In order to examine the antimicrobial activity of n-fattyacyl mono-aminoacyl derivatives of colistin nonapeptide (CNP), twenty-one derivatives were synthesized and characterized on their chemical, physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. Five α-amino acids, glycine, L-alanine, DL-aminobutyric acid, DL-norvaline and DL-norleucine, and two ω-amino acids, β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid, were first acylated with each of three kinds of acid chloride, n-octanoyl, n-decanoyl and n-dodecanoyl chloride, and then esterified with p-nitrophenol prior to the coupling of those n-fattyacyl amino acids to the terminal threonine of CNP. The coupling reaction was carried out in an aqueous solvent buffered at pH 5.0 without any protection of the γ-amino groups of CNP, as reported previously.
All of the derivatives obtained in hydrochloride salts were hygroscopic white amorphous powder showing decomposing points at 180_??_230°C. Each purified preparation exhibited a ninhydrin positive spot on a paper chromatogram, and each spot coincided with respective inhibitory zone at Rf 0.54_??_0.72 on a bioautogram obtained with Escherichia coli NIHJ or Bacillus subtilis. The antimicrobial spectra of the fifteen n-fattyacyl α-aminoacyl CNPs against gram-negative bacteria were narrower and the activities are less than those of the corresponding n-fattyacyl derivatives of CNP or colistin. Of n-fattyacyl ω-aminoacyl derivatives, n-dodecanoyl β-alanyl-CNP showed unique antimicrobial spectrum against gramnegative bacteria, in which colistin insensitive Serratia marcescens and Proteus morganii were inhibited at the concentrations of 25 and 50mcg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, the elongation of the peptide chain in the CNP molecule by an mono-amino acid acylated with n-fatty acid resulted in the reduction of the antimicrobial activity except for a case of β-alanine; the activity seems to depend on the kind of amino acid introduced.

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The respiration of both glucose-grown and hydrocarbon-grown cells of Candida tropicalis pK 233 harvested in the stationary phases was not inhibited by cyanide when glucose was used as oxidation substrate, but the former was rather stimulated in the presence of cyanide. When n-alkanes were used as oxidation substrate, cyanide lowered the respiratory activities of both cells to about 50%. With respect to the susceptibility to cyanide, the younger cells growing on n-alkanes were less sensitive in hydrocarbon oxidizing ability than the older cells, whereas the older cells growing on glucose or n-alkanes were more resistant in glucose oxidizing ability than the younger cells. Acetate was oxidized by both glucose-grown and hydrocarbongrown cells of the yeast. Laurate was oxidized by hydrocarbon-grown cells, but not by glucose-grown cells. The respiration on laurate was inhibited completely by 3.3mM of cyanide. In general, hydrocarbon-grown cells of Candida tropicalis pK 233 were more sensitive to various respiratory inhibitors than glucose-grown cells, although the oxidation substrates had a significant effect.
The respiration of both glucose-grown and hydrocarbon-grown cells of C. albicans, C. guilliermondii and C. lipolytica harvested in the stationary phases was also resistant to cyanide when glucose was used as oxidation substrate. But the respiration on n-alkanes of these cells was inhibited significantly by 3.3mM of cyanide except for C. albicans.

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Naringenin-7-β-kojibioside, -7-β-sophoroside, -7-[α-D-galactosyl (1→2) β-D-glucoside], -7-[β-D-glucosyl (1→2) β-D-galactoside], and also hesperetin-7-β-kojibioside and -7-β-sophoroside were prepared by the coupling of naringenin or hesperetin with the α-acetobromo derivatives of the appropriate disaccharides, followed by saponification.
Their relative bitterness values were discussed in comparison with naringin and neohesperidin.

