Abstract: Disclosed is an efficient method for production of aminopeptidase. The method comprises either transforming host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene and with a neutral protease gene, or transforming some part of host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene while transforming the other part of the host bacteria with a neutral protease gene, culturing in a medium the hose bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and with the neutral protease gene, or culturing a mixture of the host bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and the host bacteria transformed with the neutral protease gene, to let both the aminopeptidase and the neutral protease be expressed, and collecting the aminopeptidase thus produced from the culture mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method separation analysis of reducing sugars with enhanced sensitivity and an analytical apparatus therefore employing the post-column fluorescence detection/boric acid complex anion exchange method. The method disclosed is a method for analysis of reducing sugars using the post-column fluorescence detection/boric acid complex anion exchange method, and characterized in that a back-pressure generator is installed in the flow path between the heater, which is for causing a reaction by heating a sample separated by column chromatography with a basic amino acid, and a fluorometric detector.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for separation analysis of mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) by post-column fluorescence detection method. The apparatus is based on chromatography, and includes a column with a solid phase having affinity for phosphate, a flow path for the eluate, a heater installed on the flow path for M6P and a basic amino acid to react by heating the eluate in the flow path, and a fluorescence detector installed downstream of the heater for continuously irradiating the eluate with excitation light and measuring the intensity of the emission, and may include in the flow path a supply channel for addition of a basic amino acid between the column and the heater. The method is characterized in that it uses the apparatus and a second mobile phase consisting of a second buffer containing phosphate of predetermined concentration and adjusted to a predetermined pH.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a drug carrier capable of controlling in vivo pharmacokinetics. The present invention is directed to a drug carrier comprising a molecular assembly having a drug incorporated therein, and the above object can be achieved by a part of the amphiphilic molecules included in the molecular assembly being released from the molecular assembly by an external environmental change. The present invention utilizes a phenomenon that the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the amphiphilic molecules is shifted toward hydrophilicity by an external environmental change and thus the amphiphilic molecules are freed from the molecular assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for production of recombinant human iduronate 2-sulfatase (rhI2S) in a large scale, with a high purity, and mannose 6-phosphate residues. The method comprises the steps of (a) culturing rhI2S-producing mammalian cells in a serum-free medium, (b) collecting culture supernatant, (c) subjecting the culture supernatant to cation-exchange column chromatography, (d) to dye affinity column chromatography, (e) to anion-exchange column chromatography, and (f) to a column chromatography employing as solid phase a material having affinity for phosphate group, and (g) to gel filtration column chromatography, in the order.

Abstract: Disclosed are method for treating diabetes, a protein for treatment of diabetes, and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. The protein is human mature chemerin, which can be used to treat diabetes, in particular type 2 diabetes, inter alia to treat diabetes in a patient who is concurrently administered with insulin.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel expression vector for efficient expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells, a mammalian cell transformed with the vector, and a method for production of the mammalian cell. The expression vector includes a gene expression regulatory site, and a gene encoding the protein downstream thereof, and an internal ribosome entry site further downstream thereof, and a gene encoding a glutamine synthetase further downstream thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved post-column fluorimetric determination-boric acid complex anion exchange method which allows analysis of mannose-6-phosphate. The disclosed method is a method for separation analysis of reducing sugars using column chromatography, comprising loading a sample onto an anion exchange column, washing the column by allowing to flow a sufficient volume of a first mobile phase consisting of an aqueous solution of a predetermined concentration of boric acid containing a predetermined concentration of a water-soluble inorganic salt through the column, supplying a second mobile phase with an elevated concentration of the salt to elute the reducing sugars, adding to the eluate a basic amino acid, heating, and continuously measuring and recording the intensity of fluorescent light emitted under irradiation with excitation light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a glycoprotein using mammalian cells, wherein all or part of the non-reducing ends of N-glycoside binding sugar chains are mannose residues. The method is a method for producing glycoproteins using transformant mammalian cells which are prepared by introducing thereinto a ?-N-acetylglucosaminidase gene and inducing its expression.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for producing a frozen pharmaceutical composition prepared from cultured human mesenchymal stem cells and a pharmaceutical composition containing human mesenchymal stem cells. This method is a method for producing a frozen pharmaceutical composition containing human mesenchymal stem cells, which comprises the following steps in this order: (a) adding trypsin to human mesenchymal stem cells in a culture vessel to detach the cells from the surface of the culture vessel; (b) adding a bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin to the detached cells to terminate the reaction with trypsin, and washing the cells with the bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin; (c) suspending the cells in a bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin and dimethyl sulfoxide; (d) putting the resulting suspension in a container which allows freezing of what is contained therein, and sealing the container; and (e) freezing the suspension put in the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method separation analysis of reducing sugars with enhanced sensitivity and an analytical apparatus therefore employing the post-column fluorescence detection/boric acid complex anion exchange method. The method disclosed is a method for analysis of reducing sugars using the post-column fluorescence detection/boric acid complex anion exchange method, and characterized in that a back-pressure generator is installed in the flow path between the heater, which is for causing a reaction by heating a sample separated by column chromatography with a basic amino acid, and a fluorometric detector.

