Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine, including (a) a step of obtaining a composition containing phosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase D to act on a raw material containing phosphatidylcholine in the presence of serine and (b) a step of obtaining a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase A1 to act on the composition containing phosphatidylserine in the presence of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of the following (I), (II), and (III), in which (I) one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sulfate salts, phosphate salts, nitrate salts, citrate salts, and tartarate salts of monovalent cations, (II) a gum, and (III) an emulsifier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine, including (a) a step of obtaining a composition containing phosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase D to act on a raw material containing phosphatidylcholine in the presence of serine and (b) a step of obtaining a composition containing 2-acyl-lysophosphatidylserine by allowing phospholipase A1 to act on the composition containing phosphatidylserine in the presence of one or more additives selected from the group consisting of the following (I), (II), and (III), in which (I) one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sulfate salts, phosphate salts, nitrate salts, citrate salts, and tartarate salts of monovalent cations, (II) a gum, and (III) an emulsifier.

Abstract: A new supply source of enzymes useful for modification of phospholipids for example, and a method for producing 2-acyl lysophospholipid, a method for producing monoacylglycerol, and a method for producing ceramide, as well as a new method for degumming fat and oil. A novel microorganism is provided, which belongs to Moritella species and is capable of producing enzymes provided with: phospholipase A1 activity; phospholipase C activity; lysophospholipase C activity; and sphingomyelinase activity. By use of those enzymes, the following processes may be effected: hydrolysis of phospholipids for production of 2-acyl lysophospholipid and diacylglycerol; hydrolysis of sphingomyeline for production of ceramide; and degumming of fat and oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new supply source of phospholipase A1, which is useful for phospholipid modification and lipid biochemical research, and offers a method capable of efficiently manufacturing a large amount of high DHA content phospholipids and lysophospholipids. A novel microorganism HFKI-0020 (FERM AP-20545) of the genus Pseudomonas which produces enzymes with phospholipase A1 activity can be used as a new supply source of enzymes with the phospholipase A1 activity. A lipid-modifying agent containing an effective dose of enzymes with the phospholipase A1 activity produced by those novel microorganisms allows the efficient mass-production of lysophospholipids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new supply source of enzymes useful for modification of phospholipids for example, and also provides a method for producing 2-acyl lysophospholipid, a method for producing monoacylglycerol, and a method for producing ceramide, as well as a new method for degumming fat and oil. A novel microorganism is provided, which belongs to Moritella species and is capable of producing enzymes provided with: phospholipase A1 activity; phospholipase C activity; lysophospholipase C activity; and sphingomyelinase activity. By use of those enzymes, the following processes may be effected: hydrolysis of phospholipids for production of 2-acyl lysophospholipid and diacylglycerol; hydrolysis of sphingomyeline for production of ceramide; and degumming of fat and oil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new supply source of phospholipase A1, which is useful for phospholipid modification and lipid biochemical research, and offers a method capable of efficiently manufacturing a large amount of high DHA content phospholipids and lysophospholipids. A novel microorganism HFKI-0020 (FERM AP-20545) of the genus Pseudomonas which produces enzymes with phospholipase A1 activity can be used as a new supply source of enzymes with the phospholipase A1 activity. A lipid-modifying agent containing an effective dose of enzymes with the phospholipase A1 activity produced by those novel microorganisms allows the efficient mass-production of lysophospholipids.

Abstract: An aniline derivative of the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is an eicosapentaenoyl or docosahexaenoyl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently an alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; and A is a single bond, --C(.dbd.O)NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --NH-- wherein n is 2 or 3, or a bivalent group of the following formula ##STR2## wherein m and p are each independently 0 or 1. The aniline derivative of the present invention has high inhibitory activity against and high selectivity for ACAT derived from macrophage and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis and treatment of arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: There is provided an advantageous process for production of EPA by a gene recombinant technique wherein genes coding for biosynthesis enzymes for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) useful as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, foods, feeds or the like is obtained from microorganisms.EPA is produced by obtaining genes coding for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) biosynthesis enzymes, constructing a plasmid by joining the genes to a vector, transforming E. coli with the plasmid, and culturing the transformed E. coli.

Abstract: There is provided an advantageous process for production of EPA by a gene recombinant technique wherein genes coding for biosynthesis enzymes for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) useful as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, foods, feeds or the like is obtained from microorganisms.EPA is produced by obtaining genes coding for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) biosynthesis enzymes, constructing a plasmid by joining the genes to a vector, transforming E. coli with the plasmid, and culturing the transformed E. coli.

