Abstract: The present invention provides a carbonyl reductase having the activity of reducing a carbonyl group-containing compound to convert the compound into an optically active compound, and a production method of an optically active compound using the enzyme. Specifically, a carbonyl reductase having one or more mutations in which the 54th aspartic acid, the 157th methionine, the 170th alanine, the 211th isoleucine, the 214th methionine, and the 249th methionine are each substituted by other specific amino acid in the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue of the amino acid sequence, and a production method of an optically active compound using the same are provided.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel dehydrogenase having a property which is different from that of known dehydrogenases. The present invention provides a dehydrogenase having the following physicochemical properties: (1) effect: to produce N-alkyl-L-alanine from pyruvic acid and alkylamine or dialkylamine using NADPH and/or NADH as coenzyme; (2) substrate specificity: to show activity to alkylamine or dialkylamine but not to ammonium; (3) optimal pH when using phenylpyruvic acid and methylamine as substrates is around 10; and (4) when treated at 30° C. for 30 minutes, the enzyme is stable at around pH 5 to 10.5.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a novel carbonyl reductase derived from a microbial belonging to the genus Ogataea and a DNA encoding the enzyme. By reducing ketones with the use of the carbonyl reductase, optically active alcohols, in particular, (E)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-hept-6-enoic acid esters can be produced. The carbonyl reductase according to the present invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a process for producing optically active alcohols, which are industrially useful as intermediate materials for drugs, pesticides, etc.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel dehydrogenase having a property which is different from that of known dehydrogenases. The present invention provides a dehydrogenase having the following physicochemical properties: (1) effect: to produce N-alkyl-L-alanine from pyruvic acid and alkylamine or dialkylamine using NADPH and/or NADH as coenzyme; (2) substrate specificity: to show activity to alkylamine or dialkylamine but not to ammonium; (3) optimal pH when using phenylpyruvic acid and methylamine as substrates is around 10; and (4) when treated at 30 ° C. for 30 minutes, the enzyme is stable at around pH 5 to 10.5.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel dehydrogenase having a property which is different from that of known dehydrogenases. The present invention provides a dehydrogenase having the following physicochemical properties: (1) effect: to produce N-alkyl-L-alanine from pyruvic acid and alkylamine or dialkylamine using NADPH and/or NADH as coenzyme; (2) substrate specificity: to show activity to alkylamine or dialkylamine but not to ammonium; (3) optimal pH when using phenylpyruvic acid and methylamine as substrates is around 10; and (4) when treated at 30° C. for 30 minutes, the enzyme is stable at around pH 5 to 10.5.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula (IV): (wherein R denotes a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group), comprising reducing a compound selected from the group consisting of: a compound represented by the following formula (I): (wherein R is as defined in the formula); a compound represented by the following formula (II): (wherein R is as defined in the formula); and a compound represented by the following formula (III): (wherein R is as defined in the formula), by reacting the compound with a cell of a microorganism and/or a cell preparation thereof capable of stereo-selectively reducing a keto group.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel dehydrogenase having a property which is different from that of known dehydrogenases. The present invention provides a dehydrogenase having the following physicochemical properties: (1) effect: to produce N-alkyl-L-alanine from pyruvic acid and alkylamine or dialkylamine using NADPH and/or NADH as coenzyme; (2) substrate specificity: to show activity to alkylamine or dialkylamine but not to ammonium; (3) optimal pH when using phenylpyruvic acid and methylamine as substrates is around 10; and (4) when treated at 30° C. for 30 minutes, the enzyme is stable at around pH 5 to 10.5.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a novel carbonyl reductase derived from a microbial belonging to the genus Ogataea and a DNA encoding the enzyme. By reducing ketones with the use of the carbonyl reductase, optically active alcohols, in particular, (E)-7-[2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-hept-6-enoic acid esters can be produced. The carbonyl reductase according to the present invention is excellent in activity and stereoselectivity. Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a process for producing optically active alcohols, which are industrially useful as intermediate materials for drugs, pesticides, etc.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula (IV): 1

Abstract: L-Ribose is produced by the steps of producing ribitol from a saccharide raw material by using a microorganism having an ability to produce ribitol from a saccharide raw material, producing L-ribulose from the ribitol by using a microorganism having an ability to produce L-ribulose from ribitol, and producing L-ribose from the L-ribulose by using a microorganism having an ability to produce L-ribose from L-ribulose.

Abstract: Microbial cells and/or a preparation thereof of a microorganism is allowed to act on ester of .gamma.-halogenated-acetoacetic acid, and its carbonyl group at .beta.-position is stereospecifically reduced to produce ester of (S)-.gamma.-halogenated-.beta.-hydroxybutyric acid in a short period of time at a highly accumulated degree and at a high yield, the microorganism being selected from the group consisting of those belonging to the genera Phoma, Nectria, Pseudonectria, Spondylocladium, Melanospora, Metarhizium, Gliocladium, Pestalotia, Pestalotiopsis, Curvularia, Hormonema, Sydowia, Sarcinomyces, Dothiora, Xanthothecium, Dothidea, Pringsheimia, and Selenophoma.