Patents by Inventor Kenzo Yokozeki

Kenzo Yokozeki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6924131
    Abstract: Xylitol is produced by allowing xylitol dehydrogenase or cells instoduced with a DNA coding for xylitol dehydrogenase, which is a protein of the following (A) or (B) to act on D-xylulose, and collecting produced xylitol: (A) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; (B) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 including substitution, deletion, insertion, addition, or inversion of one or several amino acids, and has xylitol dehydrogenase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Sugiyama, Naoto Tonouchi, Shunichi Suzuki, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20050124035
    Abstract: A method for producing an ?-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-?-ester (also named ?-L-(?-o-substituted aspartyl)-L-phenylalanine), which is an intermediate of an ?-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-?-methyl ester (also named ?-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester; product name: aspartame), easily, at high yield and inexpensively without going through a complex synthesis method is provided. Further, an easy, inexpensive and high-yield production method for an ?-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-?-methyl ester is provided. ?-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-?-methyl ester is produced from a L-aspartic acid-?,?-diester and L-phenylalanine using an enzyme or enzyme-containing substance that has an ability to catalyze a reaction in which L-phenylalanine performs no nucleophilic attack on a ?-ester site of L-aspartic acid-?,?-diester but performs a nucleophilic attack on an ?-ester site thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Ayako Ohno, Seiichi Hara, Isao Abe
  • Publication number: 20050084946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a 5-substituted hydantoin racemase, which efficiently catalyzes racemization reactions at a high optimum temperature for racemization reactions, DNA coding for the racemase, and processes for producing optically active amino acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shunichi Suzuki, Norimasa Onishi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20050054067
    Abstract: A process for industrially advantageously producing a dipeptide via a convenient pathway starting with less expensive and easily available materials is provided. A dipeptide is produced from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid by using a culture of a microbe capable of synthesizing the dipeptide from the L-amino acid amide and the L-amino acid, microbial cells separated from the culture or a treated microbial cell product from the microbe. An L-amino acid amide hydrolase is obtained from a microbe belonging to the genus erwinia, genus Rhodococcus, genus Chryseobacterium, genus Micrococcus, genus Cryptococcus, genus Trichosporion, genus Rhodosporidium, genus Sporobolomyces, genus Tremela, genus Torulaspora, genus Sterigmatomyces or genus Rhodotorula. The hydrolase catalyzes a reaction that produces a dipeptide from an L-amino acid amide and an L-amino acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nozaki, Ikuo Kira, Sonoko Suzuki, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20050037453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing dipeptide using inexpensively acquirable starting materials by an industrially advantageous and simple pathway. Dipeptide is produced from L-amino acid ester and L-amino acid using a culture of microbes having the ability to produce a dipeptide from an L-amino acid ester and an L-amino acid, using microbial cells isolated from the culture, or a treated microbial cell product of the microbe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO. INC
    Inventors: Naoto Tonouchi, Sonoko Suzuki, Kenzo Yokozeki, Hiroyuki Nozaki, Masakazu Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20050032154
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that allows the production of peptides that are equal to or longer than tripeptides easily, inexpensively and at high yield without going through a complex synthesis method. The inventors of the present invention have found a novel enzyme that efficiently produces a peptide from bacteria belonging to the genus Empedobacter or the genus Sphingobacterium. In the present invention, this enzyme is allowed to act on a carboxy component and an amine component to produce peptides that are equal to or longer than tripeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Sonoko Suzuki, Seiichi Hara, Isao Abe
  • Publication number: 20050032187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme that allows peptide to be produced easily, inexpensively and at high yield without going through a complex synthesis method. More particularly, the present invention provides a novel enzyme that catalyzes a peptide-producing reaction from a carboxy component and an amine component, a microbe that produces the enzyme, and a method for inexpensive production of peptides using this enzyme or microbe. The novel enzyme that efficiently produces peptide was discovered from a newly discovered microbe belonging to the genus Empedobacter, and a method was found that allows peptides to be produced inexpensively and easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Sonoko Suzuki, Seiichi Hara, Satoshi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20050019864
    Abstract: DNA and recombinant DNA that encode a peptide-forming enzyme, a method for producing a peptide-forming enzyme, and a method for producing a dipeptide are disclosed. A method for producing a dipeptide includes producing a dipeptide from a carboxy component and an amine component by using a culture of a microbe belonging to the genus Sphingobacterium and having the ability to form the dipeptide from the carboxy component and the amine component, a microbial cell separated from the culture, treated microbial cell product of the microbe or a peptide-forming enzyme derived from the microbe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiichi Hara, Kenzo Yokozeki, Isao Abe, Naoto Tonouchi, Yasuko Jojima
  • Publication number: 20040253665
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme that allows peptide to be produced easily, inexpensively and at high yield without going through a complex synthesis method. More particularly, the present invention provides a novel enzyme that catalyzes a peptide-producing reaction from a carboxy component and an amine component, a microbe that produces the enzyme, and a method for inexpensive production of peptides using this enzyme or microbe. The novel enzyme that efficiently produces peptide was discovered from a newly discovered microbe belonging to the genus Empedobacter, and a method was found that allows peptides to be produced inexpensively and easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Sonoko Suzuki, Seiichi Hara, Satoshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 6815195
