ID NO:472, SEQ ID NO:474, SEQ ID NO:476, SEQ ID NO:478, SEQ ID NO:480, SEQ ID NO:482, SEQ ID NO:484, SEQ ID NO:486, SEQ ID NO:488, SEQ ID NO:490, SEQ ID NO:492, SEQ ID NO:494, SEQ ID NO:496 or SEQ ID NO:498, or enzymatically active fragments thereof;   (d) (A) the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) of any of (a) to (c) and encoding a polypeptide having at least one conservative amino acid substitution and retaining its isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity; or, (B) the nucleic acid of (i)(A), wherein the at least one conservative amino acid substitution comprises substituting an amino acid with another amino acid of like characteristics; or, a conservative substitution comprises: replacement of an aliphatic amino acid with another aliphatic amino acid; replacement of a Serine with a Threonine or vice versa; replacement of an acidic residue with another acidic residue; replacement of a residue bearing an amide group with another residue bearing an amide group; exchange of a basic residue with another basic residue; or replacement of an aromatic residue with another aromatic residue;   (e) the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) of any of (a) to (d) encoding a polypeptide having an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity but lacking a signal sequence, a prepro domain, and/or other domain;   (f) the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) of any of (a) to (e)(h) encoding a polypeptide having an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity further comprising a heterologous sequence;   (g) the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) of (f), wherein the heterologous sequence comprises, or consists of a sequence encoding: (A) a heterologous signal sequence, a heterologous domain, a heterologous dockerin domain, a heterologous catalytic domain (CD), or a combination thereof; (B) the sequence of (l), wherein the heterologous signal sequence, domain or catalytic domain (CD) is derived from a heterologous enzyme; or, (C) a tag, an epitope, a targeting peptide, a cleavable sequence, a detectable moiety or an enzyme;   (h) the nucleic acid (polynucleotide) of (g), wherein the heterologous signal sequence targets the encoded protein to a vacuole, the endoplasmic reticulum, a chloroplast or a starch granule; or   (i) a nucleic acid sequence (polynucleotide) fully (completely) complementary to the sequence of any of (a) to (h).   
     
     
         2 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An expression cassette, a vector or a cloning vehicle comprising a nucleic acid comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein optionally the cloning vehicle comprises a viral vector, a plasmid, a phage, a phagemid, a cosmid, a fosmid, a bacteriophage or an artificial chromosome. 
     
     
         14 . The cloning vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the viral vector comprises an adenovirus vector, a retroviral vector or an adeno-associated viral vector, or, the artificial chromosome comprises a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), a bacteriophage P1-derived vector (PAC), a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), or a mammalian artificial chromosome (MAC). 
     
     
         15 . A transformed cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein the transformed cell is a bacterial cell, a mammalian cell, a fungal cell, a yeast cell, an insect cell or a plant cell. 
     
     
         16 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A method of producing a recombinant polypeptide comprising the steps of: (a) providing the polynucleotide of  claim 1  a nucleic acid operably linked to a promoter; and (b) expressing the polynucleotide nucleic acid of step (a) under conditions that allow expression of the polypeptide, thereby producing a recombinant polypeptide, and optionally the method further comprises transforming a host cell with the polynucleotide nucleic acid of step (a) followed by expressing the polynucleotide nucleic acid of step (a), thereby producing a recombinant polypeptide in a transformed cell. 
     
     
         42 .- 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method of generating a variant of the polynucleotide of  claim 1  a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide with an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a template nucleic acid comprising the sequence of  claim 1 ; and 
 (b) modifying, deleting or adding one or more nucleotides in the template sequence, or a combination thereof, to generate a variant of the template nucleic acid. 
 wherein optionally the method further comprises expressing the variant nucleic acid to generate a variant isomerase, e.g., racemase, e.g., amino acid racemase, alanine racemase, and/or epimerase polypeptide, 
 and optionally the modifications, additions or deletions are introduced by a method comprising error-prone PCR, shuffling, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, assembly PCR, sexual PCR mutagenesis, in vivo mutagenesis, cassette mutagenesis, recursive ensemble mutagenesis, exponential ensemble mutagenesis, site-specific mutagenesis, gene reassembly, Gene Site Saturation Mutagenesis (GSSM), synthetic ligation reassembly (SLR) and a combination thereof, or, the modifications, additions or deletions are introduced by a method comprising recombination, recursive sequence recombination, phosphothioate-modified DNA mutagenesis, uracil-containing template mutagenesis, gapped duplex mutagenesis, point mismatch repair mutagenesis, repair-deficient host strain mutagenesis, chemical mutagenesis, radiogenic mutagenesis, deletion mutagenesis, restriction-selection mutagenesis, restriction-purification mutagenesis, artificial gene synthesis, ensemble mutagenesis, chimeric nucleic acid multimer creation and a combination thereof, 
 wherein optionally, the method is iteratively repeated until an isomerase, e.g., a racemase, e.g., an amino acid racemase, an alanine racemase, and/or an epimerase having an altered or different activity or an altered or different stability from that of a polypeptide encoded by the template nucleic acid is produced, 
 wherein optionally the variant isomerase, e.g., racemase, e.g., amino acid racemase, alanine racemase, and/or epimerase polypeptide is thermotolerant, and retains some activity after being exposed to an elevated temperature, or, optionally the variant isomerase, e.g., racemase, e.g., amino acid racemase, alanine racemase, and/or epimerase polypeptide has increased glycosylation as compared to the isomerase, e.g., the racemase, e.g., the amino acid racemase, the alanine racemase, and/or the epimerase encoded by a template nucleic acid, or optionally the variant isomerase, e.g., racemase, e.g., amino acid racemase, alanine racemase, and/or epimerase polypeptide has an isomerase activity, e.g., a racemase activity, e.g., an amino acid racemase activity, an alanine racemase activity, and/or an epimerase activity under a high temperature, wherein the isomerase, e.g., the racemase, e.g., the amino acid racemase, the alanine racemase, and/or the epimerase encoded by the template nucleic acid is not active under the high temperature, 
 wherein optionally, the method is iteratively repeated until an isomerase, e.g., a racemase, e.g., an amino acid racemase, an alanine racemase, and/or an epimerase coding sequence having an altered codon usage from that of the template nucleic acid is produced, 
 wherein optionally the method is iteratively repeated until an isomerase, e.g., a racemase, e.g., an amino acid racemase, an alanine racemase, and/or an epimerase gene having higher or lower level of message expression or stability from that of the template nucleic acid is produced. 
 
