Abstract: A method for making a mutated pullulanase enzyme that hydrolyzes an ?-1,6-glycosidic linkage is provided. The method includes obtaining the amino acid sequence of a pullulanase enzyme having an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 13; identifying an amino acid to be mutated in the pullulanase enzyme of step (1), wherein the amino acid to be mutated corresponds to the amino acid at position Phe476 of SEQ ID NO: 2; constructing a mutated amino acid sequence by substituting the amino acid to be mutated with another amino acid or deleting the amino acid to be mutated, thereby making a mutated pullulanase enzyme having the mutated amino acid sequence that has increased affinity for pullulan and that hydrolyzes an ?-1,6-glycosidic linkage.

Abstract: A novel method for improving an enzyme hydrolyzing an ?-1,6-glycosidic linkage is provided. A mutated enzyme is made by obtaining the amino acid sequence of a pullulanase enzyme having an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14; identifying an amino acid to be mutated in the pullulanase enzyme of step (1), wherein said amino acid to be mutated corresponds to the amino acid at position Phe476 of SEQ ID NO: 2; constructing a mutated amino acid sequence by substituting the amino acid to be mutated with another amino acid or deleting the amino acid to be mutated, thereby making a mutated pullulanase enzyme having the mutated amino acid sequence that has increased affinity for pullulan and that hydrolyzes an ?-1,6-glycosidic linkage.

Abstract: An object is to provide a novel method for improving an enzyme capable of deamidating a protein. A mutant protein deamidase is designed by the following steps: (A) identifying one or more amino acid in an amino acid sequence for a protein deamidase which corresponds to the amino acid at position 35, 38 to 43, 45, 46, 49, 79 to 84, 103 to 106, 117, 142, 143, 146, 166, or 185 in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; and (B) constructing a mutant amino acid sequence of the protein deamidase by substituting the one or more amino acid identified in step (A) with another amino acid or other amino acids or by deleting the one or more amino acid identified in step (A).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing ethanol from polysaccharide alginate contained in a large amounts in brown algae, using the alginate assimilation capacity of the Sphingomonas sp. strain A1 and the strong ethanol production capacity of bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis. Specifically, a method for producing ethanol using alginate as a raw material comprises causing genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in Sphingomonas sp. strain A1-derived alginate assimilation and genes encoding enzymes involved in ethanol production to co-exist in a single microorganism and then culturing the microorganism in a medium containing alginate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing ethanol from polysaccharide alginate contained in a large amounts in brown algae, using the alginate assimilation capacity of the Sphingomonas sp. strain A1 and the strong ethanol production capacity of bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis. Specifically, a method for producing ethanol using alginate as a raw material comprises causing genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in Sphingomonas sp. strain A1-derived alginate assimilation and genes encoding enzymes involved in ethanol production to co-exist in a single microorganism and then culturing the microorganism in a medium containing alginate.

Abstract: An object is to provide a novel method of improving an enzyme capable of deamidating a protein.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a novel method for improving an enzyme hydrolyzing an a-1,6-glycosidic linkage.