Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find and produce cathepsin L having high activity under neutral to alkaline conditions and at a low temperature range. The present inventors succeeded in discovering novel cathepsin L having activity even at a low temperature range from hepatopancreas of Japanese northern shrimp. The present inventors further determined the gene sequence encoding said novel cathepsin L, thus enabling production thereof by genetic recombination.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to find and produce cathepsin L having high activity under neutral to alkaline conditions and at a low temperature range. The present inventors succeeded in discovering novel cathepsin L having activity even at a low temperature range from hepatopancreas of Japanese northern shrimp. The present inventors further determined the gene sequence encoding said novel cathepsin L, thus enabling production thereof by genetic recombination.

Abstract: This invention relates to frozen surimi to be used as a basic ingredient of kamaboko (boiled or steamed salt-added surimi), chikuwa (grilled salt-added surimi shaped like a section of bamboo), and fish sausages, etc., which containing (1) 0.05˜0.3% by weight of at least one kind selected among basic amino acids as food additives and (2) 0.05˜0.3% by weight of at least one kind selected among carbonates and (3) at least one kind selected among saccharides, and provides frozen surimi which is phosphorus-free, improved in quality without using polyphosphates that have been conventionally used as additives, and has frozen storage stability and a salt-grinding property equivalent to those in a case using polyphosphates, and furthermore has quality higher than conventional frozen surimi.