     
     
         53 .- 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A beverage, feed, food, food or feed additive, food or feed supplement, or dietary aid comprising the amino acid sequence of  claim 1 , wherein optionally, the feed, food, food or feed additive, food or feed supplement, or dietary aid further comprises a carrier selected from the group consisting of a grain germ, a grain germ that is spent of oil, a hay, an alfalfa, a timothy, a soy hull, a sunflower seed meal and a wheat midd, and optionally the carrier comprises grain germ that is spent of oil, or optionally the racemase, is glycosylated to provide thermostability at pelletizing conditions, and optionally the delivery matrix is formed by pelletizing a mixture comprising a grain germ and an isomerase, a racemase, an amino acid racemase, an alanine racemase, or an epimerase, and optionally the pelletizing conditions include application of steam, and optionally the pelletizing conditions comprise application of a temperature in excess of about 80° C. for about 5 minutes and the enzyme retains a specific activity of at least 350 to about 900 units per milligram of enzyme. 
     
     
         91 . A composition comprising an organic material comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of  claim 1 , wherein optionally the organic material is a biomass, wood, a wood pulp, a Kraft pulp, a paper, a paper product or a paper pulp, and wherein optionally, the biomass, wood, wood pulp, Kraft pulp, paper, paper product or paper pulp comprises a softwood and hardwood, or the wood, wood pulp, Kraft pulp, paper or paper pulp is derived from a softwood and hardwood. 
     
     
         92 . A waste treatment solution comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         93 . An enzyme mixture or cocktail comprising (a) the enzyme of  claim 1 , and one or more other enzyme(s); (b) the mixture or cocktail of (a), wherein the one or more other enzyme(s) is an isomerase, racemase, amino acid racemase, alanine racemase, epimerase, a mannanase, a glucanase, cellulases, lipases, esterases, proteases, or endoglycosidases, endo-beta.-1,4-glucanases, beta-glucanases, endo-beta-1,3(4)-glucanases, cutinases, peroxidases, catalases, laccases, amylases, glucoamylases, pectinases, transferases, transaminases, amino transferases, dehydrogenases, oxidoreductases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, ligninases, pullulanases, arabinanases, hemicellulases, xyloglucanases, xylanase, pectin acetyl esterases, rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterases, polygalacturonases, rhamnogalacturonases, galactanases, pectin lyases, pectin methylesterases, cellobiohydrolases or transglutaminases. 
     
     
         94 . A composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         95 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , and encoding a variant polypeptide having at least one conservative amino acid substitution and the variant retains racemase activity. 
     
     
         96 . The nucleic acid of  claim 90 , wherein the at least one conservative amino acid substitution is selected from:
 (a) substituting an amino acid with another amino acid of like characteristics;   (b) replacement of an aliphatic amino acid with another aliphatic amino acid;   (c) replacement of a Serine with a Threonine or vice versa;   (d) replacement of an acidic residue with another acidic residue;   (e) replacement of a residue bearing an amide group with another residue bearing an amide group;   (f) exchange of a basic residue with another basic residue; or   (g) replacement of an aromatic residue with another aromatic residue.   
     
     
         97 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1 , encoding a polypeptide having racemase activity, but lacking a signal sequence, or a prepro domain. 
     
     
         98 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  encoding a polypeptide having racemase activity, and further comprising a heterologous sequence. 
     
     
         99 . The polynucleotide of  claim 98 , wherein the heterologous sequence is a heterologous domain, a heterologous catalytic domain (CD), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         100 . The polynucleotide of  claim 99 , wherein the heterologous signal sequence, domain or catalytic domain (CD) is derived from a heterologous enzyme. 
     
     
         101 . The polynucleotide of  claim 98 , wherein the heterologous sequence is a tag, an epitope, a targeting peptide, a cleavable sequence, a detectable moiety or an enzyme.