Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for the formation of glycosidic linkages. These methods are useful for the preparation of compounds of formula:NeuAc.alpha.(2.fwdarw.3)Gal.beta.(1.fwdarw.4)(Fuc.alpha. 1.fwdarw.3)GlcN(R').beta.(1.fwdarw.3)Gal.beta.

Abstract: A economically viable method for producing sugars using concentrated acid hydrolysis of biomass containing cellulose and hemicellulose is disclosed. The cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass is first decrystallized and then hydrolyzed to produce a hydrolysate containing both sugars and acid. Silica and silicates present in the biomass can then be removed for further processing. The remaining solids are then subjected to a second decrystallization if necessary and a second hydrolyzation to optimize the sugar yields.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel thermostable trehalose-releasing enzyme, and its preparations and uses. The enzyme is obtainable from the culture of microorganisms such as Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909 and ATCC 49426) and Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35091 and ATCC 35092), and capable of hydrolyzing at a temperature of over 55.degree. C. the linkage between a trehalose moiety and the remaining glycosyl moiety in a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit and having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher. Trehalose and compositions containing the same are extensively useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and its preparation and uses. The enzyme is obtainable from the culture of microorganisms such as Rhizobium sp. M-11 (FERM BP 4130) and Arthrobacter sp. Q36 (FERM BP-4316), and capable of forming non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure when allowed to act-on reducing partial starch hydrolysates. Glucoamylase and .alpha.-glucosidase readily yield trehalose when allowed to act on the non-reducing saccharides. These non-reducing saccharides and trehalose are extensively useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Mutant glycosidase enzymes are formed in which the normal nucleophilic amino acid within the active site has been changed to a non-nucleophilic amino acid. These enzymes cannot hydrolyze disaccharide products, but can still form them. Using this enzyme, oligosaccharides are synthesized by preparing a mixture of an .alpha.-glycosyl fluoride and a glycoside acceptor molecule; enzymatically coupling the .alpha.-glycosyl fluoride to the glycoside acceptor molecule to form a glycosyl glycoside product using the mutant glycosidase enzyme; and recovering the glycosyl glycoside product. Particular enzymes include a mutant form of Agrobacterium .beta.-Glucosidase in which the normal glutamic acid residue at position 358 is replaced with an alanine residue.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel thermostable non-reducing saccharides-forming enzyme, its preparation and uses. The enzyme is obtainable from the culture of microorganisms such as Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909 and ATCC 49426) and Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35091 and ATCC 35092), and capable of forming non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates at a temperature of over 55.degree. C. Glucoamylase and .alpha.-glucosidase readily yield trehalose when allowed to act on the non-reducing saccharides. These non-reducing saccharides and trehalose are extensively useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Neotrehalose is prepared in a relatively high-yield by a process comprising allowing .beta.-galactosidase to act on a solution containing lactoneotrehalose to form neotrehalose and recoverying the resultant neotrehalose. The neotrehalose is a non-reducing oligosaccharide having a satisfiable stability and a rich- and high-quality-sweetness and is assimilated and utilized as energy source in vivo when orally administered. Neotrehalose in the form of crystal has a satisfiable handleability because it is readily soluble in water and substantially free of hygroscopicity. These render neotrehalose very useful in the fields of food-, cosmetic- and pharmaceutical-industries.

Abstract: A protein having sucrose phosphate synthetase (SPS) activity is isolated from plants, preferably maize. The protein has a molecular weight of 110-130 dK and contains at least one peptide selected from Thv Trp Ile Lys, Try Val Val Glu Leu Ala Arg, Ser Met Pro Pro Ile Trp Ala Glu Val Met Arg, Leu Arg Pro Asp Gln Asp Try Leu Met His Ile Ser His Arg and Trp Ser His Asp Gly Ala Arg. Isolation is carried out by obtaining an extract from the plant by grinding, centrifugation and filtration; enriching the extract in SPS protein by precipitation in an appropriate solvent such as polyethylene glycol, centrifugation and solubilization of the precipitate obtained in a buffer solution; subjecting the protein thus obtained to low pressure anion exchange chromatography, chromatography on heparin Sepharose and high pressure anion exchange chromatography; and purifying the active fractions obtained by passage through two high pressure chromatography columns.

