Abstract: A computer of a microbial community analysis system includes an input unit configured to input a plurality of data groups including information indicating a nucleotide sequence of a gene of each of a plurality of microorganisms included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed; a similarity calculating unit configured to calculate a similarity between data groups on the basis of the nucleotide sequences included in the input data groups, and a coordinates calculating unit configured to calculate coordinates in a multidimensional space of each of the data groups on the basis of the calculated similarity.

Abstract: A computer of a prediction-rule generating system includes an input unit configured to input time series data of an abundance proportion of microorganisms or nucleotide sequences included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed and water quality information indicating water quality after a water treatment associated with data at each time constituting the time series data, a principal component analyzing unit configured to perform principal component analysis on the input time series data and calculate principal component scores of data at each time constituting time series data, and a prediction rule generating unit configured to generate a prediction rule for predicting water quality after a water treatment from an abundance proportion of microorganisms or nucleotide sequences on the basis of the calculated principal component scores and the input water quality information indicating water quality after a water treatment.

Abstract: A method for producing a microbiologic agent is described. The method includes a step of adding biomass containing a target compound-degrading microorganism and an inorganic microparticle carrier to a medium containing a target compound. The microorganisms included in the biomass are carried on the inorganic microparticles, and the medium is cultured while monitoring an abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism in microorganisms carried on the inorganic microparticle carrier. After the abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism reaches a predetermined value, the inorganic microparticle carrier carrying the target compound-degrading microorganism is collected to obtain the microbiologic agent.

Abstract: Isolated oxidases, isolated polynucleotides encoding the oxidases, and methods of using the oxidases to produce ?-oxocarboxylic acid compounds or L-?-amino acid compounds are described.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; a protein having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; and a method for producing an L-?-amino acid compound are provided. The method includes a step (1) of reacting the protein described herein with an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound to obtain a corresponding ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound; and a step of reacting a protein having the ability to aminate an ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound and convert the same into a corresponding L-?-amino acid compound with the ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound obtained in step (1) to obtain a corresponding L-?-amino acid compound.

Abstract: A computer of a prediction-rule generating system includes an input unit configured to input time series data of an abundance proportion of microorganisms or nucleotide sequences included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed and water quality information indicating water quality after a water treatment associated with data at each time constituting the time series data, a principal component analyzing unit configured to perform principal component analysis on the input time series data and calculate principal component scores of data at each time constituting time series data, and a prediction rule generating unit configured to generate a prediction rule for predicting water quality after a water treatment from an abundance proportion of microorganisms or nucleotide sequences on the basis of the calculated principal component scores and the input water quality information indicating water quality after a water treatment.

Abstract: Microbial flora included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed is analyzed accurately. A computer of a microbial community analysis system includes an input unit configured to input a plurality of data groups including information indicating a nucleotide sequence of a gene of each of a plurality of microorganisms included in activated sludge in which a water treatment is performed; a similarity calculating unit configured to calculate a similarity between data groups on the basis of the nucleotide sequences included in the input data groups, and a coordinates calculating unit configured to calculate coordinates in a multidimensional space of each of the data groups on the basis of the calculated similarity.

Abstract: A method for producing a microbiologic agent is described. The method includes a step of adding biomass containing a target compound-degrading microorganism and an inorganic microparticle carrier to a medium containing a target compound. The microorganisms included in the biomass are carried on the inorganic microparticles, and the medium is cultured while monitoring an abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism in microorganisms carried on the inorganic microparticle carrier. After the abundance ratio of the target compound-degrading microorganism reaches a predetermined value, the inorganic microparticle carrier carrying the target compound-degrading microorganism is collected to obtain the microbiologic agent.

Abstract: Isolated oxidases, isolated polynucleotides encoding the oxidases, and methods of using the oxidases to produce ?-oxocarboxylic acid compounds or L-?-amino acid compounds are described.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; a protein having an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; and a method for producing an L-?-amino acid compound are provided. The method includes a step (1) of reacting the protein described herein with an ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound to obtain a corresponding ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound; and a step of reacting a protein having the ability to aminate an ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound and convert the same into a corresponding L-?-amino acid compound with the ?-oxocarboxylic acid compound obtained in step (1) to obtain a corresponding L-?-amino acid compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound such as methionine. A process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; comprising: a first step of culturing a microorganism capable of converting a sulfur-containing amino alcohol compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is the same as defined above into the corresponding sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound in a culture medium containing a lower aliphatic alcohol to prepare a microbial cell of the microorganism; and a second step of reacting the sulfur-containing amino alcohol compound with the microbial cell of the microorganism obtained in the first step or a processed product of the microbial cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing methionine, comprising a first step of reacting 2-amino-3-buten-1-ol with methanethiol, and a second step of oxidizing 2-amino-4-methylthio-1-butanol obtained in the first step. The present invention also relates to a process for producing 2-amino-4-methylthio-1-butanol, comprising a step of reacting 2-amino-3-buten-1-ol with methanethiol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound such as methionine. A process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms; comprising a step of reacting a sulfur-containing amino alcohol compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is the same as defined above, with a microbial cell or a processed product of the microbial cell of a microorganism capable of converting the sulfur-containing amino alcohol compound into a corresponding sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-amino acid compounds such as methionine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein which can asymmetrically reduce an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to industrially advantageously produce an amide or ester compound of corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid, a DNA encoding the protein, a process for producing the protein from the DNA, and a process for asymmetrically reducing an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to produce a corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein which can asymmetrically reduce an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to produce an amide or ester compound of corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound with a good optical yield, a DNA encoding the protein, a process for producing the protein from the DNA, and a process for asymmetrically reducing an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to produce a corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound.

Abstract: There is provided is a process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound represented by the formula (2): wherein R1 represents hydrogen, C1-8 alkyl, or C6-20 aryl, which comprises subjecting a sulfur-containing ketol represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is the same as defined above, to the action of microbial cells of a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus or Bacillus capable of converting the ketol into a corresponding ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound, or a treated material thereof, thereby producing the sulfur-containing ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid without using a hydroxynitrile compound as a starting material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of asymmetrically reducing an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to produce a corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound by using a microorganism having an ability of reducing the ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound into the optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound, or a treated product thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein which can asymmetrically reduce an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to industrially advantageously produce an amide or ester compound of corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid, a DNA encoding the protein, a process for producing the protein from the DNA, and a process for asymmetrically reducing an ortho-substituted phenylglyoxalic acid compound to produce a corresponding optically-active ortho-substituted mandelic acid compound.

Abstract: A process for producing a sulfur-containing ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound, which comprises a step for reacting a sulfur-containing dihydroxy compound with a cell or a material from treated cell of a microorganism that has an ability to convert the sulfur-containing dihydroxy compound to a corresponding ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid compound.