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Lipid contents of the liver in rats refed the diet low in fat and either containing glucose or sucrose as a sole carbohydrate source after a fast for 2 days reached peaks after 3 days' refeeding and then decreased. Lipid content of the liver for glucose as a sole carbohydrate source was less than that for sucrose. The supplementation with 5% or 10% safflower oil caused decrease in the liver lipid content of rats refed the diet either containing 69.9% glucose or a mixture of 34.9% glucose and 35.0% fructose. In the next experiments, the effects of various fatty acids on the lipid content of the liver of rats refed the diet either containing 69.9% glucose or a mixture of 34.9% glucose and 35.0% fructose were investigated. Of fatty acids supplemented, only linoleic acid resulted in preventing liver lipid accumulation. Whereas, saturated fatty acids or oleic acid had no effect on the fatty liver in fasted-refed rats. Thus, it is assumed that the formation of fatty liver in rats refed the diet low in fat and containing glucose or sucrose after a fast might be due to the stimulation of lipid synthesis.

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In the course of screening for methionine (Met)-utilizing strains, it was found that Penicillium citreo-viride isolated and identified recently in our laboratory converted Met to Met sulfoxide when incubated at 30°C in the medium containing 10% glucose, 2% DL-Met, 0.5% ammonium sulfate, 0.05% potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.05% dipotassium phosphate, 0.04% magnesium sulfate, 0.001% manganese sulfate, 0.001% ferrous sulfate, 0.2% corn steep liquor and 3% calcium carbonate at pH 7.0. Ratio of the conversion reached to 70 to 80%.
This strain required Met for its growth. This amino acid could be replaced by cystine, cysteine, homeserine and Met sulfoxide-related amino acids in the Met biosynthesis.
This strain also produced remarkable amounts of gluconic acid from glucose in the medium. When cultured in a medium containing fructose in place of glucose as the sole carbon source, the growth .was better, while the formation of Met sulfoxide was not observed. From these results, it was clear that there is a close relationship between the production of gluconic acid and the oxidation of Met. By using partially purified glucose oxidase from this strain, it was demonstrated that Met was oxidized to Met sulfoxide by hydrogen peroxide evolved by glucose oxidase reaction.

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The possibility of extracellular formation of amino acids by anaerobes was investigated. In general, anaerobes were able to produce 20 to 50mg of alanine per dl of medium extracellularly. Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum, the anaerobic bacterium for acetonebutanol fermentation, accumulated 100mg of alanine per dl of medium containing 5g of glucose, 1g of ammonium acetate, 0.1g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.04g of magnesium sulfate, 0.001g of ferrous sulfate, 1μg of biotin, 0.1g of yeast extract and 1g of calcium carbonate in tap water.
Relationships between alanine formation and solvent yields or sporulation were investigated. Spore formation was not active in the medium for alanine formation and yield of acetone increased in this medium.

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Clostridium BB-264, Cl. acetobutyricum 314-48, Cl. kaneboi, Cl. saccharoperbutylacetonicum and other two strains of Cl. isolated recently produced an unidentified ninhydrinpositive compound in medium containing 5% glucose, 1% ammonium acetate, 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.04% magnesium sulfate, 0.001% ferrous sulfate, 0.1% yeast extract, 10μg/liter of biotin and 1% calcium carbonate.
This ninhydrin-positive compound was eluted with solvent composed of butanol: acetic acid: water (4:1:2) by chromatography on cellulose powder column. It was crystallized from ethanol and then identified as an amino acid, O-butylhomoserine (Abbrev. as O-BHSer). Yield of this amino acid increased by adding homoserine or butanol to the medium. The increase was also recognized with addition of glycine, lysine, serine, threonine or valine. The formation of this amino acid was repressed by adding methionine to the medium.
Gas pressure to the culture is one of the important factors that make the amino acid formation by anaerobes possible.

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Alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1. 1. 1. 2) was purified from Leuconostoc mesenteroides IFO 3426.
The native enzyme in sonic extract was dissociated to NAD-dependent subunit S₁ and to NAD- and NADP-dependent subunit S₂ by DEAE-Sephadex A-50, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and disc electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the native enzyme, subunit S₁ and S₂ were approximately 240, 000, 80, 000, and 160, 000, respectively, as determined from gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Subunit S₁ was very unstable. The physical, chemical and catalytic properties of native enzyme were compared with those of subunit S₁ and S₂.

