Abstract: The present invention provides a process for industrial production of chiral-1,1-difluoro-2-propanol. More specifically, a microorganism having the activity to cause asymmetric reduction of 1,1-difluoroacetone or an enzyme having the same activity is allowed to act on 1,1-difluoroacetone, whereby chiral-1,1-difluoro-2-propanol can be produced with high optical purity and in good yield. The process for production of the present invention is easy for industrial implementation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for quantifying L-tryptophan involving a step for mixing a specimen, L-tryptophan oxidase, and water, a step for allowing the obtained reaction solution to stand a predetermined period of time in the presence of oxygen, and a step for measuring the reaction product resulting from action of enzymes present in the reaction solution after allowing to stand. Also disclosed are a kit used to quantify the L-tryptophan containing L-tryptophan oxidase, and an enzyme sensor using the L-tryptophan oxidase. This method, kit and enzyme sensor use an L-tryptophan-specific enzyme, so are capable of quantifying L-tryptophan even in the presence of other amino acids.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase which is more stable than a hydroxynitrile lyase derived from a plant, a gene which encodes the hydroxynitrile lyase and by which heterologous expression is possible, and a method for producing the hydroxynitrile lyase. The (R)-hydroxynitrile lyase according to the present invention is characterized in having the specific amino acid sequence such as the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.