Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters wherein a 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-oxobutyric acid ester is treated with an enzyme source capable of stereoselectively reducing said ester to the corresponding optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester having the (2S,3R) configuration. The present invention provides an efficient method for industrially producing optically active 2-(N-substituted aminomethyl)-3-hydroxybutyric acid esters, in particular such compounds having the (2S,3R) configuration, which are useful as intermediates for the production of medicinal compounds, among others.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new supply source of enzymes useful for modification of phospholipids for example, and also provides a method for producing 2-acyl lysophospholipid, a method for producing monoacylglycerol, and a method for producing ceramide, as well as a new method for degumming fat and oil. A novel microorganism is provided, which belongs to Moritella species and is capable of producing enzymes provided with: phospholipase A1 activity; phospholipase C activity; lysophospholipase C activity; and sphingomyelinase activity. By use of those enzymes, the following processes may be effected: hydrolysis of phospholipids for production of 2-acyl lysophospholipid and diacylglycerol; hydrolysis of sphingomyeline for production of ceramide; and degumming of fat and oil.

Abstract: This invention provides novel chemically modified mutant serine hydrolases that catalyze a transamidation and/or a transpeptidation and/or a transesterification reaction. The modified serine hydrolases have one or more amino acid residues in a subsite replaced with a cysteine, wherein the cysteine is modified by replacing the thiol hydrogen in the cysteine with a substituent group providing a thiol side chain comprising a moiety selected from the group consisting of a polar aromatic substituent, an alkyl amino group with a positive charge, and a glycoside. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substitutents include an oxazolidinone, a C1 to C15 alkyl amino group with a positive charge, or a glycoside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Rhodococcus polynucleotide cluster which contains nucleotide sequences which encode polypeptides having the activity of a nitrile hydratase, of an auxiliary protein P15K which activates this enzyme and of a cobalt transporter, to transformed microorganisms in which the nucleotide sequences encoding these proteins are present in increased quantity, and to the use of the transformed microorganisms for preparing amides from nitriles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biotransformation process, effected by means of selected microbial strains, for the preparation of 3-O-glycosyl derivatives of colchicinoid compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation. The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regeneration which comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 ?m to not more than 500 ?m and pore length of not less than 20 ?m to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arranged obtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having an activity to asymmetrically reduce (3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanone to produce (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol isolated from a microorganism belonging to the genus Ogataea, a DNA encoding the polypeptide and a transformant that produces the polypeptide. The present invention moreover relates to a method of producing (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol utilizing the polypeptide or the transformant. Using the polypeptide or transformant of the present invention, optically active alcohols such as (2R,3S)-1-chloro-3-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-4-phenyl-2-butanol and the like can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases especially from Pseudomonas putida or Pseudomonas marginalis strains which exhibit increased cyanide tolerance. Also disclosed are methods of preparing amides from nitriles in the presence of cyanides and polynucleotide sequences coding for cyanide-tolerant nitrile hydratases.

Abstract: The invention relates to cells and organisms as well as to methods for producing said cells and organisms, according to which intermediates of the mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis (MEP pathway) are enriched by deleting or inactivating genes. The derivatives can also be enriched by using enzyme inhibitors. The enriched intermediates may be used as substrates in enzyme activity tests. The inventive cells and organisms and the enriched intermediates can further be used in the production of medicaments.

Abstract: Processes for enzymatic synthesis comprising: (a) providing an aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine; and (b) reacting the aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine with a reactant selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid compounds and alkyl esters thereof, in the presence of a hydrolase in bulk or in a liquid reaction medium comprising an organic solvent to for a poly(oxyalkylene)acrylamide.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion, in which, in an aqueous medium, in a first reaction stage, a diamine compound and a dicarboxylic acid compound are reacted in the presence of an enzyme and of a dispersant, and also, if appropriate, of a low water solubility organic solvent and/or of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, to give a polyamide, and thereafter, in the presence of the polyamide, in a second reaction stage, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer is free-radically polymerized.

