Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera, as well as a gene encoding the same. This lipase has the ability to recognize a medium-chain fatty acid as a substrate. The present invention also provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera and has the ability to recognize both a medium-chain fatty acid and a long-chain fatty acid as substrates, as well as a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further provides Tetrasphaera sp. strain NITE P-154. The lipase of the present invention can be used as an immobilized enzyme and is useful in fields such as production of digestants and/or flavorings, production of clinical laboratory reagents, detergent enzymes and/or fats, as well as production of optically active intermediates for agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel lysophospholipid acyltransferases. The object of the present invention is attained by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 6 and the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 7 of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase genes. A nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 36 or 37 or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera, as well as a gene encoding the same. This lipase has the ability to recognize a medium-chain fatty acid as a substrate. The present invention also provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera and has the ability to recognize both a medium-chain fatty acid and a long-chain fatty acid as substrates, as well as a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further provides Tetrasphaera sp. strain NITE P-154. The lipase of the present invention can be used as an immobilized enzyme and is useful in fields such as production of digestants and/or flavorings, production of clinical laboratory reagents, detergent enzymes and/or fats, as well as production of optically active intermediates for agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides fatty acid synthetases which are responsible for novel fatty acid synthesis, polynucleotides which encode such fatty acid synthetases (e.g., a polynucleotide comprising (a) a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of Positions 1 to 12486 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (b) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of Positions 1 to 12486 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and which encodes a protein having a fatty acid synthetase activity), expression vectors and transformants comprising such polynucleotides, methods for producing food and other products using such transformants, food products produced by such methods, and methods for assessing and selecting lipid-producing test fungi.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera, as well as a gene encoding the same. This lipase has the ability to recognize a medium-chain fatty acid as a substrate. The present invention also provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera and has the ability to recognize both a medium-chain fatty acid and a long-chain fatty acid as substrates, as well as a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further provides Tetrasphaera sp. strain NITE P-154. The lipase of the present invention can be used as an immobilized enzyme and is useful in fields such as production of digestants and/or flavorings, production of clinical laboratory reagents, detergent enzymes and/or fats, as well as production of optically active intermediates for agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel genes for ATP:citrate lyase. A nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5, 6, 9 or 10 or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fatty acid composition whose fatty acid rate differs from that previously reported.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a glycoside of a flavonoid compound, which comprises the step of treating flavonoid and a glycosyl donor with an enzymatic agent having glycosylation activity and being derived from the genus Trichoderma (preferably Trichoderma viride or Trichoderma reesei). Such a flavonoid compound includes a catechin compound or a methylated derivative thereof, and the glycosyl donor includes a carbohydrate containing a maltotriose residue (preferably maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose, dextrin, ?-cyclodextrin or soluble starch). Glycosides obtained by the present invention have higher water solubility, improved taste, and increased stability. The present invention also provides novel glycosides of catechin compounds, which are obtained by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase genes. A nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 36 or 37 or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel genes for phosphatidic acid phosphatase. A nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 4 or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel genes for glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. A nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 4 or a fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 32 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera, as well as a gene encoding the same. This lipase has the ability to recognize a medium-chain fatty acid as a substrate. The present invention also provides a novel lipase with a molecular weight of about 40 kDa, which is produced by a strain belonging to the genus Tetrasphaera and has the ability to recognize both a medium-chain fatty acid and a long-chain fatty acid as substrates, as well as a polynucleotide encoding the same. The present invention further provides Tetrasphaera sp. strain NITE P-154. The lipase of the present invention can be used as an immobilized enzyme and is useful in fields such as production of digestants and/or flavorings, production of clinical laboratory reagents, detergent enzymes and/or fats, as well as production of optically active intermediates for agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations.

Abstract: The present invention provides fatty acid synthetases which are responsible for novel fatty acid synthesis, polynucleotides which encode such fatty acid synthetases (e.g., a polynucleotide comprising (a) a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of Positions 1 to 12486 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (b) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of Positions 1 to 12486 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and which encodes a protein having a fatty acid synthetase activity), expression vectors and transformants comprising such polynucleotides, methods for producing food and other products using such transformants, food products produced by such methods, and methods for assessing and selecting lipid-producing test fungi.

Abstract: A method of breeding a lipid-producing strain belonging to the genus Mortierella. According to the method of breeding a lipid-producing strain which involves an expression-inhibiting step of inhibiting the expression of a specific gene in the lipid-producing strain as described above, a lipid-producing strain belonging to the genus Mortierella can be efficiently and effectively bred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening a microorganism or protein having a useful function by using a micro-chamber array. Using the screening method and screening apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a target protein having an enzymatic activity or a microorganism producing such a protein is screened from a sample serving as a screening object by using a base plate having a plurality of micro-chambers arranged in the form of an array. With this method and apparatus, a protein having an enzymatic activity or a microorganism producing such a protein that is present in a micro-chamber is detected by detecting a fluorescence produced by an enzyme reaction of the protein having an enzymatic activity and a fluorescence substrate.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a breeding method whereby a lipid-producing fungus belonging to the genus Mortierella can be effectively and efficiently bred without resort to antibiotics. Transformation is carried out with the use of an auxotroph (for example, uracil auxotroph) of a fungus belonging to the Mortierella as a host. More specically speaking, a gene compensating for the auxotrophy, which is employed as a marker, is transferred into the host (the gene transfer step). Next, a transformant is selected by using the recovery from the auxotrophy as the marker (the selection step). The lipid-producing fungus may be M. aplina, for example.

Abstract: A DNA construct comprising: (1) a selective marker gene, (2) a galactose-inducible growth inhibition sequence, (3) a pair of FRT sequences in the same orientation flanking (1) and (2), and (4) a DNA fragment capable of recombining with a yeast chromosomal DNA located at each end of (3), wherein said FRT sequences contain the following sequence: 5′-GAAGTTCCTATAC TTTCTAGA GAATAGGAACTTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 1) inverted spacer inverted repeat (1) sequence repeat (2) or a sequence substantially identical to said sequence.