Abstract: In reacting pentose-1-phosphoric acid with a nucleic acid base or a nucleic acid base analogue in an aqueous reaction medium in the presence of a metal cation to produce a nucleoside compound, the timing or method of addition of at least one of these components to the aqueous reaction medium is varied; thereby, a nucleoside compound can be produced at a high yield efficiently without inviting the high viscosity or solidification of the reaction mixture, even when the above components are used in such amounts that the reaction mixture becomes highly viscous or is solidified when the components are used without the above variation of the addition timing or method. Thus, there can be provided a process for producing a nucleoside compound, which comprises a step of reacting pentose-1-phosphoric acid with a nucleic acid base or a nucleic acid base analogue in the presence of nucleoside phosphorylase activity, which gives a nucleoside compound at an improved conversion, and which has wide applicability.

Abstract: The invention provides a nitrile hydratase activation protein participating in activation of nitrile hydratase derived from Pseudonocardia thermophila JCM3095, and a gene sequence encoding the same. Further, the invention provides a recombinant plasmid containing the gene, a recombinant plasmid containing the gene and a nitrile hydratase gene, a transformant strain obtained through transformation with the recombinant plasmid, and a process for producing a corresponding amide compound from a nitrile compound using a culture solution and cells obtained by incubating the transformant strain and treated products of the cells.

Abstract: A herbicide containing phytopathogenic microorganisms for surface application on water was obtained by a method in which the phytopathogenic microorganisms, which have virtually no adhered surfactant and are pathogenic against non-useful plants having a hydrophobic surface, are adhered to or combined with a submersible base.