Abstract: A D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose includes D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: Problem: A malaria transmission blocker or a malaria parasite growth inhibitor is provided as a result of finding a druq which inhibits malaria parasite growth in the body of a vector mosquito. Solution: A malaria parasite growth inhibitor or transmission blocker containing a rare sugar such as D-allose or D-psicose as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose includes D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: Providing a D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, comprising D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: Problem: A malaria transmission blocker or a malaria parasite growth inhibitor is provided as a result of finding a druq which inhibits malaria parasite growth in the body of a vector mosquito. Solution: A malaria parasite growth inhibitor or transmission blocker containinq a rare sugar such as D-allose or D-psicose as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A lifespan extending agent that is safe for animals, and can easily be ingested in a form that resembles foods. A lifespan extending method is also disclosed. In the lifespan extending agent, a rare sugar usable as a sweetener is contained as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Problems Development of a process of producing inexpensive and safe hexose and compositions of the same. Means for Resolution A process of producing a sugar composition comprising a definite amount of an target hexose, comprising treating a starting liquid sugar material comprising a starting sugar material hexose or a mixture comprising hexose in a system in the presence of one or more types selected from the group consisting of basic ion exchange resins, alkalis and calcium salts to initiate an isomerization reaction as an equilibrium reaction to transform the starting sugar material hexose to the target hexose to prepare a sugar mixture comprising a definite amount of the target hexose and having a sugar constitution different from that of the starting sugar material, and hexose compositions containing D-allose and D-psicose and the use of the hexose compositions.

Abstract: To develop a method for producing a novel sweetener containing glucose, fructose, and psicose, which is produced from glucose liquid sugar using an isomerase and an epimerase; use of the novel sweetener as a food or drink material; and a novel sweetener capable of preventing obesity caused by the intake thereof. An isomerase and an epimerase are allowed to act on glucose liquid sugar produced in a glucose liquid sugar production plant to thereby produce D-psicose, thereby providing a novel sweetener (product) that maintains the degree and quality of sweetness of a glucose-fructose mixed solution and never causes obesity, a method for producing the same, and use of the same.

Abstract: Problem: To provide a microorganism with an ability to produce deoxy polyol dehydrogenase. Means for Resolution: A microorganism belonging to genus Enterobacter with an ability to produce a dehydrogenase for deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol. The bacterial cell IK7 of the genus Enterobacter (accession No. NITE P-271). A method for producing deoxy ketose comprising allowing a culture containing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase obtained by the culturing of the microorganism of the invention or allowing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase to react with a solution containing deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol to oxidize deoxy polyol to produce the corresponding deoxy ketose and then collecting the deoxy ketose. The deoxy polyol is 1-deoxy-D-allitol, while the corresponding deoxy ketose is 1-deoxy-L-psicose.

Abstract: Providing 1- or 6-deoxy products corresponding to all of aldohexoses, ketohexoses and sugar alcohols, as based on Deoxy-Izumoring, as well as a method for systematically producing those products. A method for producing deoxyketohexose and a derivative thereof using a deoxyketohexose isomerase derived from Pseudomonas cichorii ST-24 (FERM BP-2736), comprising epimerizing 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose at position 3 to produce the individually corresponding 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose as an intended product.

Abstract: A lifespan extending agent that is safe for animals, and can easily be ingested in a form that resembles foods. A lifespan extending method is also disclosed. In the lifespan extending agent, a rare sugar usable as a sweetener is contained as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Object: To provide a thermostable L-ribose isomerase. Means for Resolution: The thermostable L-ribose isomerase with MW. 32,000 (by SDS-PAGE), optimal temperature of 45° C., optimal pH of pH 9.0 (glycine-NaOH buffer), and stable physicochemical properties such as temperature stability up to 45° C. during thermal treatment at pH 9.0 for 10 minutes, and with an action to isomerize L-ribose to generate L-ribulose or of inversely to isomerize L-ribulose to generate L-ribose.

Abstract: Problems Development of a process of producing inexpensive and safe hexose and compositions of the same. Means for Resolution A process of producing a sugar composition comprising a definite amount of an target hexose, comprising treating a starting liquid sugar material comprising a starting sugar material hexose or a mixture comprising hexose in a system in the presence of one or more types selected from the group consisting of basic ion exchange resins, alkalis and calcium salts to initiate an isomerization reaction as an equilibrium reaction to transform the starting sugar material hexose to the target hexose to prepare a sugar mixture comprising a definite amount of the target hexose and having a sugar constitution different from that of the starting sugar material, and hexose compositions containing D-allose and D-psicose and the use of the hexose compositions.

