Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing actinol from ketoisophorone which comprises contacting ketoisophorone with a recombinant microorganism or cell-free extract thereof in a reaction mixture, wherein said recombinant microorganism is obtainable by transforming a host microorganism, e.g. selected from the group consisting of microorganisms of the genera Saccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, and Candida, such as commercially available baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC7754, Saccharomyces rouxii (Zygosaccharomyces rouxii) HUT7191 (IFO 0494), Saccharomyces delbrueckii HUIT7116 (Saccharomyces unisporus IFO 0298), Saccharomyces delbrueckii (Torulaspora delbrueckii) HUT7102, Saccharomyces willianus HU7106, Zygosaccharomyces bailii ATCC11486, Candida tropicalis IFO 1403, and a mutant thereof, which is capable of reducing ketoisophorone to levodione with a levodione reductase gene, e.g. a levodione reductase gene derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, such as C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of vitamin C from L sorbosone using an aldehyde dehydrogenase which is isolated from Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812), said enzyme having the following physicochemical properties: (a) molecular weight of 150,000±6,000 Da or 230,000±9,000 Da (consisting of 2 or 3 homologous subunits, each subunit having a molecular weight of 75,000±3,000 Da); (b) substrate specificity as active on aldehyde compounds; (c) Cofactors are pyrroloquinoline quinone and heme c; (d) Optimum pH between 6.4 and 8.2 for vitamin C production from L-sorbosone; and (e) as inhibitors Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, monoiodoacetate and ethylendiamine tetraacetic acid. The process is performed in the presence of a suitable electron acceptor and the vitamin C isolated from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of vitamin C from different substrates like D-sorbitol, L-sorbose, L-sorbosone or L-gulose using a microorganism selected from the group consisting of Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812), a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter and having identifying characteristics of G. oxydans DSM 4025 (FERM BP-3812) and mutants thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transcriptional activator gene for genes involved in cobalamin biosynthesis. More precisely, it relates to a process for amplifying the production of cobalamins and, more specifically, of coenzyme B12 by means of recombinant DNA techniques.

Abstract: A purified vitamin B6-phosphate phosphatase (VB6PP), having the following physico-chemical properties: a) Molecular weight: 29,000±5,000 (consisting of a monomer having a molecular weight of 29,000±5,000); b) Co-factor: Mn2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Sn2+, or Ni2+; c) Substrate specificity: active on pyridoxol 5?-phosphate, pyridoxal 5?-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5?-phosphate; d) Optimum temperature: 30–400° C. at pH 7.5; and e) Optimum pH: 7.0–8.0 is disclosed. Also disclosed are a process for producing VB6PP from a microorganism belonging to the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing VB6PP, a process for producing vitamin B6 from vitamin B6-phosphate (VB6P) utilizing VB6PP, and a cell-free extract of a microorganism belonging to the genus Sinorhizobium capable of producing VB6PP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biological process for producing carotenoids utilizing a microorganism which is capable of producing carotenoids and belonging to the genus Xanthophyllomyces (Phaffia) in the presence of an inhibitor for biosynthesis of sterols from farnesyl pyrophosphate.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of Enzyme B of G. oxydans DSM 4025, as disclosed in EP 0 832 974 A2, in a process for producing L-ascorbic acid from L-gulose, L-galactose, L-idose or L-talose, or from L-gulono-1,4-lactone (and its acid form, L-gulonic acid) and from L-galactono-1,4-lactone (and its acid form, L-galactonic acid).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production process of biotin by fermentation using a genetically engineered microorganism, and DNA sequences and vectors to be used in such process.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel aldehyde dehydrogenase having the following physico-chemical properties: a molecular weight of 100,000±10,000 Da which comprises two homologous subunits or a molecular weight of 150,000±15,000 Da which comprises three homologous subunits, each subunit having a molecular weight of 55,000±2,000 Da; dehydrogenase activity on L-sorbosone, D-Glucosone, D-glucose and D-xylose; utilizes as cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone; has an optimum pH of from 6.5 to 8.0 for the production of vitamin C and an optimum pH of about 9.0 for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid from L-sorbosone; and is inhibited by Co2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and monoiodoacetate, is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel cytochrome c oxidase complex, genetic materials useful for the preparation of the said complex, such as recombinant polypeptides involved in cytochrome c oxidase complex, recombinant DNA fragments, expression vectors, recombinant organisms and the like. Those novel cytochrome c oxidase complex and genetic materials may be originated from a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025. The present invention also provides a method for the preparation of the said novel recombinant cytochrome c oxidase complex and a process for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2KGA).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recombinant enzymes having alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity which comprises one or more recombinant polypeptides selected from the group consisting of polypeptides which are identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and chimeric recombinant polypeptides that are a chimeric combination of at least two of the following amino acid sequences identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and functional derivatives of the polypeptides identified above which contain addition, insertion, deletion and/or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, wherein said enzymatic polypeptides have said alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. DNA molecules encoding the recombinant polypeptides, vectors comprising such DNA molecules, host cells transformed by such vectors and processes for the production of such recombinant enzymes are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated DNA sequence encoding an enzyme (e.g., farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase) in the pathway from isopentenyl pyrophosphate to farnesyl pyrophosphate. Vectors and plasmids including such DNA are also set forth. The invention also includes host cells transformed by such DNAs, or vectors or plasmids containing such DNAs. A process for the production of astaxanthin and/or farnesyl pyrophosphate using such transformed host cells is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel cytochrome c oxidase complex, genetic materials useful for the preparation of the said complex, such as recombinant polypeptides involved in cytochrome c oxidase complex, recombinant DNA fragments, expression vectors, recombinant organisms and the like. Those novel cytochrome c oxidase complex and genetic materials may be originated from a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of Gluconobacter oxydans DSM 4025. The present invention also provides a method for the preparation of the said novel recombinant cytochrome c oxidase complex and a process for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2KGA).

