Kikkoman Corporation

Noda Institute for Scientific Research

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

National Institute of Technology and Evaluation

National Research Institute of Brewing

Kenichiro Matsushima

Yasuji Koyama

Kotaro Ito

Masayuki Machida

Tsutomu Masuda

Motoaki Sano

Kiyoshi Asai

Keietsu Abe

Takeharu Nakahara

Naotake Ogasawara

Satoru Kuhara

Katsuya Gomi

Tadashi Takahashi

Hideki Nagasaki

Genryou Umitsuki

Osamu Akita

Akira Hosoyama

Taishin Kin

Osamu Hatamoto

Toshifumi Matsuda

Tomomi Uchikawa

Touru Ito

Hitoshi Tainaka

Hiroshi Maeda

Chitoshi Oka

Akimitsu Tanaka

Genryou Umitsüki

Tomomi Ichikawa

To improve the activity of a Koji mold protease in a solid or liquid culture medium in the production of foods (e.g., a seasoning), pharmaceuticals (e.g., a digestive agent), protease for use in a detergent and the like. Disclosed are a recombinant vector having capability of increasing the secretion of the Koji mold protease, a Koji mold which is transformed with the vector and has an increased expression of a gene for a protease or an increase secretion of the same, a method for the production of a protease by using the transformed Koji mold, and the like.

Recombinant vector capable of increasing secretion of Koji mold protease

A completely novel glutaminase is provided: (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids, and possessing glutaminase activity. This protein is a novel glutaminase possessing excellent thermostability and the like.

Thermostable glutaminase and thermostable glutaminase gene

Provided are a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and having prolidase activities, a prolidase gene coding for the protein, a prolidase gene comprising the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, recombinant DNA having the gene inserted into vector DNA, and a transformant or transductant comprising the recombinant DNA, and a method for producing prolidase using the transformant or transductant. The present invention can improve the prolidase through protein engineering. The present invention can be also used for improving microorganisms used in the production of enzymes for food processing and fermented foods.

Prolidase and its gene and method for producing prolidase

Glutaminase which comprises (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein which comprises an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or plurality of amino acids relative to the amino acid sequence (a), and has glutaminase activity. A glutaminase gene which encodes (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a protein which comprises an amino acid sequence having deletion, substitution, or addition of one or a plurality of amino acids relative to the amino acid sequence (a), and has glutaminase activity. The present invention enables glutaminase to be produced efficiently and thus greatly contributes to the relevant industries.

Glutaminase, glutaminase gene, novel recombinant DNA, and process for manufacturing glutaminase

Growing community of inventors

Chiba, Japan

Kenichiro Matsushima