Abstract: A process for the selective hydrolysis of triglycerides to mixtures of 1,3 or 2,3-diacyl glycerides and 2-acyl glycerides is disclosed. This process uses an alkyl alcohol selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2-butanol and the primary, secondary or tertiary branched or straight chain alkyl alcohols having from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, an aqueous buffer system and a 1,3-lipase. The 2-acyl glycerides in the mixture are esterified to make stereospecific 1,2-diacyl glycerides or 2,3-diacyl glycerides with acid anhydrides and a lipase catalyst. Under the reaction conditions, there is little rearrangement of the diacyl glycerides in the mixture and less than 20% triglyceride is formed. Stereospecific 1,2,4-triglycerides can be made from these materials by standard esterification reactions under conditions which control rearrangement.

Abstract: An isolated alkaline pullulanase Y having .alpha.-amylase activity; a microorganism producing the alkaline pullulanase Y; and a process for producing the alkaline pullulanase Y are disclosed. The alkaline pullulanase Y having .alpha.-amylase activity has its optimum pH at higher alkaline range than conventional alkaline pullulanases and exhibits excellent stability in a wide pH range. Further, the alkaline pullulanase Y has strong resistance to almost all detergent components such as surfactants, chelating agents, proteases for detergents, and the like. Thus the alkaline pullulanase Y can advantageously be used as a detergent component.

Abstract: A novel alkaline pullulanase; a microorganism producing the alkaline pullulanase; and a process for producing the alkaline pullulanase are disclosed. The alkaline pullulanase of the present invention has a higher optimum pH range (pH 9.5-11) than conventional alkaline pullulanases and shows excellent stability in a wider pH range. It has also an optimum temperature of higher than 50.degree. C. and is thermally stable up to 40.degree. C. The alkaline pullulanase has also strong reistance to almost all detergent components such as surfactants, chelating agents, proteases for detergents, and the like. The alkaline pullulanase can advantageously be used as a detergent component. Also, it can be utilized for producing many kinds of oligosaccharides and also together with .alpha.-amylase for producing various monosaccharides.

Abstract: An enzyme preparation is obtained containing a nuclease that is produced by a fungus such as Trichoderma, Aspergillus and Fusarium and which remains active even after heating at 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes. This enzyme preparation may be effectively used when it is necessary to decompose nucleic acids at elevated temperature over a prolonged period.

Abstract: A method of producing thrombin from Factor II (prothrombin) comprising the steps of:a) applying a solution of citrated plasma or citrated plasma fraction containing Factor II onto an equilibrated anion exchanger to bind Factor II thereto;b) applying a solution containing calcium ions to the exchanger to convert the Factor II to thrombin, andc) selectively eluting the thrombin from the carrier.

Abstract: An enzyme complex having collenagenolytic activity, comprising a mixture of collegenolytic proteases from crabs is disclosed. The proteases of the complex have the ability to cleave bovine lens capsule collagen type IV, have molecular weights from about 23,000 to 36,000 daltons, and possess a collagenolytic activity of more than about 3.300 Mandl units/mg at a pH of 7.5. The complex is isolated in aqueous solutions without the use of organic solvents from the hepatopancreas of crabs. The crabs from which the complex can be isolated are of the paralithodes and chinocetes species of crabs.

Abstract: A substantially purified proteolytic enzyme isolated from a culture of Bacillus spec. DSM 4828 which has a molecular weight of 27,000 daltons, an optimum pH of 12, an optimal temperature of 60.degree. C. and which can be used in a detergent composition.

Abstract: A method for purifying tPA or a plasminogen activator having an active site resembling that of tPA from an impure solution thereof which comprises contacting the impure solution with a solid support having bound thereto a tripeptide of the formula: -X-Y-argininal, wherein X and Y are amino acids selected from the group consisting of pro, phe, trp and tyr. The method is also used with a tripeptide of the formula: -phe-Y-argininal, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of phe, pro, trp, tyr, val, ile and glu(PEA).

Abstract: A method for diagnosing contraction or progress of periodontal diseases is carried and by determining periodontopathic bacteria specific aminopeptidase activity in a specimen by using as a substrate for the enzyme. The substrate is either or both compounds of the formula:X--Z--Arg--Y [1]wherein Arg is arginine residue; X is or an amino blocking group; Y is a color developing group attached to the C-terminal of Arg; and Z is an amino acid or peptide residue composed of 1 or 2 amino acids or their blocked derivatives, the C-terminal of which is attached to the N-terminal of Arg, andX'--Z'--Pro--Y' [2]wherein Pro is proline residue; X' is an amino blocking group; Y' is a color developing group attached to the C-terminal of Pro; and Z' is an amino acid or peptide residue composed of 0 to 4 amino acids or their blocked derivatives, the C-terminal of which is attached to the N-terminal of Pro.

