Abstract: A polypeptide possessing maltotetraose-forming amylase activity with a revealed amino acid sequence. The polypeptide has features that it acts on starch to mainly produce maltotetraose, and that it has a molecular weight of 50,000.+-.10,000 when electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gel.The polypeptide can be advantageously used in industrial process.

Abstract: 2-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascrobic acid is crystallizable in its supersaturated solution. Crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is substantially nonhygroscopic, free flowing, free of deliquescence, consolidation and direct reducing activity, but is readily soluble in water. Because of these, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is handleable with an ease, and superiorly high in stability and physiological activities. Thus, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-gluco-pyranosyl-L-acorbic acid is favorably useful in vitamin C-enriching agents, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abstract: A separation system to prepare a high .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid content product involves the use of a specific anion-exchange membrane having a molecular weight cut-off in the range of about 100-1,000. The system readily separates .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid from L-ascorbic acid and other impurities and provides a relatively-high yield.

Abstract: A composition for supplementing energy to a living body containing neotrehalose as effective ingredient. Neotrehalose is a disaccharide, therefore, when used in an energy supplementing composition, provides twice as much energy as does a monosaccharide. Neotrehalose has non-reducing properties, and this renders the composition containing neotrehalose stable for a relatively-long time period.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel preparation of neotrehalose and its uses. The preparation comprises allowing .alpha.-amylase to act on an amylaceous substance to form neotrehalose, and recovering said neotrehalose. The neotrehalose has a satisfiable chemical stability, as well as other properties such as a sweeteness, energy-imparting ability, osmosis-regulating ability, filler-imparting ability, gloss-imparting ability, moisture-retaining ability, viscosity-imparting ability, crystallization-preventing ability, and non-fermentability. These properties render the neotrehalose advantageously useful in preparations of a variety of compositions.

Abstract: 2-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascrobic acid is crystallizable in its supersaturated solution. Crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is substantially nonhygroscopic, free flowing, free of deliquescence, consolidation and direct reducing activity, but is readily soluble in water. Because of these characteristics, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is handleable with an ease, and superiorly high in stability and physiological activities. Thus, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-acorbic acid is favorably useful in vitamin C-enriching agents, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abstract: Disclosed is an industrial-scale preparation of a high 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid content product with an improved purity, the preparation comprising subjecting a solution containing 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid and a saccharide derivative of L-ascorbic acid exhibiting a direct reducing activity to an oxidation treatment, subjecting the resultant mixture ti column chromatography using a strongly-acidic cation exchange resin, and recoverying the resultant high 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid content fraction. Thus, the preparatiobn has a great significance in the industrial field.

Abstract: 2-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascrobic acid is crystallizable in its supersaturated solution. Crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is substantially nonhygroscopic, free flowing, free of deliquescence, consolidation and direct reducing activity, but is readily soluble in water. Because of these characteristics, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is handleable with an ease, and superiorly high in stability and physiological activities. Thus, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-acorbic acid is favorably useful in vitamin C-enriching agents, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abstract: 2-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascrobic acid is crystallizable in its supersaturated solution. Crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is substantially nonhygroscopic, free flowing, free of deliquescence, consolidation and direct reducing activity, but is readily soluble in water. Because of these, characteristics crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is handleable with an ease, and superiorly high in stability and physiological activities. Thus, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is favorably useful in vitamin C-enriching agents, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abstract: A high .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid content product is prepared by subjecting an aqueous solution containing .alpha.-glycosylL-ascorbic acid together with L-ascorbic acid and/or a saccharide to electrodialysis wherein an anion-exchange membrane is used in order to allow the L-ascorbic acid to predominantly permeate the membrane and to separate the L-ascorbic acid from .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid, or in order to allow the .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid to predominantly permeate the membrane and to separate the .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid from the saccharide. Thus, a high .alpha.-glycosyl-L-ascorbic acid content product having a desirable stability and physiological activity is readily prepared.

