Abstract: The present invention provides a protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide different from L-Ala-L-Ala, a process for producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, a process for producing a dipeptide using the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide, and a process for producing the dipeptide using a culture of a microorganism producing the protein which catalyzes the synthesis of a dipeptide or the like as an enzyme source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a dipeptide which comprises culturing in a medium a microorganism which has the ability to produce a protein having the activity to form the dipeptide from one or more kinds of amino acids and which has the ability to produce at least one of said one or more kinds of amino acids, allowing the dipeptide to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the dipeptide from the medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid having an average particle size of 1 to 120 ?m to a medium so that the concentration of the crystals of the amino acid becomes 0.5 g/l or more, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture; and a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid to a medium so that the total surface area of the crystals of the amino acid in the medium becomes 0.02 m2/l, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by Formula (I): [wherein R1 represents CONR1aR1b (wherein R1a and R1b may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted ararkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or R1a and R1b are combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom thereto to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group) or the like, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, CONR2aR2b (wherein R2a and R2b may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted ararkyl or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or R2a and R2b are combined together with the adjacent nitrogen atom thereto to form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group), NR2cR2d (wherein R2c and R2d may be the same or different and each represents a

Abstract: The present invention provides crystals of L-ornithine and a process for producing the crystals of L-ornithine including the steps of (i) exposing L-ornithine or a salt thereof, a composition comprising L-ornithine or a salt thereof, or a solution containing L-ornithine, a salt thereof, or the composition to a cation exchange resin to adsorb L-ornithine onto the cation exchange resin; (ii) eluting L-ornithine from the cation exchange resin on which L-ornithine is adsorbed with an aqueous alkaline solution, and removing an alkaline component from the resulting eluate to prepare an aqueous L-ornithine solution; and (iii) mixing the aqueous L-ornithine solution with a hydrophilic organic solvent, and crystallizing L-ornithine from the resulting mixed solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving storage stability of reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, or a salt thereof, or ascorbic acid, an ascorbic acid derivative, or a salt thereof, which comprises allowing the substance to coexist with an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt, a composition containing the substance and an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt, a process for producing the composition, and a method of storing the substance in the presence of an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a desired polypeptide using rat cells. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for producing the polypeptide which comprises culturing rat cells such as YB2/3HL.P2.G11.16Ag.20 (hereinafter referred to as YB2/0), preferably rat cells to which a recombinant DNA comprising DNA encoding a desired polypeptide such as an immunologically functional molecule is introduced, in a medium which does not contain serum (hereinafter referred to as a serum-free medium). Among the desired polypeptides obtained by the process of the present invention, an antibody obtained by using a transformant of YB2/0 has a high antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activity (hereinafter sometimes referred to as ADCC activity) and is useful as a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) but does not react with a human blood platelet; a human CDR-grafted antibody or the antibody fragment thereof which specifically reacts with the extracellular region of CCR4 and has a cytotoxic activity against a CCR4-expressing cell; and a medicament, a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent comprising at least one of the antibodies and the antibody fragments thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide having a ?1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase activity; a method for producing the polypeptide; a DNA which encodes the polypeptide; a recombinant vector into which the DNA is inserted; a transformant comprising the recombinant vector; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the polypeptide; a method for producing a sugar chain or complex carbohydrate, using the transformant; an antibody which recognizes the polypeptide; a method for screening a substance which changes the expression of the gene which encodes the polypeptide; and a method for screening a substance which changes the activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an indazol-3-ylmethyl phosphonium salt represented by Formula (IV): [wherein X represents halogen, OSO2Ra (wherein Ra represents substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or the like), or OC(?O)Rb (wherein Rb has the same meaning as the above Ra), or the like, and R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different and each represents substituted or unsubstituted aryl or the like] or a salt thereof, which comprises reacting a compound represented by Formula (I): a compound represented by Formula (II): H—X??(II) (wherein X has the same meaning as defined above), and a compound represented by Formula (III): (wherein R1, R2 and R3 have the same meanings as defined above, respectively), and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a ?-glutamylamide compound, which comprises forming the ?-glutamylamide compound from a glutamyl donor and an amine compound using ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase, preferably ?-glutamylcysteine synthetase derived from a microorganism, or a culture of cells having the enzyme or a treated culture as an enzyme source.

