# US 7,745,181 B2 · Process for producing yeast-derived glucan > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,181 B2 - Document ID: US7745181B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/496,741 - Filed: 2006-07-31 - Published: 2007-01-04 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-02-13 - Assignees: Alpron Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Shuji Horie; Hideyuki Matsuda; Takumi Suizu; Masatoshi Sakamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745181B2 ## CPC - C12P 19/04: Polysaccharides, i.e. compounds containing more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic bonds - C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)} ## Abstract It is an object of the invention to provide a process for easily producing a glucan, which assures a high degree of safety and which does not generate an oxidation off-flavor, without using a hydroxide of an alkali metal such as sodium hydroxide. In a process of the present invention, a physically pulverized yeast is autolyzed with an intracellular enzyme thereof, in an electrolyzed alkaline water which is obtained by electrolyzing water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for producing a yeast-derived glucan, comprising: autolyzing a physically pulverized yeast with an intracellular enzyme thereof, in an electrolyzed alkaline water having a pH within a range of 8.5-11.5 obtained by electrolyzing water, while the yeast is enzyme-treated by adding an alkaline protease to the yeast to produce said glucan, wherein said process is carried out in the absence of a hydroxide of an alkali metal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein the yeast is physically pulverized in the electrolyzed alkaline water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein an oxidation-reduction potential of the electrolyzed alkaline water is within a range of −100-−800 mV. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein a temperature for the autolysis is within a range of 40° C.-70° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein a time for the autolysis is within a range of 8-48 hours. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein a temperature for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 45° C.-70° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 1, wherein a time for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 1-48 hours. ### Claim 8 A process for producing a yeast-derived glucan, comprising the steps of: preparing a mixture by adding a yeast and an alkaline protease to an electrolyzed alkaline water having a pH within a range of 8.5-11.5, wherein the electrolyzed alkaline water is obtained by electrolyzing water; physically pulverizing the yeast in thus obtained mixture; and autolyzing the yeast with an intracellular enzyme thereof, and simultaneously enzyme-treating the yeast with the alkaline protease to produce said glucan, wherein said process is carried out in the absence of a hydroxide of an alkali metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 8, wherein an oxidation-reduction potential of the electrolyzed alkaline water is within a range of −100-−800 mV. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 8, wherein a temperature for the autolysis is within a range of 40° C.-70° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 8, wherein a time for the autolysis is within a range of 8-48 hours. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 8, wherein a temperature for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 45° C.-70° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 8, wherein a time for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 1-48 hours. ### Claim 14 A process for producing a yeast-derived glucan, comprising: adding an alkaline protease for an enzyme treatment to a physically pulverized yeast in an electrolyzed alkaline water having a pH within a range of 8.5- 11.5 obtained by electrolyzing water, wherein said protease is added immediately after the yeast is physically pulverized, so that autolysis of the yeast with an intracellular enzyme thereof and enzyme-treatment are simultaneously effected to produce said glucan, wherein said process is carried out in the absence of a hydroxide of an alkali metal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 14, wherein an oxidation-reduction potential of the electrolyzed alkaline water is within a range of −100-−800 mV. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 14, wherein a temperature for the autolysis is within a range of 40° C.-70° C. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 14, wherein a time for the autolysis is within a range of 8-48 hours. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 14, wherein a temperature for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 45° C.-70° C. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The process for producing a yeast-derived glucan according to claim 14, wherein a time for the enzyme-treatment is within a range of 1-48 hours