Abstract: Lactoneotrehalose, a novel saccharide shown by the formula O-.beta.-D-galactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.4)-O-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl .alpha.-D-glucopyranoside, is prepared by allowing a saccharide-transferring enzyme to act on an aqueous solution containing lactose and amylaceous substance. Lactoneotrehalose is a non-reducing oligosaccharide, extremely stable, readily soluble in water, and substantially free of hygroscopicity, as well as having a satisfiable quality and moderate sweetness. These render lactoneotrehalose very useful in the preparations of orally-administrable products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The lactosucrose high-content powder according to the present invention is prepared by allowing an aqueous solution containing sucrose and lactose to act on a saccharidetransferring enzyme, removing concomitant saccharides in the resultant saccharide solution containing lactosucrose to obtain a solution having a high concentration of lactosucrose, i.e. lactosucrose content of 45 w/w % or more of the sugar composition, and spraydrying the resultant solution to obtain a powder having a high concentration of lactosucrose. The powder is incorporated in an orally- or parenterally-administrable product to obtain an orally- or parenterally-administrable product which exerts a selective growth-promoting-effect on a microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium in vivo.

Abstract: The sequence of cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) gene derived from a microorganism of genus Bacillus and the amino acid sequence of CGTase are determined. A recombinant DNA carrying the CGTase gene is introduced by in vitro genetic engineering technique into a host microorganism of species Bacillus subtilis or Escherichia coli. The recombinant microorganism carrying the recombinant DNA autonomically proliferates to secrete a large amount of CGTase.

Abstract: 5-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is a novel derivative of L-ascorbic acid which has a direct reducing activity and a satisfiable stability, as well as being readily hydrolyzed in vivo to form L-ascorbic acid. The 5-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is prepared by allowing a saccharide-transferring enzyme together with or without .alpha.-glucosidase to a solution containing an a-glucosyl saccharide and L-ascorbic acid, and suitably used in food products, agents of anti-susceptive diseases and cosmetics containing thereof.

Abstract: 5-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is a novel derivative of L-ascorbic acid which has a direct reducing activity and a satisfiable stability, as well as being readily hydrolyzed in vivo to form L-ascorbic acid. The 5-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is prepared by allowing a saccharide-transferring enzyme together with or without .alpha.-glucosidase to a solution containing an .alpha.-glucosyl saccharide and L-ascorbic acid, and suitably used in food products, agents of anti-susceptive diseases and cosmetics containing thereof.

Abstract: Lactoneotrehalose, a novel saccharide shown by the formula O-.beta.-D-galactopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.4)-O-.beta.-D-glucopyranosyl .alpha.-D-glucopyranoside, is prepared by allowing a saccharide-transferring enzyme to act on an aqueous solution containing lactose and amylaceous substance. Lactoneotrehalose is a non-reducing oligosaccharide, extremely stable, readily soluble in water, and substantially free of hygroscopicity, as well as having a satisfiable quality and moderate sweetness. These render lactoneotrehalose very useful in the preparations of orally-administrable products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The lactosucrose high-content powder according to the present invention is prepared by allowing an aqueous solution containing sucrose and lactose to act on a saccharide-transferring enzyme, removing concomitant saccharides in the resultant saccharide solution containing lactosucrose to obtain a lactosucrose high-content solution with a lactosucrose content of 45 w/w % or higher on sugar composition, and spray-drying the resultant solution to obtain a lactosucrose high-content powder. The powder is incorporated in an orally- or parenterally-administrable product to obtain an orally- or parenterally-administrable product which exerts a selective growth-promoting-effect on a microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium in vivo.

Abstract: There is provided a process to prepare maltose powder containing crystalline beta-maltose hydrate, comprising concentrating an aqueous solution of a high-purity maltose having a maltose content of at least 85% DS to a moisture content below 10 w/w %, partially crystallizing alpha-maltose in the syrup, and crystallizing beta-maltose hydrate in the same syrup while converting the resultant crystalline alpha-maltose into crystalline beta-maltose hydrate. Use of the invention enables consistently high-quality maltose powders at a reduced drying cost.

Abstract: 2-O-.alpha.-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascrobic acid is crystallizable in its supersaturated solution. Crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is substantially nonhygroscopic, free flowing, free of deliquescence, consolidation and direct reducing activity, but is readily soluble in water. Because of these, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid is handleable with an ease, and superiorly high in stability and physiological activities. Thus, crystalline 2-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-L-acorbic acid is favorably useful in vitamin C-enriching agents, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Abstract: There are disclosed a novel desiccant containing anhydrous maltose and dehydration of hydrous matters, e.g. food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic, therewith. Such hydrous matters are dehydrated without causing alteration or deterioration by incorporating anhydrous maltose into the hydrous matters to convert the anhydrous maltose into crystalline beta-maltose hydrate. The anhydrous maltoses usable in the invention are anhydrous crystalline alpha-maltose, anhydrous crystalline beta-maltose and anhydrous amorphous beta-maltose, specifically, those in pulverulent form.