Abstract: The invention relates to the isolation, sequencing, and recombinant expression of genes encoding either a nitrile hydratase (NHase) or amidase (Am) from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D, where the NHase is useful for catalyzing the hydration of nitriles to the corresponding amides, and the amidase is useful for hydrolysis of amides to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Also provided are transformed host cells containing polynucleotides for expressing the nitrile hydratase or amidase enzymes from Comamonas testosteroni 5-MGAM-4D.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a Na-acyl-L-arginine ester, derived from fatty acids and esterified dibasic amino acids, according to the following formula (I), where: X— is Br—, Cl—, or HSO4— R1: is linear alkyl chain from an saturated fatty acid, or hydroxy-acid from 8 to 14 atoms of carbon bonded to the ?-amino acid group through amidic bond. R2: is a linear or branched alkyl chain from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or aromatic. R3: is formula (II), where n can be from 0 to 4, from the appropriate organic acid and alcohol. The process is catalyzed by a hydrolase, more in particular a protease, the protease papain from <i> Carica papaya being highly suitable </i>. In order for the esterification reaction to run as wanted, the process is performed in a low-water-content organic medium. When the highly suitable papain from Carica papaya is used, a water activity of between 0.03 and 0.5 is selected.

Abstract: The present invention features improved methods for the enhanced production of pantoate and pantothenate utilizing microorganisms having modified pantothenate biosynthetic enzyme activities and having modified methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTF) biosynthetic enzyme activities. In particular, the invention features methods for enhancing production of desired products by increasing levels of a key intermediate, ketopantoate by enzymes that contribute to its synthesis. Recombinant microorganisms and conditions for culturing same are also are featured. Also featured are compositions produced by such microorganisms.

Abstract: Growth medium are disclosed for use in fermenting a marine microorganism. The medium comprise Potassium, Calcium, Strontium, Borate and Fluoride at specific concentrations. Alternatively, the growth medium comprises cobalt at specified concentrations or comprises vitamin B12 at specified concentrations. Methods of producing certain desired compound by fermentation of a marine microorganism are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous polymer dispersion, in which, in an aqueous medium, in a first reaction stage, an aminocarboxylic acid compound is reacted in the presence of a hydrolase and of a dispersant, and, if appropriate, of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and/or of a low water solubility organic solvent to give a polyamide and thereafter, in the presence of the polyamide, in a second reaction stage an ethylenically unsaturated monomer is free-radically polymerized.

Abstract: In a method for producing an amide compound of the present invention including obtaining an amide compound from a nitrile compound using a microbial catalyst and transferring a solution containing the microbial catalyst and the amide compound, a positive-displacement pump is used for transferring the solution containing a microbial catalyst and an amide compound to obtain an amide compound having few impurities. A monomer including (meth)acrylamide obtained by the method for producing an amide compound is polymerized to prepare an acrylamide polymer having a high-molecular mass and high solubility and being colorless.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fields of fatty substance chemistry, specifically of the ceramide-type compound synthesis. The invention resides substantially in the synthesis of ceramide-type compounds. Specifically, the aim of the invention is a new enzymatic synthesis method, comprising at least one amidification step and one esterification step, achieved through lipases, among fatty acids and/or esters thereof and amino alcohols. The resulting ceramide-type compounds can be used as cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions, in particular as dermatological compositions in conjunction or in admixture with one or more suitable cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical excipients or carriers. The method has an interest particularly in the synthesis of active compounds useful in the fields of cosmetology and/or pharmacology and specifically of dermatology.

Abstract: An enzymatic process for the preparation of intermediates useful in the synthesis of (?) modafinil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for producing an aqueous acrylamide solution by hydrating acrylonitrile in an aqueous solution while in the presence of a biocatalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Rhodococcus polynucleotide cluster which contains nucleotide sequences which encode polypeptides having the activity of a nitrile hydratase, of an auxiliary protein P15K which activates this enzyme and of a cobalt transporter, to transformed microorganisms in which the nucleotide sequences encoding these proteins are present in increased quantity, and to the use of the transformed microorganisms for preparing amides from nitriles.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a method which not only maintains the nitrile hydratase activity of a nitrile hydratase-containing cell or a treated material of the cell under conditions where the cell does not grow, but also improves the nitrile hydratase activity of a nitrile hydratase-containing cell or a treated material of the cell whose activity was once reduced. This invention relates to a method of maintaining or improving a nitrile hydratase activity which comprises bringing a nitrile hydratase-containing cell or a treated material of the cell into contact with an oxidizing agent under conditions where the cell does not grow, as well as a method of producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound, which comprises using the cell brought into contact with an oxidizing agent or a treated material of the cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid sequence encoding enantioselective amides with an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention also relates to a process for fermentation, comprising a batch and a feed phase, of a microorganism in a fermentation medium, wherein the microorganism expresses a nucleic acid according to the invention and wherein between 0.5 and 50 mg of Zn2+/ml of fermentation medium is fed during the fermentation. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid and/or an enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid amide, in which a mixture of corresponding D- and L-carboxylic acid amides is contacted with a expression product according to the invention in the presence of 0.01 mM–100 mM Zn2+, whereby one of the enantiomers of the carboxylic acid amide is enatiomerically hydrolysed to from corresponding enatiomerically enriched carboxylic acid, while the other enantiomer of the carboxylic acid amide remains unchanged.

