Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences from Coryneform bacteria which code for the PtsI protein and a process for the fermentative preparation of amino acids using bacteria in which the ptsI gene is enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the processes of racemization and deprotection of special N-protected amino acids in the acylase/racemase system for the total conversion of special N-protected racemic amino acids into optically pure amino acids.

Abstract: L-cysteine is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium in which intracellular serine acetyltransferase activity is increased by transformation with a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase, such modification of an expression control sequence of a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase that expression of the gene in a cell should be enhanced and for forth, preferably in which L-cysteine decomposition system is further suppressed, in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in culture and collecting the L-cysteine from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by maintaining a food material containing ?-glutamylcysteine at a ratio of at least 1 wt % to the solid content thereof at a temperature ranging from 50 to 120° C. and at a pH ranging from 1 to 7. This process is conducted in the absence of a sugar and in the presence of water. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a cysteine-rich food material by reacting the food material with a ?-glutamyl peptide hydrolase at a pH ranging from 3 to 9 and at a temperature ranging from 15 to 70° C. in the present of water. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing a flavor-enhancing material for use in food, food products obtained by these processes, and yeast cells or extracts for use in food products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (hereinafter referred to as “G6PD”) derived from a bacterium belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA, a transformant comprising the recombinant DNA, a transformant comprising the DNA on its chromosome, and a process for producing L-amino acid or G6PD which comprises culturing the transformant. According to the present invention, a modified G6PD and a DNA encoding the G6PD are obtained, and the productivity of L-amino acid by a microorganism can be improved by using the modified G6PD.

Abstract: Utilizing a what embryo cell-free protein synthesis system, there are provided a process for the production of selenomethionine-labeled protein, characterized in that, methionine in a wheat embryo extract for a cell-free protein synthesis obtained by a complete removal of endosperm contaminated is changed to selenomethionine and a cell-free protein synthesis is carried out using a reaction solution composition for protein synthesis containing selenomethionine instead of methionine under a batch condition or a dialysis condition and also the said protein produced as such. There are further provided a process for the production of heavy hydrogen-labeled protein using the same means and also the said protein produced as such.

Abstract: In a method for producing an L-amino acid by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce an L-amino acid in a medium to produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in the medium and collecting the L-amino acid from the medium, a Gram-negative bacterium having the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and modified so that 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase activity or 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase activity, or activities of the both are enhanced is used as the microorganism.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and processes for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the metH gene is present in enhanced form, and use of the polynucleotide sequences as hybridization probes.

Abstract: L-Cysteine is produced by culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia having an L-cysteine producing ability and modified so that cystathionine-?-lyase activity or cystathionine-?-lyase activity and tryptophanase activity should be reduced or eliminated in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in the medium and collecting the L-cysteine from the medium.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide that codes for a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID. No. 2, b) polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide that comprises an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and p1 d) polynucleotide comprising at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequence of a), b) or c), and processes for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria in which at least the metE gene is present in enhanced form, and the use of the polynucleotide sequences as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of increasing the productivity of a microorganism by improving the assimilation of carbon dioxide. Specifically, the invention provides a polypeptide having phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity which does not require acetyl coenzyme A for activation and is desensitized to feedback inhibition by aspartic acid, and to genes coding for this polypeptide. A gene encoding a PEP carboxylase that is not regulated by acetyl-CoA or aspartic acid can improve carbon flow from the three carbon intermediate PEP to the four carbon intermediate OAA, contribute to compounds derived from OAA, and increase amino acid biosynthesis. The invention further provides recombinant DNA molecules containing these genes, bacteria transformed with these genes, and a method of producing amino acids using the transformed bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel D-aminoacylase, as well as method for producing a D-amino acid using the same. In order to achieve the above objective, the present inventors have succeeded in purifying heat-stable D-aminoacylase from microorganisms belonging to the genus Streptomyces by combining various purification methods. Furthermore, the present inventors found that the purified heat-stable D-aminoacylase is useful in industrial production of D-amino acids. By utilizing the heat-stable D-aminoacylase, it is possible to readily and efficiently produce the corresponding D-amino acids from N-acetyl-DL-amino acids (for example, N-acetyl-DL-methionine, N-acetyl-DL-valine, N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan, N-acetyl-DL-phenylalanine, N-acetyl-DL-alanine, N-acetyl-DL-leucine, and so on).

