Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the rheological properties of dough and quality of baked products by addition of a yeast derivative, preferably in combination with a reducing agent and/or enzyme preparations having amylase, hemicellulase, oxido reductase and/or protease activities.

Abstract: A method of separating a hydrophobic fermentation product selected from the group consisting of lipase, esterase, endoxylanase and an antibiotic from a mixture comprising said product and contaminants which method comprises adding to the mixture sequentially(1) 0.5 to 15% (w/v) of a nonionic surfactant,(2) 0.5 to 60 mg of a flocculating agent per gram of said mixture,(3) 1 to 20% (w/v) of an extra nonionic surfactant,(4) a suitable K, Na, NH.sub.4 or Mg salt selected from the group of chlorides, sulfates, acetates, carbonates or phosphates, whereby the concentration of the salt is chosen so as to have the surfactant layer on top and is between 2 and 30%;to obtain a three phase product mixture, separating the product mixture into liquid-liquid-solid fractions and recovering the hydrophobic fermentation product.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence encoding phytase has been isolated and cloned. The coding sequence has been inserted into an expression construct which in turn has been inserted into a vector capable of transforming a microbial expression host. The transformed microbial hosts may be used to economically produce phytase on an industrial scale. The phytase produced via the present invention may be used in a variety of processes requiring the conversion of phytate to inositol and inorganic phosphate.

Abstract: A process for the detection of antibiotics in a liquid medium such as milk, urine and blood is disclosed which comprisesbringing together a fluid sample of the liquid medium, an labelled antibiotic binding protein, and an immobilized antibiotic,allowing the labelled antibiotic binding protein to bind with the immobilized antibiotic,removing labelled antibiotic binding protein which is not bound to immobilized antibiotic, anddetermining the amount of the labelled antibiotic binding protein bound to the immobilized antibiotic.

Abstract: Methods and DNA constructs are provided for the expression of a fungal acetyl xylan esterase gene in microbial hosts. A purified fungal acetyl xylan esterase is obtained which is suited for the use as an accessory enzyme in the degradation of acetylated xylans.

Abstract: Immobilized water-insoluble biocatalysts in particulate form comprise living cells, particularly yeast, dispersed in a cross-linked gelling agent. An enzyme, particularly amyloglucosidase, may be co-immobilized in the particles. These particles are prepared by suspending the living cells in an aqueous solution of a gelling agent, dispersing this suspension in a water immiscible organic liquid to form a suspension in the liquid of aqueous particles comprising the living cells and gelling agent, gelling the gel and cross-linking the gelling agent. It is found that when living cells such as microbial cells and especially yeast are immobilized in this way, that surprisingly, not only is their viability retained, but the ability of yeast cells to produce ethanol under continuous fermentation conditions is significantly improved. Specific strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suitable for immobilization in this way, are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel aerobic, Gram-positive alkaliphilic bacteria which have been isolated from in and around alkaline soda lakes. These alkaliphiles have been analyzed according to the principles of numerical taxonomy with respect to each other and also to a collection of known bacteria. In addition, these bacterial taxa are further circumscribed by an analysis of the lipid components which serve as chemotaxonomic markers. The alkaliphiles of the present invention produce alkalitolerant enzymes which are capable of performing their functions at high pH which makes them uniquely suited for applications requiring such extreme conditions.

Abstract: A dough for the preparation of yeast-leavened flour products whereby the dough comprises a yeast not capable of fermenting malto and an amount of sugar(s) fermentable by the yeast wherein the maximal amount of CO.sub.2 gas produced during the proof is controlled and limited by the amount of fermentable sugar(s) present in the dough.

Abstract: A method for selecting amino acid residues is disclosed which upon replacement will give rise to an enzyme with an altered pH optimum. The method is specific for metalloenzymes which are inactivated at low pH due to the dissociation of the metal ions. The method is based on altering the pK.sub.a of the metal coordinating ligands or altering the K.sub.ass for the metal binding. New glucose isomerases with an altered pH optimum are provided according to this method. These altered properties enable starch degradation to be performed at lower pH values.