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a carotenoid, which process includes cultivating a recombinant organism having a gene for one or more active oxygen species-quenching factor(s) that is substantially disrupted with a disruption cassette specific to the gene, and recovering carotenoids from the culture.

Abstract: A process for producing L-ascorbic acid from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or D-erythorbic acid from 2-keto-D-gluconic acid by contacting 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, respectively, with an enzym having ?-amylase activity in solution. The solvent for this reaction can be water, an aqueous alcohol, an organic solvent or a mixture thereof. In each case, the starting material can be in the form of the free acid, the sodium salt, or the calcium salt.

Abstract: A new aldehyde dehydrogenase having the physico-chemical properties: molecular weight:150,000±6,000 or 230,000±9,000; substrate specificity active on aldehyde compounds; cofactors:pyrroloquinoline quinone and heme c; optimum pH: 7.0-8.5; and inhibitors: Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, monoiodoacetate and EDTA, is derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter. Said aldehyde dehydrogenase can be produced by cultivating a microorganism of the genus Gluconobacter which is capable of producing an aldehyde dehydrogenase having the above properties, in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions, disrupting the cells of the microorganism and isolating and purifying the aldehyde dehydrogenase from the cell-free extract of the disrupted cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: Vitamin B6-phosphate phosphatase (VB6PP), a process for producing VB6PP and a process for producing vitamin B6 from vitamin B6-phosphate (VB6P) utilizing VB6PP and cell-free extract of a specific microorganism capable of producing VB6PP.

Abstract: A process for producing L-ascorbic acid or D-erythorbic acid, or in each case its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, or in each case its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, that involves incubating 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, each as the free acid or as its sodium, potassium or calcium salt, and the cells of a thermoacidophilic microorganism at temperatures from about 30° C. to about 100° C., and at a pH from about 1 to about 6, in a solution, to form L-ascorbic acid or D-erythorbic acid or an appropriate salt thereof, and isolating said product from the solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production process of biotin by fermentation using a genetically engineered microorganism, and DNA sequences and vectors to be used in such process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a recombinant enzymes having alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity which comprises one or mom recombinant polypeptides selected from the group consisting of polypeptides which are identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and chimeric recombinant polypeptides that are a chimeric combination of at least two of the following amino acid sequences identified by SEQ ID NO 5, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 7, SEQ ID NO 8 and functional derivatives of the polypeptides identified above which contain addition, insertion, deletion and/or substitution of one or more amino acid residues, wherein said enzymatic polypeptides have said alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. DNA molecules encoding the recombinant polypeptides, vectors comprising such DNA molecules, host cells transformed by such vectors and processes for the production of such recombinant enzymes are provided.