Abstract: The instant invention describes a novel reaction that includes spontaneous racemization of an azalactone via enol tautomerization. This racemization results in improved yield and ee over other reactions previously described.

Abstract: A process for producing a 2-alkylcysteinamide, which comprises hydrolysis of a 4-alkylthiazolidine-4-carboxamide represented by the general formula (2) or a salt thereof: wherein R represents a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms; and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms, or R1 and R2 are linked together to form an alicyclic, structure having 4–7 carbon atoms, excluding the case where both R1 and R2 are hydrogen, to give a 2-alkylcysteinamide represented by the general formula (1) or a salt thereof wherein R represents a lower alkyl group having 1–4 carbon atoms. Cells of a microorganism or treated products thereof having activity of stereoselective hydrolysis of a 2-alkyl-L-cysteinamide are allowed to act on the compound represented by the general formula (1) to yield a 2-alkyl-L-cysteine.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing acrylamide with good storage stability and improved acrylamide polymer physical properties using a microbial catalyst. A microbial catalyst having catalytic activity to convert from acrylonitrile to acrylamide is washed with an aqueous acrylic acid solution, and then the washed microbial catalyst is used for the conversion reaction, so that the production of the above acrylamide is achieved.

Abstract: Cadaverine dicarboxylate is produced by performing an enzymatic decarboxylation reaction of a lysine solution while adding a dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 10 carbons to the lysine solution to maintain pH of the solution at a level sufficient for the enzymatic decarboxylation reaction to occur, for example, 4.0 to 8.0.

Abstract: This invention provides an aqueous solution of acrylamide that is useful as a starting material for high-quality polyacrylamide. Starting materials for polyacrylamide are an aqueous solution of acrylamide containing a saccharide and an aqueous solution of acrylamide containing a saccharide produced with the use of a biocatalyst having nitrile hydratase activity.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity is disclosed wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral amine is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor.

Abstract: A novel biotechnological process for the preparation of nitriles, starting from amides, is described. Micro-organisms of the genus Amycolatopsis, Actinomadura or Rhodococcus are employed for this process.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a compound using a biocatalyst. In the method for continuously producing a compound using a biocatalyst in one or a plurality of reaction tanks, the downstream reaction temperature is set higher than the upstream reaction temperature of the flow of the catalyst in a reaction tank or between reaction tanks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel compound having a molecular formula C13H15NO5 having molecular structure of Formula I and a process for the isolation of said compound. The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting 13-lipoxygenase and having free radical scavenging activity.

Abstract: A novel method of producing PS is described herein. The method first involves producing PLD enzyme through the use of enzyme-producing microorganisms. The PLD enzyme is reacted with a lecithin and source of serine to produce the phosphatidylserine (PS). The method differs from prior methods in several ways. First, it incorporates a novel strain of PLD enzyme-producing organism in a preferred embodiment. It is also the first known PS production method that allows for the reuse of the enzyme and serine components to enhance efficiency and productivity. It further incorporates a novel solvent system, unique stabilization agents for the PLD enzyme, as well as optimized reaction conditions.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a compound with enhanced optical purity wherein a mixture of the enantiomers of a chiral compound of formula 1 wherein: R1 represents an alkyl or an aryl group R2 represents H, an alkyl or an aryl group Y represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)n—COOR, (CH2)n—CONRR?, CH2OH, or C?N wherein R and R? independently represent H, an alkyl or aryl group, and n represents 0 or 1, is brought into contact with an enzyme having peptide deformylase activity with a bivalent metal ion as a cofactor wherein the metal is chosen from the groups 5–11 of the periodic system, or for the preparation of a formylated compound with enhanced optical purity from a mixture of the enantiomers of the corresponding not formulated chiral compound in the presence of a formylation agent. Preferably the peptide deformylase is chosen from the class EC 3.5.2.27 or EC 3.5.1.31, and contains the sequences of (I) HEXXH, (ii) EGCLS and (iii) GXGXAAXQ.

