Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated DNA encoding vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase selected from the group consisting of: (a) a DNA sequence represented in SEQ ID NO:9; (b) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity and hybridizes under standard conditions to the DNA sequence defined in (a) or a fragment of thereof; (c) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity, wherein said polypeptide is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence represented in SEQ ID NO:10; (d) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity and is at least 70% identical to the DNA sequence represented in SEQ ID NO:9; (e) a degenerate DNA sequence of any one of (a) to (c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA encoding a novel flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent D-erythronate 4-phosphate (EN4P) dehydrogenase originated from Sinorhizobium meliloti, which is involved in vitamin B6 biosynthesis, and a recombinant microorganism transformed with a vector having the DNA. It also relates to a process for production of vitamin B6 by using the recombinant microorganism. “Vitamin B6” as used in this invention includes pyridoxol (PN), pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. Vitamin B6 is a vitamin indispensable to human beings or other animals, and is used as a raw material of medicines or as feed additives.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mutant of a recombinant microorganism of the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing vitamin B6 having a recombinant plasmid with pdxJ gene that acquired histidine requirement of glycine resistance, or its combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an isolated DNA encoding vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase selected from the group consisting of: (a) a DNA sequence represented in SEQ ID NO:9; (b) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity and hybridizes under standard conditions to the DNA sequence defined in (a) or a fragment of thereof; (c) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity, wherein said polypeptide is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence represented in SEQ ID NO: 10; (d) a DNA sequence which encodes a polypeptide having vitamin B6 phosphate phosphatase activity and is at least 70% identical to the DNA sequence represented in SEQ ID NO:9; (e) a degenerate DNA sequence of any one of (a) to (c).

Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant microorganism being capable of producing vitamin B6, wherein said microorganism carries extra genes which code for an enzyme combination selected from: i) erythrose 4-phosphate dehydrogenase and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase; ii) erythrose 4-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyridoxol 5?-phosphate synthase; and iii) erythrose 4-phosphate dehydrogenase, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase and pyridoxol 5?-phosphate synthase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mutant of a recombinant microorganism of the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing vitamin B6 having a recombinant plasmid with pdxJ gene that acquired histidine requirement of glycine resistance, or its combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant microorganism of the genus Sinorhizobium which is transformed with a vector containing pyridoxol 5?-phophate synthase gene and D-erythrose 4-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, and being capable of producing vitamin B6.

Abstract: A purified vitamin B6-phosphate phosphatase (VB6PP), having the following physico-chemical properties: a) Molecular weight: 29,000±5,000 (consisting of a monomer having a molecular weight of 29,000±5,000); b) Co-factor: Mn2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Sn2+, or Ni2+; c) Substrate specificity: active on pyridoxol 5?-phosphate, pyridoxal 5?-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5?-phosphate; d) Optimum temperature: 30–400° C. at pH 7.5; and e) Optimum pH: 7.0–8.0 is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process for producing VB6PP from a microorganism belonging to the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing VB6PP, a process for producing vitamin B6 from vitamin B6-phosphate (VB6P) utilizing VB6PP, and a cell-free extract of a microorganism belonging to the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing VB6PP.

Abstract: Vitamin B6-phosphate phosphatase (VB6PP), a process for producing VB6PP and a process for producing vitamin B6 from vitamin B6-phosphate (VB6P) utilizing VB6PP and cell-free extract of a specific microorganism capable of producing VB6PP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetically engineered microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter or Acetobacter, which has an engineered gene for the biological activity of reducing L-sorbose which is more than 90% non-functional in developing the said biological activity. The engineered microorganism is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter or Acetobacter, and has the biological activity for reducing L-sorbose that is less than 10% of the amount of the activity of the wild type organism.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic production of vitamin B.sub.6 which includes incubating 1-deoxy-D-threo-pentulose and 4-hydroxy-L-threonine with an enzyme system that is cell free or essentially cell free and prepared from the cells of a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Flavobacterium, Chryseobacterium, Lactobacillus, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Enterobacter, Serratia, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Exiguobacterium, Saccharomyces, Yamadazyma, Pichia or Candida, in the presence of NADP.sup.+, NAD.sup.+, ATP. Manganese and magnesium ions stimulate the above reaction. This process affords high yields of vitamin B.sub.6, a vitamin essential for the nutrition of animals, plants and microorganisms, and which is also useful as a medicine or food additive. In addition, an enzyme reaction system for producing vitamin B.sub.6 and a process for making the enzyme reaction system are also provided.

