Abstract: In a process for the production of a D-.alpha.-amino acid, in which an N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents phenyl, hydroxy-substituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, or thienyl, is converted by a microbial enzyme in an aqueous medium to a D-.alpha.-amino acid corresponding to the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R is the same as defined above, decarbamylase produced by a microorganism of the genus Comamonas, Blastobacter, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium or Arthrobacter is used as the enzyme converting the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acid to the D-.alpha.-amino acid.The conversion of the N-carbamyl-D-.alpha.-amino acids to the D-.alpha.-amino acids is carried out in a neutral to alkaline pH range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory factor substantially containing an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 and having the action of activating a nitrilase gene promoter, a regulatory factor gene containing DNA coding substantially for said regulatory factor, a recombinant plasmid containing said regulatory factor gene, a nitrilase gene containing a promoter region and a DNA region capable of replicating in a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant plasmid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory gene coding for a polypeptide having the ability to activate a promoter for a nitrile hydratase gene, a recombinant DNA containing said regulatory gene, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant DNA.The introduction of the regulatory gene of the invention along with a nitrile hydratase gene and its promoter region permits bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus to produce a higher level of nitrile hydratase. Other extraneous gene can also be introduced into a region downstream of the promoter to produce other proteins in high yield.

Abstract: A process for the production of a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of bishomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella and capable of producing at least one of the fatty acids to obtain a cultured product, and recovering at least one of the fatty acids; and a process for the production of lipid containing such fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for the production of 8,11-eicosadienoic acid or a lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid comprising the steps of, culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce an omega 9 type polyunsaturated fatty acid in a medium supplemented with a .DELTA.5 desaturase inhibitor, or adding a .DELTA.5 desaturase inhibitor to a medium in which said microorganism has been cultured and further culturing the microorganism to produce 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, or a lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, and recovering the 8,11-eicosadienoic acid, or the lipid containing 8,11-eicosadienoic acid.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to a new enzyme that selectively hydrolyzes D-pantolactone in D,L-pantolactone and has the following characteristics:(a) action: acts on pantolactone to produce the corresponding acid;(b) specificity for substrate: acts specifically on D-pantolactone but not on L-pantolactone;(c) pH stability: stable at pH5-9;(d) optimal pH: 7.0-7.5;(e) optimal temperature: ca. 50.degree. C.; and(f) effect of various metal ions or inhibitors: inhibited by Cd.sup.2+, Hg.sup.2+ or Cu.sup.2+ EDTA, as well as a process for the preparation thereof. The enzyme is preferably produced by cultivating the microorganisms of the genera Fusarium, Cylindrocarpon, and Gibberella, and most preferably the microorganism Fusarium oxysporum IFO 5942.

Abstract: A composition for inhibiting .DELTA..sup.5 -desaturase comprising an effective ingredient selected from the group consisting of lignan compounds, curcumin and piperonyl butoxide. As the lignan compounds sesamin, sesaminol, episesamin, episesaminol, sesamolin, 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4 -hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 2,6-bis-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, and 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6 -(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]-octane are used. Moreover the effective ingredient may be a sesame oil extract or sesame seed extract.

Abstract: A process for production of omega 9 type polyunsaturated fatty acid or a lipid containing the fatty acid, comprising the steps of culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce omega 9 type polyunsaturated fatty acid or a lipid containing said fatty said, and recovering the omega 9 type polyunsaturated fatty acid or the lipid containing said fatty acid.

Abstract: A process for the production of a highly unsaturated fatty acid comprising the steps of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Echinosporangium and capable of synthesizing highly unsaturated fatty acids to produce highly unsaturated fatty acids or a lipid containing highly unsaturated fatty acid, and recovering the highly unsaturated fatty acid; and a process for the production of a lipid containing highly unsaturated fatty acids comprising the steps of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Echinosporangium and capable of synthesizing highly unsaturated fatty acids to produce a lipid containing highly unsaturated fatty acids, and recovering the lipid containing highly unsaturated fatty acids.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of D-pantolactone, comprising employing specific microorganisms to convert D,L-pantolactone as the starting material into D-pantoic acid by selective asymmetric hydrolysis of the D-form only in the D,L-pantolactone, and then separating D-pantoic acid and converting it into D-pantolactone.

Abstract: A liver function improver, food, or drink comprising, as an effective ingredient, a dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivative, such as sesamin, sesaminol espisesamin, episesaminol, sesamolin, 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicycl o[3.3.0]octane, 2,6-bis-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane or 2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,7-dioxabicyc lo[3.3.0]octane.

Abstract: A process for the production of arachidonic acid comprising culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella capable of producing arachidonic acid to produce arachidonic acid or a lipid comprising arachidonic acid, and recovering the arachidonic acid.

Abstract: A liver function improver, food, or drink comprising, as an effective ingredient, a dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivative, such as sesamin, sesaminol episesamin, episesaminol, sesamolin, 2-(3,4-methylene dioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, 2,6-bis-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane or 2- (3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenoxy)-3,7-dioxabicyclo [3.3.0]octane.

Abstract: A process for the production of a highly unsaturated fatty acid having an odd number of carbon atoms by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella and capable of producing the fatty acid; and a process for the production a highly unsaturated fatty acid having an odd number of carbon atoms, typically represented by 8,11,14-nonadecatrienoic acid, by culturing a microorganism capable of producing arachidonic acid.

Abstract: Process for producing S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, which comprises reacting adenosine with homocysteine by contacting them in an aqueous medium in the presence of cells or treated cells of a microorganism of a specified genus having the ability to synthesize S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine from adenosine and homocysteine, and collecting the S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine synthesized.

Abstract: A process for the production of bishomo-.gamma.-linolenic acid characterized by adding an additive to a culture medium, which additive is preferably selected from sesame oil, peanut oil, an extract from sesame oil or sesame seeds, and a lignan compound present in the extract from sesame oil or sesame seeds. The process uses, as a producer microorganism, a microorganism capable of producing arachidonic acid.

Abstract: A method for producing S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, which comprises cultivating a microorganism having the ability to produce S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase within its cells in a nutrient medium to accumulate said hydrolase in the cells, said microorganism being a bacterium belonging to the genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Enterobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Chromobacterium, Xanthomonas, Flavobacterium, Cellulomonas, Azotobacter and Protaminobacter, or an actinomycete belonging to the genera Streptomyces, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptoverticillium, Micromonospora, Micropolyspora, Streptosporangium and Microellobosporia; and then recovering S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from the cells.

Abstract: S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine is produced by contacting adenosine with D-homocysteine in an aqueous medium in the presence of cells or treated cells of a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas having the ability to racemize D-homocysteine to DL-homocysteine and in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, to synthesize S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, and thereafter collecting it.

Abstract: A yeast culture containing at least 10% by weight, based on the dry cell, of S-adenosyl methionine; and a process for producing S-adenosyl methionine, which comprises cultivating a yeast having the ability to produce S-adenosyl methionine in a liquid culture medium containing methionine to accumulate at least 10% by weight, based on the dry yeast cells, of S-adenosyl methionine in the yeast cells, separating the yeast cells from the culture medium, and thereafter obtaining S-adenosyl methionine in a stable form from the yeast cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the determination of free fatty acids comprising a reaction system 1 in which acyl coenzyme A synthetase is allowed to act on the free fatty acids in the presence of adenosine triphosphate and coenzyme A to yield acyl coenzyme A and a reaction system 2 in which acyl coenzyme A oxidase is allowed to act on the acyl coenzyme A to form hydrogen peroxide, followed by the determination thereof, said process being characterized in that myokinase is added in the reaction system 1 to make it go rapidly to completion.