Abstract: This invention relates to an allergen-reducing composition comprising a hydroxyproline derivative, a polymer thereof, or a salt of such a derivative or polymer, which is capable of reducing the allergenicity of mites, pollens, or other allergens and is capable of imparting functions of reducing allergenicity to fibers or textiles such as a carpet, a tatami mat, a bed cloth, a curtain, clothing, a stuffed animal, a mask, a filter material, or a dust bag for an electric vacuum cleaner without discoloration; and a method for reducing allergens using such composition.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an oral preparation for promoting synthesis of tissue collagen, an oral preparation for promoting healing of skin wounds or an oral preparation for preventing or improving skin wrinkles or sagging, which is safe and has an excellent effect. The present invention can provide an oral preparation for promoting synthesis of tissue collagen, an oral preparation for promoting healing of skin wounds or an oral preparation for preventing or improving skin wrinkles or sagging, which comprises hydroxyproline or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: It is demanded that pharmaceutical agents for therapeutic treatment of diseases such as cancer, acromegaly and diabetic complications, of which IGF is involved in the progress of the conditions. The present invention provides a recombinant antibody or an antibody fragment thereof which specifically binds to human insulin-like growth factor-I (hereinafter referred to as hIGF-I) and human insulin-like growth factor-II (hereinafter referred to as hIGF-II) to inhibit the biological activities of human IGF-I and human IGF-II, a transformant producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, a process for producing the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof, and a medicament comprising the antibody or the antibody fragment thereof as the active ingredient therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor comprising, as an active ingredient, an indazole derivative represented by Formula (I): {wherein R1 represents —NR4R5 [wherein R4 represents a hydrogen atom or the like, R5 represents substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, —C(?O)R6 (wherein R6 represents substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl or the like), or the like], or the like, and R2 and R3 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkoxy, or the like} or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving storage stability of dried microorganisms, such as dried lactic acid bacteria, by allowing the dried microorganisms to coexist with an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt, a composition comprising dried microorganisms and an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt and a process for producing the same, and a method of storing dried microorganisms in the presence of an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt. The storage stability of dried microorganisms can be improved by allowing the dried microorganisms to coexist with an L-arginine acidic amino acid salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound represented by formula (I): {wherein W represents a nitrogen atom or —CH—; X represents —C(?O)— or —CHR4— (wherein R4 represents a hydrogen atom, or the like); R1 represents a group represented by the following formula: [wherein Q1 represents a nitrogen atom or —CR8— (wherein R8 represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, or the like). Q2 represents —NR15— (wherein R15 represents a hydrogen atom, or the like) and R5 and R6 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, or the like]; and R2 and R3 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, or the like} or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the like.

Abstract: In the method for separating and purifying a basic amino acid, preferably the basic amino acid selected from arginine, lysine or ornithine from a culture containing the amino acid, the culture containing the a basic amino acid and microbial cells, preferably the culture whose pH is 4 to 10, is charged onto the top of a column filled with a weak acid cation exchange resin whose particle size is 300 ?m or more and passed therethrough, and then an eluent is poured into the column from the top thereof whereby accomplishing the separation and the purification of the basic amino acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a benzenoid ansamycin derivative represented by Formula (I) (wherein R1 and R2 each represent a hydrogen atom or are combined together to form a bond, R8 represents a bond or an oxygen atom, R11 represents hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkoxy or substituted or unsubstituted lower alkanoyloxy, R15 represents a hydrogen atom or methoxy, R22 represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkanoyl or substituted or unsubstituted aroyl, R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen atom or are combined together to form a bond, R18 represents a hydrogen atom, or the like, R21 represents hydroxy or the like, and R17 and R19 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, or the like) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity; DNA encoding the protein; a recombinant DNA comprising the DNA; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity using the transformant or the like; a process for producing a dipeptide using the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity; and a process for producing a dipeptide using, as an enzyme source, a culture of a transformant or a microorganism which produces the protein having dipeptide-synthesizing activity or the like.