Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.

Akiko Fujiwara

Tatsuo Hoshino

Masaaki Tazoe

Mitsuhiko Fujiwara

Teruhide Sugisawa

Chikara Miyamoto

Yuzuru Sekine

Masako Shinjoh

Yutaka Setoguchi

Toru Okuda

Setsuko Masuda

A process for producing 2-keto-L-gulonic acid which comprises converting L-sorbose and/or D-sorbitol into 2-keto-L-gulonic acid with the aid of a microorganism or its cell free extract, said microorganism belonging to the species Gluconobacter oxydans capable of producing 2-keto-L-gulonic acid and having L-sorbose dehydrogenase activity. Also disclosed are specific microorganisms useful in such process.

Gluconobacter oxydans strains

Co-enzyme-independent L-sorbosone dehydrogenase of gluconobacter

A coenzyme-independent L-sorbosone dehydrogenase has been prepared from a microorganism belong to the genus Pseudomonas, which acts on L-sorbosone to produce 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The enzyme is membrane bound and has a molecular weight of about 47,000 kDa. The enzyme is used to carry out the conversion of L-sorbosone to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid.

Coenzyme-independent L-sorbosone dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida

The present invention relates to novel coenyme independent L-sorbose dehydrogenase and a process for producing the same. The enzyme provided by the present invention catalyzes the oxidation of L-sorbose to L-sorbosone, the precursor of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid which is an important intermediate in the production of vitamin C. Due to the release duties in foreign countries, the original deposits with respect to the following strains have been transferred to the deposit under the Budapest Treaty at Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Fermentation Research Institute, Japan on Jan. 29, 1987. And the following accession numbers have been allotted to each strain.

Enzyme and process for producing the same

The present invention relates to novel enzyme having L-sorbosone dehydrogenase activity and a process for producing the same. This L-Sorbosone dehydrogenase enzyme provided by the present invention catalyzes the oxidation of L-sorbosone to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as a coenzyme. 2-KGA is an important precursor for the production of vitamin C.

There is presented the compounds 4-deoxy-aclacinomycin A and B and pharmaceutical preparations containing the same. The preparations are effective against bacteria and tumours. Also presented is a process for the preparation of optically active anthracycline glycosides A and B with the 7S-configuration starting from racemic anthracyclinones.

Optically active anthracycline glycosides A and B

Process for the preparation of optically active anthracycline glycosides

The present invention is concerned with novel anthracyclines which are compounds of the general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a methyl or acetonyl group and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## Also presented is a method of making the above compounds. The compounds possess antibacterial and antitumor activities.

Anthracycline antibiotics

There is presented a process for producing anthracycline glycosides A by converting the sugar moiety of anthracycline glycosides B, represented by the following formula: ##STR1## into the sugar moiety of anthracycline glycosides A, represented by the following formula: ##STR2## with the aid of a microorganism belonging to the species Streptomyces galilaeus or Streptomyces melanogenes.

Process to produce anthracycline glycosides

The invention relates to a process for producing 1.alpha.-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone by fermenting or reacting dehydroepiandrosterone or a derivative thereof with microorganisms of the species Penicillium oxalicum or Aspergillus terreus or mycelium or extracts therefrom obtained when the microorganisms are in a stationary phase of growth. The invention process produces steroid compounds which are pharmacologically valuable substances.

Process for the manufacture of 1.alpha.-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone

The present invention relates to a process for producing aclacinomycins A and B. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a process for producing selectively aclacinomycins A and B in high yield without formation of cinerubins A and B, by means of a fermentation process, utilizing Streptomyces galilaeus OBB-731.

Process to produce aclacinomycins A and B

The invention relates to a process for producing 7.sub..alpha. -hydroxylated steroids by fermenting or reacting a steroid to be hydroxylated with microorganisms of the genus Botryodiplodia or enzyme extracts thereof until hydroxylation occurs. The invention process produces steroid compounds which are pharmacologically valuable substances.

Process for the manufacture of hydroxylated steroids

There is disclosed compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a methyl or acetonyl group and R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a group of the formula ##STR2## and a process for the preparation thereof. The compounds are useful as intermediates for the preparation of anthracycline antibiotics and certain of the compounds exhibit per se activity as antibacterial and antitumor agents.

Anthracyclinones and derivatives thereof

A novel antibiotic having the ascribed formula ##STR1## is provided. They physical characteristics are as follows: (a) Elementary analysis: Calculated (for C.sub.20 H.sub.16 O.sub.7): C,65.22; H,4.35%. Found: C,64.60; H,4.34%.

Process of producing antibiotic SM-173B with Streptomyces chromofuscus

The preparation of D-arabitol by a fermentative process utilizing a micro-organism of the species Pichia haplophila or mutants thereof in a nutrient medium containing as a carbon source a hydrocarbon or ethyl alcohol is disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Kamakura, Japan

Akiko Fujiwara