Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a diglyceride, which includes: in an enzyme-packed tower which includes an immobilized lipase preparation, carrying out an esterification reaction between: (1) an acyl group donor selected from the group including a fatty acid, a lower alcohol ester thereof, and a mixture thereof; and (2) an acyl group acceptor selected from the group including glycerol, a monoglyceride, and a mixture thereof; to obtain a reaction fluid from the enzyme-packed tower; reducing a water content or a lower alcohol content in the reaction fluid; and subsequent to the reducing, recirculating the reaction fluid to the enzyme-packed tower, wherein a residence time of the reaction fluid in the enzyme-packed tower is 120 seconds or less; to obtain a diglyceride. According to the present invention, a high-purity glyceride can be provided at a high yield in a short period of time.

Abstract: A novel isolate of Bacillus isolated from white pine is described. The isolate is used to produce monoterpene derivatives. Also described is a pinene hydroxylase enzyme from the isolate. The enzyme is a general allylic oxidizer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of aromatic carbonyl compounds by oxidative cleavage of styrenes using lipases and hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide donors in the presence of carboxylic acids or carboxylic esters.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate; CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I) trans-feruloyl SCoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of vinyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl aldehydes or vinyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteraoryl ketones includes reacting vinyl-, alkynyl-, aryl- and heteroarylmethyl and -methylene compounds with the aid of a mediator and an oxidant, wherein the mediator is selected from the group of the aliphatic, heterocyclic or aromatic NO, or NOH containing compounds.

Abstract: A process for the selective enzymatic hydroxylation of aldehydes and ketones using chiral anchor-protective groups.

Abstract: A method for producing L-sorbose by microbiological oxidation of D-sorbitol which comprises adding D-sorbitol to a culture liquid in such a concentration that it does not go up to over about 5% during and after the growth phase of a microorganism used, while circulating a culture exhaust gas enriched with oxygen gas, and releasing a part of said exhaust gas out of the system. An apparatus for culturing microorganisms suitable for the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing vanillin comprising the steps of: (1) providing trans-ferulic acid or a salt thereof; and (2) providing trans-ferulate: CoASH ligase activity (enzyme activity I), trans-feruloyl ScoA hydratase activity (enzyme activity II), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-&bgr;-hydroxy-propionyl SCoA (HMPHP SCoA) cleavage activity (enzyme activity III). Conveniently the enzymes are provided by Pseudomonas fluorescens Fe3 or a mutant or derivative thereof. Polypeptides with enzymes activities II and III and polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides. Use of said polypeptides or said polynucleotides in a method for producing vanillin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase, also referred to herein as an aryl-aldehyde oxidoreductase, that has been isolated and purified from Nocardia sp. strain NRRL 5646, and to methods of using the carboxylic acid reductase as a biocatalyst for the reduction of carboxylic acids or their derivatives to the corresponding useful product(s). In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to biochemically-produced vanillin, and to the methods of its production by the biocatalytic reduction of vanillic acid, or a precursor or derivative thereof, in a reaction comprising the substantially purified, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase.

Abstract: A microbiological process for producing vanillin and other useful products from ferulic acid is disclosed. Vanillin and guaiacol are recovered from the process using a differential pH extraction where the guaiacol is recovered at a pH of greater than 9 and the vanillin is recovered at a pH of from about 5 to about 8.

Abstract: Novel polyketides and novel methods of efficiently producing both new and known polyketides, using recombinant technology, are disclosed. In particular, a novel host-vector system is described which is used to produce polyketide synthases which in turn catalyze the production of a variety of polyketides.

Abstract: Novel proteins of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins are disclosed which provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoid precursors and carotenoids, especially &bgr;-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and cantaxanthin.

Abstract: A two phase environmentally friendly fermentation process for producing high yields of &dgr;-decalactone and &dgr;-dodecalactone from the corresponding unsaturated starting materials is carried out under oxidative growth conditions using a saccharomyces species. The resulting products impart, augment and/or enhance the aroma and/or taste of consumable materials including foodstuffs, chewing gums, toothpastes, beverages, fragrance compositions, colognes and perfumed articles such as solid or liquid, anionic, cationic, non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents, fabric softeners, and hair preparations.

