Abstract: Lipase isolated from Penicillium characterized by the following properties:(1) Efficiently hydrolyzes triglycerides of fatty acids having 4-18 carbon atoms;(2) Hydrolysis of such triglycerides with such lipase produces at least 5 moles of glycerol per 100 moles of fatty acid;(3) Optimal pH range for said hydrolysis 5-7;(4) Stable in the pH range of 4.5-6;(5) Optimal temperature range for activity 35.degree.-40.degree. C.;(6) thermal stability up to about 35.degree. C.;(7) Activated by surface-active agents, but not substantially inhibited by such surface-active agents in concentration up to 5%;(8) Molecular weight about 1000,000 to 120,000;(9) Isoelectric point about pH 3.84.

Abstract: An enzymatic method for measurement of cholesterol comprises incubating:(a) a test sample;(b) a cholesterol dehydrogenase;(c) an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of nicotinamide - adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide - adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP); and(d) a surfactantand measuring the resulting detectable oxidized and reduced products kinetically.A composition for the kinetic measurement of cholesterol comprises:(a) a cholesterol dehydrogenase;(b) an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of nicotinamide - adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide - adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP); and(c) a surfactant.

Abstract: A novel enzyme of bilirubin oxidase and a conventional enzyme of laccase are found to oxidize bilirubin to biliverdin without formation of hydrogen peroxide, thereby permitting the content of conjugated bilirubin in biological fluid to be quantitatively determined by reacting therewith the bilirubin oxidase of a microorganism of genus Myrothecium origin, and also permitting the content of total bilirubin in biological fluid to be quantitatively determined by reacting therewith such a bilirubin oxidase or laccase in the presence of a specific additive compound.

Abstract: A method for determination of glycerol by using a reagent system comprising glycerol dehydrogenase and a pyridine nucleotide coenzyme, characterized in that an enzyme selected from the group consisting of triokinase and dihydroxyacetone kinase is incorporated into the reagent system to eliminate the formed dihydroxyacetone or D-glyceraldehyde in the assay system.

Abstract: A rapid and reliable method is proposed for the quantitative determination of the individual free and acetylated polyamines, i.e. spermine, spermidine, putrescine, acetylspermine, N.sup.1 - and N.sup.8 -acetylspermidines and acetylputrescine in the body fluid of a patient suffering cancer or other diseases to facilitate diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. The method comprises subjecting the aqueous fluid to several enzymatic oxidative decomposition reactions of the polyamines in sequence or in combination by use of the 4 enzymes, i.e. polyamine oxidase AT-1, polyamine oxidase PC-3, putrescine oxidase and acetylputrescine oxidase, and determining, preferably photometrically, the amount of hydrogen peroxide formed as a byproduct in each of the reaction steps followed by setting up a set of simultaneous equations to give the respective amounts of the individual polyamines as a function of the amounts of the hydrogen peroxide formed in the reaction steps and solving the simultaneous equations.

Abstract: A process for producing dihydroxyacetone kinase comprises the cultivation of the DHAK-producing strains of genus Schizosaccharomyces, and the purification of dihydroxyacetone kinase from the culture.

Abstract: A novel enzyme of bilirubin oxidase produced by a genus Myrothecium or genus Coprinus origin microorganism and a conventional enzyme of laccase are found, in the presence of a specific additive compound, e.g. a surface active agent, aromatic carboxylic acid, sulfa drug or protease, to oxidize both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in biological fluid to biliverdin without formation of hydrogen peroxide, such that in the case of conventional enzymatic methods of the quantitative determination of glucose, cholesterol, neutral fats, free fatty acids, phospholipids or uric acid all existing together with bilirubin in biological fluid, the usual interference with such determination, as otherwise caused by bilirubin coexisting in such fluid, can be prevented by adding such a bilirubin oxidase or laccase together with such a specific additive compound to the determinative reaction system.

Abstract: A rapid and reliable method is proposed for the quantitative determination of the individual free and acetylated polyamines, i.e. spermine, spermidine, putrescine, acetylspermine, N.sup.1 - and N.sup.8 -acetylspermidines and acetylputrescine in the body fluid of a patient suffering cancer or other deseases to facilitate diagnosis and therapeutic treatment. The method comprises subjecting the aqueous fluid to several enzymatic oxidative decomposition reactions of the polyamines in sequence or in combination by use of the 4 enzymes, i.e. polyamine oxidase AT-1, polyamine oxidase PC-3, putrescine oxidase and acetylputrescine oxidase, and determining, preferably photometrically, the amount of hydrogen peroxide formed as a byproduct in each of the reaction steps followed by setting up a set of simultaneous equations to give the respective amounts of the individual polyamines as a function of the amounts of the hydrogen peroxide formed in the reaction steps and solving the simultaneous equations.