Abstract: The first object of the present invention is to provide an immortalized cell line derived from a thread-sail filefish. The first object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is capable of being subcultured substantially without limitations. The second object of the present invention is to provide a pluripotent stem cell derived from a thread-sail filefish. The second object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is positive for at least a cell marker selected from a group consisting of TRA-1-60, OCT4 and SSEA-3.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method which, if compared with prior art, more specifically and efficiently produces a compound having a phenol propane structure from natural biomass containing lignins by causing enzymes to act on the biomass. The object is achieved by a method for producing a phenyl propane-based compound comprising a step of producing a phenyl propane-based compound by causing enzymes derived from microorganisms of the genus Novosphingobium to act on biomass containing lignins and/or lignin-related substances in the presence of NAD and reduction type glutathione.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a method which specifically and efficiently produces a compound having a phenol propane structure from natural biomass containing lignins by causing microorganisms to act on biomass. The object is achieved by a method for producing a phenyl propane-based compound comprising a step of producing a phenyl propane-based compound by causing microorganisms of the genus Novosphingobium to act on biomass containing lignins and/or lignin-related substances.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nuclease that secretes natural nonpathogenic microorganisms extracellularly, has higher specific activity than conventional nucleases, and is useful in nucleolytic degradation on an industrial scale. This purpose is achieved with an extracellularly secreted nuclease derived from Streptomyces bacteria, the nuclease having specific activity equal to or greater than the specific activity of Benzonase® when supplied to double-stranded DNA for 30 minutes at 37° C. in 20 mM Tris/HCl (pH 8.5) containing 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2 after purification, using double-stranded DNA, single-stranded DNA, and RNA as substrates.

Abstract: The first object of the present invention is to provide an immortalized cell line derived from a thread-sail filefish. The first object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is capable of being subcultured substantially without limitations. The second object of the present invention is to provide a pluripotent stem cell derived from a thread-sail filefish. The second object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is positive for at least a cell marker selected from a group consisting of TRA-1-60, OCT4 and SSEA-3.

Abstract: The object is to provide a technique for modifying a bacterium belonging to the genus Kocuria through genetic engineering for industrially effectively utilizing the bacterium belonging to the genus Kocuria. The above object can be achieved by providing a cyclic plasmid, which has a replication region comprising the base sequence of a DNA-binding protein-like protein gene, the base sequence of a replicase-like protein gene, and the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:45, and is autonomously replicable in bacteria. As an example of the aforesaid plasmid, a plasmid containing a base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 or 4 which originates in Kocuria sp. MBE131 strain (FERM P-21885) can be cited.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing living microorganisms includes a step (1) of disposing a solution containing microorganisms as an electrolyte on the surface of a substrate at least one portion of which is an electrode, and applying a constant potential to the electrode to cause at least a portion of the microorganisms to attach to the surface of the substrate. The constant potential in step (1) is greater than ?0.5 V but not greater than ?0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) or greater than +0.2 V but not greater than +0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The electrolyte in step (1) does not contain a source of nutrition for the microorganisms.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing living microorganisms includes a step (1) of disposing a solution containing microorganisms as an electrolyte on the surface of a substrate at least one portion of which is an electrode, and applying a constant potential to the electrode to cause at least a portion of the microorganisms to attach to the surface of the substrate. The constant potential in step (1) is greater than ?0.5 V but not greater than ?0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) or greater than +0.2 V but not greater than +0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The electrolyte in step (1) does not contain a source of nutrition for the microorganisms.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nuclease that secretes natural nonpathogenic microorganisms extracellularly, has higher specific activity than conventional nucleases, and is useful in nucleolytic degradation on an industrial scale. This purpose is achieved with an extracellularly secreted nuclease derived from Streptomyces bacteria, the nuclease having specific activity equal to or greater than the specific activity of Benzonase® when supplied to double-stranded DNA for 30 minutes at 37° C. in 20 mM Tris/HCl (pH 8.5) containing 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2 after purification, using double-stranded DNA, single-stranded DNA, and RNA as substrates.

