Abstract: A method for producing an L-amino acid is described using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, wherein the bacterium contains a protein which is able to confer resistance to growth inhibition by L-cysteine.

Abstract: Compounds represented by formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, exhibit a salty taste enhancing activity and are useful as salty taste enhancers for foods and drinks.

Abstract: An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a Methylophilus bacterium which can grow by using methanol as the main carbon source and has L-amino acid-producing ability, for example, a Methylophilus bacterium in which dihydrodipicolinate synthase activity and aspartokinase activity are enhanced by transformation of cells with a DNA coding for dihydrodipicolinate synthase that is desensitized to feedback inhibition by L-lysine and a DNA coding for aspartokinase that is desensitized to feedback inhibition by L-lysine, or a Methylophilus bacterium which is casamino acid auxotrophic, in a medium containing methanol as a main carbon source, to produce and accumulate an L-amino acid in culture, and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: A novel technique for improving the production by bacteria of amino acids that contain sulfur has been developed, and thereby a sulfur-containing amino acid-producing bacterium, and a method for producing a compound such as a sulfur-containing amino acid are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of efficiently producing a crystal of a (2R,4R)Monatin multivalent metal salt that has a good sweetness property and is excellent in storage stability. Specifically, the present invention provides the method of producing the crystal of the (2R,4R)Monatin multivalent metal salt comprising allowing an aldehyde or one or two or more enzymes capable of forming (2R,4R)Monatin from (2S,4R)Monatin to be acted on an aqueous solution containing the (2S,4R)Monatin in the presence of a multivalent metal ion to obtain the crystal of the (2R,4R)Monatin multivalent metal salt. The aldehyde may preferably be an aromatic aldehyde. The one or two or more enzyme may preferably be a racemase or one or more aminotransferases. The multivalent metal may preferably be a bivalent alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium which has an ability to produce a useful metabolite derived from acetyl-coenzyme A, such as L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, L-proline, L-arginine, L-leucine, L-cysteine, succinate, and polyhydroxybutyrate, wherein said bacterium is modified so that activities of D-xylulose-5-phosphate phosphoketolase and/or fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase are enhanced. The present invention also provides a method for producing the useful metabolite using the bacterium.

Abstract: Peptides may be produced by allowing (A) a first amino acid or peptide, which is converted into its ionic liquid form, (B) a second amino acid or peptide, and (C) a peptide hydrolase to simultaneously exist in a single reaction system, wherein the first amino acid or peptide, which is converted into its ionic liquid form, is used as both a reaction solvent and a reaction starting material; and forming a peptide bond between the first amino acid or peptide and the second amino acid or peptide. By such a process, it is possible to synthesize a peptide at a high concentration and at a high yield, and the method is excellent for producing peptides on an industrial scale.

Abstract: Peptides may be produced by using (A) a first amino acid or peptide, which is converted into its ionic liquid form through the formation of an ionic bond, as a substance serving as both a reaction solvent and a reaction starting material; and reacting the first amino acid or peptide with (B) an ester of second amino acid or peptide, in the absence of any peptide hydrolase or any condensation agent, in the presence of water in an amount of not more than 20% by mass relative to the total mass of the reaction system to form a peptide bond between the first amino acid or peptide and the second amino acid or peptide. By means of this process, it is possible to synthesize a peptide at a high concentration and at a high yield, and this method is excellent for producing peptides on an industrial scale.

Abstract: A pigment dispersant which includes a modified polyamine obtained by the reaction of a polyamine having two or more primary and/or secondary amino groups per molecule and containing 2 to 1800 nitrogen atoms per molecule, a polyester, and a phosphorus-containing compound. The modified polyamine exhibits excellent pigment dispersion performance, shows little change in color tone upon heating, and has excellent heat resistance.

Abstract: A method of screening a compound having a hypoglycemic effect (hereinafter referred to as “hypoglycemic compound”), a remedy for diabetes which contains a compound having a novel function mechanism, etc. More specifically speaking, a method of screening a hypoglycemic compound capable of binding to the ? subunit of a trimeric GTP-binding protein, a remedy for diabetes comprising a hypoglycemic compound, which is characterized by being capable of binding to the ? subunit of a trimeric GTP-binding protein, as the active ingredient, etc.

Abstract: An acetic acid- and/or acetate salt-free iron metabolism-improving agent that contains citric acid and/or a citrate salt as electrolytes and also contains another/other electrolyte/electrolytes and glucose solely or in combination is provided. The iron metabolism-improving agent can be formulated into a dialysate and/or a substitution fluid. A method for improving internal iron metabolism and a blood purification method including hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration in a chronic renal failure patient employing the dialysate and/or the substitution fluid are further provided.

Abstract: DNA and recombinant DNA that encode a peptide-forming enzyme, a method for producing a peptide-forming enzyme, and a method for producing a dipeptide are disclosed. A method for producing a dipeptide includes producing a dipeptide from a carboxy component and an amine component by using a culture of a microbe belonging to the genus Sphingobacterium and having the ability to form the dipeptide from the carboxy component and the amine component, a microbial cell separated from the culture, treated microbial cell product of the microbe or a peptide-forming enzyme derived from the microbe.

Abstract: A fish paste product imparted with firmness and flexibility can be obtained using transglutaminase, an alkali material, and an ascorbic acid compound.

Abstract: A low-calorie non-fried food, which achieves both crispness of the coating and deliciousness of the content ingredient may be obtained by a method for producing a non-fried food, in which a batter liquid and bread crumbs are applied in this order to a food material having undergone a moist-heat treatment, and then the food material is heated by superheated steam at 230 to 250° C., characterized in that the water content in the coating composition (the batter liquid and the bread crumbs) before heating is maintained at 33% by weight or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing L-amino acid using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to enhance the expression of the bssR gene, which encodes a regulator of biofilm through signal secretion.

Abstract: A medicament having an excellent CaSR agonist action which enables the prevention or treatment of diabetes or obesity is provided by a composition comprising the compound represented by general formula (I) as defined, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Cysteine compounds represented by the following formula wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, and salts thereof, are superior in stability, have less odor, exhibit an eumelanin production suppressive effect, and are useful as cosmetic agents.

Abstract: A food additive composition for ruminants of the dispersion type and a method of continuously producing the same. This food additive composition for ruminants, which contains 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid and has rumen bypass properties, is formulated into granules in an arbitrary shape which are scarcely classified when added to a silage or another feed. Thus, attempts have been made to develop a method of producing granules by which the milk yield of a lactation cow can be increased. Namely, it is intended to provide a food additive composition for ruminants which contains at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., 0.05 to 6% by weight of lecithin, water and 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid.

Abstract: An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a bacterium having an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing a processed product of a microalga which promotes production and accumulation of the L-amino acid by the bacterium. The process product is produced by disrupting the culture of the microalga, and/or extracting the culture of the microalga, or fractionating the culture of the microalga or the disrupted culture. The processed product contains a mixture of organic substances produced by the microalga, a hydrolysate of the disrupted microalga culture, and/or an extract or fractionation product of the microalga culture. The processed product can also contain a saccarification product of starch or a hydrolysate of fats and oils. The bacterium is cultured to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in culture, and the L-amino acid is collected from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing L-amino acids, such as L-arginine, L-citrulline, and L-lysine, using a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia or Pantoea, which has been modified to attenuate expression of one or more genes, such as the pepA, pepB, and pepD genes.