Abstract: A novel 1.alpha. (or 24R), 25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 amino acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is OH or --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, OH and --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2 ; wherein one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, one of R.sub., R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is OH, and one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2 ; and wherein A is C.sub.1-10 alkylene, is produced by removing a protective group for the amino group, e.g. 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl, in the presence of a base in an inert solvent. A radioisotope iodine-labeled residue is then attached to the amino group to produce a derivative useful in the assay of 1.alpha. (or 24R), 25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 in a specimen.

Abstract: A new class of L-carnitine dehydrogenase is disclosed, which is stable in solution and has a residual activity of greater than 70% after one week in a pH 9.0 buffer solution at 5.degree. C., a molecular weight of 51,000.+-.6,000 daltons, a pH optimum of 9.0, a optimum temperature of 50.degree. C. and an isoelectric point of pH 5.3.+-.0.6. Also disclosed is a process for producing the new enzyme from a microorganism of the Alcaligenes genus, preferably the newly-discovered species Alcaligenes sp. No. 981 FERM BP-2570.

Abstract: A novel .omega.-carboxyalcohol oxidase catalyzes at least one of the following reactions:a) R--CH.sub.2 OH+O.sub.2 .fwdarw.R--CHO+H.sub.2 O.sub.2b) R--CHO+O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.R--COOH+H.sub.2 O.sub.2wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, .omega.-carboxyalkyl or .omega.- carboxyalkenyl. The enzyme has substrate specificity on at least 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol and 1-hexanol, and has no substrate specificity on methanol, ethanol or glycerol. The enzyme does not require the presence of NAD or NADP for its use. Also disclosed is a process for producing the enzyme, an assay method for substrates of the enzyme, and a process for producing carboxylic acid employing the enzyme.

Abstract: An isolated L-carnitine dehydrogenase is disclosed, which is stable in solution and has a residual activity of greater than 70% after one week in a pH 9.0 buffer solution at 5.degree. C. Also disclosed is a process for producing the new enzyme from a microorganism of the Alcaligenes genus, preferably the newly-discovered species Alcaligenes sp. No. 981 FERM BP-2570.

Abstract: An aldose reductase inhibitor, comprising a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as the effective component, in which R is lower alkyl or cyclohexylmethyl and n is 2 or 3. The compounds of formula (I) and salts thereof according to the invention exhibit a superior aldose reductase inhibiting activity with simultaneous high stability, so that they are useful for the prevention and therapy of diabetic complications.

Abstract: An aldose reductase inhibitor, comprising a compound of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as the effective component, in which R denotes an alkyl of C.sub.1-12, ##STR2## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are same or different and are hydrogen or halogen, cyclohexylmethyl, cyclohexyl, tetra-hydro-2H-pyran-1-yl-methyl, carboxy-lower alkyl or cyclo-lower alkyl and n is 2 or 3. These compounds exhibit a superior aldose reductase inhibiting activity with simultaneous high stability, and are for use in the prevention and therapy of diabetic complications.

Abstract: A novel 1.alpha. (or 24R), 25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 amino acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is OH or --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, OH and --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2 ; wherein one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is OH, and one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is --O--CO--A--NH.sub.2 ; and wherein A is C.sub.1-10 alkylene, is produced by removing a protective group for the amino group, e.g. 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl, in the presence of a base in an inert solvent. A radioisotope iodine-labeled residue is then attached to the amino group to produce a derivative useful in the assay of 1.alpha. (or 24R), 25-dihydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 in a specimen.

Abstract: A process for the production of L-alanine dehydrogenase which comprises culturing an L-alanine dehydrogenase producing microorganism belonging to the genus Sporolactobacillus in a nutrient medium and isolating thus-produced L-alanine dehydrogenase from the cultured mass. The microorganism is for example Sporolactobacillus sp. 78-3 FERM BP-2517 and mutants and variants thereof having the ability to produce L-alanine dehydrogenase in recoverable amounts. This strain is a thermophile which cannot grow at 40.degree. C. but can grow at 45.degree. C. and 52.degree. C. The strain can assimilate glucose and produce lactic acid and acetic acid.

Abstract: Ethanolamine in a sample can be assayed by treating the sample with ethanolamine oxidase, thereby to catalyze a reaction-consuming ethanolamine, oxygen and water, and forming glycolaldehyde, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The amount of consumed oxygen or the amount of generated ammonia or hydrogen peroxide is then determined, as a measure of the ethanolamine that was originally the sample. The ethanolamine can appear in the sample as such, or can be liberated simultaneously with or prior to the catalysis reaction, from an ethanolamine derivative, e.g. phosphatidyl ethanolamine by the action of phospholipase D. Ethanolamine oxidase can be produced from Bacillus sp. B-0783 FERM-P No. 5798 in a conventional culture medium, preferably by submerged aeration liquid culturation.

Abstract: DNA which encodes at least a polypeptide containing glutathione peroxidase activity and having an amino acid sequence from the N-terminal to the C-terminal of the formula: ##STR1## wherein * * * is selenocystein, is produced by culturing transformant host cells which possess extraneous DNA encoding a polypeptide with glutathione peroxidase activity in a medium containing selenium, and separating a thus-produced polypeptide with glutathione peroxidase activity from the cultured mass.

