Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a template DNA from a processed vegetable food, comprising the steps of: extracting a crude DNA fraction from a processed vegetable food subjected to at least one of a high temperature treatment, a high temperature grinding treatment, a high pressure treatment and a fermentation treatment, and optionally subjected to defatting; and performing a DNA fractionation treatment of the crude DNA fraction by a polyethylene glycol precipitation method and/or a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. Also disclosed is a method for detecting a gene of a plant in a processed vegetable food derived from the plant by a PCR method in which such a template DNA is used. The processed vegetable food may be an oil source seed.

Abstract: Isolation of a cDNA encoding a plant-derived epoxide hydrolase and an expression system of the enzyme in Escherichia coli are established, so as to permit the mass-scale production of the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase. The invention provides a cDNA encoding the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase having the amino acid sequence of SQ ID No. 1 in the Sequence Listing, a gene encoding the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase having the amino acid sequence of SQ ID No. 2 in the Sequence Listing, a plasmid vector carrying the cDNA and the transformant (FERM BP-6624) retaining the plasmid vector.

Abstract: Isolation of a cDNA encoding a plant-derived epoxide hydrolase and an expression system of the enzyme in Escherichia coli are established, so as to permit the mass-scale production of the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase. The invention provides a cDNA encoding the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase having the amino acid sequence of SQ ID No. 1 in the Sequence Listing, a gene encoding the plant-derived epoxide hydrolase having the amino acid sequence of SQ ID No. 2 in the Sequence Listing, a plasmid vector carrying the cDNA and the transformant (FERM BP-6624) retaining the plasmid vector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a template DNA from a processed vegetable food, comprising the steps of: extracting a crude DNA fraction from a processed vegetable food subjected to at least one of a high temperature treatment, a high temperature grinding treatment, a high pressure treatment and a fermentation treatment, and optionally subjected to defatting; and performing a DNA fractionation treatment of the crude DNA fraction by a polyethylene glycol precipitation method and/or a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. Also disclosed is a method for detecting a gene of a plant in a processed vegetable food derived from the plant by a PCR method in which such a template DNA is used. The processed vegetable food may be an oil source seed.

Abstract: A quick assay method for the activity of a plant-derived, asparagine residue-specific endoprotease is disclosed which comprises measuring fluorescence generated by a fluorescence quenching substrate split by an asparagine residue-specific endoprotease. The fluorescence quenching substrate comprises an oligopeptide having in its amino acid sequence at least one asparagine residue, whose C-terminal side is other than an isoleucine residue, a leucine residue, or a valine residue, wherein the oligopeptide has a 7-methoxycoumarin-4-yl-acetyl group arranged on its N-terminal side and a 2,4-dinitrophenyl group arranged on its C-terminal side.

Abstract: Disclosed are a cDNA encoding a plant-derived, asparagine residue-specific endoprotease having an amino sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1 in the sequence list and a gene encoding a plant-derived, asparagine residue-specific endoprotease having an amino sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the sequence listing. The enzymes enable production of asparagine residue-specific endoprotease in large amounts.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an asparaginyl endoproteinase from the seeds of soybean, ginkgo and rice which have been collected between an early growing stage and ripening. The method comprises the steps of dialyzing an extract of the seeds against an acidic buffer of pH 4.0 to 6.0, ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic chromatography and gel filtration. The resulting asparaginyl endoproteinase cleaves glycinin between the C-terminal amino acid residue of the acidic subunit region, Asn, and the N-terminal amino acid residue of the basic subunit region, Gly or Asn.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of separating .beta.-amylase from a solution containing .beta.-amylase, in which the solution is treated with an .alpha.-cyclodextrin fixed water-insoluble high polymer compound in the presence of ammonium sulfate to form an adsorbed composite of the high polymer compound and .beta.-amylase and soluble impurities not adsorbed to the high polymer compound are separated and removed. By the method, a high-purity .beta.-amylase, which is highly useful in the starch saccharification industry, may specifically and efficiently be isolated from a .beta.-amylase-containing mixture solution.