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleotide sequences coding for the accDA gene and to a process for the preparation of L-amino acids, especially L-lysine, by fermentation using corynebacteria in which the accDA gene is amplified.

Abstract: Process for production of non-protenogenic L-amino acids by direct fermentation of a microorganism strain known per se having a deregulated cysteine metabolism in a manner known per se, which comprises adding, during the fermentation, a nucleophilic compound to the fermentation batch in a manner such that this leads to the production of non-proteinogenic L-amino acids by the microorganism strain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing photooxidation or air oxidation in susceptible materials such as food, plastics or pharmaceuticals comprising mixing the material with an antioxidation composition comprising at least one amino acid, at least one metal ion, and at least one carboxylic acid in an amount effective to reduce photooxidation in the material.

Abstract: The invention is a method, reagent and test cartridge for the determination of the clotting time of a blood sample by means of a reagent containing tissue factor and a sulfatide. In an alternative embodiment, the reagent may contain tissue factor and at least one of the group consisting of a phosphatide and a sulfatide. This invention is preferably used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy in patients that have been administered low to moderate heparin doses to achieve blood heparin levels from 0 to about 3 U/mL, and may also be used for determining clotting time at higher heparin levels of up to about 6 U/mL.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the processes of racemization and deprotection of special N-protected amino acids in the acylase/racemase system for the total conversion of special N-protected racemic amino acids into optically pure amino acids.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of new & stable salts of S-adenosyl-L-methionine SAMe). The source of SAMe used in the salt formation is from chemical process wherein stereoselective methylation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine is achieved. The process for the salt preparation is simple, efficient & reproducible on large scale. The new salts were found to be stable at accelerated temperature for minimum 3 months.

Abstract: Stable salts of S-adenosyl-1-methionine with polycations such as chitosan are described. The salts according to the invention are very stable and are valuable for use as active constituents in pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: L-Cysteine is produced by culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia having an L-cysteine producing ability and modified so that cystathionine-&bgr;-lyase activity or cystathionine-&bgr;-lyase activity and tryptophanase activity should be reduced or eliminated in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in the medium and collecting the L-cysteine from the medium.

Abstract: Described is a method for the preparation of a mixture of peptides having a cysteine content between 7-20 w/w % from a protein source, comprising cysteine containing proteins, comprising the steps of: a) cleaving the proteins of the protein source into peptides; b) digesting the peptides obtained in step a) by an exopeptidase, the action of which is at least attenuated at the position of a cysteine in the peptide, therewith forming digested peptides having a terminal cysteine; c) purifying the digested peptides, and the use of the preparation as active component in a medicament, especially for the treatment of conditions mediated by oxidative damage and for the elevation of cellular glutathion levels in the human or animal body.

Abstract: A methane-utilizing microorganism capable of producing L-amino acid, for example, bacteria belonging to type I, type X or type II in the taxonomic categorization methane-utilizing bacteria such as Methylomonas albus, Methylococcus capsulatus and Methylosinus trichosporium, is cultivated in a culture medium in contact with gas containing methane which is the main source of carbon, to allow the L-amino acid to be produced and accumulated in the medium, and the L-amino acid is collected from the medium.

Abstract: Described are recombinant DNA molecules comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having serine acetyltransferase (SAT) activity and optionally a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having cysteine-&ggr;-synthase (C&ggr;S) activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule(s) are operably linked to regulatory elements allowing the expression of the nucleic acid molecule(s) in plant cells. Also provided are vectors comprising said recombinant DNA molecules as well as plant cells, plant tissues and plants transformed therewith. In addition, the use of the aforementioned recombinant DNA molecules and vectors in plant cell and tissue culture, plant breeding and/or agriculture is described as well as the use of the aforementioned plants, plant tissue and plant cells for the production of food, feed and additives therefor.