Abstract: A process for producing N-substituted amino compounds, a process for oxidizing an N-substituted amino compound with a microbe, or cell fragment or cell free extract thereof, and a process for oxidizing an N-substituted amino compound with a microbe, or cell fragment or cell free extract thereof and reducing the oxidized N-substituted amino compound to N-substituted-polyhydroxy piperidines based on N-substituted mannosamines, allosamines and altrosamines, N-substituted polyhydroxy pyrrolidines, and N-substituted polyhydroxy azetidines. In addition, a one pot process for producing N-substituted-polyhydroxy piperidines based on N-substituted mannosamines, allosamines and altrosamines, N-substituted polyhydroxy pyrrolidines, and N-substituted polyhydroxy azetidines from the respective sugar is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) by enzymatic oxidation of glycerophosphate in the presence of glycerophosphate oxidase and an H.sub.2 O.sub.2 -decomposing enzyme such as catalase and also concerns the conversion of DHAP formed in situ in a coupled enzymatic aldol addition to produce carbohydrates or corresponding derivatives.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and its preparation and uses. The enzyme is obtainable from the culture of microorganisms such as Rhizobium sp. M-11 (FERM BP 4130) and Arthrobacter sp. Q36 (FERM BP-4316), and capable of forming non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates. Glucoamylase and .alpha.-glucosidase readily yield trehalose when allowed to act on the non-reducing saccharides. These non-reducing saccharides and trehalose are extensively useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Also disclosed is a method of crystallizing trehalose from a 65 to 90% aqueous solution in the absence of organic solvent.

Abstract: A method for producing uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine comprising culturing osmo-tolerant yeasts in aerobic conditions in a medium having inorganic salt concentration of about 2-8%.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel xylanases, a process for producing the enzyme, a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme, a method for the treatment of pulp with the xylanase enzyme, and a process for producing xylose or xylo-oligosaccharide using the enzyme.

Abstract: A process for producing a saccharide carboxylic acid or a salt thereof characterized in that a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudogluconobacter and capable of oxidizing a hydroxymethyl group and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-associated carbon atom to a carboxyl group, or an artifact derived from the microorganism, is permitted to act on a hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-containing saccharide or saccharide derivative to produce and accumulate the corresponding carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid so accumulated is harvested and novel saccharide carboxylic acids produced by the above production method, and by the process, from a broad range of saccharides, saccharic acids having carboxyl groups derived from hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal OH groups can be produced with high selectivity and in good yield, the resultant saccharide acids are resistant to enzymatic degradation and have improved water solubility, among other characteristics.

Abstract: A process for producing a saccharide carboxylic acid or a salt thereof characterized in that a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudogluconobacter and capable of oxidizing a hydroxymethyl group and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-associated carbon atom to a carboxyl group, or an artifact derived from the microorganism, is permitted to act on a hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-containing saccharide or saccharide derivative to produce and accumulate the corresponding carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid so accumulated is harvested and novel saccharide carboxylic acids produced by the above production method, and by the process, from a broad range of saccharides, saccharic acids having carboxyl groups derived from hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal OH groups can be produced with high selectivity and in good yield, the resultant saccharide acids are resistant to enzymatic degradation and have improved water solubility, among other characteristics.

