Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having a fructosyl amino acid oxidase activity which protein is useful for measurement of a glycosylated protein (particularly, glycosylated hemoglobin); a modified protein thereof; and use of the protein or the modified protein. The protein of the present invention is, for example, a fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase derived from Phaeosphaeria nodorum, the fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase having excellent thermal stability and substrate specificity and also having a small Km value to fructosyl valyl histidine. This allows a glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be stored in a long time and measurement accuracy of the glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having a fructosyl amino acid oxidase activity which protein is useful for measurement of a glycosylated protein (particularly, glycosylated hemoglobin); a modified protein thereof; and use of the protein or the modified protein. The protein of the present invention is, for example, a fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase derived from Phaeosphaeria nodorum, the fructosyl valyl histidine oxidase having excellent thermal stability and substrate specificity and also having a small Km value to fructosyl valyl histidine. This allows a glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be stored in a long time and measurement accuracy of the glycosylated protein measuring reagent to be improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of an N36-binding peptide at low cost and in a large quantity utilizing a microorganism. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for producing an N36-binding peptide comprising introducing a recombinant vector into which a DNA molecule encoding an N36-binding peptide that binds to an N36 protein derived from a retrovirus that causes immunodeficiency in a mammal has been incorporated into E. coli as a host to produce a transformant.

Abstract: An air-oxidative type hair dye composition containing a melanin precursor prepared by a process including (A) an oxidation step for converting, into the melanin precursor, a tyrosine or derivative thereof used as a starting substance with an enzyme or cell that is derived from a fungus selected from the group consisting of fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Neurospora, Rhizomucor, Trichoderma, and Penicillium and that exhibits a catechol oxidase activity.

Abstract: The present inventors have found that a siderophore-iron (III) ion chelate complex is highly absorbed in the body; significantly increases the blood hemoglobin concentration, the serum iron concentration and the concentration of iron stored in the liver; and causes no adverse effects on the body. On the basis of these findings, the present inventors provide iron supplementing agents, agents for the prevention or treatment of iron defeciency anemia, food additives and food compositions, each of which contains a siderophore and iron (III) ions, preferably in the form of a chelate complex.