Abstract: Means for improving the success rate of pregnancy on the basis of blastocyst transfer is disclosed. The means comprises an agent for promoting pregnancy in blastocyst transfer comprising the supernatant of the culture which is obtained by culturing a human embryo in a medium until the embryo develops into a blastocyst. Also disclosed are a method for production of the agent, as well as a method for promoting pregnancy comprising; culturing a human embryo in a medium until the human embryo develops into a blastocyst, injecting a composition comprising the supernatant of the culture into the uterine cavity of a patient who is to undergo blastocyst transfer, and then transferring the blastocyst to the recipient.

Abstract: An injection device adapted to the luer lock system and a syringe holder for making it is disclosed. The syringe holder for holding an inserted syringe, with a cap attached to the male luer at the tip, comprises a cylindrical barrel portion having an open distal end and an open proximal end, and a finger rest around the outer surface of the barrel portion at a position relatively closer to the proximal end, wherein a stopper means is provided at the inner surface of the barrel portion at the distal end thereof, the stopper means being designed to abut on the outer edge of the distal end of the syringe, and wherein a female-threaded sleeve extends forwardly from the distal end of the barrel portion, which is designed to surround the tip of the syringe and the cap, and wherein a proximal end cap is provided, at the proximal end of the barrel portion, which is designed to abut on the outer edge of the proximal end of the syringe, and has a bore to pass the piston rod through.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fusion protein comprising enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase and a short peptide consisting of 4-15 acidic amino acids attached to the enzyme on its N-terminal side, a pharmaceutical composition containing the fusion protein, and a method for treatment of type A Morquio disease using the fusion protein. Compared with the native enzyme protein, the fusion protein exhibits higher transferability to bone tissues and improved, higher stability in the blood.

Abstract: The objective is to find compounds which have an activity to improve the success rate of pregnancy and implantation in blastocyst transfer in mammals, to provide a method of producing and using the compounds, and to provide a pregnancy-promoting agent. Disclosed is a pregnancy-promoting agent containing one or more lysophosphatidic acids selected from the group consisting of LPA-C16:0, LPA-C16:1, LPA-C18:0, LPA-C18:1 and LPA-C18:2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amphiphilic molecule having a plurality of zwitterionic functional groups in its hydrophilic moiety and a molecular assembly comprising the amphiphilic molecule as a constituent lipid. The molecular assembly of the present invention forms a stable vesicular structure under a physiological pH environment to carry a substance of interest in the vesicular structure, and can release the substance of interest to the outside of the vesicular structure when it is deformed under an acidic pH environment. The molecular assembly of the present invention can be used as a carrier for a drug, a probe, a nucleic acid, a protein or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for producing a frozen pharmaceutical composition prepared from cultured human mesenchymal stem cells and a pharmaceutical composition containing human mesenchymal stem cells. This method is a method for producing a frozen pharmaceutical composition containing human mesenchymal stem cells, which comprises the following steps in this order: (a) adding trypsin to human mesenchymal stem cells in a culture vessel to detach the cells from the surface of the culture vessel; (b) adding a bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin to the detached cells to terminate the reaction with trypsin, and washing the cells with the bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin; (c) suspending the cells in a bicarbonate Ringer's solution containing human serum albumin and dimethyl sulfoxide; (d) putting the resulting suspension in a container which allows freezing of what is contained therein, and sealing the container; and (e) freezing the suspension put in the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for production of recombinant human FSH in high yield and a high purity. The method comprises the steps of: (a) culturing recombinant human FSH-producing mammalian cells in a serum-free medium, (b) collecting culture supernatant, (c) subjecting the culture supernatant to cation-exchange column chromatography, (d) dye affinity column chromatography, (e) hydrophobic column chromatography, and (f) gel filtration column chromatography to collect recombinant human FSH-active fractions, in the order.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for production of human erythropoietin. By the method, the cells are cultured in a serum-free medium with repetitive medium exchanges, in which medium exchange is carried out either by collecting 80 to 95% of the culture when viable cell density has reached at 2×106˜4×106 cells/mL, or by adjusting the amount of the exchanged medium so that the initial density of the viable cells may be 1.5×105˜2.5×105 cells/mL.

Abstract: Disclosed are method for treating diabetes, a protein for treatment of diabetes, and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. The protein is human mature chemerin, which can be used to treat diabetes, in particular type 2 diabetes, inter alia to treat diabetes in a patient who is concurrently administered with insulin.