Abstract: Provided is a protein having glucocerebrosidase activity and further having thermostability. The object is attained by a protein which is derived from a plant, belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1), and has glucocerebrosidase activity.

Abstract: An object is to provide a method for producing a high theobromine-containing composition effectively in a simple way. The method for producing a theobromine-containing composition comprises: (a) performing an extraction of a theobromine-containing plant or a processed product thereof with a solvent, to obtain a crude theobromine extract; (b) applying the crude theobromine extract to a cation exchange resin subjected in advance to hydrogen ion substitution, to allow an adsorption of theobromine onto the cation exchange resin; and (c) passing a solvent containing no ionic substance through the cation exchange resin subsequently to the step (b), to obtain a theobromine eluate.

Abstract: A novel endoglucanase derived from Staphylotrichum coccosporum, a polynucleotide encoding the endoglucanase, and a cellulase preparation containing the endoglucanase are disclosed. The endoglucanase or cellulase preparation is available for a washing use or fabric processing, such as a color clarification of a cellulose-containing fabric, a reduction of fuzz, an improvement of the touch feel and appearance of the fabric, providing a localized color change to the fabric, or a reduction of stiffness.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protein that is a Zygomycetes-derived endoglucanase lacking the cellulose-binding domain and exhibits endoglucanase activity, and a method for using the same. This invention can enhance effects of an endoglucanase enzyme on fabric treatment such as reduction of fuzzing, improvement in feel and appearance, color clarification, partial color change, and softening of cellulose-containing fabrics and on performance improvement in the deinking of waste paper and drainage of paper pulp.

Abstract: A novel endoglucanase derived from Staphylotrichum coccosporum, a polynucleotide encoding the endoglucanase, and a cellulase preparation containing the endoglucanase are disclosed. The endoglucanase or cellulase preparation is available for a washing use or fabric processing, such as a color clarification of a cellulose-containing fabric, a reduction of fuzz, an improvement of the touch feel and appearance of the fabric, providing a localized color change to the fabric, or a reduction of stiffness.

Abstract: A cellulase preparation comprising an endoglucanase derived from Zygomycetes, a cellulose-binding-domain-deleted endoglucanase, or a modified or homologous protein thereof, together with a reducing agent is disclosed. Further, a method of treating cellulose-containing fabric, comprising the step of treating the fabric with the cellulase preparation to improve a property of the fabric, a method of deinking waste paper, comprising the step of treating the waste paper with the cellulase preparation. together with a deinking agent, and a method of improving freeness of paper pulp, comprising the step of treating the paper pulp with the cellulase preparation, are disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided an endoglucanase enzyme, which is useful for reducing fuzz of regenerated cellulose-containing fabrics, improving the touch and appearance, color clarification, localized variation in color, reducing stiffness and using it as components of a detergent, as well as deinking waste paper and improving freeness of paper pulp. A cDNA coding for the endoglucanase enzyme NCE5 was cloned and its DNA sequence and amino acid sequence derived from it were determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulase preparation comprising nonionic surfactants together with endoglucanases derived from Zygomycetes; a detergent composition comprising the above cellulase preparation with detergent components; a method of treating fabric which comprises treating cellulose-containing fabric with the above cellulase preparation so as to improve the properties of the fabric; a method of deinking waster paper which comprises a step of treating waste paper with the above cellulase preparation together with a deinking agent; and a method of improving the freeness of paper pulp which comprises a step of treating paper pulp with the above cellulase preparation.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide enzymes that have high endoglucanase activity and yet exhibit high activity even under alkaline conditions, and genes encoding the same. The enzyme according to the invention has the following properties: a) exhibiting endoglucanase activity; and b) capable of completely removing fuzz from regenerated cellulose fabrics at a concentration of 1 mg of the protein/L or below. The enzyme of the invention having endoglucanase activity is a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11; a modified protein thereof exhibiting endoglucanase activity; or a homologue of the protein or the modified protein.

Abstract: There is provided an endoglucanase enzyme, which is useful for reducing fuzz of regenerated cellulose-containing fabrics, improving the touch and appearance, color clarification, localized variation in color, reducing stiffness and using it as components of a detergent, as well as deinking waste paper and improving freeness of paper pulp. A cDNA coding for the endoglucanase enzyme NCE5 was cloned and its DNA sequence and amino acid sequence derived from it were determined.

Abstract: A cellulase preparation comprising an endoglucanase derived from Zygomycetes, a cellulose-binding-domain-deleted endoglucanase, or a modified or homologous protein thereof, together with a reducing agent is disclosed. Further, a method of treating cellulose-containing fabric, comprising the step of treating the fabric with the cellulase preparation to improve a property of the fabric, a method of deinking waste paper, comprising the step of treating the waste paper with the cellulase preparation. together with a deinking agent, and a method of improving freeness of paper pulp, comprising the step of treating the paper pulp with the cellulase preparation, are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protein that is a Zygomycetes-derived endoglucanase lacking the cellulose-binding domain and exhibits endoglucanase activity, and a method for using the same. This invention can enhance effects of an endoglucanase enzyme on fabric treatment such as reduction of fuzzing, improvement in feel and appearance, color clarification, partial color change, and softening of cellulose-containing fabrics and on performance improvement in the deinking of waste paper and drainage of paper pulp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulase preparation comprising nonionic surfactants together with endoglucanases derived from Zygomycetes; a detergent composition comprising the above cellulase preparation with detergent components; a method of treating fabric which comprises treating cellulose-containing fabric with the above cellulase preparation so as to improve the properties of the fabric; a method of deinking waster paper which comprises a step of treating waste paper with the above cellulase preparation together with a deinking agent; and a method of improving the freeness of paper pulp which comprises a step of treating paper pulp with the above cellulase preparation.

Abstract: An expressing system which enables a large amount of production of a protein in Humicola, in particular, Humicola insolens, and particularly host-vector systems and a process for producing a protein using the systems, wherein an expression vector comprising the regulator sequences, i.e., the promoter, the signal sequence, and the terminator, of the cellulase NCE1 gene or NCE2 gene derived from Humicola insolens is constructed and used. The expression vector enables highly efficient production of cellulase NCE4, for example, in Humicola insolens at a rate as high as about 4.5 g or more per one liter of culture.

Abstract: A highly active cellulase suitable for use in a removal of nap of cellulose-containing fibers, a process for reducing cellulose-containing fibers and a process for decoloring denim-dyed cellulose-containing fibers, and its gene are provided. A novel cellulase NCE4 isolated from Humicola insolens is a highly active cellulase, and can be used for various treatments of cellulose-containing fibers.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for screening elicitors that induce the production of phytoalexins in rice plants, and agents for controlling rice diseases; and relates to a method for screening elicitors that induce the production of phytoalexins in rice plants, wherein the aforementioned elicitor screening method is characterized by using rice seedlings as the test plant, applying a test sample on a suitable part of the rice seedlings, and then screening the elicitors using the phytoalexins produced in the plant bodies as marker substances, as well as to agents for controlling rice diseases containing as an active ingredient a specific compound having an action in inducing the production of phytoalexins in rice plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to phytocassanes which are novel diterpene compounds exhibiting an antifungal activity against rice blast fungus, Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe grisea) and rice sheath blight fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, and more specifically, it relates to phytocassanes A, B, C, D, and EL and a process for producing phytocassanes or momilactones, antifungal diterpene compounds, at a high yield.

Abstract: An Enterobacter cloacae-derived gene encoding an enzyme involved in the biosynthetic pathway from tryptophan to indoleacetic acid via indolepyruvic acid and indoleacetaldehyde as intermediates.