Abstract: Yeast extract is produced by using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which can contain 1% by weight or more of &ggr;-glutamylcysteine and contains 0.004-0.1% by weight of glutathione during its logarithmic growth phase, when the strain is cultured in a medium in which a glutathione synthetase deficient strain shows a slower growth rate than a wild strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, for example, a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, wherein glutathione synthetase encoded by a glutathione synthetase gene on a chromosome has deletion of a C-terminus region from the 370th arginine residue. There are provided yeast that can be used for production at industrial level and shows a high &ggr;-glutamylcysteine accumulation amount, and yeast extract produced by using the yeast.

Abstract: L-cysteine is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium in which intracellular serine acetyltransferase activity is increased by transformation with a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase, such modification of an expression control sequence of a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase that expression of the gene in a cell should be enhanced and for forth, preferably in which L-cysteine decomposition system is further suppressed, in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in culture and collecting the L-cysteine from the culture.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying an amino acid-containing solution by means of electrodialysis, wherein an amino acid-containing solution is employed which is obtained from the fermentation for producing at least one amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant &agr;-amylase having an amino acid sequence obtained by making deletion or replacement by another arbitrary amino acid residue of at least a methionine residue at the 202-position or a position homologous thereto among amino acid residues set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, which constitute a liquefying alkaline &agr;-amylase, a gene thereof, and a detergent composition comprising the mutant &agr;-amylase. The mutant &agr;-amylase has the optimum pH in an alkaline range, an excellent &agr;-amylase activity, and high and lasting resistance to oxidizing agents, and is hence particularly useful as a component of detergent compositions containing a bleaching agent and an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of (SS,RS)-S-adenosyl-L-methionine and allows to obtain the salified (RS)-(+)-S-adenosyl-L-methionine diastereoisomer in amounts lower than or equal to 3% with respect to the salified (SS)-(+)-S-adenosyl-L-methionine diastereoisomer; the salts that can be obtained by the process of the invention keep their configuration stable in time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for carrying out in vitro the complete developmental sequence culture of tissular parasites, which includes culturing the parasites in a totally defined culture medium which is an axenic monophasic liquid culture medium, free of serum and free of serum-derived or cell-derived macromolecules, proteins and peptides. For obtaining amastigote forms, this medium is buffered at a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and has an osmolarity of at least 400 milliosmoles/kg of liquid. For obtaining promastigote forms, the medium is buffered at a pH of 7 to 7.5 and has an osmolarity of at least 300 milliosmoles/kg liquid. Application to the in vitro culture of different stages of tissular parasites such as Leishmania, T. cruzi, and hamatoprotozoa is also provided.

Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the fermentative preparation of L-amino acids using coryneform bacteria, in which the subunit carrying the biotin-carboxyl carrier protein domain and the biotin-carboxylase domain of the nucleotide sequence encoding the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (accBC gene) is amplified, in particular is overexpressed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for screening chemically modified mutant enzymes for amidase and/or esterase activity. This method includes providing a chemically modified mutant enzyme with one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme being replaced by cysteine residues, where at least some of the cysteine residues are modified by replacing thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residues with a thiol side chain, contacting the chemically modified mutant enzyme with a substrate for an amidase and/or a substrate for an esterase, and determining whether the chemically modified mutant enzyme exhibits amidase and/or esterase activity. The present invention also relates to chemically modified mutant enzymes and a method of producing them where one or more amino acid residues from an enzyme are replaced by cysteine residues, and the cysteine residues are modified by replacing at least some of the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine residue with a thiol side chain to form the chemically modified mutant enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the use, in the manufacture of a preventive and therapeutic drug of a brain disease, of a compound represented by formula (1): CH2═CH—CH2—S(O)n—R  (1) [wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a substituted alkyl group, a substituted alkenyl group, an alkylthio group, an alkenylthio group, a phenyl group, a substituted phenyl group, a heterocyclic group, or a group derived from an amino acid or an oligopeptide by deletion of one hydrogen atom, and which group may have a protective group; and n is 0, 1, or 2], a glycoside thereof, or a salt of the compound or the glycoside. The drug of the present invention for ameliorating brain diseases, inhibiting reduction of brain neurons and promoting branching of neurites, is useful for the prevention and treatment of brain diseases such as dementia in association with degeneration and sloughing of brain neurons.