Abstract: A novel 25-hydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 amino acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.1-10 alkylene, is produced by removing a protective group for the amino group, e.g. 9-fluorenylmethyl-oxycarbonyl, in the presence of a base in an inert solvent. A radioisotope iodine-labeled residue is then attached to the amino group to produce a derivative useful in the assay of 25-hydroxy vitamin D.sub.3 in a specimen.

Abstract: Novel nucleoside-phospholipid conjugates of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.14-24 long chain aliphatic acyl or C.sub.1-24 aliphatic alkyl, R.sub.2 is C.sub.2-10 aliphatic acyl or C.sub.1-24 aliphatic alkyl and N.sub.s is a nucleoside residue; and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof are prepared in a one-step reaction by reacting the corresponding nucleoside and glycerophospholipid derivative in the presence of phospholipase D-P.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein Y is sulfur or methylene and A is Asn or Asp, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is useful for the treatment of calcium metabolic disorders, cardiac disease and ulcers, and for the improvement of cranial circulation.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein Q is --CO-- or --CH.sub.2 --, R is hydroxyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, --NH-lower alkylene-OH, --NH-lower alkylene-arylthio, --NH-lower alkylene-halogen, ##STR2## is dilower alkylamino, cycloalkylamino, morpholino, ##STR3## in which R.sub.9 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl, R.sub.10 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkoxy-lower alkyl or di(aryl)-lower alkyl, m is an integer from 4 to 6, n is 2 or 3, R.sub.1 is alkyl or aryl-lower alkyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each lower alkyl, or together form tetramethylene, and R.sub.4 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl, in which aryl is phenyl which is optionally substituted with a group selected from the group consisting of 1-3 halogen, nitro, lower alkyl and lower alkoxy, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, inhibits blood platelet aggregation, has vasodilating activity and inhibits lipoperoxide generation.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H or H-Ala-NH- and when A is Asp, B is Asp or Glu, C is Leu and D is Val; when A is Asn and B is Gly, C is Phe and D is Gly; when A is Asn, B is Asp or Glu and C is Leu, D is Gly; and when A is Asn, B is Asp or Glu, and C is Phe, D is Val, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is useful for the treatment of calcium metabolic disorders, cardiac disease and ulcers, and for the improvement of cerebral circulation.

Abstract: A novel bilirubin oxidase is provided having a substrate specificity for bilirubin but not to, at least, biliverdin, catechol and hemin and which catalyzes the enzyme reaction between two moles of bilirubin and one mole of oxygen to yield two moles of biliverdin and two moles of water. A process is also provided for the production of said novel bilirubin oxidase, which comprises cultivating a bilirubin oxidase-producing fungus of the genus Penicillium in a culture medium and collecting the bilirubin oxidase from the culture mixture. A method of determining the content of bilirubin in a sample to be analyzed is further provided which comprises contacting the sample with the bilirubin oxidase to convert bilirubin in the sample into biliverdin and determining the amount of biliverdin formed or the amount of oxygen consumed therefor, as well as a method for removing bilirubin contained in a sample to be analyzed, which comprises contacting the sample with said novel bilirubin oxidase.

Abstract: A method for reducing stress in animals, such as pigs in an overcrowded breeder, by exposing a block to be licked by the animals. The block contains at least 50% by weight and preferably at least 70% by weight glucose, has a compressive strength over 5 kg/cm.sup.2 preferably 50-150 kg/cm.sup.2, and a water contentof 0.1-20% by weight. The block is too large to be swallowed by the animals and its compressive strength prevents crumbling. It is at least 50 g in weight, e.g. 500 g, and each dimension is more than 2 cm. The block is preferably secured above ground level and is slowly consumed by the animals by licking or pecking.

Abstract: Novel nucleoside-phospholipid conjugates of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is C.sub.14-24 long chain aliphatic acyl or C.sub.1-24 aliphatic alkyl and N.sub.s is a nucleoside residue; and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof are prepared in a one-step reaction by reacting the corresponding nucleoside and glycerophospholipid derivative in the presence of phospholipase D-P.

Abstract: A novel NAD synthetase is produced by culturing a broth of Bacillus stearothermophilus H-804 FERM BP-1408. This new enzyme selectively catalyzes the reaction ##STR1## without catalyzing the reaction ##STR2## The enzyme uses ammonia or ammonium ion as a substrate, but does not use either glutamine or asparagine. Also disclosed is an assay method using the enzyme, for any one of ATP, deamide-NAD, ammonia or ammonium ion in a specimen to be assayed.

Abstract: A method for assaying a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydroxyl or amino, or hydrogen if at least one of R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is hydroxyl or amino, and R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, amino, substituted amino, hydroxy, carboxyl or sulfo, or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 together form a ring, comprises establishing a reaction system containing the compound to be assayed and a coupler and an enzyme capable of consuming oxygen and generating a pigment in the presence of the compound and the coupler. A detectable change in the reaction system is measured, to assay the compound in question. The measurement can comprise the measurement of consumed oxygen, as by an oxygen electrode. Or the measurement can comprise the measurement of the generated pigment, as by a colorimetric assay at a specific absorption wavelength thereof.