Abstract: A method for quantitating L-homocysteine and/or L-methionine in a solution involves contacting a solution containing L-homocysteine and/or L-methionine with a reagent comprising methionine gamma-lyase and a cofactor capable of forming a Schiff base with the L-methionine and/or L-homocysteine for a time sufficient to catalyze the conversion of L-homocysteine and/or L-methionine to 2-ketobutyrate. The amount of 2-ketobutyrate formed is determined, and the amount of L-homocysteine and/or L-methionine present in the original solution can be determined based on the amount of 2-ketobutyrate formed. A composition for measuring the amount of L-homocysteine and/or L-methionine in a solution comprises methionine gamma-lyase, a cofactor capable of forming a Schiff base with the L-methionine and/or L-homocysteine and at least one 2-ketobutyrate detecting agent, but is substantially free of L-methionine, L-homocysteine, 2-ketobutyrate, pyruvate and mercury.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for the preparation of chiral vicinal aminoalcohols in high optical purity. The method combines the stereoselective reduction of the keto group of a .beta.-ketoacid, .beta.-keotester, or derivative with the stereospecific rearrangement of the corresponding amide, hyroxamic acid, or hydrazide to produce chiral vicinal aminoalcohols with control of stereochemistry at both chiral centers.

Abstract: This invention provides genes encoding aspartate beta decarboxylase, vectors containing the genes, microbial host cells transformed with the vectors, and the use of such transformed host cells and compositions derived therefrom to produce L-alanine and certain derivatives thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the production of a composition comprising the enzyme cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase bound by covalent means to a support material in the presence of a source of divalent calcium ion, said immobilized cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase having a higher activity and greater stability than heretofore reported. This invention further relates to the use of the immobilized cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase for the production of cyclodextrins.

Abstract: A biocatalytic method for producing a desired amino acid is disclosed. The method involves contacting a 2-ketoacid corresponding to the desired amino acid with lactic acid, aspartic acid and ammonia, or salts thereof, in the presence of:(a) one or more transaminase enzymes capable of catalyzing the conversion of the 2-ketoacid and L-aspartic acid to the desired amino acid and oxaloacetic acid;(b) a malate-lactate transhydrogenase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of lactic acid and oxaloacetic acid to pyruvic acid and malic acid;(c) a fumarase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of malic acid to fumaric acid; and(d) an aspartate-ammonia lyase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of fumaric acid and ammonia to aspartic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a desired alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.d, or a derivative thereof. The process comprises:(a) reacting a first alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 ; a first alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.t ; a second alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.pre ; a first transaminase enzyme and a second transaminase enzyme to produce (i) the desired alpha-amino acid, AA.sub.d and (ii) a third alpha-keto acid, KA.sub.prod ; and(b) removing KA.sub.prod from the other keto acids, amino acids and enzymes wherein AA.sub.d and KA.sub.pre, AA.sub.t and KA.sub.t, and AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 and KA.sub.prod are interconvertible, respectively, by amino group transfer. The first transaminase efficiently catalyzes reaction (i), but not reaction (ii) and the second transaminase efficiently catalyzes reaction (ii) but not reaction (i):AA.sub.NH.sbsb.2 +KA.sub.t .revreaction.AA.sub.t +KA.sub.prod (i)AA.sub.t +KA.sub.pre .revreaction.AA.sub.d +KA.sub.t (ii)In one embodiment KA.sub.

Abstract: A process is described for producing L-4-phenyl-2-amino butanoic acid. The process comprises reacting 4-phenyl-2-oxobutanoic acid or an ester thereof with L-aspartic acid in the presence of transaminase enzyme to produce L-4-phenyl-2-aminobutanoic acid and oxaloacetate, and decarboxylating said oxaloacetate.

Abstract: A process is described for producing alpha amino acids or derivatives thereof. The process comprises reacting an alpha-keto acid with L-aspartic acid in the presence of transaminase enzyme to produce (1) an alpha amino acid corresponding to said alpha-keto acid and (2) oxaloacetate; and decarboxylating said oxaloacetate.