Abstract: The present invention provides a D-glucaric acid-producing bacterium and a method for producing D-glucaric acid. The present invention is characterized in that D-glucaric acid or a salt thereof is produced from one or more saccharides selected from the group consisting of D-glucose, D-gluconic acid and D-glucuronic acid with catalytic action of a specific alcohol dehydrogenase PQQ-ADH (1) and a specific aldehyde dehydrogenase PQQ-ALDH (2), and that D-glucaric acid or a salt thereof is produced by using a microorganism having the PQQ-ADH (1) and the PQQ-ALDH (2) or a processed product thereof in the presence of the one or more saccharides. The present invention can provide a microorganism having improved productivity of D-glucaric acid to be used for production of D-glucaric acid and a method for efficiently producing D-glucaric acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high molecular weight polymer having an aldaric acid as a constitutional unit, and a method for producing the same, and more specifically, relates to a thermoplastic polymer which comprises at least one repeating unit derived from an aldaric acid, and has a weight average molecular weight of 3,800 or more.

Abstract: In order to reduce the side effects of paclitaxel derivatives having excellent anti-cancer effects, an attempt was made to produce a liposome encapsulating paclitaxel derivatives such as paclitaxel monoglycosides and docetaxel monoglycosides. However, the introduction efficiency of paclitaxel derivatives, etc., into a liposome was poor, and this technique was not developed to a practical level. The present invention provides a method for producing a liposome encapsulating a paclitaxel monoglycoside and/or a docetaxel monoglycoside, and having an antibody specifically recognizing a cancer cell, the method comprising a step of bringing a liposome encapsulating a polyoxyethylene ester derivative, a lower alcohol, and a buffer or water into contact with a solution in which a paclitaxel monoglycoside and/or a docetaxel monoglycoside is dissolved in an alkylene glycol-containing buffer or water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high molecular weight polymer having an aldaric acid as a constitutional unit, and a method for producing the same, and more specifically, relates to a thermoplastic polymer which comprises at least one repeating unit derived from an aldaric acid, and has a weight average molecular weight of 3,800 or more.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for encapsulating a poorly water-soluble pharmacologically active substance in a liposome with high efficiency. The present invention provides a composition comprising a lipid having a phosphatidylcholine group, a cholesterol compound, a lipid having a phosphatidylethanolamine group, and a poorly water-soluble pharmacologically active substance, wherein the molar ratio of the lipid having a phosphatidylcholine group, the cholesterol compound, the lipid having a phosphatidylethanolamine group, and the poorly water-soluble pharmacologically active substance is 3 to 8:2 to 7:0.1 to 3:0.001 to 5, respectively.

Abstract: In order to reduce the side effects of paclitaxel derivatives having excellent anti-cancer effects, an attempt was made to produce a liposome encapsulating paclitaxel derivatives such as paclitaxel monoglycosides and docetaxel monoglycosides. However, the introduction efficiency of paclitaxel derivatives, etc., into a liposome was poor, and this technique was not developed to a practical level. The present invention provides a method for producing a liposome encapsulating a paclitaxel monoglycoside and/or a docetaxel monoglycoside, and having an antibody specifically recognizing a cancer cell, the method comprising a step of bringing a liposome encapsulating a polyoxyethylene ester derivative, a lower alcohol, and a buffer or water into contact with a solution in which a paclitaxel monoglycoside and/or a docetaxel monoglycoside is dissolved in an alkylene glycol-containing buffer or water.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism having an excellent ability to specifically oxidize the hydroxymethyl group of glucose, and a method of producing glucuronic acid and/or glucuronolactone by using such a microorganism to directly oxidize glucose, and the invention is directed at a microorganism which produces glucuronic acid directly from glucose and a mutant strain which is capable of specifically oxidizing the hydroxymethyl group of glucose and in which a DNA nucleotide sequence corresponding to 16S rRNA has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence listing, and the invention is also directed at a method of producing glucuronic acid and/or glucuronolactone by specifically oxidizing the hydroxymethyl group of glucose using the mutant strain, and this invention enables D-glucuronic acid and/or D-glucuronolactone to be produced and furnished easily and safely at a high yield and a low cost.

Abstract: A novel method of very efficiently elevating the yield of oligosacchrides containing ?-galactosyl, compared with the conventional methods, which comprises treating galactose or a galactose-containing material with a specific ?-galactosidase and thus performing a dehydrocondensation reaction at a high substrate concentration. Anti-candida compositions originating in foods, having a high safety and excellent anti-candida effect and not being restricted in the supply, which contain as the active ingredient oligosacchrides obtained by treating galactose or a galactose-containing material with an ?-galactosidase and thus performing a dehydrocondensation.

Abstract: The present invention establishes a crystalline lactosucrose and provides a process for producing the crystalline lactosucrose or a syrup containing crystalline lactosucrose. Further, the present invention has its object to provide a composition, for example, a food or drink, a cosmetic, a drug or the like containing the crystalline lactosucrose. That is, the present invention provides the crystalline lactosucrose or the syrup containing crystalline lactosucrose, the process for producing the crystalline lactosucrose or the syrup containing crystalline lactosucrose, characterized by crystallizing a crystalline lactosucrose from a solution containing lactosucrose and collecting the crystalline lactosucrose, and the use thereof.

