Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a polypeptide (I) including the following amino acid sequence (II) in a molecule thereof: TyrAlaGluHisLysSerHisArgGlyGluTyrSerValCys (II) AspSerGluSerLeuTrpValThrAspLysSerSerAlaIle spIleArgGlyHisGlnValThrValLeuGlyGluIleLys ThrGlyAsnSerProValLysGlnTyrPheTyrGluThrArg CysLysGluAlaArgProValLysAsnGlyCysArgGlyIle AspAspLysHisTrpAsnSerGlnCysLysThrSerGlnThr TyrValArgAlaLeuThrSerGluAsnAsnLysLeuValGly TrpArgTrpIleArgIleAspThrSerCysValCysAlaLeu SerArgLysIleGlyArg (2) a DNA sequence coding for the polypeptide described in (1), (3) a vector including the DNA described in (2), (4) a transformant transformed by the vector described in (3), and (5) a process for producing the polypeptide (I) which comprises cultivating the transformant described in (4) in a culture medium to produce and accumulate the polypeptide described in (1) in a culture.

Abstract: A microorganism resistant to a threonine analogue, which has a plasmid containing part or whole of a biotin operon; and a process for producing biotin, which comprises culturing a microorganism described above in a medium to produce and accumulate biotin in the medium, and collecting biotin.

Abstract: A microorganism resistant to a threonine analogue, which has a plasmid containing part or whole of a biotin operon; and a process for producing biotin, which comprises culturing a microorganism described above in a medium to produce and accumulate biotin in the medium, and collecting biotin.

Abstract: A DNA sequence of high biotin operon-expression system usable for breeding a bacterium having excellent biotin productivity is provided.A DNA sequence of biotin operon characterized in the fact that at least one base pair of either a nucleotide sequence of the regulatory region of the biotin operon of Escherichia coli or a nucleotide sequence in the vicinity of the bioB initiating codon is mutated in comparison with that of the one in its wild type strain is provided. Escherichia coli transformed with a recombinant plasmid carrying such a DNA sequence has high biotin-productivity.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active form of a compound of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group that may be substituted; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently represent hydrogen, a hydrocarbon group that may be substituted, or a heteroaromatic group that may be substituted; X' represents a substituent comprising an esterified carboxyl group or an acylated hydroxyl group; ring A represents a benzene ring that may be substituted or a heteroaromatic ring that may be substituted; ring J' represents a 7- or 8-membered heterocyclic ring containing at most 3 hetero-atoms as ring-constituent members, which may have a further substituent or substituents in addition to R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed are (A) an antibody to a peptide consisting of 8 to 9, or 12 to 14 successive amino acids from a polypeptide having nerve growth factor-like activity, (B) a method for producing the antibody, (C) a cloned hybridoma which produces the antibody, (D) a method for producing the cloned hybridoma, (E) a conjugate of the above mentioned peptide with a carrier protein, and (F) a method for purifying, and a method for detecting and assaying a polypeptide having nerve growth factor-like activity.

Abstract: A microorganism resistant to a nicotinic acid analogue, which has a plasmid containing part or whole of a biotin operon; and a process for producing biotin, which comprises culturing a microorganism described above in a medium to produce and accumulate biotin in the medium, and collecting biotin.

Abstract: Disclosed are (A) an antibody to a peptide including at least 8 successive amino acids of an amino acid sequence represented by formulaTyrAlaGluHisLysSerHisArgGlyGluTyrSerValCys AspSerGluSerLeuTrpValThrAspLysSerSerAlaIle AspIleArgGlyHisGlnValThrValLeuGlyGluIleLys ThrGlyAsnSerProValLysGlnTyrPheTyrGluThrArg CysLysGluAlaArgProValLysAsnGlyCysArgGlyIle AspAspLysHisTrpAsnSerGlnCysLysThrSerGlnThr TyrValArgAlaLeuThrSerGluAsnAsnLysLeuValGly TrpArgTrpIleArgIleAspThrSerCysValCysAlaLeu SerArgLysIleGlyArg[1],wherein said antibody has no substantial cross-reactivity with human NGF,(B) a method for producing the antibody, (C) a cloned hybridoma which produces the antibody, (D) a method for producing the cloned hybridoma, (E) a partial peptide of a polypeptide (I) including an amino acid sequence represented by formula (1), (F) a conjugate of a peptide including at least 8 successive amino acids of formula (1) with a carrier protein, (G) a method for purifying the polypeptide (I) and (H) a method for detecting and assaying t

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA fragment containing a gene encoding acylamino acid racemase. The acylamino acid racemase can be produced industrially at high efficiency using the DNA fragment.

Abstract: There are disclosed a compound of the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein the group R--CO-- is an acyl group and its production. There is also disclosed a process for producing optically active (.+-.)-(3a.alpha., 4.alpha., 6a.alpha.)-tetrahydro-4-acetoxy-1,3-dibenzyl-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-2(3H )-one by using the compound (I). The compound (I) can be used as an intermediate for producing D-biotin which is useful as medicaments and feed additives for animals.

Abstract: Disclosed are respiratory-deficient yeast except Saccharomyces cerevisiae AH22R.sup.-, said respiratory-deficient yeast being transformed with a DNA containing a gene encoding a protein foreign to yeast and a method for preparing a protein foreign to yeast described above, which comprises culturing the yeast, and producing and accumulating the protein in a culture. The respiratory-deficient yeast of the present invention can produce a higher amount of protein than its parent strain.

Abstract: A DNA sequence wherein a DNA segment coding for a signal peptide of the formula:M-R-S-F-L-L-L-A-L-C-F-L-P-L-A-A-L-Gis bound to the 5' end of a DNA segment coding for human lysozyme, a cell transformed with the above DNA sequence and a process for producing human lysozyme, which comprises cultivating the above cell accumulating human lysozyme in the culture and recovering the same are disclosed.The above techniques make the mass production of human lysozyme useful as pharmaceuticals possible. The present signal peptide is superior to that of hen egg white lysozyme for secretive production of human lysozyme.

Abstract: Antibiotic C-15003 PHO of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H, hydroxyl, alkanoyloxy, alkenylcarbonyloxy or arylcarbonyloxy; R.sub.2 is H, hydroxyl or alkanoyloxy; R.sub.3 is H or alkanoyloxy is produced by introducing a hydroxyl group into 15-position of a maytansinoid compound, and, if desired, thus obtained compound is subjected to deacylation or acylation.Antibiotic C-15003 PHO is useful as antiprotozoal or antitumor agent.

Abstract: Antibiotic C-15003 PND of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is H or alkanoyl containing not more than 5 carbon atoms is produced by contacting a maytansinoid compound with a culture broth, inclusive of a processed matter derived therefrom, of a microorganism belonging to one of the genera Streptomyces and Chainia which is able to transform said maytansinoid compound into Antibiotic C-15003 PND.Antibiotic C-15003 PND is useful as antitumor, antifungal or antiprotozoal agent.

Abstract: Novel demethylmaytansinoids representable by the formula: ##STR1## (wherein X is Cl or H; R.sub.1 is H or acyl group) are produced from maytansinoids by means of enzymic transformation. The demethylmaytansinoids are useful as antifungal, antiprotozoal or antitumor agents.

Abstract: Novel demethylmaytansinoids representable by the formula: ##STR1## [wherein X is Cl or H; R.sub.1 is H or acyl group] are produced from maytansinoids by means of enzymic transformation. The demethylmaytansinoids are useful as antifungal, antiprotozoal or antitumor agents.