Abstract: A process for producing acetephenone from a source of cinnamic acid is carried out with high amounts of oxygen and sugar in the presence of a bacteria species. Fragrance compositions and foodstuff compositions are augmented and enhanced by the presence of the product compound.

Abstract: A novel isolate of Bacillus isolated from white pine is described. The isolate is used to produce monoterpene derivatives. Also described is a pinene hydroxylase enzyme from the isolate. The enzyme is a general allylic oxidizer.

Abstract: Fatty acid degradation products are over-produced by oxidative biochemical degradation of a plant biomass containing unsaturated fatty acids and enzymes for the degradation in the presence of additional unsaturated fatty acids. These degradation products are natural flavour and fragrance ingredients.

Abstract: Using newly discovered microorganisms of the family Pseudonocardiaceae, vanillin may be produced in high yields from ferulic acid. The microorganisms are two strains of Amycolatopsis.

Abstract: Novel polyketides and novel methods of efficiently producing both new and known polyketides, using recombinant technology, are disclosed. In particular, a novel host-vector system is described which is used to produce polyketide synthases which in turn catalyze the production of a variety of polyketides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a general biocatalyst for transforming saturated carbonyl compounds to their .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated analogs. The transformation is regio- as well as stereoselective. These catalysts are useful in the chiral resolution of carbonyl compounds as well as in the development of libraries of small molecules to screen as potential drug candidates.

Abstract: Process for the oxidation of the oxidizable galactose type of alcohol in oxidizable galactose type of alcohol configuration containing polymer, such as guar, with galactose oxidase in the presence of oxidation promoting chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzyme which is derived from bacterial cells of a strain belonging to the genus Pseudomonas fluorescens and which catalyzes a reaction for oxidizing substrates such as p-hydroxytoluene derivatives and p-alkylphenol derivatives as well as a method for preparing, for instance, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenol derivatives, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives, p-alkylphenol derivatives and optically active S(-)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl) alcohol derivatives, using the enzyme.

Abstract: Taxol is produced from taxol-producing micro-organisms. Methods of obtain the taxol-producing microorganisms are described. Radioactive labelled taxol products and methods for use of the radioactive labelled taxol and for the treatment of leukemia and cancer cells are described.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a pyruvate decarboxylase by isolation from a producer organism. The pyruvate decarboxylase is capable of forming (R)-(-)-phenylacetylcarbinole (I) in .gtoreq.95% enantiomer unit with a product ratio of (I) to 2-hydoxypropiophenone of .gtoreq.95%. In addition, the pyruvate decarboxylase has a specific activity with regard to phenylacetylcarbinole formation of >1U/mg. It is the aim of the invention to obtain a pyruvate decarboxylase with improved synthesis capacity concerning the formation of (R)-(-)-phenylacetylcarbinole. The process of the invention developed for this purpose is characterized in that use is made of a producing organism with a gene coding for pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis, in the DNA sequence of which the tryptophane radical coding codon TGG is replaced at position 1174-1176 by a codon which codes for an amino acid radical with a reduced volume ratio.

Abstract: Ferulic acid, vanillic acid, coniferyl alcohol and coniferyl aldehyde can be prepared from eugenol with the aid of a new Pseudomonas species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of lactic-acid-containing, optically active, cyclic depsipeptides having 18 ring atoms with the aid of fungal strains of the species Fusarium or enzymatic preparations isolated therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase (hereinafter referred to as AADH), a process for producing the same and a process for producing aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones, especially 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter referred to as 2-KGA) utilizing said enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel alcohol/aldehyde dehydro-genase (hereinafter referred to as AADH), a process for producing the same and a process for producing aldehydes, carboxylic acids and ketones, especially 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (hereinafter referred to as 2-KGA) utilizing said enzyme.

Abstract: Taxol is produced from taxol-producing microorganisms. Methods of obtaining he taxol-producing microorganisms are described. Radioactive labelled taxol products and methods for use of the radioactive labelled taxol and for the treatment of leukemia and cancer cells are described.

Abstract: A method for oxidation of a pendant methyl moiety on an aromatic ring to the pendant aldehyde moiety is presented. The reaction employs laccase and the diammonium salt of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and is carried out in the presence of oxygen.

