Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, provided is a method for promoting differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, the method including a step of culturing pluripotent stem cells in a medium, wherein the medium is a medium containing a) an insulin-like growth factor, b) an insulin analogue preparation containing no zinc, c) an insulin analogue preparation containing a low concentration of zinc, or d) a compound exhibiting an insulin-like action.

Abstract: Adding (a) transglutaminase, and a gluconic acid salt or lipase to a processed meat food product, or (b) transglutaminase, a gluconic acid salt, and lipase to a processed meat food product with a sodium chloride content of 0.1 wt % to 1 wt % or a processed meat food product with a binding agent content of not more than 0.2 wt % affords a processed meat food product with a reduced sodium chloride content or a reduced binding agent content, with a good elastic texture.

Abstract: Culture media, which contain chelated iron, promote cell proliferation of neural stem cells and/or neural progenitor cells while maintaining undifferentiated state and multipotency.

Abstract: Compositions containing one or more kinds of essential amino acids other than leucine and not less than 35 mol % of leucine, relative to the total content of essential amino acids, s are useful for preventing or improving dementia or a depressive state, in particular, a depressive state caused by stress, have high safety, and can be continuously ingested or administered.

Abstract: A mutated tryptophan oxidase suitable for practical implementation is described herein. Specifically, a mutated tryptophan oxidase wherein at least one amino acid residue of a wild-type tryptophan oxidase is mutated and, as a result, has higher tryptophan oxidase activity and/or stability as compared to the wild-type tryptophan oxidase. The mutated tryptophan oxidase can be derived from a wild-type tryptophan oxidase having at least one of Motifs (2), (3), (5), (7), (9), (11), (13), and (14), and at least one amino acid residue in any of these motifs can have mutation. The mutated tryptophan oxidase also can have a mutation of one or more amino acid residues in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and a sequence homologous thereto.

Abstract: An evaluating method includes an evaluating step of evaluating a state of ketosis in postpartum dairy cows for a dairy cow using at least one value of concentration values of Ala, Arg, Asn, Asp, BCAA, Cit, Cys, Glu, Gln, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Lys, Met, 3MeHis, Orn, Phe, Pro, Ser, Tau, Thr, Trp, Tyr, and Val and concentration values of ALB, ALT, AST, BHBA, BUN, Ca, gGTP, Glc, NEFA, T-Bil, TCHO, TG, and TP in blood of the dairy cow before parturition.

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells may be culture for a long period, without using any special apparatus, equipment and the like, in a medium in which seven kinds of nonessential amino acids of glycine, alanine, serine, proline, asparagine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid are reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid, productivity of which has been enhanced. Specifically, the present invention provides a method of producing 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid, by producing 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid from linoleic acid in the presence of a transformed microorganism that produces a protein such as the following: (A) a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 8 to 10, 13, or 14; (B) a protein having an amino acid sequence containing one or several amino acid substitutions, deletions, insertions or additions in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 8 to 10, 13, or 14, and having a linoleate 13-hydratase activity; and (C) a protein having an amino acid sequence having 90% or more identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 8 to 10, 13 or 14, and having a linoleate 13-hydratase activity.

Abstract: A method for producing ?-Glu-Val-Gly is described, wherein the method includes the steps of cultivating a ?-Glu-Val-Gly-producing bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae in a culture medium so that the ?-Glu-Val-Gly accumulates in the culture medium or the cells of the bacterium, or both, and collecting the ?-Glu-Val-Gly from the culture medium or the cells of the bacterium, or both. The bacterium has been modified to overexpress a gene encoding a protein having L-threonine 3-dehydrogenase activity and a gene encoding a protein having 2-amino-3-oxobutanoate coenzyme A ligase activity.

Abstract: A method efficiently produces a compound containing an N-acyl-amino group by an enzymatic method. Specifically, a method of producing a compound containing an N-acyl-amino group includes producing the compound containing an N-acyl-amino group by reacting a compound containing an amino group with a compound containing a carboxyl group in the presence of an enzyme having an ability to bond a carboxyl group and an amino group in an ATP dependent manner to form an amide bond.

Abstract: A starch-containing food with improved properties may be obtained by reacting an actinomycete-derived amylomaltase with starch in the raw material.

