The Kitasato Institute

Nagase Co., Ltd.

Kitasato Kenkyusho

Yoko Takahashi

Satoshi Omura

Hiroshi Tomoda

Yuzuru Iwai

Masato Iwatsuki

Takuji Nakashima

Atsuko Matsumoto

Akira Nakagawa

Juichi Awaya

Kazuro Shiomi

Ruiko Oiwa

Kazuhiko Otoguro

Yoshitake Tanaka

Hideaki Hanaki

Yuki Inahashi

Yong-pil Kim

Yutaka Ebizuka

Masaaki Shibuya

Hirishi Tomoda

Yong-Pil Kim

An object of the present invention is to provide enzymes and a DNA encoding the enzymes that are involved in biosynthesis of trehangelin which has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for photosensitivity disorder and cosmetics, and to provide a method for producing trehangelin by utilizing the enzymes and a recombinant microorganism. The present invention is directed to a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 7 or 9, or a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 7 or 9 in which one to several amino acids are deleted, substituted, added and/or inserted or an amino acid sequence having 60% or more homology with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, 5, 7 or 9 and having an enzyme activity involved in biosynthesis of trehangelin; and a DNA encoding said protein.

Method for producing trehangelin

The present invention addresses the problem of providing an anti-trypanosomal drug having a novel skeleton, in order to solve issues that occur with conventional technologies. The present invention is based on the discovery of a microbe that produces an anti-trypanosomal drug having a novel skeleton. Specifically, this invention provides: a compound indicated by formula (I) having a trypanosomal inhibitory activity; an analog thereof; a production method therefor; and asp. K10-0216 strain that produces said compound.

Mangromicin compound and production method therefor

A microorganism represented by a strain K04-0144 belonging tosp. having ability to produce K04-0144 substance is cultured in the medium, and the isolated K04-0144A substance, K04-0144B substance and K04-0144C substance therefrom have strong antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant(MRSA), consequently these are useful as the therapeutic agents for infectious disease caused by MRSA as well as infectious diseases caused by multidrug including &#x3b2;-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria. Further, similarly, since the novel K04-0144D substance isolated from the cultured liquid has the action for enhancing the effect of &#x3b2;-lactam antibiotics, which are utilized as the antibacterial agents, in combination with them, it is useful as the therapeutic agent for infectious diseases caused by methicillin-resistant(MRSA) and multidrug including &#x3b2;-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria.

K04-0144 substance and a process for production thereof

The present invention is comprised of culturing a microorganism having ability to produce K01-B0171-B substance and/or K01-B0171-C substance in a medium, accumulating K01-B0171-B substance and/or K01-B0171-C substance in a culture fluid and isolating K01-B0171-B substance and/or, K01-B0171-C substance from the culture fluid. The obtained K01-B0171-B substance, K01-B0171-C substance or a composition of these substances is expected to be useful as a medicament of antituberculous agent.

Substances K01-B0171 and process for producing the same

The present invention comprising culturing a microorganism which belongs to genus Streptomyces and has ability to produce K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in a medium, accumulating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance in the culture fluid, and isolating K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance form the cultured mass. Since the obtained K99-5041-C1x substance and/or K99-5041-C2x substance exhibit inhibitory activity against lanosterol synthase, these substances are expected to apply clinically for preventive and therapeutic agents caused by accumulation of cholesterol in humans and antifungal agents.

K99-5041 substance and production thereof

The present invention relates to novel substance having inhibitory action on cholesteryl ester transfer protein, WK-5344A substance and WK-5344B substance, and process for production thereof. A microorganism belonging to genus Streptomyces having ability to produce WK-5344A substance and WK-5344B substance is cultured in a medium, and the WK-5344A substance and the WK-5344B substance are accumulated in the medium, then the WK-5344A substance and the WK-5344B substance are isolated from the said medium. Since the present substance shows significant inhibitory action on cholesteryl ester transfer protein, the substance is effective for prevention and treatment of diseases caused by accumulation of cholesterol in human.

Substance WK-5344A and wk-5344B and process for producing the same

Antibiotic AM-3603 which is also designated as irumamycin is represented by the following formula: ##STR1## This substance is active upon certain Gram-positive bacteria, phytopathogenic fungi and dermatophytes, and is of interest in treating various diseases of humans and animals caused by infectious bacteria and fungi and also useful for agricultural purposes. Antibiotic AM-3603 may be prepared by fermentation, in which a microorganism capable of producing AM-3603 is cultured in a medium to accumulate AM-3603 in the cultured broths, from which AM-3603 is recovered. A preferred strain is Streptomyces sp. AM-3603 (FERM-P 5619; NRRL 12518).

Antibiotic AM-3603

A novel compound frenolicin B of the formula: ##STR1## is prepared by cultivating a microorganism belonging to genus Streptomyces, e.g. Streptomyces roseofulvus AM-3867, in a culture medium and isolating the compound formed and accumulated in the medium from the cultured product. Said frenolicin B is useful as an antibiotic.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Yoko Takahashi