Abstract: New mutant glucose isomerases are provided exhibiting improved properties under application conditions. These glucose isomerases are obtained by expression of a gene encoding said enzyme, having an amino acid sequence which differs at least in one amino acid from the wildtype glucose isomerase. Preferred mutant enzymes are those derived from Actinoplanes missouriensis glucose isomerase.

Abstract: Thermostable and acid stable .alpha.-amylases are provided as expression products of genetically engineered .alpha.-amylase genes isolated from microorganisms, preferably belonging to the class of Bacilli. Both chemical and enzymatic mutagenesis methods are e.g. the bisulphite method and enzymatic misincorporation on gapped heteroduplex DNA. The mutant .alpha.-amylases have superior properties, e.g. improved thermostability over a broad pH range, for industrial application in starch processing and textile desizing.

Abstract: A cephalosporin compound substituted in the 7-position with a (cyclo)alkylideneammonio group of formula (II) ##STR1## wherein X' is an anion from an acid HX, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are individually a C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkyl group, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cycloalkylidene ring with up to 8 carbon atoms and a process for the preparation which compounds are useful intermediates.

Abstract: Methods and expression constructs are provided for the cloning and overexpression of xylanases of fungai origin in a selected microbial host cell. Xylanases of fungal origin generally have lower pH optima and remain stable over a broader pH range than do xylanases of bacterial origin. The present invention provides for the high level production of fungal xylanases which are may be used in a variety of industrial applications requiring xylanase activity at a low pH.

Abstract: An isolated pure culture of a strain of Phaffia rhodozyma which produces astaxanthin in an amount of at least 600 .mu.g per g Phaffla rhodozyma dry matter, as determined by HPLC analysis.

Abstract: New 9-alphahydroxy steroids are prepared by the introduction of substituents on the D-ring of 9-alpha-hydroxy-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione. The resulting compounds are useful intermediates in the synthesis of corticosteroids.

Abstract: A method for selecting amino acid residues is disclosed which upon replacement will give rise to an enzyme with an altered pH optimum. The method is specific for metalloenzymes which are inactivated at low pH due to the dissociation of the metal ions. The method is based on altering the pK.sub.a of the metal coordinating ligands or altering the K.sub.ass for the metal binding. New glucose isomerases with an altered pH optimum are provided according to this method. These altered properties enable starch degradation to be performed at lower pH values.

Abstract: New proteolytic enzymes are provided exhibiting improved properties for application in detergents, especially laundry detergents. These enzymes are obtained by expression of a gene encoding a proteolytic enzyme having an amino acid sequence which differs at least in one amino acid from the wild type enzyme. Preferred enzymes are certain mutants derived from the serine protease of Bacillus nov. spec. PB92.

Abstract: A new oxido reductase enzyme activity obtainable from P. chrysogenum, involved in the production of .beta.-lactams, the set of genes encoding said enzyme activity, and a method to enhance said production by using the above-mentioned oxido reductase system and other oxido reductase systems or genes encoding for the same have been disclosed.

Abstract: New proteolytic enzymes are provided exhibiting improved properties for application in detergents, especially laundry detergents. These enzymes are obtained by expression of a gene encoding a proteolytic enzyme having an amino acid sequence which differs at least in one amino acid from the wild type enzyme. Preferred enzymes are certain mutants derived from the serine protease of Bacillus nov. spec. PB92.

Abstract: Immobilized water-insoluble biocatalysts in particulate form comprise living cells, particularly yeast, dispersed in a cross-linked gelling agent. An enzyme, particularly amyloglucosidase, may be co-immobilized in the particles. These particles are prepared by suspending the living cells in an aqueous solution of a gelling agent, dispersing this suspension in a water immiscible organic liquid to form a suspension in the liquid of aqueous particles comprising the living cells and gelling agent, gelling the gel and cross-linking the gelling agent. It is found that when living cells such as microbial cells and especially yeast are immobilized in this way, that surprisingly, not only is their viability retained, but the ability of yeast cells to produce ethanol under continuous fermentation conditions is significantly improved. Specific strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, suitable for immobilization in this way, are described.