Abstract: A highly safe and highly heat-resistant L-rhamnose isomerase usable in the food industry and the production thereof are disclosed. The L-rhamnose isomerase is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter, has a subunit molecular mass of 47 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE, and has the following substrate specificities (A) isomerase activity that recognizes and reacts with a CHO group at C1 and an OH group at C2 of an aldose to convert the CHO group at C1 into an OH group and the OH group at C2 into a CO group, or recognizes and reacts with an OH group at C1 and a CO group at C2 of a ketose to convert the OH group at C1 into a CHO group and the CO group at C2 into an OH group; and (B) reactivity with L-rhamnose, L-lyxose, L-mannose, D-allose, D-ribose, and L-talose.

Abstract: To provide a ketose 3-epimerase that can be used in the food industry and is highly safe, highly active, and heat resistant, a microorganism that produces this enzyme, and a method of producing a ketose. The present invention provides a ketose 3-epimerase that can be obtained from a microorganism belonging to the genus Arthrobacter, has a molecular mass of about 36 kDa as measured by SDS-PAGE, and has the following substrate specificities (A) and (B): (A) having an activity of epimerizing position 3 of a D- or L-ketose and preparing a D- or L-ketose corresponding thereto, and (B) having the highest epimerization activity on position 3 of D-allulose, among D- or L-ketohexoses.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a rare sugar-containing composition having improved properties as a sweetener while maintaining the excellent functionality of D-psicose. The invention relates to a method of producing a rare-sugar containing composition with D-fructose as a raw material. An intended product having a novel composition of D-glucose, D-fructose, and D-psicose is obtained by preparing a mixture of D-fructose and D-psicose by using ketose 3-epimerase in the first stage and converting D-fructose into D-glucose by using D-xylose isomerase inert to D-psicose in the second stage. The first-stage product is a mixture of D-fructose and rare sugar D-psicose. The resulting mixture is a sweetener having a taste quality equal to that of sugar.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a manhole cover is disclosed which is capable of being applied to an operating hole of any type and accomplishing not only the separation of an edge of a manhole cover from a manhole but the lifting and movement of the manhole cover from the manhole. The apparatus includes a lever-like body and a hanging hook mechanism pivotally connected to a pivot point defined on the point of application side of the lever-like body. The hanging hook mechanism comprises a rod-like insertion member which is adapted to be inserted in an operating hole of a manhole cover and has a projection provided on a lower end thereof to be directed toward the pivot point and adapted to be firmly engaged with an operating hole. The pivot point is eccentric to the longitudinal direction of the insertion member. Also, a point of support on the lever-like body is defined at each of two positions on the lever-like body between a point of application and a point of force.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating and transferring a manhole cover is disclosed which is capable of being applicable to a manhole cover formed with any through-hole type operating hole and preventing the disengagement of the manhole cover from the apparatus. The apparatus includes a lever body having a pair of operating arms. The operating arms each have an eccentric hanging hook pivotally mounted thereon and a press member which is adapted to abutted against a manhole cover to horizontally support it during the lifting operation. The hanging hook comprises a vertical support member pivotally mounted on the operating arm to be pivotally moved in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus and a hanging member connected to the support member to inwardly extend therefrom in a manner to be deviated in the direction opposite to that of a point of force. The apparatus has a manhole cover lifting position which is deviated toward the press member with respect to the gravity line of the manhole cover.