Abstract: A novel protein deamidase having an activity of directly acting on a side chain amide group of an asparagine residue in a protein to form a side chain carboxyl group and release ammonia, a microorganism that produces the same, a gene encoding the same, a method for producing the same, and use of the same are provided. A bacterium classified into the class Actinobacteria is cultured to generate protein deamidase, and the enzyme is collected from culture.

Abstract: A production system for a product selected from a nitrogen-containing product and a fermented and cultured product that does not involve (or can minimize) the transport of liquid ammonia can include: an ammonia synthesis apparatus in which an ammonia-containing gas is synthesized by reaction of a source gas containing hydrogen and nitrogen in the presence of a supported metal catalyst containing as a support one or more selected from the group consisting of: i) a conductive mayenite compound; ii) a two-dimensional electride compound or a precursor thereof; and iii) a complex formed of a support base containing at least one metal oxide selected from ZrO2, TiO2, CeO2, and MgO and a metal amide represented by a formula M(NH2)x (where M represents one or more selected from Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Eu; and x represents a valence number of M) supported by the support base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition containing linalool, wherein the composition contains a high amount of either enantiomer R-linalool or S-linalool, and has a high content rate of linalool. The present invention also provides a production method for producing the composition. The present invention further provides a composition containing volatile components including linalool, in which a content of linalool in a total content of the volatile components in the composition is 60% or more, and the linalool is present as R-linalool or S-linalool in an amount of 50% or more of the enantiomer, and a production method therefor.

Abstract: Hemicellulase that degrades corn non-starch polysaccharides (“NSP”), DNA encoding the same, and a method of using the hemicellulase and its DNA are provided. Proteins having hemicellulase activity such as Xyn5A, Xyn10B, Xyn11A, Xyn30A, and Xyn43A are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing L-methionine by fermentation using a bacterium belonging to the genus Pantoea which has been modified to overexpress the rarD gene or a mutant gene thereof.

Abstract: Oligonucleotides may be produced by a process, including (1) condensing a nucleoside, nucleotide or oligonucleotide (b), and a nucleoside, nucleotide or oligonucleotide (a), or a substituted nucleotide or oligonucleotide (?) in a non-polar solvent to give a reaction solution containing a phosphite triester product (c); (3) oxidizing or sulfurizing the phosphite triester product (c) to give a reaction solution containing an oligonucleotide (d) wherein the 5?-hydroxy group is protected; (4) deprotecting the oligonucleotide (d) to give a reaction solution containing an oligonucleotide (e) wherein the 5?-hydroxy group is not protected; and (6) adding a polar solvent to the reaction solution containing the oligonucleotide (e) and purifying the oligonucleotide (e) by solid-liquid separation, wherein said nucleoside, nucleotide or oligonucleotide (a) or said substituted nucleotide or oligonucleotide (?) is a compound represented by formula (a-i): wherein Base, Rp1, R10, m, L, Y, and Z are defined herein.

Abstract: A resin composition includes (A) a polyolefin epoxy resin, (B) an epoxy resin having a condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, (C) a nitrogen-containing novolak resin, and (D) an inorganic filler, in which an epoxy equivalent of the (A) component is 200 g/eq. or more, a nitrogen content in the (C) component is 13% by mass or more and/or the (C) component has a cresol novolak structure, and a content of the (D) component is 60% by mass or more on the basis of 100% by mass of non-volatile components in the resin composition.

Abstract: A novel technique for improving secretory production of a heterologous protein by coryneform bacteria may include a method for secretory production of a heterologous protein. A coryneform bacterium having an ability of secretory production of a heterologous protein and has been modified so as to have a combination of two or more features from among the features (A), (B), and (C) is cultured to produce the heterologous protein by secretory production: (A) the activity of a RegX3 protein is reduced as compared with a non-modified strain; (B) the activity of an HrrSA system is reduced as compared with a non-modified strain; and (C) the activity of an HrcA protein is reduced as compared with a non-modified strain.

Abstract: A method for efficiently inducing RNA silencing in a target organism is provided. RNA silencing is induced in a target organism by allowing the target organism to ingest cells of a microorganism, wherein the microorganism is able to produce RNA that induces RNA silencing after treating the cells with an organic solvent.