Abstract: The present invention relates to:

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase that is excellent in thermal stability. Moreover, the present invention provides a fructosyl amino acid oxidase gene encoding the novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase, a recombinant DNA in which the gene is inserted into a vector DNA, a transformant or transductant containing this gene, and a process for producing the novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase, which comprises culturing the transformant or transductant in a medium and collecting the novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase from the culture product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to:

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a novel fructosyl peptide oxidase having superior physicochemical properties such as stability that is useful as an enzyme for clinical diagnosis, and an object of providing a method for producing the fructosyl peptide oxidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to luminescent playthings such as candles, table lights, pen lights, illumination, illuminating playthings for camp, illuminating playthings for night fishing, fish-gathering lamps, safety candles, neon lights, luminescent inks, luminescent pens, luminescent coatings or luminescent writing implements, in which a soft light of an indescribable tone of color not obtainable from flames of conventional candles is emitted via seawater, lake and marsh water, river water, ground water, tap water or mineral drinking water by utilizing 3 components of luciferin, luciferase and ATP or 4 components of these components plus a metal salt, out of components necessary for bioluminescence in fireflies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a reagent for quantitating D-cysteine in a convenient and highly-sensitive manner. The present invention provides a method for quantitating D-cysteine in a sample, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting D-cysteine with a D-luciferin precursor to produce D-luciferin or a D-luciferin derivative; and (b) quantitating D-cysteine by determining the level of the produced D-luciferin or D-luciferin derivative. The D-luciferin precursor may be 2-cyano-6-hydroxybenzothiazole or 2-cyano-6-O-&bgr;-D-galactosylbenzothiazole. The present invention also provides a reagent for quantitating D-cysteine, which comprises the D-luciferine precursor.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there can be provided a bioluminescent protein, luciferase excellent in thermostability etc. and with high catalytic efficiency.

Abstract: A purified protein having a molecular weight of 40 kD by SDS-PAGE that produces firefly luciferin when combined with D-cysteine and firefly oxyluciferin and isolated from firefly species is provided, as well as methods of making and using the protein for the continuous regeneration of of firefly luciferin.

Abstract: A purified luciferase from Luciola lateralis is disclosed. The enzyme is characterized by having properties including: an optimum pH range of 7.5 to 9.5, an optimum temperature range of 0.degree. C. to 50.degree. C., and that the enzyme does not act on ADP, CTP, UTP, and GTP. The enzyme is purified by using a process which includes: gel filtration chromatography, hydroxyapatite column chromatography, and a tris(hydroxy)aminomethane-hydro-chloric acid buffer.

Abstract: The present invention provides industrially useful luciferase. Mutant luciferase of the invention is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia which harbors a recombinant DNA containing the mutant luciferase gene of a firefly. Mutant luciferase can produce red, orange or green color of light which can not be produced by wild type luciferase. Mutant luciferase can be used to measure ATP accurately in a colored solution such as red (e.g., blood), orange, or green in which wild-type luciferase has not provided reliable results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermostable luciferase of firefly wherein an amino acid at the 217-position of the amino acid sequence of wild-type firefly luciferase or an amino acid equivalent to the amino acid at the 217-position of luciferase of GENJI firefly or HEIKE firefly is converted into a hydrophobic amino acid, a gene encoding said thermostable luciferase, a vector comprising the gene encoding said thermostable luciferase inserted therein, and a process for the preparation of thermostable firefly luciferase comprising use of said vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides industrially useful luciferase. Mutant luciferase of the invention is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia which harbors a recombinant DNA containing the mutant luciferase gene of a firefly. Mutant luciferase can produce red, orange or green color of light which can not be produced by wild type luciferase. Mutant luciferase can be used to measure ATP accurately in a colored solution such as red (e.g., blood), orange, or green in which wild-type luciferase has not provided reliable results.

Abstract: Disclosed is a purified luciferase and a method for making it. The luciferase is obtained from Luciola cruciata. The luciferase has a pH range for stabililty of 6.5-9.0 and a optimum pH range of 8.0-9.5. The enzyme does not act on ADP, CTP, UTP and GTP.