Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium. In addition, the present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, wherein the L-proline biosynthesis activity of the host cell of the transformant is reinforced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium. In addition, the present invention is directed to a process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, wherein the L-proline biosynthesis activity of the host cell of the transformant is reinforced.

Abstract: An isolated gene encodes for a L-proline-3-hydroxylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 15, 16 and 17, or for a protein having enzymatic activity to hydroxylate the 3-position of L-proline and to act on free L-proline in the presence of 2-ketoglutaric acid and divalent iron ions to produce cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline. The gene is inserted into a vector and the resulting recombinant DNA is used to create a transformant. L-proline-3-hydroxylase is produced by culturing the transformant in a medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste (hereinafter referred to as a bran pickles flavoring solution), a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing said solutions, a novel microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium used for the production of said flavoring solutions, and a process for producing a solution containing a lactone wherein the lactone is selectively extracted from a culture of a lactone-producing microorganism. The present invention also relates to a novel bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium which has the ability to produce ?-dodecalactone and/or ?-dodecelactone and is useful for the production of said bran pickles flavoring solutions.

Abstract: The present invention provides SH3 domain binding inhibitors comprising, as an active ingredient, a non-peptide compound exhibiting SH3 domain binding inhibitory activity, a low molecular weight compound with molecular weight less than 750 which exhibit SH3 domain binding inhibitory activity, in particular, a compound represented by the general formula (I) or (II) described above, a cytochalsin, etc., or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present invention also provides compounds represented by the general formula (Va), (Vb) or (VI) described above or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: An isolated gene encodes for a L-proline-3-hydroxylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 15, 16 and 17, or for a protein having enzymatic activity to hydroxylate the 3-position of L-proline and to act on free L-proline in the presence of 2-ketoglutaric acid and divalent iron ions to produce cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline. The gene is inserted into a vector and the resulting recombinant DNA is used to create a transformant. L-proline-3-hydroxylase is produced by culturing the transformant in a medium.

Abstract: An isolated gene encodes for a L-proline-3-hydroxylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 15, 16 and 17, or for a protein having enzymatic activity to hydroxylate the 3-position of L-proline and to act on free L-proline in the presence of 2-ketoglutaric acid and divalent iron ions to produce cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline. The gene is inserted into a vector and the resulting recombinant DNA is used to create a transformant. L-proline-3-hydroxylase is produced by culturing the transformant in a medium.

Abstract: Provided is an industrially applicable process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium.

Abstract: Provided is an industrially applicable process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium. Also provided is a novel enzyme L-proline-4-hydroxylase which is useful for the process, a gene of L-proline-4-hydroxylase which is useful for the process, a transformant containing the gene, and a process for producing L-proline-4-hydroxylase using the transformant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste (hereinafter referred to as a bran pickles flavoring solution), a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing said solutions, a novel microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium used for the production of said flavoring solutions, and a process for producing a solution containing a lactone wherein the lactone is selectively extracted from a culture of a lactone-producing microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste (hereinafter referred to as a bran pickles flavoring solution), a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing said solutions, a novel microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium used for the production of said flavoring solutions, and a process for producing a solution containing a lactone wherein the lactone is selectively extracted from a culture of a lactone-producing microorganism. The present invention also relates to a novel bacterium of the genus Corynebacterium which has the ability to produce &ggr;-dodecalactone and/or &ggr;-dodecelactone and is useful for the production of said bran pickles flavoring solutions.

Abstract: An isolated gene encodes for a L-proline-3-hydroxylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, 15, 16 and 17, or for a protein having enzymatic activity to hydroxylate the 3-position of L-proline and to act on free L-proline in the presence of 2-ketoglutaric acid and divalent iron ions to produce cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline. The gene is inserted into a vector and the resulting recombinant DNA is used to create a transformant. L-proline-3-hydroxylase is produced by culturing the transformant in a medium.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a process for producing a practical cholesterol-reduced substance by converting cholesterol contained in foods and feeds to coprostanol having very low intestinal tract absorbability by utilizing enzymatic action is provided. Cholesterol in a cholesterol-containing substance such as meat, egg, milk, seafood and cooked processed foods containing the same, or feeds for animals, poultry and pisciculture, and the like, can be treated with three kinds of enzymes which are a cholesterol dehydrogenase having an optimum pH in a neutral pH range and 4-cholesten-3-one dehydrogenase and coprostan-3-one dehydrogenase each having an optimum pH in a weak acidic range, or microbial cells containing the enzymes, for converting the cholesterol to coprostanol to reduce the amount of the cholesterol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a compound represented by general formula (II-a): (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or an alkali metal; and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group) [hereinafter referred to as Compound (II-a)] or the lactone form of Compound (II-a) [hereinafter referred to as Compound (II-b)] which comprises subjecting a compound represented by general formula (I-a): (wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or an alkali metal; and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group) [hereinafter referred to as Compound (I-a)] or the lactone form of Compound (I-a) [hereinafter referred to as Compound (I-b)] to the action of an enzyme source derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus and capable of converting Compound (I-a) or Compound (I-b) into Compound (II-a) or Comp

Abstract: Provided is an industrially applicable process for producing trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Dactylosporangium, Amycolatopsis or Streptomyces and which catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-proline into trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste (hereinafter referred to as a bran pickles flavoring solution), a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing said solutions, a novel microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium used for the production of said flavoring solutions, and a process for producing a solution containing a lactone wherein the lactone is selectively extracted from a culture of a lactone-producing microorganism.

Abstract: An industrially applicable process for producing cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline, which is useful as a raw material for medicines or as an additive to foods. In the process, L-proline is converted into cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline in the presence of an enzyme source which is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptomyces or Bacillus and which catalyzes hydroxylation of L-proline into cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline, a divalent iron ion and 2-ketoglutaric acid, in an aqueous medium, and the produced cis-3-hydroxy-L-proline is collected from the aqueous medium. A novel enzyme L-proline-3-hydroxylase, a gene of L-proline-3-hydroxylase which is useful for the process, a transformant containing the gene, and a process for producing L-proline-3-hydroxylase using the transformant.

Abstract: A flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste, a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing the flavoring solutions, a process for producing lactones which are essential components of the flavoring solutions, and a bacterium belonging to the genus Corynebacterium which is useful for producing a lactone are disclosed. The bacterium is preferably Corynebacterium sp. NK-1 (FERM BP-6329). The lactone is preferably a &ggr; lactone.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a compound represented by general formula (II-a): 1

Abstract: An enzymatic process is presented for reducing the cholesterol level of foods and feeds by converting the cholesterol therein to coprostanol which has a very low intestinal tract absorbability. Cholesterol in meat, egg, milk, seafood and cooked processed foods containing the same, or feeds for animals, poultry, and pisiculture can be reduced by the sequential action of three enzymes isolated from a eubacterium: cholesterol dehydrogenase, 4-cholesten-3-one dehydrogenase and coprostan-3-one dehydrogenase.