Abstract: Modifications of the peptide pyrrhocoricin permit the production of a variety of anti-bacterial or anti-fungal peptides having general formula R1-Asp-Lys-Gly-X-Y-Leu-Pro-Arg-Pro-Thr-Pro-Pro-Arg-Pro-Ile-Tyr-X?-Y?-R2 SEQ ID NO: 1 or multimeric compositions containing more than a single peptide of that formula. These peptides may be straight chain or cyclic peptides, and may contain one or more non-cleavable bonds. These peptides are characterized by anti-bacterial or anti-fungal activity and metabolic stability in mammalian serum. These peptides are useful in anti-bacterial or anti-fungal pharmaceutical compositions and for further drug development or identification of other antibiotic or anti-fungal compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing organosilicon group containing photoinitiators of the formula (I), wherein m is a number from 1 to 200; q is 0 or 1; A is IN-C(O)—O—CHR3—Y— or IN-C(O)—NH—CHR3—Y—; A? is A or R1?; R1 and R1?, R2 and R2? are C1–C18alkyl or phenyl, or —(O)q—SiR1R1?R2; R3 is hydrogen or C1–C6alkyl, Y is a divalent group selected from C1–C10alkeylene, C2–C10alkenylene or —(CH2)b—O—(CH2)a—; and b are each independently of the other a number of 1 to 6; IN is a photolabile functional moiety of the formula (II) or (III), wherein R4 is hydrogen or —C(O)—C(O)—OH or —C(O)—C(O)—OC1–C6alkyl and n is 1–3; R5 and R6 are C1–C12alkyl or together are cycloC5–C7alkyl; R7 is hydroxy, C1–C6alkoxy or morpholinyl; X is —(CH2)a—, —(CH2)b—O—(CH2)a— or —(CH2)b—O—CO—(CH2)a—; a and b are each independently of the other a number of 1 to 6; whereby the process is characterized in that a photolabile functional moiety containing a carboxy group (IN-COOH) or an alkoxycarbonyl group (IN-CO—OC1–C6alkyl) is reacte

Abstract: In cultivating a microorganism having nitrile hydratase production ability, by allowing at least one of a ketose, such as fructose, and a sugar alcohol, such as mannitol, to be present, growth inhibition by cobalt ion is prevented, thereby achieving cultivation at a high concentration and with a high activity.

Abstract: After yeast somatic components are digested with nuclease or hydrolyzed with alkali, polyamine is recovered to obtain a polyamine composition in volume efficiently at a high recovery rate from yeast somatic components.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing amide compounds using hydroxyl nitrile compounds and microorganisms and/or enzymatically active material having cyanide-resistant nitrile hydratase activity, e.g., Rhodococcus equi XL-l. Furthermore, the amide compounds can be produced while the enzymatic activity of this microorganism can be stably maintained during the reaction.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of an enantiomerically enriched acylated amine wherein a phenylacetic acid derivative is brought into contact with a mixture of enantiomers of an amine H2NCR1R2R3, in which R1, R2, R3 are not equal to each other and each independently stand for H, CN, a whether or not substituted (cyclo)alkyl, ary-, alkylaryl or arylalkyl group, whether or not cyclic heteroalkyl or heteroaryl group with one or more N, O or S atoms or in which R1 and R2 (and R3) together with the C-atom to which they have been bound form a (bi)cyclic group that optionally contains one or more N, O of S atoms, in the presence of a Pen-G acylase derived from Alcaligenes faecalis. And method for the preparation of enantiomerically enriched amine of formula H2NCR1R2R3, in which R1, R2, R3 are as defined above, wherein an acylated amine is brought into contact with a Pen-G acylase originating from Alcaligenes faecalis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purification process whereby deferoxamine B produced by a microorganism and in mixture with other polyhydroxamates produced by the microorganism may be converted into its mesylate salt substantially free of the other polyhydroxamates and substantially free of chloride ion. The process includes adsorption and desorption of the deferoxamine B on an adsorption resin, direct precipitation of the deferoxamine free base out of the eluent from the adsorption resin, contacting of the deferoxamine B free base with methanesulfonic acid and isolation of the deferoxamine B mesylate salt by precipitation. This process minimizes decomposition of deferoxamine B.

