Kikkoman Corporation

Johns Hopkins University

Keietsu Abe

Kinji Uchida

Genryou Umitsuki

Yoshiki Hanya

Hiroe Sato

Hironaga Hashiba

Itsuo Sato

Tadanobu Nakadai

Jack W Fell

Zhong-Shi Ruan

Peter C Maloney

Mitsuharu Fujii

A DNA sequence encoding a transport protein responsible for the physical movement of oxalate and formate across the plasma membrane is provided. The protein, OxlT, can be isolated from the gram negative anaerobe, Oxalobacter formigenes. The protein is part of the three protein oxalate/formate antiport exchange system that allows for conversion of extracellular oxalate to formate+CO.sub.2. The OxlT coding sequence can be used to provide a metabolic energy system to the cell. The system comprises the OxlT transport protein in combination with oxalylCoA decarboxylase and formyl-CoA transferase. Expression cassettes can be designed to express all or part of the system in a target host. Such energy generating systems can be used in industrial settings that utilize fermentation. The energy generating systems of the invention extend culture longevity and increase product yield. In another aspect of the invention, the OxlT coding sequence can be used in pharmaceutical compositions for manipulating serum oxalic acid levels in patients in need thereof. In this manner, liposomes comprising the energy generating system can be developed and administered to humans and other animals.

OxlT sequence and its use

The present invention relates to an Aspergillus sojae leucine aminopeptidase gene or variants thereof, a recombinant DNA including the gene or the variants, and a process for producing leucine aminopeptidase using the recombinant DNA.

Leucine aminopeptidase gene, recombinant DNA, and process for producing

A microorganism belonging to the genus Cryptococcus having the ability to produce glutaminase excellent in salt resistance and thermostability. Further, this microorganism can be used to produce the salt-resistant thermostable glutaminase, and by use of this glutaminase, glutamic acid-rich and good tasting protein hydrolysates (e.g. flavoring foods such as soy sauce, miso etc.) are produced efficiently in a simple operation. Specifically, said microorganism is the new species Cryptococcus nodaensis having assimilability of +, -, -and - toward lactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-glucosamine and arbtin as carbon sources, respectively.

Species cryptococcus nodaensis, a process for producing salt-resistant

A process is provided for selective fermentation with microorganisms belonging to the Genus Pediococcus and having reduced or no phosphoenolypyruvate dependent sugar:phosphotransferase system. The microorganism is capable of fermenting a medium containing a metabolite which induces catabolite repression and a metabolite whose catabolism is inhibited by catabolite repression. The metabolite which induces catabolite repression may be selected from glucose and mannose and the metabolite whose catabolism is inhibited by catabolite repression may be selected from arabinose, xylose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, trehalose, lactose, and glycerin. The Pediococcus microorganisms used in this process are mutant strains designated Pediococcus halophilis I-1, having an accession number FERM BP-1303, and Pediococcus halophilis I-2, having an accession number FERM BP-1304.

Process for selective fermentation with mutants of Pediococcus halophilus

A novel variant belonging to the genus Pediococcus which does not cause fermentation of D-glucose but causes fermentation of pentose, and a process for producing a light-colored soy sauce which comprises adding the variant in the koji preparation step or in the early stage of brewing of soy sauce moromi.

Growing community of inventors

Noda, Japan

Keietsu Abe