Abstract: Disclosed is a novel amylase which mainly forms maltohexaose and maltoheptaose when acts on starch, but does not substantially hydrolyze maltohexaose and a lower molecular oligosaccharide than maltohexaose. The amylase can be prepared from microorganisms of the genus Alcaligenes, and has a relatively-high optimum temperature and thermal stability, as well as a relatively-wide range of optimum pH and pH stability. By using the amylase, saccharide compositions rich in maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose or those rich in maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol can be readily prepared in an industrial scale, and the saccharide compositions thus obtained can be used in a variety of food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A kojibiose phosphorylase which hydrolyzes kojibiose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form D-glucose and &bgr;-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, forms kojibiose and an inorganic phosphoric acid from &bgr;-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, and catalyzes the transfer reaction of glucosyl group to other saccharides using &bgr;-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor. The enzyme is obtainable from natural sources such as microorganisms of the genus Thermoanaerobium, and obtainable by recombinant technology. Kojibiose phosphorylase is used to transfer glucose from glucose-1-phosphate to acceptor saccharides to produce &agr;-D-glucosyl-1(1→5)-L-sorbose, kojibiosylglucose, kojibiosylglucoside and kojibiosylfructoside.

Abstract: A process for producing or separating trehalose and/or sugar alcohols from hydrogenated saccharide mixtures containing trehalose and sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, maltitol, and maltotriitol, which comprises the steps of subjecting hydrogenated saccharide mixtures containing trehalose and the sugar alcohols to column chromatography using strong-acid cation exchange resins, and successively eluting and collecting a trehalose-rich fraction and a sugar alcohol-rich fraction in this order.

Abstract: A kojibiose phosphorylase which hydrolyzes kojibiose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form D-glucose and .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, forms kojibiose and an inorganic phosphoric acid from .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, and catalyzes the transfer reaction of glucosyl group to other saccharides using .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor. The enzyme is obtainable from natural sources such as microorganisms of the genus Thermoanaerobium, and obtainable by recombinant technology.

Abstract: A stable crystalline powdery saccharide having a crystallinity of 40% or more, less hygroscopicity, satisfactory fluidity, and beneficial handleability, which is obtainable from an aqueous solution, containing trehalose and a different saccharide(s) crystallizable in the presence of trehalose, by crystallizing the trehalose along with the different saccharide(s).

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel amylase which mainly forms maltohexaose and maltoheptaose when acts on starch, but does not substantially hydrolyze maltohexaose and a lower molecular oligosaccharide than maltohexaose. The amylase can be prepared from microorganisms of the genus Alcaligenes, and has a relatively-high optimum temperature and thermal stability, as well as a relatively-wide range of optimum pH and pH stability. By using the amylase, saccharide compositions rich in maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose or those rich in maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol can be readily prepared in an industrial scale, and the saccharide compositions thus obtained can be used in a variety of food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: An enzyme, which has a molecular weight of about 57,000-120,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of about 3.8-5.1 on isoelectrophoresis using ampholyte, converts maltose into trehalose and vice versa. The enzyme was isolated from microorganisms of the genera Pimelobacter, Pseudomonas and Thermus. By using the enzyme, trehalose is readily formed from a commercially available maltose in an industrial scale and a relatively-low cost. Trehalose and saccharide compositions containing the same, which are preparable with the enzyme, are suitably used in food products, cosmetic compositions and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A highly digestible, good preference, relatively high-quality fermented formula feed which is obtainable by mixing a soybean feed material and a wheat splinter capable of decomposing phytin in an amount of not less than that of the soybean feed material, d.s.b., and subjecting the mixture to a lactic acid fermentation under humid conditions.

Abstract: A quick-fermented feed is prepared by incorporating plant concentrate materials into alkali-treated wastes of agricultural products to lower the pH to a level below 10, inoculating the mixture with lactic acid bacteria capable of growing under alkaline conditions or high salt conditions, and fermenting the resulting mixture.

Abstract: A kojibiose phosphorylase which hydrolyzes kojibiose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form D-glucose and .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, forms kojibiose and an inorganic phosphoric acid from .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, and catalyzes the transfer reaction of glucosyl group to other saccharides using .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor. The enzyme is obtainable from natural sources such as microorganisms of the genus Thermoanaerobium, and obtainable by recombinant technology.

