Abstract: A basic L-amino acid and an acidic L-amino acid may be concurrently produced by either culturing a basic L-amino acid-producing bacteria under conditions for producing an acidic L-amino acid or mix-culturing a basic L-amino acid-producing bacteria and an acidic L-amino acid-producing bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester wherein a protease is used to catalyze the condensation reaction of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid with L-phenylalanine methyl ester in a system consisting of ethyl acetate, citrate buffer with the addition of glycerol as a dispersing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of N-protected dialkyl (2S,3S)-3-ethylaspartates or their salts from unpurified (2S,3S)-3-ethylaspartic acid obtainable by enzymatic amination of ethylfumaric acid.

Abstract: A basic L-amino acid and an acidic L-amino acid may be concurrently produced by either culturing a basic L-amino acid-producing bacteria under conditions for producing an acidic L-amino acid or mix-culturing a basic L-amino acid-producing bacteria and an acidic L-amino acid-producing bacteria.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing L-alanine by reacting in a single reaction tank, in an aqueous reaction mixture having a pH of 6 to 10 and containing at least one .alpha.-keto acid, fumaric acid or a salt thereof with ammonia or ammonium ions in the presence of two microorganisms having fumarase inactivity.

Abstract: An efficient process of optical resolution is provided for producing an L-amino acid represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is --CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 H, --CH.sub.2 CONH.sub.2, --CO.sub.2 H or ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 is hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a halogen-substituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The process comprises an optical resolution of an N-substituted carbonyl-D,L-amino acid represented by the formula (II): ##STR3## (wherein R is the same as defined above and R.sup.

Abstract: Process is described for the production of L-amino acids of general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 means an alkyl radical with at most 12 carbon atoms optionally substituted by hydroxy groups, mercapto groups, halogen atoms, amino groups, carbonyl groups or guanidino groups and/or interrupted by oxygen atoms, nitrogen atoms or sulfur atoms, and in the case of mercapto compounds of formula I also their dithio compounds, characterized in that the microorganism Nocardia spec. DSM 3306 or its enzymes are allowed to act on a D,L-imidazolidinedione derivative of general formula II ##STR2## in which R.sub.1 has the above-named meaning or, in the case of mercapto compounds of formula II, also in their dithio compounds.

Abstract: A process for converting AMP into ATP which comprises (a) using an enzyme which converts AMP into ADP and has been produced from microorganisms having an optimum growth temperature of 50.degree. C. to 85.degree. C. and an enzyme which converts ADP into ATP and has been produced from microorganisms having an optimum growth temperature of 50.degree. C. to 85.degree. C. is disclosed. In addition, there is disclosed a process for producing a physiologically active substance by a multienzyme process which comprises forming ATP from AMP by the step (a), (b) synthesizing a physiologically active substance with the resulting ATP, converting AMP resulting from the reaction in step (b) into ATP by the reaction in step (a), and repeatedly utilizing the converted ATP for synthesis of the physiologically active substance in step (b). By using the process it is possible to stably and efficiently carry out conversion of AMP into ATP over a long period of time.

Abstract: A biocatalytic method for producing a desired amino acid is disclosed. The method involves contacting a 2-ketoacid corresponding to the desired amino acid with lactic acid, aspartic acid and ammonia, or salts thereof, in the presence of:(a) one or more transaminase enzymes capable of catalyzing the conversion of the 2-ketoacid and L-aspartic acid to the desired amino acid and oxaloacetic acid;(b) a malate-lactate transhydrogenase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of lactic acid and oxaloacetic acid to pyruvic acid and malic acid;(c) a fumarase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of malic acid to fumaric acid; and(d) an aspartate-ammonia lyase enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of fumaric acid and ammonia to aspartic acid.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA molecule comprising a plasmid vector having operationally inserted therein a gene coding for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase is disclosed along with bacteria containing this recombinant DNA molecule and methods of using these bacteria to produce amino acids in large quantities.

Abstract: A composition comprising immobilized cells obtained by applying a dispersion of cells and curable prepolymer material selected from the group consisting of polyazetidine prepolymers, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyurethane hydrogel prepolymers and polymethylene isocyanates. as a coating to a solid inert carrier and curing the prepolymer on the carrier at a temperature below the temperature at which enzyme activity of the cells is significantly reduced. The composition may be used to produce various materials such as L-aspartic acid, L-alanine, 6-Aminopenicillanic acid, high fructose corn syrup, prednisolone or phenylalanine.

Abstract: A novel microorganism of the genus Escherichia containing a hybrid plasmid prepared by integrating a plasmid with a deoxyribonucleic acid carrying the gene for aspartase which is obtained from a microorganism of the genus Escherichia. An industrially advantageous method for producing L-aspartic acid comprising contacting a culture of the novel microorganism, microbial cells collected from the culture or a processed material of the microbial cells with fumaric acid and ammonia to produce L-aspartic acid and then collecting L-aspartic acid thus produced is also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel microorganism of the genus Serratia containing a hybrid plasmid prepared by integrating a plasmid with a deoxyribonucleic acid carrying the gene for aspartase which is obtained from a microorganism of the genus Serratia. An industrially advantageous method for producing L-aspartic acid comprising contacting a culture of the novel microorganism, microbial cells collected from the culture or a processed material of the microbial cells with fumaric acid and ammonia to produce L-aspartic acid and then collecting L-aspartic acid thus produced is also disclosed.

