Kaneka Corporation

The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Nihon Shokuhin Kako Co., Ltd.

Niigata Bio-Research Park, Inc.

Masamichi Takagi

Keiji Matsumoto

Keiji Yano

Fumio Osakada

Takeshi Fukuchi

Satoru Yokomizo

Ichiro Shibuya

Akinori Ohta

Minoru Morikawa

Kenji Sakaguchi

Hiroaki Takaku

Masao Hirayama

Naoki Wakisaka

Katsumi Ajisaka

Koji Yanai

Takahisa Kogure

Tatsuo Miyazaki

Hiroyuki Horiuchi

Hiroaki C/O The Niigata Inst Of Science & Tech Dpt Takaku

Naoki Niigata University Of Pharmacy And Wakisaka

Masao Niigata University Of Pharmacy And Hirayama

Katsumi Niigata University Of Pharmacy And Ajisaka

Tatsuo Niigata University Of Pharmacy And Miyazaki

A transformant is prepared to insert at least a gene expression cassette comprising a gene involved in the synthesis of 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose intoas host cells. A 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose is synthesized from D-glucose, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide, starch and rice bran, using the transformant. A culture solution containing the 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose is treated with a mixed bed or double bed type column comprising a hydrogen form of strong acidic cation exchange resin and an organic ion form of basic anion exchange resin. The 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose as purified is reacted with trimethoxymethane to convert into 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose dimethylketal, and the dimethylketal is crystallized and purified. Then, DOI is highly purified through hydrolyzing the dimethylketal in the presence of acid.

Gene expression cassette and a transformant, and a method for manufacturing 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose and a method for purifying 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose using said transformant

This invention relates to a method of producing polyesters resulting from homopolymerization or copolymerization of a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid(s) and having biodegradability and good physical properties using yeasts as hosts. By constructing at least one enzyme gene involved in polyester synthesis by adding a DNA coding a peroxisome-targeting signal, introducing an enzyme gene expression cassette containing that gene into yeast, and cultivating the thus-obtained transformant, it becomes possible to cause accumulation of a polyester resulting from homopolymerization or copolymerization of a 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid(s) in yeast cells and recover the polyester from the culture.

Enzyme gene participating in the synthesis of polyester and process for producing polyester using the same

The present invention relates to a gene coding for a copolyester-synthesizing enzyme, a microorganism which utilizes the gene for the fermentative synthesis of a polyester, and a method of producing a polyester with the aid of the microorganism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gene which functions in a host organism and, by an enzyme, synthesizes a plastic-like polymer degradable under the action of microorganisms in the natural environment (the soil, river or sea). The present invention also, more particularly, relates to a transformant derived from the host organism by transformation with the gene and having an improved ability to fermentatively synthesize a plastic-like polymer, and a method of producing a copolyester with the aid of the transformant.

Transformant and process for producing polyester by using the same

A host vector system comprising Rhizopus species such as Rhizopus niveus (IFO4810) and a plasmid derived from Phycomycetes such as Mucor, Phycomyces and Absidia wherein the plasmid is contained in a chromosome and/or cytoplasm of the Rhizopus species. The host vector system is suitable for the extracellular production of proteins and enzymes. A process for preparing the host vector system is also provided.

Rhizopus host vector system

The present invention relates to plasmids whose hosts can be Escherichia coli and some kinds of yeasts, namely, shuttle vectors, as well as to processes for producing said plasmids. There are provided in the present invention (1) plasmids containing an autonomously replicating sequence of Candida maltosa, Leu 2 gene derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and an ampicillin resistance gene and (2) plasmids further containing a tetracycline resistance gene as well as the genes described in (1). The plasmids (shuttle vectors) of the present invention can be utilized as follows. A useful foreign gene is inserted into plasmids of the present invention; using the resulting new plasid, Escherichia coli is transformed and cultured in order to obtain the plasmid in a large amount; and using this plasmid, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Candida maltosa as a host is allowed to produce useful substances such as hormones and enzymes on a large scale.

Escherichia coli Candida maltosa Saccharomyces cerevisiae shuttle

A cycloheximide resistant gene of the present invention can be produced by cultivating yeast belonging to Candida genus and by cleaving a cycloheximide resistant gene from the yeast using restriction enzymes XbaI and Sau3AI. By incorporating the cycloheximide resistant gene together with the gene for useful substance into a plasmid, the transformant producing useful substance can be readily detected.

Cycloheximide resistant gene

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Fuchu, Japan

Masamichi Takagi