Abstract: Problem: To develop a method for producing a novel sweetener containing glucose, fructose, and psicose, which is produced from glucose liquid sugar using an isomerase and an epimerase; use of the novel sweetener as a food or drink material; and a novel sweetener capable of preventing obesity caused by the intake thereof. Means of Resolution: An isomerase and an epimerase are allowed to act on glucose liquid sugar produced in a glucose liquid sugar production plant to thereby produce D-psicose, thereby providing a novel sweetener (product) that maintains the degree and quality of sweetness of a glucose-fructose mixed solution and never causes obesity, a method for producing the same, and use of the same.

Abstract: Problem: To provide a microorganism with an ability to produce deoxy polyol dehydrogenase. Means for Resolution: A microorganism belonging to genus Enterobacter with an ability to produce a dehydrogenase for deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol. The bacterial cell IK7 of the genus Enterobacter (accession No. NITE P-271). A method for producing deoxy ketose comprising allowing a culture containing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase obtained by the culturing of the microorganism of the invention or allowing the deoxy polyol dehydrogenase to react with a solution containing deoxy polyol of the same structure at the positions C2 and C3 as that of ribitol or L-iditol to oxidize deoxy polyol to produce the corresponding deoxy ketose and then collecting the deoxy ketose. The deoxy polyol is 1-deoxy-D-allitol, while the corresponding deoxy ketose is 1-deoxy-L-psicose.

Abstract: Providing 1- or 6-deoxy products corresponding to all of aldohexoses, ketohexoses and sugar alcohols, as based on Deoxy-Izumoring, as well as a method for systematically producing those products. A method for producing deoxyketohexose and a derivative thereof using a deoxyketohexose isomerase derived from Pseudomonas cichorii ST-24 (FERM BP-2736), comprising epimerizing 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose at position 3 to produce the individually corresponding 1-deoxy D-ketohexose or 6-deoxy D-ketohexose or 1-deoxy L-ketohexose or 6-deoxy L-ketohexose as an intended product.

Abstract: Object: To provide a thermostable L-ribose isomerase. Means for Resolution: The thermostable L-ribose isomerase with MW. 32,000 (by SDS-PAGE), optimal temperature of 45° C., optimal pH of pH 9.0 (glycine-NaOH buffer), and stable physicochemical properties such as temperature stability up to 45° C. during thermal treatment at pH 9.0 for 10 minutes, and with an action to isomerize L-ribose to generate L-ribulose or of inversely to isomerize L-ribulose to generate L-ribose.

Abstract: Providing a D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, comprising D-psicose, a sugar alcohol and/or a high intensity sweetener, preferably containing D-psicose as the main component, particularly a low-calorie sweetener and/or a sweetener giving refreshing feel in the oral cavity, as well as foods and drinks obtained by using the D-psicose-containing sweetener with the modification of the taste of D-psicose, and other products given with sweetness. The sugar alcohol is one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, maltitol, xylitol and erythritol, while the high intensity sweetener is one or more high intensity sweeteners as selected from aspartame, acesulfame K, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, Sucralose (under trade name), stevia sweetener, dulcin, taumatin, neotame and monellin.

Abstract: The present invention provides an edible film comprising (A) a modified starch mixture of (a) at least one modified starch selected from the group consisting of etherified high amylose starches and esterified high amylose starches, and (b) at least one modified starch selected from the group consisting of etherified starch oxidation products, etherified starch acid decomposition products, etherified starch enzymatic decomposition products, and maltodextrins; (B) at least one gelling agent; and (C) at least one plasticizer.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a glucose polymer having an ion-exchanging ability comprises the steps of drying a mixed aqueous solution containing a raw glucose polymer and a polyvalent carboxylic acid to thus form a uniform powdery mixture and then subjecting the powdery mixture to a heat treatment. The method of the present invention can ensure the achievement of a high reaction efficiency, is economically advantageous since it never requires the use of any expensive catalyst and does not require the use of any complicated step for the removal of impurities. The glucose polymer prepared by the method of the present invention is biodegradable and can be used in, for instance, various foods and/or builders.