There is provided a novel quantification method for quantifying a concentration of EAP, which is a biomarker of depression, an enzyme for quantitation, a composition for quantitation, a kit for quantitation or a sensor for quantitation. There is provided a quantification method of ethanolamine phosphate by adding oxidoreductase to a sample containing ethanolamine phosphate. A mediator may be reduced by adding the oxidoreductase, and the reduced mediator may be reacted with a reagent to determine a concentration of ethanolamine phosphate. In addition, hydrogen peroxide produced by adding the oxidase as the oxidoreductase may be reacted with a reagent to determine a concentration of the ethanolamine phosphate.

The invention relates to a method for increasing the yield and biomass of a plant, by means of an increase in the expression of the L-aspartate oxidase in the plant. The method according to the invention allows an increase in the photosynthetic capacities of the plants as a result of an increase in the quantities of NAO and the derivatives thereof in said plants. The invention relates to the plants produced by such a method.

A mutant glycine oxidase is obtained by substituting at least one wild-type amino acid sequence derived from thermophilic bacteria belonging to the family Bacillus with another amino acid, and has the following enzyme properties. Molecular weight: 40,000±2,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE. Optimum temperature: 45° C. under the condition of pH 8.5 in presence of pyrophosphate. Optimum pH: pH 8.0 under the condition of 37° C. in presence of pyrophosphate. Thermal stability: Stable up to 70° C. under the condition of pH 8.5 while retaining for 1 hour in presence of pyrophosphate. pH Stability: Stable in the range of pH 5.5 to 10.0 under the condition of 4° C. while retaining for 24 hours in presence of pyrophosphate. Specific activity: 1.2 units/mg or more. Kinetic constant K.sub.m: 0.2 mM or less.

Genetically programmed microorganisms, such as bacteria, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of modulating and treating a disease and/or disorder are disclosed.

A novel method of producing high-purity hydroxy-L-pipecolic acids in an efficient and inexpensive manner while suppressing the production of hydroxy-L-proline is provided. The method includes allowing an L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase, a microorganism or cell having the ability to produce the enzyme, a processed product of the microorganism or cell, and/or a culture liquid comprising the enzyme and obtained by culturing the microorganism or cell, to act on L-pipecolic acid as a substrate in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion, wherein the L-pipecolic acid hydroxylase has the properties: (1) the enzyme can act on L-pipecolic acid in the presence of 2-oxoglutaric acid and ferrous ion to add a hydroxy group to the carbon atom at positions 3, 4, and/or 5 of L-pipecolic acid; and (2) the enzyme has a catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-proline that is equal to or less than 7 times the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with L-pipecolic acid.

The present invention refers to Amadoriase enzyme protein variants having de-glycating activity and improved thermostability compared to the wild type Amadoriase. The present invention refers also to the use of the thermostabilized Amadoriase as deglycating agent, preferably in the food industry. Moreover, the present invention refers to the use of the thermostabilized Amadoriase as diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools. Preferably, the Amadoriase enzyme protein variants of the invention can be used for determining the level of glycated haemoglobin in a biological sample and therefore for monitoring diabetes.

The invention relates to a method for increasing the yield and biomass of a plant, by means of an increase in the expression of the L-aspartate oxidase in the plant. The method according to the invention allows an increase in the photosynthetic capacities of the plants as a result of an increase in the quantities of NAD and the derivatives thereof in said plants. The invention relates to the plants produced by such a method.

The present invention relates to autotrophic microorganisms with altered photorespiration and improved CO.sub.2 fixation as well as a method of producing said autotrophic microorganisms. Particularly, the autotrophic microorganisms show an improved growth rate, productivity and energy conversion efficiency.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), comprising the steps of (vi) providing MMVF; (vii) providing an uncured binder composition; (viii) providing a superabsorbent polymer; (ix) forming a mixture of the MMVF, the uncured binder composition and the superabsorbent polymer; (x) curing the uncured binder composition in the mixture to form the coherent growth substrate product; wherein the uncured binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

Methods of preventing or retarding or reversing or abolishing the onset of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.