Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a uronic acid-containing glucan or a modified product thereof. The glucuronic acid-containing glucan of the present invention is a glucuronic acid-containing glucan in which a glucuronic acid residue is bound to at least one non-reducing end of a glucan, and the glucan is a branched ?-1,4 glucan or a linear ?-1,4 glucan. The glucuronic acid-containing glucan of the present invention can be provided by allowing ?-glucan phosphorylase derived from Aquifex aeolicus VF5 to act on glucuronic acid-1-phosphate to thereby transfer a glucuronic acid residue to the non-reducing end of the receptor glucan.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards improving blood glucose levels, visceral fat levels, blood cholesterol levels, neutral fat levels, etc. by oral administration of enzyme synthesized glycogen (ESG). The invention is further directed towards the intake of food by a subject that comprises ESG as a carbohydrate to improve blood glucose levels, visceral fat levels, blood cholesterol levels, neutral fat levels and the like.

Abstract: A disintegrant for tablets includes an ?-1,4-glucan having a degree of polymerization of not less than 180 and less than 1230 and a dispersity (weight average molecular weight “Mw”/number average molecular weight “Mn”) of not more than 1.25 or a modified product thereof. A binder for tablets includes an ?-1,4-glucan having a degree of polymerization of not less than 1230 and not more than 37000 and a dispersity of not more than 1.25, or a modified product thereof. A binding-disintegrating agent for tablets includes a low molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan or a modified product thereof, and a high molecular weight ?-1,4-glucan or a modified product thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries function. The present invention provides dietary compositions and oral compositions having an anti-dental caries function which contain a buffering agent having a pH buffering action in the oral cavity.

Abstract: A method for producing an amylose-containing rayon fiber, comprising the steps of: mixing an aqueous alkaline solution of amylose with viscose to obtain a mixed liquid, spinning the mixed liquid to obtain an amylose-containing rayon fiber, and bringing the amylose-containing rayon fiber into contact with iodine or polyiodide ions, thereby allowing an amylose in the amylose-containing rayon fiber to make a clathrate including the iodine or polyiodide ions, wherein the amylose is an enzymatically synthesized amylose having a weight average molecular weight of 3×104 or more and 2×105 or less. A method for collecting iodine from brackish water with high efficiency utilizing the amylase-containing rayon fibers.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a uronic acid-containing glucan or a modified product thereof. The glucuronic acid-containing glucan of the present invention is a glucuronic acid-containing glucan in which a glucuronic acid residue is bound to at least one non-reducing end of a glucan, and the glucan is a branched ?-1,4 glucan or a linear ?-1,4 glucan. The glucuronic acid-containing glucan of the present invention can be provided by allowing ?-glucan phosphorylase derived from Aquifex aeolicus VF5 to act on glucuronic acid-1-phosphate to thereby transfer a glucuronic acid residue to the non-reducing end of the receptor glucan.

Abstract: A cariostatic food is provided. The food comprises: (1) (i) a phosphorylated saccharide calcium salt; or (ii) a combination of a phosphorylated saccharide salt other than a phosphorylated saccharide calcium salt or a phosphorylated saccharide, and a water-soluble calcium salt other than a phosphorylated saccharide calcium salt; (2) a fluoride; and (3) a polyphenol; wherein the phosphorylated saccharide is composed of a saccharide moiety and phosphate group(s); the content of the component (1) in the food is in an amount suitable to make the calcium concentration in saliva in the oral cavity to be 1 mM to 12 mM when the food exists in the oral cavity; and the content of fluoride in the food is in an amount suitable to make the fluoride concentration in saliva in the oral cavity to be 0.2 ppm to 100 ppm when the food exists in the oral cavity.

Abstract: The present application discloses a molded article, and a process for preparing a molded article consisting essentially of (i) high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan and (ii) low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan, wherein the process comprises the step of: adding the low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan to a solution comprising the high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan to gel the solution, wherein the low molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 180 and less than 620, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25 and, the high molecular weight linear ?-1,4-glucan has a degree of polymerization of greater than or equal to 620 and less than 37000, and has a molecular weight distribution of not greater than 1.25.

Abstract: A sucrose phosphorylase (SP) having improved thermostability obtained by modifying a natural SP and a method for producing the SP having improved thermostability is provided. This SP having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural sucrose phosphorylase, in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 14, a position corresponding to position 29 and a position corresponding to position 44 in motif sequence 1; a position corresponding to position 7, a position corresponding to position 19, a position corresponding to position 23 and a position corresponding to position 34 in motif sequence 2; and a position corresponding to position 19 in motif sequence 3, and wherein the enzyme activity of the SP having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating the SP having improved thermostability in 20 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.0) at 55° C.