Abstract: The object is to provide a technique for modifying a bacterium belonging to the genus Kocuria through genetic engineering for industrially effectively utilizing the bacterium belonging to the genus Kocuria. The above object can be achieved by providing a cyclic plasmid, which has a replication region comprising the base sequence of a DNA-binding protein-like protein gene, the base sequence of a replicase-like protein gene, and the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:45, and is autonomously replicable in bacteria. As an example of the aforesaid plasmid, a plasmid containing a base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 or 4 which originates in Kocuria sp. MBE131 strain (FERM P-21885) can be cited.

Abstract: A DNA fragment containing a gene which encodes a specific gene regulatory region alone or the gene regulatory region together with a signal peptide; a recombinant vector containing the DNA fragment; a transformant containing the recombinant vector; and a method of producing a recombinant protein by using the transformant. According to the invention, it is possible to produce a protein in a large amount at a high efficiency regardless of the kind of the recombinant protein.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide a novel alkaline protease having peculiar properties such as high alkali activity, resistance to surfactants and calcium-dependent thermostability and exhibiting excellent performance in highly alkaline detergents, and a gene coding for the amino acid sequence thereof. There is provided an alkaline protease with such properties that an active pH range is from 5 to 13, an optimum pH is approximately 12.6, an optimum temperature is 70° C., no activity drop by heating is observed up to 65° C. at pH 10 and the optimum temperature and the thermostability are not affected by Ca2+ ions. Specifically, there is provided, for example, an alkaline protease having an amino acid sequence constituting a mature enzyme as represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or an amino acid sequence resulting from deletion, substitution, situs inversus arrangement, addition or insertion of a part of amino acids thereof, or derived from Alkaliphillus transvaalensis.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide a novel alkaline protease having peculiar properties such as high alkali activity, resistance to surfactants and calcium-dependent thermostability and exhibiting excellent performance in highly alkaline detergents, and a gene coding for the amino acid sequence thereof. There is provided an alkaline protease with such properties that an active pH range is from 5 to 13, an optimum pH is approximately 12.6, an optimum temperature is 70° C., no activity drop by heating is observed up to 65° C. at pH 10 and the optimum temperature and the thermostability are not affected by Ca2+ ions. Specifically, there is provided, for example, an alkaline protease having an amino acid sequence constituting a mature enzyme as represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 or an amino acid sequence resulting from deletion, substitution, situs inversus arrangement, addition or insertion of a part of amino acids thereof, or derived from Alkaliphillus transvaalensis.

Abstract: A DNA fragment containing a gene which encodes a specific gene regulatory region alone or the gene regulatory region together with a signal peptide; a recombinant vector containing the DNA fragment; a transformant containing the recombinant vector; and a method of producing a recombinant protein by using the transformant. According to the invention, it is possible to produce a protein in a large amount at a high efficiency regardless of the kind of the recombinant protein.

Abstract: A method for preparing a protein or peptide encoded by a foreign gene by expressing a foreign gene, which comprises the steps of: preparing a recombinant vector comprising in an expressible state a gene encoding an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, in which a desired foreign gene has been inserted in an expressible state; preparing a mutant host cell or the like in which a chromosomal gene encoding an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase has been knocked out; transforming the mutant host cell with the recombinant vector to obtain a transformant; and culturing the transformant to prepare the protein or peptide encoded by the foreign gene. It becomes possible to provide a novel means for permitting the retention of a recombinant DNA cloning vector without employing an antibiotic and without limiting the composition of the medium; and a method for preparing a protein or peptide encoded by a foreign gene by using the means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that are to be added to a detergent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA fragment encoding alkaline liquefying ?-amylase, recombinant DNA containing the DNA fragment, a transformed microorganism harboring the recombinant DNA, as well as a method for producing alkaline liquefying ?-amylase using the transformant. The method of the present invention enables mass production of alkaline liquefying ?-amylase useful as a detergent component. The present invention is directed to a liquefying alkaline alph?-amylase, and a DNA encoding for the same and functional fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquefying alkaline alpha-amylase, and a DNA encoding for the same and functional fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that is to be added to a detergent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to alkaline proteases having high specific activity and strong oxidant resistance. The present invention also relates to alkaline proteases having excellent detergency that is to be added to a detergent.