Abstract: A new aldehyde dehydrogenase having the physico-chemical properties: molecular weight:150,000±6,000 or 230,000±9,000; substrate specificity active on aldehyde compounds; cofactors:pyrroloquinoline quinone and heme c; optimum pH: 7.0-8.5; and inhibitors: Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, monoiodoacetate and EDTA, is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter. Said aldehyde dehydrogenase can be produced by cultivating a microorganism of the genus Gluconobacter which is capable of producing an aldehyde dehydrogenase having the above properties, in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions, disrupting the cells of the microorganism and isolating and purifying the aldehyde dehydrogenase from the cell-free extract of the disrupted cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: A process for the purification of 1,3-diketones comprising reacting a 1,3-diketone with an earth metal or alkaline earth metal complexing agent in an organic solvent, isolating, washing and decomposing the resulting complex, and isolating the purified 1,3-diketone.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of preferably non-insulin dependent (NIDDM or so-called Type II) diabetes mellitus, or other conditions associated with impaired glucose tolerance such as obesity, and in particular to the use of phytanic acid derivatives for the said treatment and/or prevention. A method of making a composition for the treatment or prevention of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and related diseases comprising combining phytanic acid or derivatives thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable additive or adjuvant, and a composition for the treatment or prevention of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus comprising phytanic acid or derivatives thereof are also provided.

Abstract: A process for producing L-ascorbic acid or D-erythorbic acid, or in each case its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, or in each case its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, that involves incubating 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, each as the free acid or as its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, and the cells of a thermoacidophilic microorganism at temperatures from about 30° C. to about 100° C., and at a pH from about 1 to about 6, in a solution, to form L-ascorbic acid or D-erythorbic acid or an appropriate salt thereof, and isolating said product from the solution.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the increased production of biotin and the biotin precursor dethiobiotin using a bacterium that produces a lysine-utilizing DAPA aminotransferase. The method involves the use of a bacterium that is either grown in the presence of lysine or deregulated for lysine biosynthesis.

Abstract: A process for the production of a modified phytase with a desired property improved over the property of the corresponding unmodified phytase is disclosed, as well as modified phytases, polynucleotides encoding modified phytases, and animal feed including modified phytases.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of preferably non-insulin dependent (NIDDM or so-called Type II) diabetes mellitus, or other conditions associated with impaired glucose tolerance such as obesity, and in particular to the use of phytanic acid derivatives for the said treatment and/or prevention. A method of making a composition for the treatment or prevention of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and related diseases comprising combining phytanic acid or derivatives thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable additive or adjuvant, and a composition for the treatment or prevention of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus comprising phytanic acid or derivatives thereof are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production process of biotin by fermentation using a genetically engineered microorganism, and DNA sequences and vectors to be used in such process.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acetals and ketals by reacting an aldehyde or ketone with an alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst and removing water by pervaporation. Manufacturing equipment for the preparation of acetals and ketones is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for converting trimethylhydroquinone diacetate (TMHQ-DA) into trimethylhydroquinone-1-monoacetate (TMHQ-1-MA) by contacting TMHQ-DA with a lipase to effect an enzymatic monosaponification of the TMHQ-DA. Also provided are methods of making (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol and (all-rac)-&agr;-tocopherol acetate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the increased production of biotin and the biotin precursor dethiobiotin using a bacterium that produces a lysine-utilizing DAPA aminotransferase. This method involves the use of a bacterium that is either grown in the presence of lysine or deregulated for lysine biosynthesis.

Abstract: A process for the production of a modified phytase with a desired property improved over the property of the corresponding unmodified phytase is disclosed, as well as modified phytases, polynucleotides encoding modified phytases, and animal feed including modified phytases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recombinant enzymes having alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity which comprises one or mom recombinant polypeptides selected from the group consisting of polypeptides which are identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and chimeric recombinant polypeptides that are a chimeric combination of at least two of the following amino acid sequences identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and functional derivatives of the polypeptides identified above which contain addition, insertion, deletion and/or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, wherein said enzymatic polypeptides have said alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. DNA molecules encoding the recombinant polypeptides, vectors comprising such DNA molecules, host cells transformed by such vectors and processes for the production of such recombinant enzymes are provided.

Abstract: A process for mixing or dispersing liquids is provided that includes introducing liquids to be mixed or dispersed into a mixing device having a cylindrical support. The cylindrical support includes an inlet nozzle having a bore which is in fluid communication through a turbulence chamber with a bore of an outlet nozzle, wherein the bores of the nozzles are axially spaced apart relative to one another. The liquids are then allowed to enter the turbulence chamber through the bore of the inlet nozzle where the liquids are mixed or dispersed. The mixed or dispersed liquid is then recovered from the outlet nozzle. Various devices for mixing or dispersing liquids are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production process of biotin by fermentation using a genetically engineered microorganism, and DNA sequences and vectors to be used in such process.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a novel process for the manufacture of flowable, non-dusty, binder-free riboflavin granulates by subjecting an aqueous suspension of riboflavin crystals of crystal modification B/C to a fluidized bed spray drying process, a single fluid nozzle spray drying process or a disk-type spray drying process.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved phytases, preferably phytases of an increased thermostability, and a process of producing them. In particular, stabilizing amino acid mutations are introduced into a homologous protein, or the active site of a phytase is replaced in part or in toto. The corresponding DNA sequences and methods of preparing them are also disclosed, as are methods of producing the improved phytases, and the use thereof. Specific variants of Aspergillus fumigatus phytase and of consensus phytases are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for making biotin from desthiobiotin by either contacting desthiobiotin with an enzyme reaction mixture containing bioB gene product and nifU gene product and/or nifS gene product and isolating the biotin or cultivating a microorganism transformed with DNA encoding the bioB gene product, nifU gene product and nifS gene product and isolating the biotin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a target fermentation product. This process includes providing a fermentation medium containing a recombinantly-produced microorganism that over-produces a fermentation product and contains a mutation which causes auxotrophic growth of the microorganism wherein the auxotrophy within the microorganism does not compromise the ability of the microorganism to produce the fermentation product. The medium is then supplied in excess with all substrates required for production of the fermentation product and in growth limiting amounts with a substrate complementing the auxotrophy. Host cells, vectors, and polynucleotide sequences used in the process are also provided.

Abstract: Novel proteins of microorganism E-396 (FERM BP-4283) and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins have been discovered to provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoids, especially zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, adonixanthin and canthaxanthin.