Abstract: In a reaction system having at least two liquid-liquid interfaces between an organic phase of raw material containing a compound(s) to be separated and an aqueous phase of an aqueous solution of inclusion-complexing agent and between that aqueous phase and an organic phase(s) of extraction solvent(s), the compound(s) to be separated is entrapped into the aqueous phase through formation of an inclusion complex(es) of the inclusion-complexing agent with the compound(s), while the compound(s) is entrapped into the organic phase(s) of extraction solvent(s) through dissociation of said inclusion complex(es). The foregoing operation is performed using, for example, a squarish U-shaped tube or an H-shaped tube with bottom plates. Preferred examples of inclusion-complexing agent include highly water-soluble branched cyclodextrins.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to develop baccatin derivatives useful for preparing taxoid compounds such as paclitaxel and a process for the producing the same. The invention provides baccatin derivatives represented by the general formula (I) as well as a process for producing baccatin derivatives represented by the general formula (I) above, which comprises allowing a baccatin represented by the general formula (II) to react with a &bgr;-ketoester in the absence of a catalyst or in the presence of a tin compound or an amine base, preferably under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A taxoid compound represented by general formula (I) ##STR1## where the symbols R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, Bz, and Ac have specified meanings. Also, a method for producing the taxoid derivative from a baccatin derivative having a .beta.-ketoester group at the 13-position by transesterification and a method for producing taxoid compound such as paclitaxel from the taxoid derivative under mild condition are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are ursodeoxycholic acid derivatives having an increased solubility in water, and methods for producing the derivatives. To produce the derivatives, ursodeoxycholic acid is protected at its carboxyl group with a benzyl group, then reacted with tetrabenzyl-acetic acid-oxyglucoside of the following formula (1), and de-benzylated; or ursodeoxycholic acid is protected at its hydroxyl group with a t-butyldimethylsilyl group, then reacted with tetrabenzyl-2-hydroxyethyloxyglucoside of the following formula (2), and de-t-butyldimethylsilylated and de-benzylated.

Abstract: A sugar derivative wherein a hydroxy-carboxylic acid is combined to a position 1 of a sugar via ether linkage, and other hydroxyl groups are protected with a protective groups. A method of producing the sugar derivative, comprises allowing glycolic ester to react with a compound so as to combine said glycolic ester at the position 1 of the sugar skeleton, and then saponifying, said compound has on the position 1 any of hydroxyl group, halogen atom and sulfur atom with a substitutent group, and has other hydroxyl groups being protected with a protective groups.

Abstract: A taxoid derivative wherein sugar is combined with any one of paclitaxel, docetaxel and 10-deacetyl-bacatin III via a spacer. A method of producing the taxoid derivative comprises protecting hydroxyl groups at specific position of paclitaxel or docetaxel by protective compound followed by reacting with tetrabenzyl acetyloxyglucoside, and then carrying out debenzyl and detriethylsilyl reactions. A method of producing the taxoid derivative comprises reacting paclitaxel or docetaxel with tetrabenzyl acetyloxyglucoside, and then carrying out debenzyl reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel branched cyclodextrins having any of an N-acetylglucosamine group, a glucosaminyl group, an N-acetylgalactosaminyl group and a galactosaminyl group as bonded to the hydroxyl group of the cyclodextrin ring by .beta.-bonding therebetween, and their salts. The novel branched cyclodextrins are produced by reacting a solution containing a cyclodextrin and an N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine with an N-acetylhexosaminidase, and optionally deacetylating the resulting product.

Abstract: There is provided an unbranched cyclodextrin or a branched cyclodextrin inclusion complex of taxol. The complex is produced by adding an unbranched cyclodextrin of a branched cyclodextrin to taxol at a molar ratio of 1-20 times with respect to taxol. A method is provided for the improvement of the solubility of taxol in water by adding an unbranched cyclodextrin or a branched cyclodextrin thereto at a molar ratio of 1-20 times with respect to taxol. The solubility of taxol in water is improved by the present invention. A cyclodextrin inclusion complex of taxol according to the present invention serves to make taxol more easily absorbed when administered to a cancer patient, which is beneficial to cancer patients and the physiological effects of taxol may therefore be more effectively induced.

Abstract: A method of producing a mannosyl-cyclodextrin having a mannosyl group bonded to the hydroxyl group of the glucosyl group of a cyclodextrin via an alpha-bond. The method includes treating a liquid containing a cyclodextrin and an alpha-mannosyl compound with an alpha-mannosyl transfer agent.

Abstract: A cyclodextrin having a galactosyl group which is bonded to a 6-hydroxyl group of a glucosyl group of the cyclodextrin via an .alpha.-bond or a .beta.-bond; a cyclodextrin having a mannosyl group which is bonded to a 6-hydroxyl group of the cyclodextrin via an .alpha.-bond.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a novel galactosyl-cyclodextrin having a galactosyl group as bonded to the hydroxyl group of the glucosyl group of a cyclodextrin via an .alpha.-bond and a method of producing said galactosyl-cyclodextrin; (2) a novel galactosyl-cyclodextrin having a galactosyl group as bonded to the hydroxyl group of the glucosyl group of a cyclodextrin via a .beta.-bond and a method of producing said galactosyl-cyclodextrin; and (3) a novel mannosyl-cyclodextrin having a mannosyl group as bonded to the hydroxyl group of the glucosyl group of a cyclodextrin via an .alpha.-bond and a method of producing said mannosyl-cyclodextrin. The new branched cyclodextrins are expected to be widely useful in various fields of drug industry, food industry and cosmetic industry.