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Alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol: NAD oxidoreductase, E. C. 1. 1. 1. 1.) from Thea sinensis seeds (variety: Zairai) was isolated and purified about 1, 500-fold using preparative disc electrophoresis. The specific activity was about 3.4units/mg protein against ethyl alcohol.
Its s⁰_{20. w} value was 6.96S and its molecular weight was approximately 150, 000 using gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The physical, chemical and catalytic properties of the enzyme are described. The oxidoreduction products formed by the enzyme were identified by gas chromatography, and for the unsaturated compounds the conversion of double bond and geometrical isomerization was observed.
The substrate specificity of tea enzyme is discussed in comparison with the enzymes from Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and horse and human livers. Paticularly a tendency for reactivity in the oxidoreduction of unsaturated alcohols and aldehydes were discribed by comparing the effects of geometry, the position of the double bond and the length of chain in substrates.

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Changes in levels of PDase at different stages of development in the wild type and some mutants of D. purpureum were investigated. The enzyme levels were measured in sub-cellular fractions, i.e., extra-cellular, wash, intra-cellular and pellet fraction. Some differences were observed in patterns of enzyme activity among the wild type and the mutants. Impairment in gross morphological differentiation seems to be reflected readily in changes of levels of PDase during the course of development in this organism. The significance of PDase in the aggregation processes of Dictyosteliaceae is also discussed.

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A systematic scheme has been developed by improving Helander's method for the separation of principal intra-cellular proteins from muscle. Helander's technique with certain modifications has been integrated with other procedures, used for the fractionation of extracellular protein (stroma) and its biophysical characterization, to make the scheme more befitting for biochemical evaluation of meat quality. Besides simplicity, reproducibility and accuracy, this scheme has many inherent advantages over the previous methods, employed for this purpose. The design of an economical extraction apparatus, which helps minimizing the experimental error in handling the samples is also presented. Any number of samples can be extracted per unit time by making a suitable assembly of the design.

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Microorganisms capable of utilizing pristane (2, 6, 10, 14-tetramethylpentadecane) as a sole source of carbon and energy were isolated from soil specimens. A strain BPM 1613, tentatively classified in the genus Nocardia, accumulated several oxidation products of pristane in the culture fluid. Silica gel chromatography of the ethyl ether extract from the culture fluid yielded pristanol and pristanic acid as major products and pristyl pristanate and pristyl aldehyde as minor products. The confirmations on the estimated structures of these oxidation products are described in detail.

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The occurence of tenuazonic acid (T. A.), which had been isolated from the culture broth of blast fungus, in blast-diseased rice plants was surveyed to ascertain whether or not this substance is one of the vivotoxins. T. A. was detected in four of six samples of blast-diseased rice plants, two of which had relatively high T. A. contents; 379 and 91mg per kg of the samples (dry weight).
Besides T. A., coumarin, o-coumaric acid and piricularin were also isolated from blast-diseased rice plants. The molecular formula of the last substance, which was tentatively presented in a previous paper, was corrected to C₁₈H₃₀N₂O₅ from the results of high resolution mass spectrometry.

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In the course of study on citric acid fermentation by Candida tropicalis KY 6224, in which n-alkane mixture (C-12 to C-15) was used as the sole source of carbon, we found that a arabitollike substance was accumulated when the medium-pH was controlled at low level (3.0 to 4.0). This substance was isolated in crystalline forms and identified as D-arabitol.
D-Arabitol production was also observed with ethanol, acetic acid and glucose as the sole source of carbon. Important factors for efficient production of D-arabitol were keeping the medium-pH at low-level (3.0 to 4.0) and the concentration of NaCl or KCl at high level (1 to 5%). This strain produced 75mg/ml of D-arabitol in 120 hr incubation under optimal culture conditions; this corresponds to 50% of n-alkane consumed.

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From ezomycin complex produced by a strain of Streptomyces were isolated four components named ezomycins A₁ (C₂₆H₄₀N₈O₁₆S), A₂ (C₁₉H₂₈N₆O₁₃), B₁ (C₂₆H₃₉N₇O₁₇S) and B₂ (C₁₉H₂₇N₅O₁₄) which are new pyrimidine nucleosides. Ezomycins A₁ and B₁ containing L-cystathionine were found to be responsible for specific antimicrobial activity of the complex against Sclerotinia and Botrytis species.

