Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an optically active pyridineethanol derivative. More particularly, it relates to a method of producing an optically active polycyclic pyridineethanol derivative by causing an enzyme or enzyme source to act on polycyclic acetylpyridine derivatives. The present invention also relates to a novel enzyme which can be used in the production method mentioned above, a DNA coding for said enzyme, a recombinant vector having said DNA, and a transformant having said recombinant vector. The invention further relates to a method of producing an optically active polycyclic pyridineethanol derivative by causing the above novel enzyme or the above transformant to act on optically inactive polycyclic pyridineethanol derivatives.

Abstract: To provide a method for preparing optically active compounds, which mainly contain (R)-amino compounds, by microbial enzymes efficiently and inexpensively; a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity which can be suitably used for the above preparation method; and a DNA encoding the polypeptide. A method for preparing an optically active amino compound, characterized in stereoselectively transaminating by acting a transaminase on an amino group acceptor, a ketone compound in the presence of an amino group donor, a primary amine; a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity; and a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity obtainable from a culture of a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide producing (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol, a DNA coding for it and a method of using them. A polypeptide having the following physicochemical properties (1) to (5): (1) Action: It asymmetrically reduces N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone to produce (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol with NADPH as a coenzyme; (2) Optimum action pH: 4.5 to 5.5; (3) Optimum action temperature: 40° C. to 45° C.; (4) Molecular weight: About 29,000 as determined by gel filtration analysis, about 35,000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis; (5) Inhibitor: It is inhibited by the divalent copper ion.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to isolate a gene coding for the enzyme synthesizing the coenzyme Q10 side chain from a fungal strain of the genus Saitoella and exploit it to advantage for the efficient microbial production of coenzyme Q10. The present invention provides; a DNA having the nucleotide sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1 a DNA having a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 by the deletion, addition, insertion and/or substitution of one or a plurality of nucleotides and coding for a protein having decaprenyl diphosphate synthase activity a DNA which hybridizes with the DNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 under a stringent condition and codes for a protein having decaprenyl diphosphate synthase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an optically active pyridineethanol derivative. More particularly, it relates to a method of producing an optically active polycyclic pyridineethanol derivative by causing an enzyme or enzyme source to act on polycyclic acetylpyridine derivatives.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide for producing tert-butyl (3R,5S)-6-chloro-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoate, a gene encoding the polypeptide, and a method of using the polypeptide, are provided. The polypeptide has an enzyme activity to asymmetrically reduce tert-butyl (S)-6-chloro-5-hydroxy-3-oxohexanoate to tert-butyl (3R,5S)-6-chloro-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoate. The polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO. 1 in the Sequence Listing, or the amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution, insertion, deletion, or addition thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide producing (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol, a DNA coding for it and a method of using them.

Abstract: To provide a method for preparing optically active compounds, which mainly contain (R)-amino compounds, by microbial enzymes efficiently and inexpensively; a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity which can be suitably used for the above preparation method; and a DNA encoding the polypeptide. A method for preparing an optically active amino compound, characterized in stereoselectively transaminating by acting a transaminase on an amino group acceptor, a ketone compound in the presence of an amino group donor, a primary amine; a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity; and a polypeptide having stereoselective transaminase activity obtainable from a culture of a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter.

Abstract: A gene of decaprenyl diphosphate synthase, which is the key gene participating in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q10 was isolated from a bacterium belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae. By transferring this gene into a microorganism such as Escherichia coli and expressing therein, coenzyme Q10 can be effectively produced.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: Novel and useful optical active 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxy-1-propanol and 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxypropionic acid are provided by using an optical active 2-aralkyl-3-acyloxy-1-propanol as a starting material. Furthermore, an optical active 2-aralkyl-3-thiopropionic acid, which is an important intermediate of enkephalinase inhibitor, is provided. According to the present invention, industrially useful optical active sulfonic acid ester derivatives can be provided.

Abstract: Relating to an enzyme capable of efficiently converting a ketone compound to an optically active amino compound by transamination, and a process for preparing an optically active amino compound using the enzyme. An (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine:pyruvate transaminase, which acts on (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine and a ketone compound, thereby catalyzing transamination for forming acetophenone and an amino compound corresponding to the ketone compound; a process for preparing an optically active amino compound using the transaminase; and a method for culturing a microorganism for producing the above transaminase, comprising adding to a medium one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of propylamine, 1-butylamine, 2-butylamine, 2-pentylamine, isopropylamine and isobutylamine as an inducer for the enzyme when a microorganism for producing (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine:pyruvate transaminase is cultured.

Abstract: The method for preparing an optically active (R)-amino compound characterized by the method comprising stereoselectively carrying out amino group transfer by action of an (R)-form-specific transaminase in the co-presence of a ketone compound (amino acceptor), and an amino compound (amino donor) of a racemic form or an (R)-form, to give an optically active (R)-amino compound. According to the present invention, it is made possible to easily prepare at a high yield the optically active (R)-amino compounds and the like having an aryl group and the like at their 1-position, which have been conventionally difficult to prepare.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: A method of producing an optically active N-methylamino acid of the general formula (2): 1

Abstract: The method for preparing an optically active (R)-amino compound characterized by the method comprising stereoselectively carrying out amino group transfer by action of an (R)-form-specific transaminase in the co-presence of a ketone compound (amino acceptor), and an amino compound (amino donor) of a racemic form or an (R)-form, to give an optically active (R)-amino compound. According to the present invention, it is made possible to easily prepare at a high yield the optically active (R)-amino compounds and the like having an aryl group and the like at their 1-position, which have been conventionally difficult to prepare.

Abstract: The method for preparing an optically active (R)-amino compound characterized by the method comprising stereoselectively carrying out amino group transfer by action of an (R)-form-specific transaminase in the co-presence of a ketone compound (amino acceptor), and an amino compound (amino donor) of a racemic form or an (R)-form, to give an optically active (R)-amino compound. According to the present invention, it is made possible to easily prepare at a high yield the optically active (R)-amino compounds and the like having an aryl group and the like at their 1-position, which have been conventionally difficult to prepare.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method of producing optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol by an enzymatic reaction stereoselectively reducing N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone. The invention consists in a method of producing optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol which comprises a step of obtaining a reaction mixture by treating N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with cells or a culture of a microorganism, or a material derived therefrom, and a step of recovering optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol from said reaction mixture, in which method said microorganism mentioned above is a microorganism belonging to the genus Dipodascus, Debaryomyces, Cryptococcus, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Trichosporon, Micrococcus, Komagataella, Ogataea or Zygosaccharomyces.

Abstract: Optically active 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxy-1-propanol and 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxypropionic acid are provided by using an optically active 2-aralkyl-3-acyloxy-1-propanol as a starting material. Furthermore, an optically active 2-aralkyl-3-thiopropionic acid, which is an important intermediate for synthesis of enkephalinase inhibitors, is provided. According to the present invention, industrially useful optically active sulfonic acid ester derivatives can be provided.