Abstract: A process for producing a sphingophospholipid derivative comprising reacting a sphingophospholipid with a specified compound having an alcoholic hydroxyl group selected from the group consisting of specified primary alcohol compounds, specified secondary alcohol compounds and specified saccharides or their phenol glycosides in the presence of phospholipase DM.

Abstract: This invention consists of the production of a salt of acyl phosphate in an aqueous solution by a process which involves (1) acylation of phosphoric acid (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4) with an acid anhydride of the general formula RCOX, where R can be hydrogen or a lower alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and X can be a leaving group of the general formula OR, OCOR, X or NR.sub.2, followed by (2a) extraction of acyl phosphate to water by treatment of the reaction mixture with an aqueous bicarbonate or hydroxide solution or other basic aqueous solution, if the reaction is carried out in non-aqueous solvent or (2b) in the case where water has been used as reaction solvent acidification with acid or acid form of a carbon exchange resin.

Abstract: This invention provides a proteolytically modified alkaline phosphatase which is irreversibly inactivated upon removal of divalent ions. The modified enzyme is particularly useful as a molecular biological or immunological reagent.

Abstract: This invention provides a proteolytically modified alkaline phosphatase which is irreversibly inactivated upon removal of divalent ions. The modified enzyme is particularly useful as a molecular biological or immunological reagent.

Abstract: Ribonucleic acid in a mixture of crude nucleic acids is selectively hydrolyzed with 5'-phosphodiesterase to 5'-ribonucleotides without hydrolyzing desoxyribonucleic acid in the mixture. Selective hydrolysis is carrying out by contacting the crude nucleic acid mixture with 5'-phosphodiesterase immobilized on a polymer carrier. The crude mixture of nucleic acids is preferably obtained by aqueous extraction of microorganisms that have previously been extracted with ammonia and a lower alcohol to remove lipids. The polymer carrier is preferably a copolymer of glycidylmethacrylate, allylglycidylether, methacrylamide and methylene-bis-methacrylamide.

Abstract: Yeast cells containing useful substances accumulated therein are contacted with a divalent copper ion in aqueous suspension, thereby discharging low-molecular-weight compounds in the cytoplasm out of the cells. Useful substances can be efficiently recovered both from the discharged compounds and the remaining cells.

Abstract: Glycosylation or transglycosylation of a specified guanine derivative, namely 9-substituted or non-substituted guanine of formula [I] with a 3-deoxyribose donor such as 3'-deoxyadenosine in the presence of a nucleoside phosphorylase source such as of microorganism origin is disclosed. The nucleoside phosphorylase source is specified.

Abstract: Glycosylation or transglycosylation of a specified guanine derivative, namely 9-substituted or non-substituted guanine of formula [I] with a 3-deoxyribose donor such as 3'-deoxyadenosine in the presence of a nucleoside phosphorylase source such as of microorganism origin is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing uridine diphosphate-N-acetylgalactosamine, which comprises treating a reaction solution obtained by the enzymatic conversion of uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine to uridine diphosphate-N-acetylgalactosamine, with uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase to decompose the remaining uridine diphosphate-N-acetylglucosamine in the solution and then separating therefrom the uridine diphosphate-N-acetylgalactosamine for purification. In one aspect of this invention, it relates to a method for measuring the activity of .alpha.-N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase characterized by the use of said reaction solution as the substrate for the transferase.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting into ATP which comprises an enzyme reactor, a source of AMP supply, a source of phosphoric acid donator supply, variable fluid sending apparatus, an automatic sampling apparatus and an analyzing apparatus for the reacting solution, an arithmetic control apparatus, and a recovery apparatus. According to this apparatus, conversion from AMP or ADP into ATP can be effectively carried out and ATP conversion can be kept at substantial 100% over a long period of time. The device makes it possible for ATP to be used more and more in future as an energy source for bioreactors and as medicines because the ATP will be more readily available and less expensive.

Abstract: Nicotinamide cofactors are prepared in a process of reacting ribose -5- phosphate with a basic material selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary and secondary amines in a polar non-aqueous solvent, reacting the resultant 1-ribosylamine -5- phosphate with a pyridinium salt and reacting the resultant nicotinamide mononucleotide with adenosine triphosphate in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide pyrophosphorase to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide which can be used directly in crude form without further purification in co-factor - requiring enzymatic reactions. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide pyrophosphorase may be immobilized on a solid support.

Abstract: A yeast extract containing flavoring 5'-neucleotide and having an improved thickness or body in taste is produced by (1) autolyzing suspended yeast cells in the presence of a stimulator of autolysis at a constant pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.6, then (2) heating the autolyzed suspension at a temperature of 90.degree.-110.degree. C. for 1 to 3 hours thereby extracting intracellular ribonucleic acid; and thereafter performing the following steps in any order; (3) hydrolyzing the extracted ribonucleic acid with a 5'-phosphodiesterase and; (4) separating the resulting extract from the insoluble residue.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for purifying a specific desired DNA sequence, starting from RNA heterogeneous in length and sequence. The steps of the method include making complementary DNA transcripts of the RNA by means of an enzyme such as reverse transcriptase, subjecting the DNA transcripts to the action of one or more selected restriction endonuclease enzymes, and fractionating the fragments produced by endonuclease action according to their length. By this method it is possible to isolate homogeneous length DNA fragments complementary to RNA sequences present in the original preparation in as low a frequency as two percent. A method is also disclosed for further purifying the homogeneous length fragments and for determining their final purity. Using the disclosed methods, a DNA fragment approximately 550 nucleotides in length coding for a portion of the peptide hormone, human chorionic somatomammotropin, has been purified to greater than 99% purity.

Abstract: A glucocorticoid sparing factor (GSF) which amplifies liver enzyme induction which is caused in glucocorticoid and a process for the production of GSF are disclosed. GSF can be isolated from the culture broth of a microorganism of the Family Enterobacteriaceae.