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Two kinds of carboxypeptidases (F-I, F-II) were purified from the sarcocarp of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris, var. Shimao). F-I was not purified to homogeneity. F-II was homogeneous on ultracentrifugal analysis, but a trace of impurity was detected at high concentrations by disc electrophoresis.
F-I was optimally active and stable at pH 5.0_??_5.5 and was strongly inhibited by DFP and HgCl₂, but not by EDTA. The molecular weight and isoelectric point were 89, 000 and 4.4, respectively.
F-II was optimally active at pH 5.0_??_5.5 and was most stable at pH 5.5_??_7.0. It was completely inhibited by DFP and HgCl₂, but not by EDTA and 1, 10-phenanthroline, and it hydrolyzed an oligopeptide containing proline, glutamic acid, lysine and several neutral amino acids, sequentially from the C-terminal. The molecular weight and isolelectric point were 110, 000 (5.1S) and 5.0, respectively.
The similarity of enzymatic properties of both the present enzymes to those of other plant carboxypeptidases and pig kidney cathepsin A are discussed.

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Carboxypeptidase activity of tomato fruit reached a maximum at an early period of ripening. During storage of the fruit at 25°C, the enzyme activity decreased, accompanied by a fall of the pH value of the sap.
The enzyme was apparently localized in the soluble fraction, as determined by differential centrifugation.
The enzyme was optimally active at pH 5.0_??_5.5, was most stable at pH 4.5_??_6.5, and was strongly inhibited by DFP and HgCl₂, but not by EDTA and 1, 10-phenanthroline. Zdipeptides containing arginine, proline and several neutral amino acids were hydrolyzed by the enzyme.
The similarity of the enzymatic properties of the present enzyme to those of other plant carboxypeptidases and pig kidney cathepsin A is also discussed.

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A potent L-leucine producer was screened among mutants of glutamic acid producing bacteria. This strain, No. 218, is one of 2-thiazolealanine resistant mutants derived from a methionine isoleucine double auxotroph of Brevibacterium lactofermentum 2256 by nitrosoguanidine.
Strain No. 218 produced 19mg/ml of L-leucine after 72 hr cultivation when 8% glucose and 4% ammonium sulfate were supplied as a carbon and a nitrogen source, respectively, thus giving the yield of 23.1% from glucose.
The addition of Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in combination gave much more productivity than that of Fe²⁺ or Mn²⁺ alone.
Effects of amino acids, nucleic acids, vitamins, and the other nutrients on L-leucine production were investigated.
The fermentation product was isolated and purified from the culture, and identified as L-leucine.

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Metabolism of an organophosphorus insecticide, Salithion^® (2-methoxy-4H-1, 3, 2-benzodioxaphosphorin-2-sulfide), in male rats, rice plants and bean plants was studied by using the carbon-14 labeled compound at the benzyl carbon. At the dosage of 9mg/kg, 82.0% of the radiocarbon were excreted in urine within 24 hr after oral administration to male rats. The administered radiocarbon was recovered majorly into urine during one week. When the dosage level was increased to 45mg/kg or when 9mg/kg of Salithion was consecutively given 5 times, the radiocarbon was also rapidly excreted and substantially completely recovered majorly into urine. No radioactive CO₂ was expired.
In the urine, at least 15 radioactive metabolites were detected by thin-layer chromatography (tlc), among which the following seven compounds were identified by cochromatography with the authentic compounds and IR, NMR spectroscopy; O-(2-hydroxy) benzyl dihydrogen phosphate, desmethyl salioxon, O-(2-hydroxy) benzyl dihydrogen phosphorothioate, desmethyl salithion, salioxon, saligenin and Salithion, and the major one was desmethyl salithion. The intact Salithion was negligible.
Most of ¹⁴C-Salithion applied on bean plants and rice plants were vaporized and Salithion incorporated into plants underwent the cleavage of the cyclic phosphorus ester group to give saligenin which was conjugated with glucose at the benzyl-OH and phenol-OH (salicin). Except the above conjugates all the radioactive metabolites were included in those in rats urine. In bean plants, Salithion and desmethyl salithion were also found.