Abstract: Provision of a stable ?-lipoic acid. A method for producing ?-lipoic acid nanoparticles, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an aqueous dispersion liquid containing ?-lipoic acid and a nonionic surfactant; adding a divalent metal salt into the aqueous dispersion liquid, wherein the divalent metal salt is a divalent metal halide, a divalent metal acetate or a divalent metal gluconate; and adding an alkali metal carbonate or an alkali metal phosphate into the aqueous dispersion liquid which has been added with the divalent metal salt, thereby forming ?-lipoic acid nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable article formed from enzyme-synthesized amylose using phosphorylase, wherein the enzyme-synthesized amylose is composed of glucose monomers exclusively bonded by ?-1,4-glucosidic likage and has a weight average molecular weight of not less than 100 kDa, preferable not less than 600 kDa. The enzyme-synthesized amylose employed in the present invention has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of not more than 1.25 and can be chemically modified if desired. The biodegradable article of the present invention can be produced by (a) the enzyme-synthesized amylose and/or its modified one, or a combination of the amylose (a) and another polymer material (b).

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen comprising a step of: allowing a branching enzyme having the ability to synthesize glycogen to act on a substrate in a solution to produce a glycogen, wherein the substrate is an ?-glucan being linked mainly with ?-1,4-glucosidic bonds and having a degree of polymerization of 4 or more, and the number-average molecular weight of saccharides in the solution before initiation of the reaction is more than 180 but not more than 150,000. (The branching enzyme activity of the branching enzyme)/(the molecular-weight-decreasing activity of the branching enzyme) can be 500 or less. The branching enzyme can be a thermostable branching enzyme.

Abstract: An ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability, which obtained by modifying natural ?-glucan phosphorylase, and a method for producing this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability are provided. The natural ?-glucan phosphorylase is derived from a plant, this ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability has an amino acid residue which is different from that of the natural ?-glucan phosphorylase in at least one position selected from the group consisting of a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 1L or 1H, a position corresponding to position 4 in a motif sequence 2, and a position corresponding to position 7 in a motif sequence 3L or 3H, and wherein the enzyme activity of ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., after heating in a 20 mM citrate buffer (pH 6.7) at 60° C. for 10 minutes, is 20% or more of the enzyme activity of the ?-glucan phosphorylase having improved thermostability at 37° C., before heating.

Abstract: A novel potato stick that allows to enjoy a flavor inherent to potato. In particular, there is a potato stick obtained by baking a stick dough comprising potato granules, a cold-water gelatinized starch having a maximum swelling power of 30 or more, a non-reducing sugar and the fat or oil and impregnating the baking product with a fat or oil amounting to 15 to 40% by weight based on the weight of the baking product.

Abstract: A method for extracting a hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound, comprising the step of bringing an aqueous solution containing the hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound and a saccharide into contact with a polar organic solvent to obtain an aqueous phase and an organic phase, whereby the hydrophobic group-containing water-soluble organic compound is transferred to the organic phase. The saccharide concentration of the aqueous solution may be at least 12 g per 100 ml of the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution may further contain a phase separation assisting agent. The phase separation assisting agent may be selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium citrate, magnesium sulfate, and ammonium sulfate.

Abstract: A first method for producing glucan comprises the step of allowing a reaction solution containing sucrose, a primer, inorganic phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate, sucrose phosphorylase, and glucan phosphorylase to react to produce glucans. The maximum value of the sucrose-phosphate ratio of the reaction solution from the start of the reaction to the end of the reaction is no more than about 17. A second method for producing glucan comprises the step of allowing a reaction solution containing sucrose, a primer, inorganic phosphate or glucose-1-phosphate, sucrose phosphorylase, and glucan phosphorylase to react to produce glucans. The reaction is conducted at a temperature of about 40 C to about 70 C.

Abstract: A method of producing a phenol derivative glycoside is provided. The method comprises the step of allowing a saccharide and a phenol derivative to react with each other in the presence of an enzyme to produce the phenol derivative glycoside. The enzyme is selected from the group consisting of neopullulanase, cyclomaltodextrinase, maltogenic ?-amylase, and saccharifying amylase having cyclodextrin synthesizing capability.

Abstract: Phosphorylated saccharide of the present invention includes at least one phosphate group in its molecule, selected from the group consisting of glucan, mannan, dextran, agar, cyclodextrin, fucoidan, gellan gum, Locust bean gum, guar gum, tamarind gum, and xanthan gum.

Abstract: Glucan with a degree of polymerization of 50 or more includes an inner branched cyclic structure portion and an outer branched structure portion, and methods for producing the same.