Abstract: A method for producing ?-hydroxy amino acid and its optically-active isomer is provided. The ?-hydroxy amino acid is produced by reacting a predetermined D-?-amino acid and 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolic acid in the presence of an enzyme derived from a microorganism belonging to the genera Paracoccus, Aminobacter, or Ensifer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active IHOG, which can in turn be used for the production of monatin. The present invention further relates to a method for producing optically active monatin, and aldolase used for these methods. As such, the present invention enables the synthesis of 4-(Indole-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid with high optical purity, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of optically active monatin, from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (or oxaloacetic acid).

Abstract: A process for industrially advantageously producing a dipeptide via a convenient pathway starting with less expensive and easily available materials is provided. A dipeptide is produced from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid by using a culture of a microbe capable of synthesizing the dipeptide from the L-amino acid amide and the L-amino acid, microbial cells separated from the culture or a treated microbial cell product from the microbe. An L-amino acid amide hydrolase is obtained from a microbe belonging to the genus erwinia, genus Rhodococcus, genus Chryseobacterium, genus Micrococcus, genus Cryptococcus, genus Trichosporion, genus Rhodosporidium, genus Sporobolomyces, genus Tremela, genus Torulaspora, genus Sterigmatomyces or genus Rhodotorula. The hydrolase catalyzes a reaction that produces a dipeptide from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active IHOG, which can in turn be used for the production of monatin. The present invention further relates to a method for producing optically active monatin, and aldolase used for these methods. As such, the present invention enables the synthesis of 4-(Indole-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutaric acid with high optical purity, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of optically active monatin, from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (or oxaloacetic acid).

Abstract: A cushion plate is provided, for example, between a piston of a hydraulic servo and an adjacent friction plate in a frictional engagement element of an automatic transmission. The cushion plate is deflected by a pressing force of the piston to absorb an engagement shock. The cushion plate includes a main body portion formed into a belleville-spring shape, and a plurality of pawls that extend from the outer periphery of the main body for spline engagement with a member that is splined to, for example, the friction plate. A side wall of each pawl is formed with a curved recess extending circumferentially of the cushion plate and located adjacent the juncture (base) of the pawl at the outer periphery of the main body.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active amino acid comprising contacting a 5-substituted hydantoin with a group of enzymes including both a hydantoinase and a carbamoylase, wherein the method is carried out in an aqueous solution with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 1.5 ppm or less. Optically active amino acids such as D-tyrosine may be produced with high efficiency.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to prepare a recombinant DNA efficiently co-expressing genes of enzymes such as HHase, and to produce an amino acid efficiently from hydantoin by utilizing such a recombinant DNA. The present invention provides a recombinant DNA having base sequences encoding the following gene regions (I) and (II) incorporated therein in a predetermined direction and in a predetermined order to produce an amino acid efficiently: (I) a gene region containing a base sequence encoding a hydantoinase gene and a trp promoter sequence located upstream of the base sequence encoding the hydantoinase gene regulating expression of the hydantoinase gene, and (II) a gene region containing a base sequence encoding a carbamylase gene and a trp promoter sequence located upstream of the base sequence encoding the carbamylase gene regulating expression of the carbamylase gene.

Abstract: A process for industrially advantageously producing a dipeptide via a convenient pathway starting with less expensive and easily available materials is provided. A dipeptide is produced from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid by using a culture of a microbe capable of synthesizing the dipeptide from the L-amino acid amide and the L-amino acid, microbial cells separated from the culture or a treated microbial cell product from the microbe. An L-amino acid amide hydrolase is obtained from a microbe belonging to the genus erwinia, genus Rhodococcus, genus Chryseobacterium, genus Micrococcus, genus Cryptococcus, genus Trichosporion, genus Rhodosporidium, genus Sporobolomyces, genus Tremela, genus Torulaspora, genus Sterigmatomyces or genus Rhodotorula. The hydrolase catalyzes a reaction that produces a dipeptide from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing dipeptide using inexpensively acquirable starting materials by an industrially advantageous and simple pathway. Dipeptide is produced from L-amino acid ester and L-amino acid using a culture of microbes having the ability to produce a dipeptide from an L-amino acid ester and an L-amino acid, using microbial cells isolated from the culture, or a treated microbial cell product of the microbe.