Abstract: Novel plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. Novel plants that are resistant to cold damage are also described which are created by introduction of DNA encoding for the production of chitinase. The plants of the invention may also have enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or produce fruit having enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or may be selected for enhanced post-harvest storage life.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing indigestible polysaccharides and to the corresponding hydrogenated products. This process essentially consists in carrying out an enzymatic hydrolysis of at least one dextrin and/or one polyglucose using at least one saccharifying enzyme and at least one enzyme which hydrolyzes the 1-6 bonds of amylopectin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fed batch production process for a composition of sophorosides, in which culturing takes place of at least one Candida bombicola or Candida apicola strain and the cultured strain is exposed in a reaction zone to an excess sugar supply and a continuous supply of at least one appropriate substrate at a supply rate to the reaction zone between 0.01 and 4 grams per hour and per liter of initial reaction volume and for a supply time such that the residual concentration of the substrate in the reaction zone is maintained at a value at the most equal to 18 grams per liter of initial reaction volume for the supply time and the composition of sophorosides produced is recovered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing saccarides of definite chain length, such as glucose, maltose, malto-oligosaccharides and isomalto-oligosaccharides with a high purity. Saccharides such as starch, dextran and cellulose, and hydrolyzates thereof, are subjected to modification of the anomeric carbon at the reducing end of the molecule without modification of the non-reducing end of the molecule. The modification may be oxidation, for example by bromine to produce a carboxylic acid at the anomeric carbon, or amination, for example by phenylhydrazine to produce an osazone or osone of the saccharide. After modification, the modified saccharide can be adsorbed on an ion exchange resin and then repeatedly cleaved with a suitable enzyme, such as .beta.-amylase, to produce the desired saccharide of definite chain length.

Abstract: Polymers containing lignin and organic compounds are produced by polymerizing the lignin with organic compounds containing at least 3 carbon atoms as well as oxygen, nitrogen and/or multiple-linkage functions in the presence of radically oxidizing enzymes and of oxidation products constituting their substrate.

Abstract: Oligosaccharide compounds GlcNAc.beta.1-3Gal.beta.-OMe, GlcNAc.beta.1- 6Gal.alpha.-OMe, GalNAc.beta.1-3Gal.beta.-OMe, GalNAc.alpha.1-3Gal.alpha.-OMe, and Fuc.alpha.1-6Gal.beta.-OMe.

Abstract: A economically viable method for producing sugars using concentrated acid hydrolysis of biomass containing cellulose and hemicellulose is disclosed. The cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass is first decrystallized and then hydrolyzed to produce a hydrolysate containing both sugars and acid. Silica and silicates present in the biomass can then be removed for further processing. The remaining solids are then subjected to a second decrystallization if necessary and a second hydrolyzation to optimize the sugar yields.

Abstract: The process includes heat-treating a xanthan gum fermented broth, and consecutively treating the broth first with alkaline protease and then with lysozyme or in reverse order, and thereafter recovering xanthan gum from the treated broth. A clear aqueous solution of xanthan gum may be obtained Without complex procedures.

Abstract: Novel trehalase having the properties that it hydrolyzes .alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose, 2,2'-dideoxy-.alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose and 2-deoxy-.alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose into the respective constituting sugars while it does not act on neotrehalose, lactose, maltose, celobiose and sucrose; its optimum pH is 5 to 6; its optimum temperature is 65.degree. C.; it is stable against heating up to 65.degree. C.; its molecular weight as measured by a gel filtration is 400,000 to 500,000 while the molecular weight of the subunit as measured by a sodium dodecylsulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 180,000 to 250,000; its isoelectric point as measured by an isoelectricfocusing is 2.7; and it is a glycoprotein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a trehalose-releasing enzyme which specifically hydrolyzes the linkage between a trehalose moiety and the remaining glycosyl moiety in a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit and having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher. The molecular weight of the enzyme is about 57,000 to 68,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE, and the isoelectric point is about 3.3 to 4.6 on isoelectrophoresis. The enzyme is useful in an industrial-scale preparation of trehalose, and the trehalose prepared therewith can be readily incorporated into food products, as well as cosmetic- and pharmaceutical-compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a trehalose-releasing enzyme which specifically hydrolyzes the linkage between a trehalose moiety and the remaining glycosyl moiety in a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit and having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher. The molecular weight of the enzyme is about 57,000 to 68,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE, and the isoelectric point is about 3.3 to 4.6 on isoelectrophoresis. The enzyme is useful in an industrial-scale preparation of trehalose, and the trehalose prepared therewith can be readily incorporated into food products, as well as cosmetic- and pharmaceutical-compositions.