Abstract: A novel N-Acetyl-2,3-didehydroaminoacid-acylase is obtained by cultivating Zoogloea ramigera DSM 4306. The new enzyme can be used in a coupled enzyme system with an L-Leucinedehydrogenase for the enzymatic conversion of N-Acetyl-2,3-didehydroleucine to L-Leucine, D- or L-tryptophylglycine to D- or L- tryptophaneamide and glycine, as well as other tryptophanedipeptides to tryptophaneamides and free amino acids.

Abstract: An extract of membrane fragments, an enzyme, and a composition of enzymes associated with cell membranes of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain ATCC No. 53968 and Bacillus sphaericus strain ATCC No. 53969 is prepared which have the ability to selectively react with organic sulfur of sulfur-containing organic carbonaceous material by cleavage or organic C--S bonds.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a purified transaminase having a molecular weight of 20,000 to 250,000 daltons, an isoelectric point at a pH between 3.0 and 8.0, a pH optimum in a range from 5.0 to 10.0 and a substrate specificity for the transamination of (3-carboxy-3-oxo-propyl)-methyl-phosphinic acid or the esters thereof.The production of the enzyme comprises cultivating E. coli ATCC 33849, disrupting the cultivated E. coli ATCC 33849, obtaining a supernatant therefrom containing the enzyme and isolating the transaminase by heating the supernatant at a temperature and for a time sufficient to denature proteins other than the transaminase and than finally removing the denatured proteins from the supernatant.

Abstract: A substantially purified N-acyl-L-proline-acylase from Comamonas testosteroni DSM 5416 and Alcaligenes denitrificans DSM 5417. The enzyme is useful for the synthesis of L-proline from various N-acyl-L-proline derivatives.

Abstract: This invention relates to the inhibition of cell proliferation in mammalian host organisms. More particularly the invention relates to the utilization of selenodithiol compositions, particularly selenodiglutathione (GSSeSG) within a narrow concentration range, in which it is both effective as an inhibitor of cancer tumor cell proliferation in mammals, particularly in the prevention of neoplastic cell division in humans, while substantially non toxic outside this narrow range to the treated host organism. The invention also relates to a method for stimulating cellular proliferation at lower concentration of selenodiglutathione.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing L-alanine by reacting in a single reaction tank, in an aqueous reaction mixture having a pH of 6 to 10 and containing at least one .alpha.-keto acid, fumaric acid or a salt thereof with ammonia or ammonium ions in the presence of two microorganisms having fumarase inactivity.

Abstract: A process for the production of L-alanine dehydrogenase which comprises culturing an L-alanine dehydrogenase producing microorganism belonging to the genus Sporolactobacillus in a nutrient medium and isolating thus-produced L-alanine dehydrogenase from the cultured mass. The microorganism is for example Sporolactobacillus sp. 78-3 FERM BP-2517 and mutants and variants thereof having the ability to produce L-alanine dehydrogenase in recoverable amounts. This strain is a thermophile which cannot grow at 40.degree. C. but can grow at 45.degree. C. and 52.degree. C. The strain can assimilate glucose and produce lactic acid and acetic acid.

Abstract: A process for the selective hydrolysis of triglyderides to 2-acyl glycerides is disclosed. This process uses a primary lower alkyl alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol, the primary butanols and the primary pentanols and 2-butanol, an aqueous buffer system and a 1,3-lipase. The 2-acylmonglycerides can be used to make stereospecific 1,2-diacyl glycerides or 2,3-diacyl glycerides through esterification with acid anhydrides and 1,3-lipase catalysis. Stereospecific 1,2,3-triglycerides can be made from these materials by standard esterification reactions under conditions which control rearrangement.

Abstract: Alkenoic acid compounds are described. The compounds which are dehydropeptidase inactivators contain a ##STR1## moiety which is substituted with a halomethylene or a cyano moiety as R.sub.3. The enzyme deprotonates the alpha-CH.sub.2 group and then the intermediate compound forms a covalent bond with enzymic residue in the active site, resulting in irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. The compounds are particularly inactivators of renal dipeptidases.

Abstract: A method for treating a suspension of a phenolic resin containing residual phenols comprising the step of adding a peroxidase enzyme and a peroxide material or an oxidase enzyme and an oxygen material to said suspension to polymerize said residual phenolic monomer, and the purified suspension produced thereby is disclosed. The inventive method is used to pretreat a suspension containing a phenolic material so that the suspension may be subsequently used in a commercial process, such as the production of paper.