Abstract: ?-Amyrin, a precursor in biosynthesis of soyasapogenol B, is biosynthesized by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene which is generated by the mevalonate pathway, and soyasapogenol B is biosynthesized by two hydroxylations of ?-amyrin. However, a gene of 22-hydroxylase involved in the sequence of reactions has not been identified. The present inventors identified a gene encoding the hydroxylase for oleanene triterpenes at C-22, and found that oleanene triterpenes could be hydroxylated at C-22 by co-expressing this gene together with one or more specific genes. Further, the present inventors found that soyasapogenol B could be efficiently produced in large quantities by co-expressing this gene for 22-hydroxylase with a gene for 24-hydroxylase.

Abstract: Soyasapogenol B is biosynthesized via two steps of hydroxylation reaction of its precursor ?-amyrin. However, the gene of the hydroxylase concerned in this reaction has not been revealed. Therefore, it was impossible to apply a genetic engineering technique on the hydroxylase. The present inventors reveals that a sequence which corresponds to a soybean-derived cytochrome P-450 gene CYP93E1 encodes an enzyme protein that carries out hydroxylation of the 24-position of an oleanane type triterpene, and also provides a method for applying said gene making use of a genetic engineering technique.

Abstract: Soyasapogenol B is biosynthesized via two steps of hydroxylation reaction of its precursor ?-amyrin. However, the gene of the hydroxylase concerned in this reaction has not been revealed. Therefore, it was impossible to apply a genetic engineering technique on the hydroxylase. The present inventors reveals that a sequence which corresponds to a soybean-derived cytochrome P-450 gene CYP93E1 encodes an enzyme protein that carries out hydroxylation of the 24-position of an oleanane type triterpene, and also provides a method for applying said gene making use of a genetic engineering technique.

Abstract: The present invention comprising culturing a microorganism which belongs to genus Streptomyces and has ability to produce K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in a medium, accumulating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in the culture fluid, and isolating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance form the cultured mass. Since the obtained K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance exhibit inhibitory activity against lanosterol synthase, these substances are expected to apply clinically for preventive and therapeutic agents caused by accumulation of cholesterol in humans and antifungal agents.

Abstract: The present invention comprising culturing a microorganism which belongs to genus Streptomyces and has ability to produce K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in a medium, accumulating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in the culture fluid, and isolating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance form the cultured mass. Since the obtained K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance exhibit inhibitory activity against lanosterol synthase, these substances are expected to apply clinically for preventive and therapeutic agents caused by accumulation of cholesterol in humans and antifungal agents.

Abstract: The present invention comprising culturing a microorganism which belongs to genus Streptomyces and has ability to produce K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in a medium, accumulating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in the culture fluid, and isolating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance form the cultured mass. Since the obtained K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance exhibit inhibitory activity against lanosterol synthase, these substances are expected to apply clinically for preventive and therapeutic agents caused by accumulation of cholesterol in humans and antifungal agents.