Abstract: There is provided a gene for 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylate (ATC) racemase, a recombinant DNA comprising the gene or DNA fragment thereof, a transformant or transductant comprising the recombinant DNA, and a process for preparing the 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylate racemase using the transformant or transductant. According to the invention, the ATC racemase may be efficiently produced by microorganisms such as E. coli and Pseudomonas and L-cysteine and L-cystine may be efficiently synthesized using the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an L-amino acid which comprises culturing in a nutrient medium a microorganism which is capable of producing the L-amino acid and which can not grow in a synthetic medium containing said L-amino acid as the sole nitrogen source in an amount of 5 mg/ml or below, allowing the L-amino acid to accumulate in the culture, and recovering the L-amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: Processes for stereoselective enzymatic conversion of certain keto carboxylic acid derivatives to form the corresponding alkylamino acid compounds are described. The invention also concerns an engineered yeast host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase, as well as an engineered host cell containing recombinant nucleic acid capable of expressing a phenylalanine dehydrogenase enzyme and nucleic acid capable of expressing a formate dehydrogenase enzyme.

Abstract: 2-Aminopropane is used as the amine donor in the stereoselective synthesis of a chiral amine from a ketone with a transaminase. In a typical embodiment, (S)-1-methoxy-2-aminopropane is prepared by bringing methoxyacetone into contact with a transaminase in the presence of 2-aminopropane as an amine donor until a substantial amount of methoxyacetone is converted to (S)-1-methoxy-2-aminopropane and 2-aminopropane is converted to acetone. In a second embodiment, L-alanine is prepared by bringing pyruvic acid into contact with a transaminase in the presence of 2-aminopropane as an amine donor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing acylated amino esters and a process for preparing optically active amino esters from racemic amino esters with a carboxylic ester as acylating agent, whose acid component has a halogen, nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atom neighboring the carbonyl carbon atom, in the presence of a hydrolase selected from the group of amidase, protease, esterase and lipase, and subsequent separation of the enantioselectively acylated amino ester from the non-acylated other enantiomer of the amino ester.

Abstract: Microorganisms and processes for the fermentative preparation of L-cysteine, L-cystine, N-acetylserine or thiazolidine derivatives. The microorganism strain which is suitable for the fermentative preparation of L-cysteine, L-cystine, N-acetylserine and/or thiazolidine derivatives, overexpresses at least one gene which encodes a protein which is directly suitable for secreting antibiotics, or other substances which are toxic for the microorganism, out of the cell.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the method is for analyzing the amount of methionine sulfoxide in a protein sample and includes the steps of contacting a protein solution with methionine sulfoxide reductase in the presence of a reducing reagent bearing a covalently-linked reporter tag, whereby the reducing reagent is oxidized. The oxidized reducing reagent formed, which is in proportion to the amount of methionine sulfoxide in the sample, is then quantified. A second embodiment of the method is for analyzing the amount of disulfide linkages in a polypeptide or protein sample. It proceeds in the same fashion as above, but in the absence of any enzyme. A novel fluorescently-labeled reducing agent, and kits to practice the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an L-amino acid which comprises culturing in a nutrient medium a microorganism which is capable of producing the L-amino acid and which can not grow in a synthetic medium containing said L-amino acid as the sole nitrogen source in an amount of 5 mg/ml or below, allowing the L-amino acid to accumulate in the culture, and recovering the L-amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: A phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene, which has mutation such as mutation to replace 625th glutamic acid from the N-terminus of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase with lysine, mutation to replace 438th arginine from the N-terminus with cysteine and the like, is introduced into Escherichia coli or coryneform bacteria, so as to produce a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase which is not substantially inhibited by aspartic acid, thereby amino acid is efficiently produced.

Abstract: A method of producing L-amino acids by fermentation. Microorganisms of the genus Corynebacterium which exhibit an auxotrophy relative to an amino acid are used as biocatalysts. The method is characterized in that the carbon source on the one hand and the limiting amino acid on the other hand are fed in two or more different infeed currents to the process. The infeed profiles have, for example, a concave (saccharose) and an exponential (amino acid) form or a convex (saccharose) and likewise a convex (amino acid) form, with specific differing degrees of increase of the currents relative to each other over time.