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A novel synthetic pathway to trans-4-amino-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-butene (7), a useful synthetic intermediate of zeatin, is presented here. On selective monophthalimide formation, the trans-1, 4-dibromo-2-methyl-2-butene (10) prepared from isoprene (1) predominantly gives trans-1-bromo-2-methyl-4-phthalimido-2-butene (11). The compound (11) is converted to 7 via trans-1-acetoxy-2-methyl-4-phthalimido-2-butene (6). The overall yield of 7 from 1 is 33.6%. Base-catalyzed hydrolysis of 11 also gives 7 directly. Zeatin can be prepared by the condensation of 7 with 6-chloropurine.

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Two types of sterilized skim milk were prepared; one was HTS-1 milk which was heated at 130°C flashly and the other was HTS-2 milk which was heated at 130_??_135°C for 75 sec. The changes of casein complex during storage of HTS-1 and HTS-2 milks were examined and compared with those of AUT milk which was heated at 120°C for 15min. The results obtained are summarized as follows.
(1) Visible sediment was formed in HTS-1 and HTS-2 milks after 8 and 14 months of storage, respectively, while no sediment was observed in AUT milk throughout 15 months of storage. (2) The amount of calcium in the ultracentrifugal wheys of HTS-1 and HTS-2 milks decreased gradually with prolonged storage, while that in the ultracentrifugal whey of AUT milk was kept constant after 1 month of storage. (3) Almost no differences among the three samples were observed in the increments of Ca/N ratio of ultracentrifuged casein complex during storage. (4) The amount of soluble casein increased in AUT milk during storage, but decreased in HTS-1 and HTS-2 milks.
On the basis of the above results, the destabilization of casein complex during storage was discussed.

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New acidic products were isolated from the culture fluid of Fusarium merismoides B11 after growth on 2-butyne-1, 4-diol. These products were identified as 2, 4, 6-triketosuberic acid, HOOC-CH₂COCH₂COCH₂CO-COOH, 2, 4, 6, 8-tetraketosebacic acid, HOOC-CH₂-COCH₂COCH₂COCH₂CO-COOH, and phthalic acid from their NMR, IR, UV, and MASS spectra, and elementary analyses. These polyketides, which are new metabolites, seem to be related to the biosynthesis of phthalic acid.

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The mucin obtained from a natto sample was found to be composed of 58% of γ-polyglutamic acid and 40% of polysaccharide. The ratio of L- and D-glutamic acid was determined to be 58:42 using L-glutamic acid decarboxylase. The weight- and z-average molecular weight were 2.08×10⁵ and 2.22×10⁵, respectively. The distribution curve of the sedimentation coefficient showed a small heterogeneity. The mucin molecule was considered to be randomly coiled at pH 5.0_??_8.8 and to be a rod-like molecule in the lower pH region.

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By extraction of wheat flour with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution at pH 6.8, about 76% of the total flour nitrogen solubilized into clear supernatant. This solvent was more effective for extraction of wheat protein than 0.01M acetic acid, aluminium lactate-lactic acid buffer (pH 3.1), AUC-solvent (0.1M acetic acid, 3M urea and 0.01M cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and 3, 5-diiodosalicylic acid lithium salt etc. The molecular weight distribution of the SDS-soluble proteins was studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by molecular sieve chromatography on controlled pore glass (CPG-10-500) without prior reduction of disulfide linkages of the proteins. Most of the SDS-soluble proteins had molecular weight of less than 75, 000, suggesting single-chained proteins. A small amount of relatively high molecular weight proteins which contained intermolecular disulfide linkages was also detected in the gel of electrophoresis, while high molecular weight protein which did not migrate into gel matrix during electrophoresis without prior reduction of disulfide linkages existed in trace amount in the SDS-soluble fraction.
The SDS-insoluble proteins were almost completely extracted by further extraction with SDS in combination with 2-mercaptoethanol or with mercuric chloride.

