SEQUENCE OF THERMOTOLERANT L-RHAMNOSE ISOMERASE GENE AND USE OF THE SAME

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide the sequence of a thermotolerant L-rhamnose isomerase gene. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A DNA comprising the base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1. A protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2. A protein originating in Bacillus pallidus strain 14a (FERM AP-20172) and having an L-rhamnose isomerase activity. A protein having an L-rhamnose isomerase activity which is specified as having the following characteristics: optimum temperature and working temperature: showing the maximum enzymatic activity at 80
C (the optimum temperature) and working temperature ranging from 30 to 80
C; heat stability: concerning the effect of temperature on the enzymatic activity, being stable at up to 50
C in the case of heating for 1 hour; and catalyzing the isomerization from D-psicose to D-allose. A method of producing D-allose which comprises treating a solution containing D-psicose with the above protein having the L-rhamnose isomerase activity as a catalyst at 35 to 80
C to thereby convert D-psicose into D-allose.