Abstract: Taxol is produced from taxol-producing micro-organisms. Methods of obtain the taxol-producing microorganisms are described. Radioactive labelled taxol products and methods for use of the radioactive labelled taxol and for the treatment of leukemia and cancer cells are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of aromatic substances having formula (I), characterized in that a substrate having formula (II) is subjected to an oxydation in the presence of at least one protein and at least one metal ion, formula wherein R.sub.1 may be a radical --H, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 OH, --CHO, --COOH, --OCH.sub.3, or --COO--CH(COOH)--CH.sub.2 --C.sub.6 H.sub.3 (OH).sub.2 ; R.sub.2 may be a radical --H, --OH, or --OCH.sub.3 ; R.sub.3 may be a radical --H, --OH, --OCH.sub.3, or O-glucosid; R.sub.4 may be a radical --H, --OH, or --OCH.sub.3.

Abstract: A novel glycerol derivative, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazole derivative. An optically active 2-arylglycerol derivative which is novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate of medicament is provided, and furthermore, (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, which is useful as an antifungal agent, is prepared.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds of the following chemical formula or their pharmaceutically-acceptable salts: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or chloro. Also, the present invention provides a process for the production of the compound of formula I, which comprises cultivating a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of Aspergillus fischeri var. thermomutatis ATCC 18618 or the like, and then isolating the compound of formula I from the fermentation broth. The pyrrolobenzoxazine compounds of formula I of this invention have broad antiparasitic activity, and thus are useful as antiparasitic agents, especially as anthelmintics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase, also referred to herein as an aryl-aldehyde oxidoreductase, that has been isolated and purified from Nocardia sp. strain NRRL 5646, and to methods of using the carboxylic acid reductase as a biocatalyst for the reduction of carboxylic acids or their derivatives to the corresponding useful product(s). In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to biochemically-produced vanillin, and to the methods of its production by the biocatalytic reduction of vanillic acid, or a precursor or derivative thereof, in a reaction comprising the substantially purified, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes in a continuous reaction series is disclosed utilizing crude cellular methanol oxidase and catalase produced by an acceptable organism such as those selected from the genera of Pichia, Hansenula, Candida and Torulopsis. The process maintains a steady-state aldehyde concentration whereby enzyme activity is promoted. In particular, the process has two reactors operating in series continuously producing a fermenter effluent containing growing, intact yeast cells at a cell concentration of about 0.5 to about 3% by weight of the effluent by continuous culture of the cells on a methanol carbon source, continuously introducing the effluent from the first reactor to the second reactor, adding an alcohol feed at about 0.2-10% w/w and oxygen to the second reactor, maintaining a steady-state aldehyde concentration in the reaction mixture, the concentration of residual alcohol being about 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase useful for the synthesis of optically active alcohol and DNA encoding said enzyme. A microorganism belonging to genus Candida was found to produce a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase with a high stereochemical specificity. Using said enzyme, optically active alcohols were prepared, and by cloning of DNA encoding said enzyme, the base sequence of said DNA was determined. By providing a novel secondary alcohol dehydrogenase with a high stereochemical specificity and the gene encoding said enzyme, an efficient production of optically active alcohols became possible.

Abstract: Enzymatic microbial degradation of limonene with simultaneous extraction of the degradation products with a non-water miscible organic solvent is described. Microbial degradation at elevated temperatures employing both an aqueous phase containing limonene and a neat limonene phase produced .alpha.-terpineol with additional production of carvone.

Abstract: A novel L-sorbose dehydrogenase (SDH) and a novel L-sorbosone dehydrogenase both derived from Gluconobacter oxydans T-100, a DNA which encodes the SDH and/or SNDH, an expression vector which contains the DNA, a host cell transformed by the expression vector and a process for producing the SDH and/or SNDH, which comprises culturing the host cell in a medium and recovering the SDH and/or SNDH from the resulting culture. The SDH and SNDH of the present invention are useful enzymes having preferable properties for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, as well as L-ascorbic acid. According to the production method of the present invention, the SDH and SNDH having such preferable properties can be produced in large amounts by genetic engineering.

Abstract: The present invention relates to astaxanthin-containing zooplankton such as Brachionus pricatilis obtained by culturing, a method for culturing the zooplankton in a liquid containing astaxanthin and a method for breeding fry fish by feeding the above astaxanthin-containing zooplankton.The survival rate in breeding fry fish may be remarkably improved by feeding the astaxanthin-containing zooplankton to fry fish.

