Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: Disclosed are a reduction inhibitory agent for active oxygen eliminating activity, comprising: (a) at least 10% (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1, on a dry solid basis; and (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of saccharides and edible fibers; a method for inhibiting the reduction of active oxygen eliminating activity, comprising a step of incorporating at least one percent (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1 to a plant substance, on a dry solid basis, into said plant substance with active oxygen eliminating activity in an aqueous system; and a composition obtainable by incorporating at least one percent (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1 to said plant substance, on a dry solid basis, into a plant substance with active oxygen eliminating activity to inhibit the reduction of the activity of said plant substance.

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide a method of inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation in order to produce a satisfactorily flavorful processed cacao bean product and an agent for inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation which is used for the method, and solves the above objects by providing a method of inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation during the process and/or preservation, and an agent for inhibiting the 2,3-butanedione formation which comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of maltitol, ?,?-trehalose and saccharide derivatives of ?,?-trehalose as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process of the same, cyclotetrasaccharide, and saccharide composition comprising the saccharide which are obtainable by using the enzyme; and is solved by establishing an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme which forms a saccharide, having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end, by catalyzing the ?-glucosyl-transfer from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and having the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end without substantially increasing the reducing power; ?-isomaltosyl-transferring method using the enzyme; method for forming ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide; process for producing a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide novel methods for forming glucosyl-transferred polyalcohols, glucosyl-transferred glucuronic acid, and glucosyl-transferred derivatives of glucose whose C-6 hydroxyl group bound to a saccharide by using an enzymatic reaction. The present invention solves the above object by providing a method for transferring a glucosyl residue to polyalcohols, glucuronic acid and/or derivatives of glucose whose C-6 hydroxyl group bound to a saccharide, comprising a step of: allowing a trehalose phosphorylase to act on a saccharide containing glucose as a component sugar and one or more polyalcohols selected from the group consisting of inositol, ribitol, erythritol, and glycerol; glucuronic acid and/or a salt thereof; and/or one or more derivatives of glucose whose C-6 hydroxyl group bound to a saccharide selected from the group consisting of isomaltose, gentiobiose, melibiose, isomaltotriose, and isopanose.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition which exerts a higher effect on recovering health from articular disorders than that attained by amino sugars and glycosaminoglycans. The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for treating articular disorders, comprising an amino sugar and trehalose as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a composition of metal ion compound whose inherent and unsatisfactory properties for its industrial application such as deliquescence, reducing power, oxidizing power, low solubility in water, etc., have been improved; and their preparations and uses. The present invention solves the above object by providing an associated complex of ?-glycosyl ?,?-trehalose and a metal ion compound, and its preparations and uses.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a polypeptide which can be used to produce a saccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an option of non-reducing saccharide by providing a novel non-reducing saccharide composed of glucose as constituents and to provide a novel enzyme forming the non-reducing saccharide, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the non-reducing saccharide, and uses thereof. The present invention solves the above object by providing a novel cyclic saccharide having a structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6}, cyclic maltosylmaltose, novel cyclic maltosylmaltose-forming enzyme, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the cyclic maltosylmaltose or a saccharide composition comprising the same, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme which forms a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?} from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end; microorganisms which produce the enzyme; process for producing the enzyme; cyclotetrasaccharide or saccharide compositions comprising the same; and uses thereof.

Abstract: A reduction inhibitory agent for active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises trehalose as an effective ingredient. A method for inhibiting the reduction of active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises incorporating either trehalose or the reduction inhibitory agent into plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants. A composition is provided that reduces the active-oxygen eliminating activity of plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants.

Abstract: The present invention has the object to dehydrate hydrous matters without denaturing or deteriorating them by using a dehydrating agent comprising an anhydrous cyclotetrasaccharide, and provides a dehydrating agent comprising the cyclotetrasaccharide; a method for dehydrating hydrous matters through a step of incorporating, contacting or coexisting the cyclotetrasaccharide into, with, or in the hydrous matters; and dehydrated products obtainable thereby.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel INF-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with INF-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: A crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside which has a melting point of 119–123° C.; a saccharide composition comprising the same; a process for producing the same or the saccharide composition comprising the same, which comprises (i) crystallizing ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside from its solution and (ii) collecting the grown crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside; a method for converting amorphous ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside to crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside in the presence of moisture; and a composition comprising the crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside or the saccharide composition comprising the same.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a lipid-regulating agent or a composition for regulating the amount of lipids comprising the agent. The present invention solves the above object by providing a lipid-regulating agent comprising a cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or its saccharide-derivative(s) and a composition for regulating the amount of lipids comprising the lipid-regulating agent.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel IFN-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with IFN-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a process for producing 2-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid where 5-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid and 6-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid are not formed or formed in such a small amount that the formation of these can nor be detected. The present invention solves the above object by providing a process for producing 2-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid comprising the steps of allowing ?-isomaltosyl glucosaccharide-forming enzyme together with or without cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (EC 2.4.1.19) to act on a solution comprising L-ascorbic acid and, an ?-glucosyl saccharide to form 2-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid and collecting the formed 2-O-?-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an accelerator for mineral absorption and a composition containing the accelerator. The object is solved by providing an accelerator for mineral absorption comprising cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof and a composition containing the accelerator.