Abstract: Provided is an ?-amylase which exhibits high amylolytic activity at low temperatures. An ?-amylase mutant, wherein an amino acid residue at a position of the following (a) and (b); (c); or (a), (b), and (c), in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity thereto is substituted with another amino acid residue: (a) position 303 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a position corresponding thereto; (b) one or more positions selected from the group consisting of position 295 and position 296 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and positions corresponding thereto; or (c) position 331 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a position corresponding thereto.

Abstract: Provided are a polypeptide having a glycine-glycine bond-degrading activity and an improved microbicidal activity, and a method for using the same.

Abstract: Provided is an ?-amylase which can function at low temperatures while maintaining or enhancing stability and/or cleaning performance. An ?-amylase mutant, which is a mutant of a parent ?-amylase, the ?-amylase mutant comprising one or more modifications to amino acid residues at positions corresponding to positions G5, S38, T49, Q96, N126, T129, G140, F153, Q167, G179, W186, E187, N192, M199, Y200, L203, Y205, D206, R211, K215, H240, S241, Y242, G244, E257, F259, K278, H283, S284, A288, H295, Y296, N303, T320, S331, L348, Y360, W408, L429, V430, G433, A434, W439, N471, G476, and G477 in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, the parent ?-amylase or ?-amylase mutant having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning composition containing ?-amylase which exhibits high specific activity at low temperatures. The cleaning composition comprises one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of the following (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and having ?-amylase activity; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, and having ?-amylase activity; (C) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, and having ?-amylase activity; and (D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8, and having ?-amylase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing lipids, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant into which a gene encoding at least one protein selected from the group consisting of the following proteins (A) to (C) is introduced; and producing fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components: (A) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of the following (A-1) to (A-11) in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of the following (B-1) to (B-11) in an amino acid sequence having 85% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; and (C) a protein containing the amino acid sequence of the protein (A) or (B), and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity: (A-1) substitution of isoleucine for l

Abstract: A method of producing lipids, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant wherein a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B), and a gene encoding the following protein (C) or (D) are introduced into a host cell, and producing medium-chain fatty acids or the lipids containing the same as components: (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; (C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4; and (D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4, and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP reductase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing lipids, comprising the steps of: culturing a transformant in which the expression of a gene encoding at least any one of the following proteins (A) to (D) is enhanced in a cyanobacteria cell, and producing fatty acids or lipids containing these fatty acids as components. (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity; (C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 44; and (D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing a long-chain fatty alcohol, containing culturing a microorganism wherein expression of a gene encoding a 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced; a method of providing ability to produce a long-chain fatty alcohol for a microorganism wherein expression of a gene encoding a 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced in a microorganism cell; and a transformant of a microorganism in which expression of a gene encoding a ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced.

Abstract: A method of producing lipids, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant into which a gene encoding at least one protein selected from the group consisting of the following proteins (A) to (C) is introduced; and producing fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components: (A) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of the following (A-1) to (A-11) in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of the following (B-1) to (B-11) in an amino acid sequence having 85% or more identity with the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity; and (C) a protein containing the amino acid sequence of the protein (A) or (B), and having acyl-ACP thioesterase activity: (A-1) substitution of isoleucine f

Abstract: A method of producing a lipid, containing the steps of culturing a transformant obtained by introducing a gene encoding the following protein (a) or (b) into cyanobacteria, and producing a lipid: (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (a), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing lipids, comprising the steps of: culturing a transformant in which the expression of a gene encoding at least any one of the following proteins (A) to (D) is enhanced in a cyanobacteria cell, and producing fatty acids or lipids containing these fatty acids as components. (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity; (C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 44; and (D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing a long-chain fatty alcohol, containing culturing a microorganism wherein expression of a gene encoding a 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced; a method of providing ability to produce a long-chain fatty alcohol for a microorganism wherein expression of a gene encoding a 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced in a microorganism cell; and a transformant of a microorganism in which expression of a gene encoding a ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and expression of a gene encoding a fatty acyl-CoA reductase are enhanced.

Abstract: Provided is a cyanobacterium improved in fatty acid productivity. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of function of a LexA transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

Abstract: Provided is a cyanobacterium with improved productivity of fatty acid. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of functions of an AbrB-like transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

Abstract: Provided is a cyanobacterium improved in fatty acid productivity. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of function of a LexA transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

Abstract: A method of producing a lipid, containing the steps of: culturing a transformant obtained by introducing a gene encoding the following protein (a) or (b) into cyanobacteria, and producing a lipid: (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; and (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 60% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (a), and having ?-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity.

Abstract: Provided is a cyanobacterium with improved productivity of fatty acid. A method for producing a modified cyanobacterium, comprising causing loss of functions of an AbrB-like transcriptional regulator and acyl-ACP synthetase in a cyanobacterium.

Abstract: A method of producing a lipid, comprising steps of introducing a gene that encodes the following protein (a) or (b) into a host, and thereby obtaining a transformant, and collecting a lipid from the transformant: (a) A protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the 112nd to 414th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 in which an amino acid corresponding to the 209th amino acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted from tryptophan to threonine, glutamic acid or alanine, and having thioesterase activity, and (b) A protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the protein (a) in which one to several amino acids other than the amino acid corresponding to the 209th amino acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 are deleted, substituted, inserted or added, and having thioesterase activity.

Abstract: A method of producing a lipid, comprising steps of introducing a gene that encodes the following protein (a) or (b) into a host, and thereby obtaining a transformant, and collecting a lipid from the transformant: (a) A protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the 112nd to 414th amino acids set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 in which an amino acid corresponding to the 209th amino acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted from tryptophan to threonine, glutamic acid or alanine, and having thioesterase activity, and (b) A protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the protein (a) in which one to several amino acids other than the amino acid corresponding to the 209th amino acid set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 are deleted, substituted, inserted or added, and having thioesterase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modified promoter, an expression vector and a transformant each containing the promoter, and a method for producing a gene product of interest using the transformant. The invention provides a modified promoter, including a nucleotide sequence of a promoter derived from bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus in which at least one nucleotide sequence selected from the following has been modified: a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; a nucleotide sequence equivalent to the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, except that one or a plurality of bases therein are substituted, deleted, added or inserted; and a nucleotide sequence having a sequence identity of 70% or more with respect to the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.