Abstract: A method for preparing aromatic substances having formula (I), wherein a substrate of formula (II) or an isomer of these precursors, also termed a substrate, in particular selected from those of formula (III), in which formulae R.sub.1 may be a --CH3, --CH2OH, --CHO, --COOH, or (a) radical, R.sub.2 may be a --H, --OH or --O--CH3 radical R.sub.3 may be a --H, --OH or --O--CH3 radical, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 may form a methylenedioxy bridge (b), is exposed to the activity of a lipoxygenase.

Abstract: Novel light producing 1,2-dioxetanes are described of the formula ##STR1## wherein ArOX is an aryl ring substituted with an X oxy group and A are passive organic groups which allow the 1,2-dioxetane to produce light when triggered by removing X. X is a chemically labile group which is removed by an activating agent. The 1,2-dioxetane compounds can be triggered to produce light at room temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel enzymatic process for the preparation of flavors, in particular of the ionones and C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 aldehydes. The invention discloses a process for the preparation of optically active alpha ionone, beta ionone, C.sub.6 aldehydes such as n-hexanal, trans-2-hexanal, C.sub.10 aldehydes such as trans-2, cis-4-decadidienal, and trans-2, trans-4-decadienal. The invention also relates to a process for the production of alcohols, particularly C.sub.6 and C.sub.10 alcohols.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel compound having the formula ##STR1## which exhibits antifungal activity.

Abstract: A process for producing monoterpenes using a DNA segment Bacillus stearothermophilus in a recombinant bacterium, particularly Escherichia coli. The useful monoterpenes produced from limonene are perillyl alcohol, perillyl aldehyde, perillic acid (path A); alpha-terpineol (path B) or carveol and carvone (path C).

Abstract: Lactams of 1-amino-3-carboxylic acid cyclic compounds are provided in enantiomeric form, together with an enantiomer of the corresponding ring-opened amino-acid or ester, by reaction of the racemic lactam with a novel lactamase. The products are useful in the synthesis of chiral carbocyclic nucleotides. The enantiomer is preferably 2-azabicyclo?2.2.1!hept-5-en-3-one.

Abstract: Nucleic acids segment comprising a nucleotide coding sequence for Pseudomonas testosteroni .DELTA.1-dehydrogenase or an homologous or complementary nucleotide sequences thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of lactic-acid-containing, optically active, cyclic depsipeptides having 18 ring atoms with the aid of fungal strains of the species Fusarium or enzymatic preparations isolated therefrom.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of monoterpene compounds (such as perillyl alcohol, aldehyde and .alpha.-terpineol) from limonene is described. The process uses Bacillus stearothermophilus which is effective at high temperatures (55.degree. to 70.degree. C.).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds which inhibit farnesyl-protein transferase (FPTase) and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. The invention is further directed to chemotherapeutic compositions containing the compounds of this invention and methods for inhibiting farnesyl-protein transferase and the farnesylation of the oncogene protein Ras. Furthermore, Actinoplanes sp. ATCC 55532 and Streptomces sp. ATCC 55550 are microorganisms which are capable of producing the disclosed compounds which are classified as carboxylic acid esters. In addition a method for preparing the compounds is disclosed which includes cultivating strain ATCC 55532 or strain ATCC 55550. The strains are independently capable of producing the carboxylic acid ester compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing cis-3-hexen-1-ol from an unsaturated fatty acid, in which said synthesis is carried out from the latter by the combined action of a natural system of enzyme(s) allowing the oxidation of said fatty acid to cis-3-hexenal and of a yeast allowing the reduction of cis-3-hexenal to cis-3-hexenol in a culture medium. According to a first characteristic of the present invention, the enzymatic system consists of a plant mass obtained by grinding leaves harvested whole without predilacerating them. According to a second characteristic of the present invention, the enzymatic system is introduced in the form of a ground cellular product obtained by grinding followed by cell disintegration. Finally, advantageously, a reagent chosen from a ferrous cation, acetylsalicylic acid, chlorophyll B and the enzyme catalase, makes it possible to increase the yields of cis-3-hexenol.