Abstract: The present invention provides an endoglucanase having excellent heat resistance. Specifically, the present invention provides an endoglucanase satisfying characteristics (A) and (B) below: (A) having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and (B) having at least one amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of K214E, D254E, and S309P.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel IL-1? and/or IL-6 expression inhibitor and use thereof. The IL-1? and/or IL-6 expression inhibitor in accordance with an aspect of the present invention contains a component derived from alcoholic fermentation lees.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoglucanase with excellent heat resistance. An endoglucanase having characteristics (A) to (C) below: (A) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (B) the molecular weight of a polypeptide moiety being about 31 kDa; and (C) containing a sugar chain, and having a molecular weight measured by SDS-PAGE being about 39 kDa or more.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a method that makes it possible to improve bilirubin oxidase (BOD) activity. The method for improving the BOD activity in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes the step of leaving, in a deoxygenated atmosphere, a BOD solution containing a BOD and a specific activity improving agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel IL-1? and/or IL-6 expression inhibitor and use thereof. The IL-1? and/or IL-6 expression inhibitor in accordance with an aspect of the present invention contains a component derived from alcoholic fermentation lees.

Abstract: Provided are self-cloning Aspergillus oryzae that expresses amidase without induction culture exhibiting high amidase degradation activity, and a method for reducing acrylamide in which this self-cloning Aspergillus oryzae is used. Self-cloning Aspergillus oryzae, which has a gene which codes a polypeptide with a specific amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO:1, or has a base sequence hybridizable to a complementary sequence of the gene encoding SEQ ID No:1 under stringent conditions, has a protein with amidase activity which the gene is expressed without induction culture, the process of reducing acrylamide by contact treatment with the above described self-cloning Aspergillus oryzae and acrylamide-containing matter, and a method of producing reduced acrylamide food or beverage.

Abstract: A method for detecting or measuring homocysteine in a sample includes the steps of (a) reacting a D-amino acid present in a sample with a D-amino acid converting enzyme to convert the D-amino acid into a substance that does not serve as a substrate of D-amino acid oxidase or D-amino acid acetyltransferase; (b) reducing homocysteine in the sample with a thiol compound; (c) reacting the reduced homocysteine with a methyltransferase and a methyl donor to newly produce D-amino acid; and (d) reacting the produced D-amino acid with the D-amino acid oxidase or the D-amino acid acetyltransferase in the presence of an SH reagent to produce hydrogen peroxide, and color-developing the produced hydrogen peroxide by using an oxidative color-developing agent.

Abstract: A method for detecting or measuring homocysteine in a sample includes the steps of (a) reacting a D-amino acid present in a sample with a D-amino acid converting enzyme to convert the D-amino acid into a substance that does not serve as a substrate of D-amino acid oxidase or D-amino acid acetyltransferase; (b) reducing homocysteine in the sample with a thiol compound; (c) reacting the reduced homocysteine with a methyltransferase and a methyl donor to newly produce D-amino acid; and (d) reacting the produced D-amino acid with the D-amino acid oxidase or the D-amino acid acetyltransferase in the presence of an SH reagent to produce hydrogen peroxide, and color-developing the produced hydrogen peroxide by using an oxidative color-developing agent.

Abstract: This invention disclosed herein provides an alcohol acetyl transferase ("AATase"), an AATase encoding gene and a yeast having an improved ester producing ability due to transformation with the AATase encoding gene, This invention also provides a process for producing an alcoholic beverage having an enriched ester flavor using the transformed yeast.

Abstract: This invention disclosed herein provides an alcohol acetyl transferase ("AATase"), an AATase encoding gene and a yeast having an improved ester producing ability due to transformation with the AATase encoding gene. This invention also provides a process for producing an alcoholic beverage having an enriched ester flavor using the transformed yeast.

Abstract: This invention disclosed herein provides an alcohol acetyl transferase ("AATase"), an AATase encoding gene and a yeast having an improved ester producing ability due to transformation with the AATase encoding gene. This invention also provides a process for producing an alcoholic beverage having an enriched ester flavor using the transformed yeast.

Abstract: This invention disclosed herein provides an alcohol acetyl transferase ("AATase"), an AATase encoding gene and a yeast having an improved ester producing ability due to transformation with the AATase encoding gene. This invention also provides a process for producing an alcoholic beverage having an enriched ester flavor using the transformed yeast.