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Experimental evidence has been presented that the non-ionic, acid-labile and base-stablebonds involving pectic carboxylate groups, both oriented and not-oriented, play an importantrole in holding pectic substances in the cell wall of Nitella. Participation of hydroxyl groups in the bonds has been confirmed by the vapor phase deuteration method. Irreversible aciddegradation of the cell wall ultrastructure associated with the carboxylate groups has also been demonstrated by acid-base titrimetry.

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(±)-Bornyl acetate and (±)-isobornyl acetate were asymmetrically hydrolyzed by micro-organisms to give (-)-borneol with (+)-bornyl acetate and (-)-isoborneol with (+)-isobornyl acetate although in low hydrolytic ratios. On the contrary (±)-bornyl chloroacetate and (±)-isobornyl chloroacetate were easily hydrolyzed by microorganisms to afford (-)-borneol and (-)-isoborneol with the acetate of their antipodes. Also, enzymatic hydrolysis of (±)-menthyl chloroacetate proceeded faster than that of (±)-menthyl acetate.

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By microorganisms or esterase they produce, (±)-1 and 2-decalyl acetates were asymmetrically hydrolyzed to (-)-1-(R)-trans, cis-1-decalol (IIa), (+)-1-(S)-cis, cis-1-decalol (IIIb), (+)-1-(R)-cis, trans-1-decalol (IVa) and (+)-1-(S)-trans, trans-2-decalol (VIIb), (-)-cis, cis2-decalol (IXb) with the acetates of their antipodes, whereas the axial acetates of (±)-decalols were scarecely hydrolyzed.

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The structure of the carbohydrate moiety of GP-I-a, one of three glycopeptides obtained from Rhizopus saccharogenic amylase, was determined by using enzymatic and chemical techniques.
Six residues (all of the residues in GP-I-a) of mannose and one residue of N-acetylglucosamine were released in that order when GP-I-a was digested successively with purified α-mannosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase.
Exhaustive methylation of GP-I-a gave 3, 6-di-O-methyl derivative from the N-acetylglucosamine residues, and 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O-methyl, 3, 4, 6-tri-O-methyl and 2, 4-di-O-methyl deriva tives from the mannose residues in an approximate ratio of 3:1:2.
After one step of the Smith degradation of GP-I-a, a residual glycopeptide (F-1) consisted of one mole each of asparagine and glycine and two moles each of mannose and N-acetylglucosamine was obtained. Exhaustive methylation of F-1 gave 3, 6-di-O-methyl derivative of N-acetylglucosamine, and 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O-methyl and 2, 3, 4-tri-O-methyl derivatives of mannose in a ratio of 1.00:0.91.
Partial acetolysis of 1→6 linkages in GP-I-a yielded mannose, 3-O-mannosylmannose and a smaller glycopeptide which was resistant to the acetolysis.
From these and other evidences, the following structure was determined for GP-I-a.

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One of the radical species produced by the reaction of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid with an α-amino acid gave a very characteristic hyperfine structure in its electron spin resonance spectrum. The same spectrum was also obtained when L-scorbamic acid was oxidized with some oxidants, indicating the formation of the radical via the oxidation of L-scorbamic acid. From the results of deuterium exchange experiments, simulation spectra and the reduction of 2, 2'-nitrilodi-2 (2')-deoxy-L-ascorbic acid monoammonium salt, the radical was concluded to be monodehydro-2, 2'-iminodi-2 (2')-deoxy-L-ascorbic acid. Possible formation mechanism of the radical was also discussed.

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Several microorganisms isolated from soil were found to grow in the medium containing panthenol. The results of the investigation of the degradative metabolism of this compound demonstrated that there are two different inducible pathways.
Strain 1041 produced 3-aminopropanol and β-alanine when grown with panthenol. 3-Aminopropanol plus pantoate, as well as panthenol, supported the growth of induced culture. Both washed cells and cell extract of the organism also produced 3-aminopropanol, which was then oxidized to β-alanine. No oxidation of panthenol to pantothenic acid was observed. Isolation and identification of the products were performed. These results led to the conclusion that panthenol is hydrolyzed to pantoic acid and 3-aminopropanol as the first step, which is then followed by oxidation to β-alanine.
Strain 1091 produced pantothenic acid, but not 3-aminopropanol, from panthenol. 3-Aminopropanol plus pantoate did not support the growth of the induced culture. No degrada tion of 3-aminopropanol was observed. Isolation and identification of pantothenic acid and a 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazone derivative of the aldehyde form panthenol were performed. From the results, it was confirmed that panthenol is first oxidized to pantothenic acid, which is then hydrolyzed to β-alanine and pantoic acid.
Panthenol was also oxidized to pantothenic acid by Bacillus roseus AKU 0208. The enzyme was not induced in the presence of panthenol.

