CHOLESTEROL ESTERASE GENES, RECOMBINANT DNA AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CHOLESTEROL ESTERASE

摘要

A cholesterol esterase gene encoding the following protein (a) or (b): (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; and (b) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence (a) by deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids and having the cholesterol esterase activity; a cholesterol esterase gene obtained by transferring a mutation (for example, shuffling) into the cholesterol esterase gene encoding the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; and a cholesterol esterase gene originating in anthomonas sp. No.81-13 strain and specified by the following restriction enzyme cleavage map (I). Thus, a unique cholesterol esterase gene originating in anthomonas sp. No.81-13 strain can be obtained. A novel microorganism, which has been transformed by a recombinant DNA having a vector carrying a DNA fragment containing this gene integrated therein, shows a remarkably excellent productivity of cholesterol esterase. Thus, cholesterol esterase can be efficiently produced thereby.