Abstract: A process for producing d-biotin comprises cultivating a microorganism of the genus Kurthia and which is resistant to biotin antimetabolites and capable of producing d-biotin in a medium under aerobic conditions, and separating the resulting d-biotin from the fermentation broth. The cultivation medium suitably contains an assimilable carbon source, a digestible nitrogen source, inorganic salts and other nutrients necessary for the growth of the microorganism at a pH of about 5-9, temperature of about 10-40.degree. C. and for a duration of about 1-10 days. The preferred microorganism are Kurthia sp. 538-KA26, 538-17H4, 538-51F9 and 538-2A 13 (DSM No. 10609, 10608, 10610 and 10607, respectively), which are also new, and as such represent a further aspect of the present invention. The so-produced d-biotin is one of the essential vitamins for the nutrition of animals, plants and microorganisms, and is important as a medicine or food additive.

Abstract: A process for producting vitamin B.sub.6 comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhizobium and being capable of producing vitamin B.sub.6 in a culture medium under aerobic conditions, and separating the resulting vitamin B.sub.6 from the fermentation broth. As well as containing assimilable carbon sources, digestible nitrogen sources, inorganic salts and other nutrients necessary for the growth of the microorganism, the culture medium preferably additionally contains pyruvate, D-glyceraldehyde, glycolaldehyde, glycine, 1-deoxy-D-threo-pentulose, 4-hydroxy-L-threonine or a mixture thereof. This process affords high yields of vitamin B.sub.6, a vitamin essential for the nutrition of animals, plants and microorganisms and useful as a medicine and in foodstuffs.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with novel anthracyclines which are compounds of the general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a methyl or acetonyl group and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Also presented is a method of making the above compounds. The compounds possess antibacterial and antitumor activities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing aclacinomycins A and B. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a process for producing selectively aclacinomycins A and B in high yield without formation of cinerubins A and B, by means of a fermentation process, utilizing Streptomyces galilaeus OBB-731.

Abstract: There is disclosed compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a methyl or acetonyl group and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a group of the formula ##STR2## and a process for the preparation thereof. The compounds are useful as intermediates for the preparation of anthracycline antibiotics and certain of the compounds exhibit per se activity as antibacterial and antitumor agents.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic having the ascribed formula ##STR1## is provided. They physical characteristics are as follows: (a) Elementary analysis: Calculated (for C.sub.20 H.sub.16 O.sub.7): C,65.22; H,4.35%. Found: C,64.60; H,4.34%.(b) Molecular weight (mass-spectrometric): 368.(c) Melting point: 225.degree.-226.degree. C.(d) Specific rotation: [.alpha.].sub.D .sup.20 =+123.5.degree. (c=0.2 in chloroform).(e) Ultraviolet absorption spectrum:.lambda..sub.max .sup.methanol =235 nm (.epsilon.=28600); 262 nm (.epsilon.=21900); 434-435 nm (.epsilon.=11300);.lambda..sub.max .sup.0.1-N NaOH/methanol =246 nm (.epsilon.=22400); 256 nm (.epsilon.=23200); 523-524 nm (.epsilon.=9600).(f) Infrared absorption spectrum: 3500, 1710, 1672, 1628, 1600, 1575, 1472, 1452, 1420, 1390, 1295, 1255, 1218, 1200, 1182, 1105, 1025, 1005, 962, 938, 848, 765, 752, 730 cm.sup.-1.

Abstract: A novel antibiotic having the ascribed formula ##STR1## is provided. The physical characteristics are as follows: (a) Elementary analysis: Calculated (for C.sub.20 H.sub.16 O.sub.7): C, 65.22; H, 4.35%. Found: C, 64.60; H, 4.34%.(b) Molecular weight (mass-spectrometric): 368.(c) Melting point: 225.degree.-226.degree. C.(d) Specific rotation: [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.20 =+123.5.degree. (c=0.2 in chloroform).(e) Ultraviolet absorption spectrum:.lambda..sub.max.sup.methanol =235 nm (.epsilon.=28600); 262 nm (.epsilon.=21900); 434-435 nm (.epsilon.=11300);.lambda..sub.max.sup.0.1-N NaOH/methanol =246 nm (.epsilon.=22400); 256 nm (.epsilon.=23200); 523-524 nm (.epsilon.=9600).(f) Infrared absorption spectrum: 3500, 1710, 1672, 1628, 1600, 1575, 1472, 1452, 1420, 1390, 1295, 1255, 1218, 1200, 1182, 1105, 1025, 1005, 962, 938, 848, 765, 752, 730 cm.sup.-1.