Abstract: A economically viable method for producing sugars using concentrated acid hydrolysis of biomass containing cellulose and hemicellulose is disclosed. The cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass is first decrystallized and then hydrolyzed to produce a hydrolysate containing both sugars and acid. Silica present in the biomass can then be removed for further processing. The remaining solids are then subjected to a second decrystallization and hydrolyzation to optimize the sugar yields. An improved method for separating the sugars from the acid in the hydrolysate is also disclosed. The resulting sugar stream can then be fermented, using an improved method which allows both hexose and pentose sugars to be fermented simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel preparation of neotrehalose and its uses. The preparation comprises allowing .alpha.-amylase to act on an amylaceous substance to form neotrehalose, and recovering said neotrehalose. The neotrehalose has a satisfiable chemical stability, as well as other properties such as a sweeteness, energy-imparting ability, osmosis-regulating ability, filler-imparting ability, gloss-imparting ability, moisture-retaining ability, viscosity-imparting ability, crystallization-preventing ability, and non-fermentability. These properties render the neotrehalose advantageously useful in preparations of a variety of compositions.

Abstract: A single, reproducible scheme to simultaneously purify all three of the heparin lyases from F. heparinum to apparent homogeneity is disclosed herein. The kinetic properties of the heparin lyases have been determined as well as the conditions to optimize their activity and stability. Monoclonal antibodies to the three heparinases are also described and are useful for detection, isolation and characterization of the heparinases.

Abstract: A process for producing trehalose from inexpensive saccharide raw materials via an enzymic method uses stable enzymes with high productivity. The process includes incubating a saccharide raw material and an inorganic phosphoric acid and/or a salt thereof in the presence of phosphorylase to produce .alpha.-glucose 1-phosphate, and contacting the produced .alpha.-glucose 1-phosphate with glucose in the presence of a trehalose phosphorylase to produce trehalose. The isolation and purification of trehalose is easier in comparison to conventional fermentation methods.

Abstract: A personal communications apparatus using a garment-based audio interface. A garment member is worn on the upper torso of a person, wherein the garment member includes a neck opening which allows extension therethrough of the neck of the person. An audio output device capable of producing hi-fidelity spatialized 3-D sound aiming in selected directions is located adjacent the neck opening of the garment member. A receiver capable of receiving at least one transmitted signal and producing an audio signal based thereupon is coupled to the audio output device. An audio input device capable of capturing spatialized 3-D sound from selected directions is located adjacent the neck opening of the garment member. The audio signal from the audio input device is provided to a transmitter capable of transmitting a signal in dependence upon the audio signal. Embodiments of the garment member include a shirt and a necklace.

Abstract: Novel plants are described which produce and secrete chitinase as the result of the introduction of foreign DNA linked to a sequence encoding chitinase, an enzyme capable of degrading chitin present in fungi and nematodes. Novel plants that are resistant to cold damage are also described which are created by introduction of DNA encoding for the production of chitinase. The plants of the invention may also have enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or produce fruit having enhanced levels of reducing sugars or sweetness, or may be selected for enhanced post-harvest storage life.

Abstract: A method for genetically engineering cells to produce soluble and secretable Golgi processing enzymes instead of naturally occurring membrane-bound enzymes. Cells are genetically engineered to express glycosyltransferases which lack both a membrane anchor and a retention signal. The resulting altered enzyme becomes soluble and secretable by the cell without losing its catalytic activity. Secretion of the soluble glycosyltransferase by the cell provides for increased production and simplified recovery of glycosyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention relates toa mutant strain of Xanthomonas campestris;a method of preparing xanthan by fermentation of said strain; anda non-viscous xanthan capable of being obtained by said method.

Abstract: A synthetic method in which is included at least one process, which is characterized by that a glycosidase (EC 3.2) is used to catalyse a reaction between a partially protected galactose derivative, or a partially protected glucose derivative, and a glycosyl doner, which is an oligosaccharide or a monosaccharide glycoside, is described. The process is suitable for synthesis of carbohydrate derivatives or for synthesis of partially protected carbohydrate intermediates which are suitable for further synthesis e.g. of blood group determinants A and B, or other carbohydrates.

