Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a means for producing an optically active tropic acid that is a compound useful as a synthetic raw material or an intermediate for pharmaceutical products and the like. The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having activity to (R)-selectively hydrolyze a racemic tropic acid amide, DNA encoding the polypeptide, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant prepared by transformation with the vector, and a method for producing an optically active carboxylic acid amide and an optically active carboxylic acid using them.

Abstract: A method for inexpensively and efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide exhibiting higher activity for glutamic acid as an amino donor than that for L-alanine, and, having novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a means for producing an optically active tropic acid that is a compound useful as a synthetic raw material or an intermediate for pharmaceutical products and the like. The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having activity to (R)-selectively hydrolyze a racemic tropic acid amide, DNA encoding the polypeptide, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant prepared by transformation with the vector, and a method for producing an optically active carboxylic acid amide and an optically active carboxylic acid using them.

Abstract: A method for inexpensively and efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide exhibiting higher activity for glutamic acid as an amino donor than that for L-alanine, and, having novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation. The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regeneration which comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 ?m to not more than 500 ?m and pore length of not less than 20 ?m to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arranged obtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is to provide a ?-lactam acylase protein having high activity, a gene coding for said ?-lactam acylase protein, a recombinant vector having said gene, a transformant containing said recombinant vector, and a method of producing a ?-lactam antibiotic such as amoxycillin using said ?-lactam acylase. A ?-lactam acylase gene of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was cloned, the DNA base sequence and the amino acid sequence expected therefrom was determined, and a Stenotrophomonas ?-lactam acylase gene was obtained. This gene was found to code for a protein with a molecular weight of about 70 kDa and having ?-lactam acylase activity, and could efficiently produce amoxycillin without being inhibited by phenylacetic acid, etc. Furthermore, by modification of the amino acid sequence, a protein which can more efficiently produce amoxycillin could be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation. The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regeneration which comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 ?m to not more than 500 ?m and pore length of not less than 20 ?m to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arranged obtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is to provide a ?-lactam acylase protein having high activity, a gene coding for said ?-lactam acylase protein, a recombinant vector having said gene, a transformant containing said recombinant vector, and a method of producing a ?-lactam antibiotic such as amoxycillin using said ?-lactam acylase. A ?-lactam acylase gene of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was cloned, the DNA base sequence and the amino acid sequence expected therefrom was determined, and a Stenotrophomonas ?-lactam acylase gene was obtained. This gene was found to code for a protein with a molecular weight of about 70 kDa and having ?-lactam acylase activity, and could efficiently produce amoxycillin without being inhibited by phenylacetic acid, etc. Furthermore, by modification of the amino acid sequence, a protein which can more efficiently produce amoxycillin could be obtained.