Producing theanine with a bacterial strain (Taiyo Kagaku)

1. Key points of this patent

What it protects: A process for making theanine from glutamine and ethylamine with a soil bacterium (Pseudomonas citronellolis strain GEA). A bacterium with strong theanine-making activity was found in soil, and theanine is made with the bacterium (or an enzyme taken from it).

2. What the specification says

Strain GEA had about 4.6 times the theanine-making activity of a known strain (P. nitroreducens) (2.1 → 9.6). Its activity making the by-product glutamic acid was slightly higher (2.2 → 2.6).

US 7,335,497: what the specification says

Theanine-synthesizing activity (mM/h/mg)	2.1	9.6 (about 4.6 times)	Experiment 1; Table 1
Glutamic acid-synthesizing activity (mM/h/mg)	2.2	2.6	Experiment 1; Table 1
Theanine from the whole-cell reaction	—	40 g from 1 L (30°C, 24 hours)	Example 8
Yield with immobilized enzyme	—	65%	Example 9

Theanine-synthesizing activity (mM/h/mg)

2.1

9.6 (about 4.6 times)

Experiment 1; Table 1

Glutamic acid-synthesizing activity (mM/h/mg)

2.2

2.6

Experiment 1; Table 1

Theanine from the whole-cell reaction

—

40 g from 1 L (30°C, 24 hours)

Example 8

Yield with immobilized enzyme

—

65%

Example 9

Item	Details
Patent number	US 7,335,497
Type	Process patent (A patent that protects a manufacturing method)
Related ingredient brand	Suntheanine (ingredient of Taiyo Kagaku, the patent holder)
Ingredients	L-Theanine
Holder / applicant	Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd.
Filed	4/22/2003
Registered	2/26/2008
Expires	2/26/2016 (expired)
Notes

1. Key points of this patent

2. What the specification says

3. Patent details