Abstract: Problem: To provide a microorganism with an ability to produce deoxy polyol dehydrogenase. Means for Resolution: A microorganism belonging to genus Enterobacter with an ability to produce a dehydrogenase for deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol. The bacterial cell IK7 of the genus Enterobacter (accession No. NITE P-271). A method for producing deoxy ketose comprising allowing a culture containing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase obtained by the culturing of the microorganism of the invention or allowing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase to react with a solution containing deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol to oxidize deoxy polyol to produce the corresponding deoxy ketose and then collecting the deoxy ketose. The deoxy polyol is 1-deoxy-D-allitol, while the corresponding deoxy ketose is 1-deoxy-L-psicose.

Abstract: Providing 1- or 6-deoxy products corresponding to all of aldohexoses, ketohexoses and sugar alcohols, as based on Deoxy-Izumoring, as well as a method for systematically producing those products. A method for producing deoxyketohexose and a derivative thereof using a deoxyketohexose isomerase derived from Pseudomonas cichorii ST-24 (FERM BP-2736), comprising epimerizing 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose at position 3 to produce the individually corresponding 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose as an intended product.

Abstract: Object: To provide a thermostable L-ribose isomerase. Means for Resolution: The thermostable L-ribose isomerase with MW. 32,000 (by SDS-PAGE), optimal temperature of 45° C., optimal pH of pH 9.0 (glycine-NaOH buffer), and stable physicochemical properties such as temperature stability up to 45° C. during thermal treatment at pH 9.0 for 10 minutes, and with an action to isomerize L-ribose to generate L-ribulose or of inversely to isomerize L-ribulose to generate L-ribose.

Abstract: A novel use of D-psicose (for suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of blood glucose level) is provided. A composition containing D-psicose as the active component and for use in suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of plasma glucose concentration. The composition is a composition in blend with D-psicose and/or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A specific rare sugar having effects of inhibiting the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and lumen formation is disclosed. This rare sugar is provided as a preventive/remedy for diseases with angiogenesis, a cosmetic or a functional food. The proliferation of vascular endothelial cells is controlled utilizing the vascular endothelial cell proliferation-controlling effect of D-mannose, D-allose, 2-deloxy-D-glucose, 3-deoxy-D-glucose, L-sorbose, 2-deoxy-D-ribose and/or 2-deoxy-L-ribose. Lumen formation of vascular endothelial cells is inhibited by utilizing the vascular endothelial cell lumen formation-inhibiting effect of D-allose, D-altrose, D-glucose, D-talose, L-allose, 2-deloxy-D-glucose, 3-deoxy-D-glucose, D-ribose, L-ribose, 2-deoxy-D-ribose and/or 2-deoxy-L-ribose.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated protein including an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 and having an L-rhamnose isomerase activity. This novel enzyme has a higher reaction efficiency between D-psicose and D-allose and is excellent in thermal stability.

Abstract: In the rare sugar strategy of Izumoring (FIG. 1), it is intended to establish a reaction system of producing rare sugars of many types by acquiring an isomerase which acts on various rare aldoses and, therefore, is most efficient in producing various rare ketoses. A DNA encoding the following protein (a) or (b). The above-mentioned DNA which is L-rhamnose isomerase derived from Pseudomonas stutzerii. A protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2. A process for producing a recombinant protein characterized by culturing a host cell containing an expression system that can express the above-mentioned protein in a medium and collecting a recombinant protein having an L-rhamnose isomerase activity from the thus obtained culture. A method of applying FIG.

Abstract: A novel use of D-psicose (for suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of blood glucose level) is provided. A composition containing D-psicose as the active component and for use in suppressing the abnormal intra-day increase of plasma glucose concentration. The composition is a composition in blend with D-psicose and/or a derivative thereof.