Abstract: A method for efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide having high resistance to a water-soluble organic solvent and novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.

Abstract: A connection control apparatus includes a linkup detector that detects a linkup with the host apparatus, a port information generator that generates port group information containing port information to identify a port of the storage apparatus whose linkup is detected by the linkup detector, a host information generator that generates host group information containing host information to identify the host apparatus whose linkup is detected by the linkup detector, a logical volume information generator that generates logical volume group information containing logical volume information to identify the logical volumes of all unallocated logical volumes, and an access processing information generator that generates access processing information associating the port group information, the host group information, and the logical volume group information.

Abstract: A storage controller that controls a storage apparatus including a storage area and a plurality of access paths to the storage area is provided, the storage controller including: an obtaining unit that obtains load information indicating loads of the plurality of access paths; a determining unit that determines whether or not access paths to the storage area are to be switched, based on the load information; an identifying unit that identifies a switch candidate access path when it is determined by the determining unit that access paths are to be switched; and a switch instructing unit that instructs to switch to the switch candidate access path identified by the identifying unit.

Abstract: A method for efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide having high resistance to a water-soluble organic solvent and novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.

Abstract: The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a gas purification section for purifying the gas having the oxygen partial pressure controlled within a range of from 0.2 to 10?30 atm, and a tank for storing the purified gas produced by the gas purification section. The purified gas stored within the tank is supplied to the another unit. The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a circulation circuit including the tank and the gas purification section. The gas filled in the tank 20 is caused to circulate along the circulation circuit, and the purified gas produced by the gas purification section is stored in the tank.

Abstract: Novel enzymes that stereoselectively reduce imine derivatives were isolated and purified, and polynucleotides encoding the enzymes were cloned. Optically active amine derivatives were produced by acting on imine derivatives with a culture of microorganisms having the ability to stereoselectively reduce the compounds, microbial cells or processed products thereof, and/or imine reductases thereof, followed by collecting the generated optically active amine derivatives. The present invention enables, for example, production of an optically active compound represented by formula (IV): (wherein R group represents an alkyl group having one to three carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 1 to 4).

Abstract: Optically active amine derivatives are produced by acting on imine derivatives with a culture of microorganisms having the ability to stereoselectively reduce the compounds, microbial cells, or processed products thereof, followed by collecting the generated optically active amine derivatives. Optically active amine derivatives obtained in the present invention are useful as materials for pharmaceutical agents. The present invention enables, for example, production of an optically active compound represented by formula (IV): (wherein R group represents an alkyl group having one to three carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 1 to 4).

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient method of producing an arylacylamidase. In an aspect, the present invention provides (a) a DNA comprising the base sequence shown in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO:1, or (b) a DNA capable of hybridizing, under stringent conditions, with a DNA comprising the base sequence complementary to the base sequence shown in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO:1 and coding for a polypeptide having arylacylamidase activity. In another aspect, the invention provides a polypeptide encoded by the DNA mentioned above and having arylacylamidase activity, a vector containing the DNA mentioned above, a transformant which is transformed using the DNA or the vector mentioned above, and a method for producing an arylacylamidase which comprises cultivating the transformant mentioned above and obtaining the arylacylamidase from the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microorganisms capable of tolerating acetonitrile concentrations of at least 3 M, enzyme extracts obtainable from these microorganisms, a nitrile hydratase obtainable from these microorganisms, a method for preparing amides using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom, and a method for removing acetonitrile from solutions using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a gas purification section for purifying the gas having the oxygen partial pressure controlled within a range of from 0.2 to 10?30 atm, and a tank for storing the purified gas produced by the gas purification section. The purified gas stored within the tank is supplied to the another unit. The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a circulation circuit including the tank and the gas purification section. The gas filled in the tank 20 is caused to circulate along the circulation circuit, and the purified gas produced by the gas purification section is stored in the tanka.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitrites, starting from amides, is described. Microorganisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitrites, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Microorganisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a nitrile hydratase capable of producing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyroamide. The present invention provides a novel nitrile hydratase producing ?-hydroxyamide using, ?-hydroxnitrile as the substrate, and the encoding DNA thereof. The enzyme can be obtained from Rhodococcus sp. Further, the enzymatic activity of the enzyme can he maintained stably during the reaction. The present invention provides a method for producing amide compounds, the method comprising the step of reacting this enzyme to nitrile compounds. According to the present invention, from hydroxy nitrile compounds, corresponding amide compounds can be produced biochemically without reducing the enzyme activity of nitrile hydratase.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microorganisms capable of tolerating acetonitrile concentrations of at least 3 M, enzyme extracts obtainable from these microorganisms, a nitrile hydratase obtainable from these microorganisms, a method for preparing amides using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom, and a method for removing acetonitrile from solutions using these microorganisms, the enzyme extracts or the nitrile hydratase obtainable therefrom.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a compact and inexpensive single-crystal growth apparatus. The single-crystal growth apparatus of the present invention which comprises spheroid mirrors 11, 12, heat sources 13, 14 located at the one foci F1, F2 of the spheroid mirrors 11, 12, a quartz tube 16 enclosing a heating zone 15 of the common focus F0 on the other side, and, in the quartz tube 16, a feed rod 18 supported by an upper crystal drive shaft 17 and a seed crystal rod 20 supported by a lower crystal drive shaft 19. The interfocal distance between the foci F1, F2 and the foci F0 is made 41.4-67.0 mm and the minor axis/major axis ratio of the spheroid mirrors is set to 0.90-0.95.