Abstract: A crystalline L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenyl-alanine methyl ester product is disclosed. The product is obtained by crystallizing the ester from an aqueous solution, by cooling. The initial concentration of ester in the aqueous solution used provides at least 10 grams of precipitated solid phase per liter of solution. The solution is cooled through conductive heat transfer without effecting forced flow to form a sherbet-like pseudo solid phase.

Abstract: A method for dissolving crystalline L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenyl alanine methyl ester product is disclosed. The product is obtained by crystallizing the ester from an aqueous solution, by cooling. The initial concentration of ester in the aqueous solution used provides at least 10 grams of precipitated solid phase per liter of solution.

Abstract: A crystalline L-.alpha.-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester product and the process for obtaining the same are disclosed. This product is obtained by adjusting the initial concentration of L-.alpha.-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester in an aqueous solution so that the amount of precipitated solid, formed after cooling said solution, is about 10 grams or more of precipitate per liter of solvent. The solution is then cooled through conductive heat transfer, without causing forced flow, to obtain a sherbet-like pseudo solid phase.

Abstract: A surface finishing composition used for coating therewith a surface of an artificial leather or synthetic resin sheet or a surface of plastic product to provide the surface with the touch of suede, which comprises synthetic resin mainly composed of polyurethane resin, and powdered polyamino acid resin and silica which are dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent. The finished surface is stronger against scratch, leaves less finger marks and provides better feel and appearance as compared with the prior art.

Abstract: A process for crystallizing L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester from its aqueous solution by cooling, which comprises adjusting the initial concentration of the ester so that the amount of a precipitated solid phase to be formed after cooling becomes about 10 grams or more per liter of the solvent, cooling the solution through conductive heat transfer through a cooled surface to form an apparently sherbet-like pseudosolid phase without causing forced flow by mechanical stirring or the like, and optionally further cooling the system after formation of the pseudosolid phase, is disclosed along with various apparatuses which may be used to carry out the invention.

Abstract: A feed additive for ruminants, which comprises core containing a carbamate of a basic amino acid and coated with a polymer coating agent soluble or swellable in water in an acidic region of a pH of at most 5.

Abstract: A feed additive for ruminants, which comprises core containing a carbamate of a basic amino acid and coated with a polymer coating agent soluble or swellable in water in an acidic region of a pH of at most 5.

Abstract: An immunopropylactic and immunotherapeutic agent comprising human interleukin 2 of human cellular origin is disclosed along with a method of producing the agent.

Abstract: A substantially pure plasmid which is characterized by a molecular weight of 3.0.+-.0.1 megadalton and the restriction endonuclease-cleavage map shown in the Figure. This plasmid is capable of propagating in Corynebacteria and due to its size is useful as a vector for the cloning of exogenous genes.

Abstract: A process for the production of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine by contacting an appropriate microorganism or enzyme-containing fraction of said microorganism with L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine methyl ester or L-phenylalanine in an aqueous medium so that L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine is produced.

Abstract: A process for producing .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or its hydrochloride which comprises contacting N-formyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester with a mixture of methanol and a highly concentrated hydrochloric acid at a temperature of between 0.degree. and 40.degree. C., whereby the amino-protecting formyl group is removed and .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester crystalizes, and isolating the hydrochloride crystals, and, if desired, converting the hydrochloride to free .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, is disclosed along with variations thereof. The process is commerically advantageous in that it utilizes inexpensive materials while minimizing hydrolysis of the peptide bond.

Abstract: A method of measuring the number of eumycete cells in a sample which comprises preparing a solution or suspension containing a sample of a medicine, food, drink, cosmetic or water, adding to said solution or suspension a 7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin derivative represented by formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group, an allyl group, an aralkyl group, or a heterocyclic group, or R--CO-- is an amino acid or peptide residue, said derivative not inhibiting the hydrolysis of the amide bond of formula (1) by microorganism hydrolases contained in the samples; and measuring the fluorescence of 7-amino-4-methyl-courmarin released by the microorganism hydrolases.

Abstract: An absorption promoter is disclosed which interacts with hydrophobic amino acid residues of polypeptide derivative medications and substantially increases the absorption of that medication administered orally or rectally. The promoter and medication can be compounded into unit dosages in capsule, tablet, or suppository form, or combined into elixir solutions, suspensions, etc. The absorption promoters are phenylalanine derivatives which may be prepared through conventional N-acylation techniques.

Abstract: A method for producing L-carnitine which involves contacting crotonbetaine or a non-toxic, soluble salt of this compound with a microorganism or an enzyme fraction of this microorganism which is capable of converting crotonbetaine or its salts into L-carnitine. The conversion is conducted in an aqueous medium under conditions suitable for production of L-carnitine.

Abstract: An electrically conducting solid electrode having a surface on which a nitrogen-containing electron mediator and a strong acidic cation exchange resin containing aromatic groups are immobilized is disclosed along with methods for producing this electrode and uses therefor.

Abstract: A method for producing L-tryptophan by fermentation which comprises aerobically culturing in a culture medium a mutant of the genus Corynebacterium or genus Brevibacterium which is resistant to sulfaguanidine and capable of producing L-tryptophan, and recovering the L-tryptophan which has accumulated in the culture medium.

Abstract: A method for producing L-tryptophan by fermentation, which comprises, culturing aerobically in a culture medium a mutant of the genus Brevibacterium which is resistant to azaserine and tryptophan analogue and capable of producing L-tryptophan, and recovering the L-tryptophan which accumulates in the culture medium.

Abstract: A method for producing L-phenylalanine by fermentation which comprises aerobically culturing an L-phenylalanine-producing microorganism in an aqueous culture medium and recovering the L-phenylalanine accumulated in the culture medium, the L-phenylalanine-producing microorganism having been constructed by incorporating a recombinant plasmid DNA, into which a DNA fragment controlling resistance to a phenylalanine antagoinst, obtained from a chromosomal DNA of a mutant of the genus Bacillus resistant to the phenylalanine antagonist, has been inserted, into a recipient strain of the genus Bacillus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amino acid derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent hydroxyl, alkyloxy, aryloxy, arylkyloxy, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl; R.sub.3, R.sub.5, R.sub.8 and R.sub.11 are hydrogen or alkyl; R.sub.4, R.sub.7 and R.sub.10 are hydrogen, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or aralkyl; R.sub.6 and R.sub.9 are hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl; R.sub.12 is hydroxyl, alkyloxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, amino, mono- or di-alkyl-, aryl- or aralkyl amino; and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 combined together, and R.sub.9 and R.sub.10 combined together independently may form a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene bridge. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing said amino acid derivatives, and to anti-hypertensive drugs containing them.

Abstract: A method for producing L-tryptophan by fermentation in high yields employing a microorganism of the genus Bacillus, which has been constructed by a gene splicing technique by incorporating a recombinant plasmid DNA containing an inserted DNA containing fragment controlling resistance to tryptophan-antagonists into a recipient strain of the genus Bacillus. The incorporated DNA fragment is a mutant of the genus Bacillus which was obtained from resistant to tryptophan-antagonists.