Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a peptide, comprising culturing a transformant introduced with an expression vector to prepare a culture, and mixing the culture with a carboxy component and an amine component to form the peptide. The expression vector comprises a polynucleotide encoding a protein: (A) having selected deletions in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, (B) having a mutation of one or several amino acid residues in any protein selected from said group (A); (C) having 70% or more amino acid sequence identity to any protein selected from said group (A), (D) encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes under a stringent condition with a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a polynucleotide encoding any protein selected from said group (A), and (E) encoded by a polynucleotide having 70% or more nucleotide sequence identity to the polynucleotide encoding any protein selected from the group (A).

Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided microorganisms having an ability to producing xylitol or D-xylulose by fermentation, and a method for producing xylitol or D-xylulose using the microorganisms. Osmophilic microorganisms were collected from soil, and the obtained microorganisms were searched for a bacterium having an ability to produce xylitol or D-xylulose from glucose. Xylitol or D-xylulose is produced by culturing an isolated bacterium in a suitable medium to accumulate xylitol or D-xylulose in the medium, and collecting xylitol or D-xylulose from the medium.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there are provided microorganisms having an ability to producing xylitol or D-xylulose by fermentation, and a method for producing xylitol or D-xylulose using the microorganisms. Osmophilic microorganisms were collected from soil, and the obtained microorganisms were searched for a bacterium having an ability to produce xylitol or D-xylulose from glucose. Xylitol or D-xylulose is produced by culturing an isolated bacterium in a suitable medium to accumulate xylitol or D-xylulose in the medium, and collecting xylitol or D-xylulose from the medium.

Abstract: Xylitol or D-xylulose is produced through direct fermentation from glucose by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter, Acetobacter or Frateuria, and having an ability to produce xylitol or D-xylulose in a suitable medium to accumulate xylitol or D-xylulose in the medium, and collecting xylitol or D-xylulose from the medium.