Abstract: Novel trehalase having the properties that it hydrolyzes .alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose, 2,2'-dideoxy-.alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose and 2-deoxy-.alpha.,.alpha.'-trehalose into the respective constituting sugars while it does not act on neotrehalose, lactose, maltose, celobiose and sucrose; its optimum pH is 5 to 6; its optimum temperature is 65.degree. C.; it is stable against heating up to 65.degree. C.; its molecular weight as measured by a gel filtration is 400,000 to 500,000 while the molecular weight of the subunit as measured by a sodium dodecylsulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 180,000 to 250,000; its isoelectric point as measured by an isoelectricfocusing is 2.7; and it is a glycoprotein.

Abstract: A one-pot glycosylation reaction is disclosed in which a N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) or N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) group is enzymatically transferred to an acceptor molecule. The starting glycoside is a N-acetylamino monosaccharide 1-phosphate that is enzymatically converted to its UDP derivative via UTP and a pyrophorylase. The formed UDP derivative is epimerized, and the epimerized UDP derivative is used in the enzyme-catalyzed glycosyl transfer. That enzyme-catalyzed glycosyl transfer to an acceptor releases UDP that is enzymatically converted to UTP for further conversion of the N-acetylamino monosaccharide 1-phosphate into its UDP derivative.

Abstract: This invention provides alginate oligosaccharides comprising calcium alginate oligosaccharide, which is obtained by treating potassium alginate and/or sodium alginate with a polysaccharide-decomposing enzyme (alginate lyase) produced by a microorganism and substituting potassium ion or sodium ion in the potassium alginate oligosaccharide or sodium alginate oligosaccharide thus obtained with calcium ion, and potassium-enriched potassium alginate oligosaccharide, which is obtained by substituting sodium ion in said oligosaccharide with potassium ion, and a method for producing the same. The present invention further provides a food which contains the above-mentioned alginate oligosaccharide and exhibits an antihypertensive action.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding Pea ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase subunits are provided that are useful for changing the phenotype of higher plants, especially the garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and other legumes, in regard to starch and sucrose biosynthesis. In particular, the invention relates to affecting the sucrose and starch content of edible plants.

Abstract: Plasmids that comprise a DNA sequence coding for a protein that modifies the metabolism of soluble sugars, for example, an inorganic pyrophosphatase agent and plant cells comprising those plasmids, for the production of transgenic plants that are modified in habit and yield arc described, the plants being modified in habit by the transfer and the expression of genes that intervene in sugar metabolism or sugar distribution inside a plant.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a hypocariogenic hydrogenated starch hydrolysate. This hydrolysate is characterized in that it has a concentration of 0.1 to 19% by weight of sorbitol, a concentration of 35 to 87% by weight of maltitol, a concentration of 1 to 17% by weight of polysaccharides which are not hydrolysed by amyloglucosidase in an F test, the balance for 100% consisting of hydrogenated oligo- or polysaccharides. This hydrolysate can be used as sweetening agent or as texturing agent in products intended to be ingested by humans or animals, especially in sweets and chewing gums as well as in syrups and food or pharmaceutical elixirs.

Abstract: A method of producing trehalose, in which a microorganism belonging to the genus Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Microbacterium or Arthrobacter and having the ability to produce trehalose is incubated in a liquid medium containing sucrose or maltose as an essential carbon source and the trehalose produced and accumulated in the culture is collected therefrom. Trehalose is produced inexpensively and efficiently by industrial mass-production.

Abstract: A trehalose-releasing enzyme is obtained which specifically hydrolyzes the linkage between a trehalose moiety and the remaining glycosyl moiety in a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit and having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher. The molecular weight of the enzyme is about 57,000 to 68,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE, and the isoelectric point is about 3.3 to 4.6 on isoelectrophoresis. The enzyme is preferably obtained from Rhizobium sp. FERM BP-4130 or Arthrobacter sp. FERM BP-4316, and may also be obtained from members of the genera Brevibacterium and Micrococcus. The enzyme is useful in an industrial-scale preparation of trehalose, and the trehalose prepared therewith can be readily incorporated into food products, as well as cosmetic- and pharmaceutical-compositions.

