Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide methods for efficiently producing (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol at a high optical purity. Another objective is to provide novel reductases which reduce 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone, using NADPH as a coenzyme, to produce (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol with a high optical purity. The inventors found that a 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone-reducing enzyme present in Torulaspora delbrueckii is a novel carbonyl reductase that reduces various carbonyls. This novel enzyme reduces 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone in a reduction reaction to produce (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol with a high optical purity and at a high yield. Furthermore, the inventors isolated a DNA that encodes the present enzyme, and generated a recombinant bacterium which highly expresses the present enzyme. Thus, the present inventors established a simple and highly economical method of obtaining optically active alcohols with a high optical purity and at a high yield.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide methods for efficiently producing (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol at a high optical purity. Another objective is to provide novel reductases which reduce 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone, using NADPH as a coenzyme, to produce (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol with a high optical purity. The inventors found that a 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone-reducing enzyme present in Torulaspora delbrueckii is a novel carbonyl reductase that reduces various carbonyls. This novel enzyme reduces 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone in a reduction reaction to produce (S)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-propanol with a high optical purity and at a high yield. Furthermore, the inventors isolated a DNA that encodes the present enzyme, and generated a recombinant bacterium which highly expresses the present enzyme. Thus, the present inventors established a simple and highly economical method of obtaining optically active alcohols with a high optical purity and at a high yield.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide novel enone reductases useful for producing ketones. Accordingly, novel enone reductases derived from the genus Kluyveromyces are provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention also provides genes encoding the enzymes and vectors containing the genes, as well as transformants. Furthermore, the present invention provides enone reductases derived from yeast. Methods for selectively reducing the carbon-carbon double bonds of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones using these enone reductases are provided. Ketones useful as a raw material for pharmaceuticals can be produced based on an enzymatic reaction.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polypeptides capable of retaining a strong enzyme activity of formate dehydrogenase in the presence of an organic solvent and to provide the uses thereof. Formate dehydrogenase mutant polypeptides, which are resistant to organic solvents, were constructed by substituting cysteines at position 146 and/or at position 256 in the amino acid sequence of Mycobacterium vaccae-derived formate dehydrogenase by site-directed mutagenesis. The polypeptides have strong activities of formate dehydrogenase in the presence of an organic solvent. The mutants are useful for the production of alcohols using ketones as raw material, etc.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide novel enone reductases useful for producing ketones. Accordingly, novel enone reductases derived from the genus Kluyveromyces are provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention also provides genes encoding the enzymes and vectors containing the genes, as well as transformants. Furthermore, the present invention provides enone reductases derived from yeast. Methods for selectively reducing the carbon-carbon double bonds of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones using these enone reductases are provided. Ketones useful as a raw material for pharmaceuticals can be produced based on an enzymatic reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an &agr;-keto acid reductase isolated from Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum, and a DNA encoding the reductase. The enzyme and homologs thereof reduce &agr;-keto acids under the presence of NADH to produce optically active &agr;-hydroxy acids. The &agr;-hydroxy acids of the present invention include optically active mandelic acid derivatives of formula II. The optically active mandelic acid derivatives obtained by the present invention are useful as intermediates in synthesizing pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polypeptides capable of retaining a strong enzyme activity of formate dehydrogenase in the presence of an organic solvent and to provide the uses thereof.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an (R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase which uses NADH as a coenzyme, and methods for producing optically active alcohols and ketones using the enzyme. The inventors of the present invention discovered a novel (R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase, isolated a DNA encoding the dehydrogenase, and produced recombinants that express the dehydrogenase at high levels. The dehydrogenase is produced by and can be isolated and purified from Kluyveromyces lactis. The use of the dehydrogenase of the invention enables efficient production of (R)-1,3-butanediol with high optical purity from 4-hydroxy-2-butanone. Also provided by the present invention are methods for efficiently producing (S)-1,3-butanediol with high optical purity from racemic 1,3-butanediol, as well as 4-hydroxy-2-butanone from (R)-1,3-butanediol.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide novel enone reductases useful for producing ketones. Accordingly, novel enone reductases derived from the genus Kluyveromyces are provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention also provides genes encoding the enzymes and vectors containing the genes, as well as transformants. Furthermore, the present invention provides enone reductases derived from yeast. Methods for selectively reducing the carbon-carbon double bonds of &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones using these enone reductases are provided. Ketones useful as a raw material for pharmaceuticals can be produced based on an enzymatic reaction.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: A novel carbonyl reductase useful for producing alcohol, particularly derivatives of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester, is provided. A novel carbonyl reductase derived from Kluyveromyces aestuarii and the nucleic acid encoding the enzyme are provided. The carbonyl reductase has excellent reductase activity and stereoselectivity. The carbonyl reductase reduces ketone to produce alcohol. It can be particularly advantageous when used in industrial production of (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyrate ester.

Abstract: A novel enzyme is provided. This enzyme is capable of reducing 4-haloacetoacetic acid esters to produce (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters with high optical purity. The enzyme was isolated from a microorganism belonging to the genus Kluyveromyces. Using the enzyme, (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters, which are useful as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, intermediates for synthesizing various medicines and agricultural chemicals, can be efficiently produced with high optical purity.

Abstract: A novel enzyme is provided. This enzyme is capable of reducing 4-haloacetoacetic acid esters to produce (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters with high optical purity. The enzyme was isolated from a microorganism belonging to the genus Kluyveromyces. Using the enzyme, (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters, which are useful as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, intermediates for synthesizing various medicines and agricultural chemicals, can be efficiently produced with high optical purity.