Abstract: Microbial cells are immobilized with a curable polyaziridine or polyfunctional aziridine prepolymer to obtain an insoluble, crosslinked polymer containing the cells. The microbial cells immobilized may be cells having L-aspartase or L-phenylalanine transaminase activity for the production of L-aspartic acid or L-phenylalanine. The polymer containing the cells may be formed as a coating on a solid inert carrier.

Abstract: The aspartase from a mutant Bacillus subtilis, NRRL B-15536, is produced in relatively high cell yield within a comparatively short time. The enzyme converts fumaric acid to L-aspartic acid stoichiometrically with outstanding selectivity and productivity. The enzyme is stabilized by divalent magnesium ions, 2-mercaptoethanol, and ammonium furmarate, and can be conveniently purified with high recovery.

Abstract: A process for preparing L-aspartic acid by contacting fumarate ion-containing solution with aspartase or aspartase-producing microorganisms, adding maleic acid to insolubilize or precipitate the L-aspartic acid, isomerizing maleic acid in the supernatant liquid to form fumaric acid and recycling the fumaric acid into contact with the enzyme or microorganisms.

Abstract: Biological materials are immobilized by being absorbed into vermiculite particles which then are coated with a polymeric coating material. A variety of cross-linking, condensing, and gelling agents may be used to strengthen and crosslink the polymer.

Abstract: Foams having aspartase-producing microorganisms bound to the foam are made from polyurethane prepolymers which are capped with polyisocyanates, including diisocyanates, derived from methylene-bis (phenyl isocyanate) which is commonly known as MDI. These MDI based foams are hydrolysis resistant as compared to the previously used TDI based foams. The foams can be used to produce L-aspartic acid under high pH conditions.

Abstract: Microbial cells having L-aspartase activity are immobilized for producing L-aspartic acid. The cells are immobilized by mixing the cells with a curable prepolymer material and curing the prepolymer material to form a crosslinked polymer. Suitable prepolymer materials are polyazetidine prepolymers, carboxymethyl cellulose which can be crosslinked with polyvalent ions, polyurethane hydrogel prepolymers and polymethylene isocyanates. A preferred prepolymer material is polyazetidine prepolymer. The polymer may be formed as a coating on a solid inert carrier.

Abstract: Biological materials are immobilized within condensed polyalkyleneimine polymers. Condensation of the polymer is accomplished by bridging the amine groups of polyalkyleneimine polymer chains with a polycarboxylic acid, in the presence of a condensing agent.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which an amino acid-producing microorganism having an ability to assimilate lactic acid is aerobically cultivated in the presence of at least one lactic acid microorganism in an aqueous nutrient medium containing at least one carbohydrate which is assimilable by the lactic acid microorganism but nonassimilable or weakly assimilable by the amino acid-producing microorganism as the main carbon source and an accumulated amino acid is recovered from the culture broth. An industrially advantageous production of an amino acid has become feasible by utilizing inexpensive carbon sources or those organic substances in agricultural or livestock wastes that have heretofore not been effectively utilized.

Abstract: Thermophilic aspartase is produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus. The enzyme is useful as a catalyst in the production of L-aspartic acid from ammonium fumarate or a mixture of fumaric acid and ammonia.

Abstract: Antibiotic A-7413 complex, comprising a major microbiologically active factor A, and minor active factors B, C, and D, is produced by fermentation of Actinoplanes sp. NRRL 8122. The individual factors are isolated and separated by extraction and chromatography. The A-7413 antibiotics are antibacterial agents. The A-7413 complex and A-7413 antibiotic compounds are also useful as growth-promoting agents and in the control of dental caries and acne.

Abstract: A process for producing L-aspartic acid economically and efficiently from fumaric acid or a salt thereof and ammonia or an ammonium salt using a cultured product obtained by aerobically culturing an microorganism belonging to the Genus Brevibacterium and having resistance to .alpha.-amino-n-butyric acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids by subjecting 5-substituted hydantoins to the action of a cultured broth, cells or treated cells of microorganisms having an ability in asymmetrically hydrolyzing the hydantoin ring in an aqueous medium of pH 7 to 10. The process is suited for the industrial manufacture of D-N-carbamoyl-.alpha.-amino acids which are useful intermediates for the preparation of medicines.

Abstract: D-.alpha.-amino acids are produced by contacting a 5-substituted hydantoin with an effective amount of an enzyme capable of converting the 5-substituted hydantoin to the D-.alpha.-amino acid produced by a microorganism in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range of 4 to 9, the microorganism being capable of utilizing the D-isomer of the 5-substituted hydantoin as the sole nitrogen source, but substantially incapable of utilizing the L-isomer of the 5-substituted hydantoin as the nitrogen source and the substituent of the 5-position being such that upon reaction with the enzyme, an optically active D-.alpha.-amino acid isomer is produced; and recovering the D-.alpha.-amino acid which accumulates in the aqueous medium.