Abstract: This invention allows high-purity maltose to be manufactured both simply and economically by sequentially going through the steps of liquefaction of starch, saccharification of the resulting liquefied substance by combining with general-purpose enzymes and further saccharification with an enzyme which hydrolyzes oligosaccharides of trisaccharide or more, and also allows the economical and favorable manufacturing of maltitol, the reduced product of the above maltose, by going through an additional reduction step.

Abstract: This invention provides alginate oligosaccharides comprising calcium alginate oligosaccharide, which is obtained by treating potassium alginate and/or sodium alginate with a polysaccharide-decomposing enzyme (alginate lyase) produced by a microorganism and substituting potassium ion or sodium ion in the potassium alginate oligosaccharide or sodium alginate oligosaccharide thus obtained with calcium ion, and potassium-enriched potassium alginate oligosaccharide, which is obtained by substituting sodium ion in said oligosaccharide with potassium ion, and a method for producing the same. The present invention further provides a food which contains the above-mentioned alginate oligosaccharide and exhibits an antihypertensive action.

Abstract: A microorganism belonging to the Gram-positive cocci having not less than about 55 mol % of guanine plus cytosine content of DNA is cultivated in a medium. Trehalose is produced and extracellularly accumulated in the medium with a good yield. The present method, therefore, brings about a feasible method for the industrial production of trehalose. Preferably, the microorganism used is Deinococcus proteolyticus (IFO 15345), Deinococcus erythromyxa (IFO 15344), Deinococcus radiopugnans (IFO 15348), Micrococcus varians (FERM BP-4238 and IFO 3765), Micrococcus agilis (IFO 15323) or Microccus luteus (IFO 3067 and IFO 12708).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of partially acylated derivatives of sucrose by the enzyme catalyzed deacylation of sucrose esters, wherein said process comprises treating a sucrose ester selected from the group consisting of sucrose octaacylate, sucrose heptaacylate, and sucrose hexaacylate in an anhydrous organic medium, with an enzyme or combination of enzymes capable of catalyzing the deacylation of said sucrose ester to produce a partially deacylated sucrose derivative having free hydroxyl group(s) in pre-selected position(s), and recovering the resulting partially deacylated sucrose derivative.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition containing hypocariogenic hydrogenated saccharides which can be used as sweetening composition or as texturing agent in food products and in some pharmaceutical or veterinary products. This composition is characterized in that it has a concentration of 0.1 to 80% of hydrogenated monosaccharides, a concentration of 0.1 to 96% of hydrogenated disaccharides, a concentration of 11 to 96% of hydrogenated mono- and disaccharides, a concentration of 1 to 40% of polysaccharides which are not hydrolyzed by amyloglucosidase, the balance for 100% consisting of hydrogenated oligosaccharides or polysaccharides.

Abstract: A process for producing a saccharide carboxylic acid or a salt thereof characterized in that a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudogluconobacter and capable of oxidizing a hydroxymethyl group and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-associated carbon atom to a carboxyl group, or an artifact derived from the microorganism, is permitted to act on a hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal hydroxyl-containing saccharide or saccharide derivative to produce and accumulate the corresponding carboxylic acid and the carboxylic acid so accumulated is harvested and novel saccharide carboxylic acids produced by the above production method, and by the process, from a broad range of saccharides, saccharic acids having carboxyl groups derived from hydroxymethyl and/or hemiacetal OH groups can be produced with high selectivity and in good yield, the resultant saccharide acids are resistant to enzymatic degradation and have improved water solubility, among other characteristics.

Abstract: An enzymatic process is disclosed for the preparation of galactosyl.beta.1,3glycal disaccharides such as Gal.beta.1,3Glucal, an intermediate useful in Le.sup.a preparation and an inhibitor of .beta.-galactosidase. The process utilizes .beta.-galactosidase, an enzyme usually used for bond breaking, to form a bond between a galactoside and a glucal such as glycal, a 6-O--C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 acylglucal or 6-O--C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 acetylgalactal.