Abstract: A thermostable trehalose phosphorylase which is obtainable from microorganisms of the genus Thermoanaerobium and which hydrolyzes trehalose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form D-glucose and .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid. The trehalose phosphorylase can be also prepared by recombinant DNA technology. When the enzyme is allowed to contact with .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor in the presence of other saccharides, glucosyl-transferred saccharides including glucosyl-D-galactoside, which are conventionally known but scarcely obtainable, can be produced on an industrial-scale and in a relatively-low cost.

Abstract: An enzyme, which has a molecular weight of about 57,000-120,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE and a pI of about 3.8-5.1 on isoelectrophoresis using ampholyte, converts maltose into trehalose and vice versa. The enzyme was isolated from microorganisms of the genera Pimelobacter, Pseudomonas and Thermus. By using the enzyme, trehalose is readily formed from a commercially available maltose in an industrial scale and a relatively-low cost. Trehalose and saccharide compositions containing the same, which are preparable with the enzyme, are suitably used in food products, cosmetic compositions and pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A kojibiose phosphorylase which hydrolyzes kojibiose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form .beta.-glucose and .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, forms kojibiose and an inorganic phosphoric acid from .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid, and catalyzes the transfer reaction of glucosyl group to other saccharides using .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor. The enzyme is obtainable from Thermoanaerobium brockii and obtainable by recombinant technology.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polypeptide having a .beta.-fructofuranosidase activity obtainable by the expression of a microbial gene, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, a transformant obtained by introducing the DNA into an appropriate host, a process for producing the polypeptide comprising culturing the transformant to produce the polypeptide and collecting the produced polypeptide from the culture, and a method for fructofuranosyl transfer comprising a step of reacting a fructofuranosyl donor with a fructofuranosyl acceptor in the presence of the polypeptide.

Abstract: A .beta.-fructofuranosidase with a molecular weight of 49,000.+-.5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE, an isoelectric point of 4.6.+-.0.5, an optimum pH of about 5.5-6.0, and an optimum temperature of about 50.degree. C. in the presence of calcium ion. The enzyme acts on saccharides with a .beta.-fructofuranosidic linkage and other substances including other saccharides, sugar alcohols, and alcohols to produce fructosyl-transferred saccharides in a relatively high yield.

Abstract: Microorganisms which are able to produce maltose/trehalose conversion enzyme, a novel enzyme, are cultivated in nutrient culture media with malose. During the cultivation, the microorganisms readily convert maltose into trehalose to accumulate trehalose in the cultures which yield saccharide mixtures with high trehalose contents when separated from insoluble substances. Removal of contaminant saccharides and subsequent crystallization readily yield trehalose in crystalline trehalose hydrate or anhydrous crystalline form. The trehalose and saccharide mixture containing the same commonly bear desirable properties including mild sweetness and superior stability which render them very useful in a variety of compositions indlucing food products, cosmetics and medicines.

Abstract: A stable crystalline powdery saccharide having a crystallinity of 40% or more, less hygroscopicity, satisfactory fluidity, and beneficial handleability, which is obtainable from an aqueous solution, containing trehalose and a different saccharide(s) crystallizable in the presence of trehalose, by crystallizing the trehalose along with the different saccharide(s).

Abstract: Trehalose is oxidized to give oxidized trehalose which then is hydrolyzed to produce D-glucuronolactone which is thereafter recovered to realize high-yield and low-cost production of D-glucuronolactone.

Abstract: A thermostable trehalose phosphorylase which is obtainable from microorganisms of the genus Thermoanaerobium and which hydrolyzes trehalose in the presence of an inorganic phosphoric acid to form D-glucose and .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid. The trehalose phosphorylase can be also prepared by recombinant DNA technology. When the enzyme is allowed to contact with .beta.-D-glucose-1-phosphoric acid as a saccharide donor in the presence of other saccharides, glucosyl-transferred saccharides including glucosyl-D-galactoside, which are conventionally known but scarcely obtainable, can be produced on an industrial-scale and in a relatively-low cost.

Abstract: A highly digestible, good preference, relatively high-quality fermented formula feed which is obtainable by mixing a soybean feed material and a wheat splinter capable of decomposing phytin in an amount of not less than that of the soybean feed material, d.s.b., and subjecting the mixture to a lactic acid fermentation under humid conditions.