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A new cirmamate was isolated as an antifungal constituent from young leaves and shoots of Enkianthus perulatus. The structure was shown to be 1 on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic studies.

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By use of the chemically defined synthetic medium, the formation of high concentration of alcohol, reaching 20-21 percent, was accomplished by Saccharomyces sake, at 20°C within 20 days, under a gradual addition of sucrose. Unsaturated fatty acid-containing phospholipidmacromolecule (albumin or methylcellulose) complex was the essential structure for the high concentration alcohol-producing factor. Unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, incorporated to the yeast cells grown anaerobically in the statical fermentation test from the koji mold phosphatidylcholine-methylcellulose complex. These data show that the formation of a high concentration of alcohol in sake mash is related to the lipid metabolism of the yeasts.

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Succinate diesters of medium-chain fatty alcohols (C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) was prepared to be studied on their ability to induce nutritional encephalomalacia in starting chicks and on the mechanism of their hydrolysis, absorption, and transport in chicks, using dilauryl succinate as positive control which possesses strong ability to induce encephalomalacia. It was revealed that all the succinate diesters used in this experiment, i.e., dilauryl succinate, monodecylmonolauryl succinate, monooctyl-monolauryl succinate, monohexyl-monolauryl succinate, didecyl succinate, dioctyl succinate, and dihexyl succinate had ability to induce encephalomalacia in starting chicks. It was observed that succinate diesters were hydrolysed into monoesters and free alcohols mainly in the region between j ej unum and ileum, and absorbed to the portal vein in the form of monoester and free alcohol, not in intact form as diester, and transported to the liver. The possible proposal that monoesters will be most important compound for the induction of encephalomalacia is discussed.

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4-Methoxybenzophenones showed diverse plant growth-regulating actions; inhibition of shoot and root growth, induction of chlorosis, and a disturbance in phototropism or geotropism. No clear relationship was found between the inhibitory activities and Hammett's σ of the substituents. A brief discussion of the relationship between the growth-inhibitory activity and the absorption wavelength explains the mode of action.

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A large amount of O-acetyl-L-homoserine (OAH) was found to be produced by trifluoromethionine-resistant mutants derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum ESLR-146 (Thr^-, ethionine^R, selenomethionine^R) and ET_zR-606 (Thr^-, ethionine^R, 1, 2, 4-triazole^R) by mutational treatment with ethyl methanesulfonate. Some cultural conditions for OAH production were examined with one of the mutants, ESLFR-736, which was derived from ESLR-146. Addition of L-methionine or L-serine decreased OAR production. Optimal level of L-threonine, a growth factor in ESLFR-736, for OAH production was about 200μg/ml, and further addition of excess L-threonine repressed OAH production. Corn steep liquor (CSL) and yeast extract added simultaneously enhanced OAH production to a great extent. Thus, the amount of OAH production reached to a level of 10.5mg/ml with a medium containing 10% glucose and 0.01% of both CSL and yeast extract after 2 days incubation.
Cell-free extract of C. glutamicum catalyzed the formation of OAH from acetyl CoA and L-homoserine, while a corresponding reaction with succinyl CoA was hardly detected. These observations indicate that OAH but not O-succinyl-L-homoserine is an intermediate of L-methionine biosynthesis in C. glutamicum.
The regulation of homoserine-O-transacetylase was examined in a methionine requiring mutant of C. glutamicum. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by L-methionine, S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine, separately or in combination. The synthesis of homoserine-O-transacetylase was strongly repressed by L-methionine. The enzyme level in an OAH producer, ESLFR-736, increased to about 2-fold of that in ESLR-146, the parental strain.

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