Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R2 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, a C5-C9 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which may be optionally protected on the terminal hydroxyl group thereof, or a C5-C9 fatty acid residue which may be optionally protected on the terminal carboxyl group thereof, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (R)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.

Abstract: DNA encoding a novel protein from Mycobacterium aurum SC-S423 capable of converting acetophenone to an optically active 1-phenylethlamine in the presence of a racemic mixture of sec-butylamine is provided, along with a vector and host cell comprising the same and a method of producing the same.

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I: 1

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I: wherein R1 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl or C1-C4 haloalky, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (S)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R2 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, a C5-C9 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which may be optionally protected on the terminal hydroxyl group thereof, or a C5-C9 fatty acid residue which may be optionally protected on the terminal carboxyl group thereof, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (R)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a novel protein capable of catalyzing transamination stereoselectively and a gene encoding said protein can be provided.

Abstract: A novel protein from Mycobacterium aurum SC-D423 capable of converting acetophenone to an optically active 1-phenylethylamine in the presence of a racemic mixture of sec-butylamine is provided.

Abstract: A DNA fragment containing a gene concerned in biotin biosynthesis and derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Sphingomonas, a plasmid containing said DNA fragment, and a biotin-producing transformant containing said plasmid. There is provided a technique for utilizing a gene concerned in biotin biosynthesis and derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Sphingomonas, for breeding of a biotin-producing micro-organism by genetic engineering.

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I; wherein R1 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl or C1-C4 haloalkyl, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (S)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.

Abstract: An industrially advantageous production method of an optically active alcohol useful for cosmetics and medical supplies or production intermediates thereof using an esterase having an ability to selectively hydrolyze an optically active sphingoid compound.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a nucleoside derivative of the formula [I]: ##STR1## characterized by contacting 2',3',5'-O-triacylribonucleoside derivative of the formula [II]: ##STR2## with an ester hydrolase: (i) capable of regio-selectively deacylating the acyl group at 5'-O-position in the formula [II] above, and(ii) having an amino acid sequence encoded by a gene which hybridizes to a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: An isolated esterase gene coding for an esterase capable of causing asymmetric hydrolysis of an organic carboxylic acid ester of a cyclopentenolone of formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sub.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which may be optionally protected on the terminal hydroxyl group thereof, or a C.sub.5 -C.sub.9 fatty acid residue which may be optionally protected on the terminal carboxyl group thereof, to produce the cyclopentenolone of formula I in (R)-form, and hybridizing to the base sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, is useful for the industrially favorable production of optically active cyclopentenolones of formula I which serve as the intermediates of drugs, agricultural chemicals or other active products.

Abstract: There is provided a method for improving optical purity of an amine compound of the formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 indicates a phenyl group which may be substituted or an aralkyl group having 7 to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted, and R.sup.2 indicates an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which is characterized by contacting a cutlture of a microorganism belonging to Arthrobacter having an ability to preferentially metabolize one optical isomer based on an asymmetric carbon atom to which an amino group bonds in the amine compound of the formula I or a treated product thereof with the amine compound of the formula I.

Abstract: There is provided a process for production of carane-3,4-diol which includes contacting a culture of filamentous fungus having an ability to produce carane-3,4-diol from 3-carene or 3,4-epoxycarane, cells collected from the culture or treated cells with 3-carene or 3,4-epoxycarane, then recovering the resulting carane-3,4-diol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for production of amide compounds, which includes converting a nitrile compound into its corresponding amide compound by hydrating the nitrile compound in the presence of a cultured broth of bacterial cells, intact bacterial cells, disrupted bacterial cells or enzymes contained therein, or immobilized preparations obtainable by immobilizing intact bacterial cells, disrupted bacterial cells or enzymes contained therein, the bacterial cells being those of a biologically pure culture of a thermophilic microorganism having hydration activity to convert a nitrile compound into its corresponding amide compound, such as Bacillus smithii SC-J05-1 (FERM BP-4935).

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of biotin, in which a culture of a microorganism of the genus Sphingomonas, having an ability to produce biotin, is prepared in a medium, and biotin produced and accumulated in the medium is collected. Also disclosed are microorganisms of the genus Sphingomonas, having an ability to produce biotin, which are useful for this production process of the present invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for production of amide compounds which includes converting a nitrile compound into an amide compound using a cultured broth of bacterial cells, or bacterial cells or materials obtainable by treating bacterial cells, the bacterial cells being cells of a microorganism Agrobacterium radiobacter FERM BP-3843, having activity to convert nitrile compounds into corresponding amide compounds.

Abstract: The present relates to a process for preparing optically active cyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives of salts thereof represented by the formula (III) ##STR1## wherein X is chlorine atom, bromine atom, methyl group or trifluoromethyl group and R' is hydrogen atom or metal ion, by asymmetrically hydrolyzing cyclopropane carboxylic acid esters having the formula (II) ##STR2## wherein X is as defined above and R is C.sub.1-4 alkyl group or halogen-substituted C.sub.1-4 alkyl group with specific strains of microorganisms or esterase derived therefrom.

Abstract: A process for preparing resolved (S)-(-)-.alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol or an (S)-isomer-rich optically active .alpha.-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol compound.

Abstract: A biochemical process for optical resolution of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone, which comprises asymmetrically hydrolyzing organic carboxylic acid (saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acids having 1 to 18 carbon atoms) esters of (.+-.)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone by the action of an esterase originated from a microorganism or an animal pancreas to give optically active 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-2'-propynyl-2-cyclopentenone and esters of its antipode with high optical purity is disclosed. This resolution process is simple in steps as compared with the conventionally known organic chemical methods of optical resolution, and is quite advantageous industrially because it does not require expensive optically active reagents.