Abstract: A drug for hepatic diseases, particularly an ameliorant for hepatic functions and a drug for hepatitis, containing docosahexaenoic acid or a derivative thereof (DHA) as an active ingredient. The DHA as the active drug ingredient, though also taking part in the metabolism of cholesterol formed in vivo and exuding into the plasma, mainly metabolizes that cholesterol specifically which is accumulated in hepatic microsomes as a result of hypometabolism or dysbolism to thereby bring about the recovery of flexibility of a microsome lipid membrane, thus enhancing the enzymatic activity, and to significantly reduce a triglyceride, thus being prospective as an ameliorant for hepatic functions in treating fatty liver, hepatic cirrhosis, etc. The invention also provides a drug for hepatitis, which can inhibit the induction of hepatitis which is one of the factor causative of chronic hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic insufficiency, etc.

Abstract: A process for the production of eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of a) culturing a microorganism capable of producing lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas and Shewanella, to produce lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid, and b) recovering the eicosapentaenoic acid from the cultured product; a process for production of a lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of a) culturing a microorganism capable of producing lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas and Shewanella, to produce lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid, and b) recovering the lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid; and microorganisms capable of producing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas, and Shewanella.

Abstract: [Object] A fatty acid-related polyunsaturated compound can be selectively purified using an industrially operable successive method under moderate conditions. [Content] A highly purified fatty acid-related polyunsaturated compound is obtained by a process comprising steps of forming a complex with silver on account of the high degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid-related polyunsaturated compound, isolating the complex from other fats on account of the hydrophilicity of the complex and then applying dissociating procedures to the complex to obtain the fatty acid-related polyunsaturated compound as a target substance on account of the hydrophobicity of the fatty acid-related polyunsaturated compound. As to the procedures for dissociation, addition of a dissociating agent and reduction of silver are disclosed. As to the dissociating agent, various compounds which produce insoluble composition with silver other then water are disclosed.

Abstract: Hypocholesterolemically and/or hypotriglyceridemically active RNA fractions having the following characteristics:(a) Molecular weight by gel filtration: 2,000.+-.1,000(b) Base composition ratio of nucleic acid: uracil: guanine: cytosine: adenine=13.0: 16.0: 16.0: 10.0(c) Infrared absorption sepctrum: shown in FIG. 2(d) Physiological characteristics: having a hypocholesterolemic and/or hypotriglyceridemic activity in mammals.These hypocholesterolemically and/or hypotriglyceridemically active RNA fractions can be prepared by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptococcus in an adequate culture medium therefor; and collecting the hypocholesterolemically and/or hypotriglyceridemically active RNA fractions from the cultured cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: A hypocholesterolemically active protein capable of reducing the blood cholesterol in mammals having the following characteristics:(a) Molecular weight by gel filtration: 30,000.+-.7,000(b) Isoelectric point: 7.9.+-.0.2(c) Amino acid composition (mole %):______________________________________ Glycine 25.23 Alanine 10.98 Glutamate 10.34 Asparaginate 8.20 Lysine 6.39 Leucine 5.58 Valine 5.41 Isoleucine 5.18 Threonine 4.23 Tyrosine 4.19 Serine 3.46 Proline 2.62 Arginine 2.60 Phenylalanine 2.51 Methionine 1.56 Histidine 1.30 Cysteine 0.16 ______________________________________(d) Pattern of electrophoresis: a sharp band on the anode side on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This hypocholesterolemically active protein is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptococcus.

Abstract: A bacterial cell product orally administered to lower serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride level in mammals obtained by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptococcus and having a N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase activity in an adequate culture medium therefor, and collecting the cultivated microorganism from the resultant culture.

Abstract: A hypotriglyceridemically active polysaccharide having the following characteristics:(a) Specific rotatory power:[.alpha.].sub.D.sup.29 =+190.1(1.8 w/v % solution)(b) Molecular weight by gel filtration:14,000.+-.3,000(c) Sugar composition (weight percent by gas chromatography)glucose: 70.3rhamnose: 13.7uronic acid: 16.0(d) Acid-base characteristic:neutral polysaccharides(e) Physiological characteristics:capable of reducing the blood triglyceride in mammals.This hypotriglyceridemically active polysaccharide can be prepared by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptococcus in an adequate culture medium therefor; and collecting the hypotriglyceridemically active polysaccharide from the cultured cells of the microorganism and/or the supernatant of the culture broth.

Abstract: A bacterial cell product having hypocholesterolemic and/or hypotriglyceridemic activity in mammals obtained by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Streptococcus and having a N-acetyl-.beta.-D-glucosaminidase activity in an adequate culture medium therefor, and collecting the cultivated microorganism from the resultant culture.