According to the present invention, there can be provided a process for producing 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC), comprising culturing, in a medium, a 7DHC-producing Labyrinthulea microorganism in which sterol 24-C-methyltransferase activity is reduced or lost as compared to a parent strain, allowing 7DHC to be produced and accumulated in the culture, and collecting the 7DHC from the culture; and a process for producing vitamin D3, comprising irradiating, with ultraviolet light, 7-dehydrocholesterol produced by the production process.

According to the present invention, there can be provided a process for producing 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC), comprising culturing, in a medium, a 7DHC-producing Labyrinthulea microorganism in which sterol 24-C-methyltransferase activity is reduced or lost as compared to a parent strain, allowing 7DHC to be produced and accumulated in the culture, and collecting the 7DHC from the culture; and a process for producing vitamin D3, comprising irradiating, with ultraviolet light, 7-dehydrocholesterol produced by the production process.

Identification of a protein having an activity of oxidizing oleanane-type triterpene, and a gene encoding the protein, the protein and the gene, and use thereof are provided. For example, a protein having an activity of oxidizing oleanane-type triterpene obtained from a plant in the family Fabaceae, a gene encoding the protein and use thereof are provided. The protein is shown in, for example, SEQ ID NO: 4, 14 or 18, and the gene encoding the protein is shown in, for example, SEQ ID NO: 3, 13 or 17. A transformant into which the gene is introduced can be produced, and thereby a triterpene oxidase can be obtained.

Identification of a protein having an activity of oxidizing oleanane-type triterpene, and a gene encoding the protein, the protein and the gene, and use thereof are provided. For example, a protein having an activity of oxidizing oleanane-type triterpene obtained from a plant in the family Fabaceae, a gene encoding the protein and use thereof are provided. The protein is shown in, for example, SEQ ID NO: 4, 14 or 18, and the gene encoding the protein is shown in, for example, SEQ ID NO: 3, 13 or 17. A transformant into which the gene is introduced can be produced, and thereby a triterpene oxidase can be obtained.

Provided is a method for producing soyasaponins inexpensively and simply without crushing seeds or plant bodies and without performing organic solvent treatment. The method for producing soyasaponins comprises bringing at least a part of a plant body of a leguminous plant into contact with an aqueous solution while culturing or cultivating the plant body using the aqueous solution; and collecting the aqueous solution or separating soyasaponins from the aqueous solution.

Provided is a method for producing soyasaponins inexpensively and simply without crushing seeds or plant bodies and without performing organic solvent treatment. The method for producing soyasaponins comprises bringing at least a part of a plant body of a leguminous plant into contact with an aqueous solution while culturing or cultivating the plant body using the aqueous solution; and collecting the aqueous solution or separating soyasaponins from the aqueous solution.

The invention relates to an isolated, genetically modified, living non-mammal organism, having increased HMG-CoA-reductase activity compared to the wild type, and having reduced C24-methyltransferase and/or delta22-desaturase activity compared to the wild type. The invention is characterized in that the organism has increased dehydrocholesterol-delta70-reductase activity compared to the wild type. The invention further relates to different uses of such an organism, to a test kit comprising such an organism, and to a membrane extract of such an organism.

The invention relates to an isolated, genetically modified, living non-mammal organism, having increased HMG-CoA-reductase activity compared to the wild type, and having reduced C24-methyltransferase and/or delta22-desaturase activity compared to the wild type. The invention is characterized in that the organism has increased dehydrocholesterol-delta70-reductase activity compared to the wild type. The invention further relates to different uses of such an organism, to a test kit comprising such an organism, and to a membrane extract of such an organism.

The subject of the present invention is a whole-cell catalysis process for converting substrates of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases of eukaryotic origin into valuable biotechnological products. The subject of the present invention is also microorganisms genetically engineered to achieve those biotransformations with high rates and processes to prepare these microorganism strains.

The subject of the present invention is a whole-cell catalysis process for converting substrates of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases of eukaryotic origin into valuable biotechnological products. The subject of the present invention is also microorganisms genetically engineered to achieve those biotransformations with high rates and processes to prepare these microorganism strains.