Abstract: A method for determining three-dimensional structural information of a protein which involves producing the protein in a form substantially labeled with .sup.13 C of .sup.15 N or both substantially labeled with .sup.15 N and .sup.13 C and partially labeled with .sup.2 H and subjecting the protein to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis. The isotopically labeled protein is produced by a method which involves producing a substantially labeled microbial protein hydrolysate, subjecting the protein hydrolysate to cation exchange chromatography to produce a partially purified labeled amino acid mixture, subjecting the partially purified labeled amino acid mixture to anion exchange chromatography to produce a purified labeled amino mixture and supplementing the purified labeled amino acid mixture with isotopically labeled cysteine and optionally with isotopically labeled glutamine and asparagine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a D-amino acid selected from the group consisting of D-methionine, D-valine, D-leucine, D-isoleucine and D-histidine, which comprises the steps of:making a culture or treated culture of a microorganism having ability to asymmetrically degrade a L-amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-methionine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine and L-histidine act on a corresponding racemic amino acid to the L-amino acid; andseparating and collecting the remaining D-amino acid.

Abstract: S-phenyl-L-cysteine can be produced in a high yield by reacting thiophenol and L-serine under the action of tryptophan synthase at a pH in a range of from 9.0 to 10.5. Purification of S-phenyl-L-cysteine obtained by this enzyme reaction can be effectively achieved by adjusting the pH of a crystal-containing reaction mixture to a strongly acidic level of 1.5 or lower to dissolve crystals of S-phenyl-L-cysteine, adding activated carbon to the pH-adjusted mixture, maintaining the resultant mixture at a temperature of from 20.degree. to 60.degree. C. under aeration with an oxygen-containing gas, subjecting the thus-obtained mixture to filtration, raising the pH of the resulting filtrate back to a range of from 2.5 to 6.0 to precipitate crystals of S-phenyl-L-cysteine and then recovering the thus-precipitated crystals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and methods for production of natural and unnatural D-amino acids. In particular, the present invention relates to a fermentation method for the production of D-amino acids using recombinant host cells.Specifically, the invention relates to a method for producing a D-amino acid in a cell, comprising:(a) incorporating into the cell a D-aminotransferase gene and a L-aminodeaminase gene;(b) culturing the cell in a cell culture medium; and(c) isolating the D-amino acid from the cell culture medium.The invention also relates to a method for producing D-phenylalanine in a cell, comprising:(a) incorporating into the cell a D-aminotransferase gene, a L-aminodeaminase gene and means for increasing production of phenylpyruvate;(b) culturing the cell in a cell culture medium; and(c) isolating the D-phenylalanine from the cell culture medium.The invention also relates to the preparation of recombinant cells for use in the production of enantiomerically pure D-amino acids.

Abstract: DSM 9771 is a mutant of DSM 7330 which was obtained under selective pressure. Its enzymatic activity is higher by a factor of 2.3 than that of its parent organism. In the presence of an inducer, this activity may be farther increased by a factor of 2.7. The reaction catalyzed by this microorganism or enzymes therefrom is the enantioselective conversion of a D-5-monosubstituted hydantoin or an L-5-monosubstituted hydantoin or a D-N-carbamoyl amino acid or an L-N-carbamoyl amino acid to a corresponding L-.alpha.-amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive fermentation medium for growing microorganisms. Also provided are fermentation media and methods for producing norleucine by growing E. coli thereon, fermentation media and methods for incorporating norleucine into polypeptides expressed by microorganisms grown thereon, and fermentation media and methods for preventing the incorporation of norleucine into polypeptides expressed by microorganisms grown thereon. Also provided are bovine somatotropin analogs.

Abstract: A nutrient medium comprising amino acids and other substrates used by mammalian or insect cells in protein synthesis that are either double-labeled with .sup.2 H and .sup.13 C or triple-labeled with .sup.2 H, .sup.13 C and .sup.15 N is disclosed. The invention is also directed to a method for producing the nutrient medium.