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a 5-substituted hydantoin racemase, which efficiently catalyzes racemization reactions at a high optimum temperature for racemization reactions, DNA coding for the racemase, and processes for producing optically active amino acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Shunichi Suzuki, Norimasa Onishi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20040219631
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that allows the production of peptides having three or more amino acid residues easily, inexpensively and at high yield without going through a complex synthesis method. A novel enzyme that efficiently produces a peptide from bacteria belonging to the genus Empedobacter or the genus Sphingobacterium is provided. The enzyme acts on a carboxy component and an amine component to form peptides having three or more amino acid residues by acting on a carboxy component and an amine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Sonoko Suzuki, Seiichi Hara, Isao Abe
  • Publication number: 20040204577
    Abstract: DNA and recombinant DNA that encode a peptide-forming enzyme, a method for producing a peptide-forming enzyme, and a method for producing a dipeptide are disclosed. A method for producing a dipeptide includes producing a dipeptide from a carboxy component and an amine component by using a culture of a microbe belonging to the genus Sphingobacterium and having the ability to form the dipeptide from the carboxy component and the amine component, a microbial cell separated from the culture, treated microbial cell product of the microbe or a peptide-forming enzyme derived from the microbe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiichi Hara, Kenzo Yokozeki, Isao Abe, Naoto Tonouchi, Yasuko Jojima
  • Patent number: 6777208
    Abstract: A 2′-deoxyribonucleoside is produced by culturing a microorganism, which is transformed with a gene encoding a ribonucleotide reductase and in which 2′-deoxyribonucleoside degradation activity is decreased or eliminated by disrupting a gene encoding a purine nucleoside phosphorylase on chromosomal DNA, in a medium in which the microorganism can grow to produce the 2′-deoxyribonucleoside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Seiichi Hara, Naoto Tonouchi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20040137558
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a dipeptide from starting materials that are available at low costs through a route industrially advantageous and simple. Dipeptides are produced from amino acid esters and amino acids by using a culture of a microbe having an ability to produce a dipeptide from an amino acid ester and an amino acid, microbial cells separated from the culture, or treated microbial cell product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Kenzo Yokozeki, Sonoko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20040054216
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for industrially producing an optically active lysine derivative useful as a pharmaceutical intermediate. More particularly, the present invention provides a production method including protecting an amino group or an amino group and carboxyl group of optically active 2-amino-6-methyl-6-nitroheptanoic acid with a protecting group, reducing a nitro group to synthesize a 6,6-dimethyl lysine derivative and reacting the 6,6-dimethyl lysine derivative with an acetic acid derivative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Masakazu Nakazawa, Daisuke Takahashi, Norimasa Onishi, Masaki Naito, Kunisuke Izawa, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6664412
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for industrially producing an optically active lysine derivative useful as a pharmaceutical intermediate. More particularly, the present invention provides a production method including protecting an amino group or an amino group and carboxyl group of optically active 2-amino-6-methyl-6-nitroheptanoic acid with a protecting group, reducing a nitro group to synthesize a 6,6-dimethyl lysine derivative and reacting the 6,6-dimethyl lysine derivative with an acetic acid derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masakazu Nakazawa, Daisuke Takahashi, Norimasa Onishi, Masaki Naito, Kunisuke Izawa, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030148482
    Abstract: D-Xylulose is efficiently converted into xylitol by allowing a microorganism which is transformed with a gene encoding xylitol dehydrogenase and has an ability to supply reducing power to act on D-xylulose to produce xylitol, and collecting the produced xylitol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO. INC
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takenaka, Naoto Tonouchi, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030148472
    Abstract: DNA for encoding a protein having D-hydantoinase activity which has a base sequence represented by Sequence ID No. 1 in the Sequence Listing. DNA for encoding a protein having D-carbamylase activity which has a base sequence represented by Sequence ID No. 3 in the Sequence Listing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takenaka, Ikuo Kira, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Publication number: 20030113880
    Abstract: DNA for encoding a protein having D-hydantoinase activity which has a base sequence represented by Sequence ID No. 1 in the Sequence Listing. DNA for encoding a protein having D-carbamylase activity which has a base sequence represented by Sequence ID No. 3 in the Sequence Listing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takenaka, Ikuo Kira, Kenzo Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 6579699
    Abstract: A method for producing a fermentative product by utilizing a microorganism, the method comprising culturing the microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate the fermentative product in the medium, and collecting the fermentative product, wherein the microorganism expresses a heat shock protein derived from a hyperthermophilic archaeon strain KOD-1 in a cell of the microorganism by introduction of a gene coding for the heat shock protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kikuchi, Osamu Kurahashi, Kenzo Yokozeki, Takashi Tanaka