Abstract: The invention is a process for continuously producing an amide compound by reacting a microorganism fungus body containing nitrile hydratase or a processed product of the microorganism fungus body with a nitrile compound in an aqueous medium, characterized in that after contacting said fungus body or said processed product of said fungus body with said nitrile compound in said aqueous medium, a reaction solution thus obtained is further subjected to reaction under conditions having a plug flow region, and according to the invention, an amide compound aqueous solution of a high concentration a high purity can be easily obtained in an extremely high conversion rate of a nitrile compound without a condensation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel sphingolipid ceramide N-deacylase (SCDase) having a wide substrate specificity; a method for enzymatically producing a lysosphingolipid or a sphingolipid derivative using the SCDase which is useful in the fields of medicine, carbohydrate engineering, cell engineering, and the like; the lysosphingolipid or sphingolipid derivative obtained by this production method; a gene which encodes a polypeptide having an SCDase activity useful in sphingolipid technology; a method for industrially producing a polypeptide having an SCDase deacylase activity and a recombinant polypeptide thereof using a transformant to which the gene is introduced; a probe or primer which hybridizes to the gene; and an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising hydrolysis or trans esterification of one of the two enantiomeric forms of a racemic or enantiomerically enriched ester of formula I or IV by a higher rate than the other by an enzyme to give an ester and a acid (III) or two different esters (V) and (VI) with different R groups both with increased enantiomeric purity and a esterification process of a racemic or enantiomerically enriched acid (VII) by an enzyme to give an ester and an acid both with increased enantiomeric purity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing an amide compound from a nitrile compound using a microbial catalyst, wherein a microbial cell having nitrile hydratase activity of 50 U or higher per mg of dry cell at a reaction temperature of 10° C. is brought into contact with a nitrile compound in an aqueous medium without being immobilized. This method utilizes a microbial cell that exhibits high nitrile hydratase activity in the reaction without being entrap-immobilized. Thus, an amide compound can be effectively produced from a nitrile compound without problems of decreased reaction speed or lowered amount produced per unit cell amount, which are caused by entrap-immobilization. Accordingly, an amide compound can be produced within a very short period of time in the case of a batch reaction and with a very small-scale facility in the case of a continuous reaction.

Abstract: An enzymatic synthesis and composition of &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid and &agr;-amino acid or peptide co-oligomers is disclosed wherein a residue of the &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid is linked to a residue of the &agr;-amino acid or peptide by an amide linkage. Proteolytic enzyme papain catalyzes co-oligomerization of the &agr;-hydroxy carboxylic acid and &agr;-amino acid. The degree and distribution of oligomerization varies upon the type and concentrations of different reaction mixtures utilized and upon the length of allowed reaction time. The resultant oligomers may be provided to ruminants as bioavailable amino acid supplements that are resistant to degradation in the rumen.

Abstract: A nitrile compound having a complicated structure (e.g., 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile) is converted into an amide compound with high production efficiency, by using a novel microorganism of which the gene 16S rRNA has a specific base sequence. As the microorganism, Rhodococcus sp. Cr4 strain and Rhodococcus sp. Am8 strain or the like is employed.

Abstract: The soporific activity of cis-9,10-octadecenoamide and other soporific fatty acid primary amides is neutralized by hydrolysis in the presence of fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Hydrolysis of cis-9,10-octadecenoamide by FAAH leads to the formation of oleic acid, a compound without soporific activity. FAAH has be isolated and the gene encoding FAAH has been cloned, sequenced, and used to express recombinant FAAH. Inhibitors of FAAH are disclosed to block the hydrolase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel compound having a molecular formula C13H15NO5 and a process for the isolation of said compound. The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting 13-lipoxygenase and having free radical scavenging activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of aspartame involving enzymatic deformylation of an N-formyl-&agr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compound by treatment with an enzyme having formylmethionyl peptide deformylase activity and having as a co-factor group 5 to 11 bivalent metal ions. The invention also relates to selective preparation and recovery of aspartame from a mixture of N-formyl-&agr;- and &bgr;-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine compounds by treatment with such enzyme. And finally, the invention relates to one-pot enzymatic synthesis of aspartame from N-formyl-L-aspartic acid and L- or D,L-phenylalanine methyl ester involving an enzymatic deformylation reaction simultaneously with an enzymatic coupling reaction, as well as to one-pot di- or oligopeptide synthesis by simultaneous enzymatic coupling and deformylation reactions in general.