Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a nucleic acid detection method which takes advantage of the high specificity of hybridization techniques, reduces the time length and the number of steps required for detection of PCR products, and allows for easy and highly accurate detection by visual observation without the need of special equipment; and a nucleic acid detection device or kit. The invention provides a method for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample, which includes performing amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence to synthesize an amplification product having a partially double-stranded structure where a single-stranded region is added to each end of the target sequence, and hybridizing a nucleic acid sequence bound to a development medium and a nucleic acid sequence labeled with a labeling compound with the single-stranded regions of the amplification product to form a sandwich hybridization complex; and a detection device thereof.

Abstract: The present invention aims to solve problems in the analysis of amplified nucleic acids, i.e., cost, workability, and contamination and pollution of samples. In the present invention, a sample containing a nucleic acid and a reagent for detecting the nucleic acid are mixed in a closed system. In this regard, the nucleic acid is amplified in the same closed system, and then mixed with the detecting reagent without opening the system. In order to carry out this method, for example, a device that includes the detecting reagent shielded by a coating material or the like is used.

Abstract: A method and a device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid, which enable simple and precise visual detection of a nucleic acid amplified by an nucleic acid amplification method, without necessity of special devices are provided. The method for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample comprises: contacting a sample with a dye to react with each other; and observing a substance produced by the reaction with visible light, and evaluating the presence or absence of a nucleic acid by eye. The device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample comprises: a carrier that holds a dye which can bind to a nucleic acid; a path for passing a sample through the carrier; and an evaluation part for observing a substance produced by the reaction between the sample and the dye with visible light, and evaluating the presence or absence of a nucleic acid by eye.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a nucleic acid, by which a multi-stranded nucleic acid amplified by a nucleic acid amplification method is detected easily and with a high degree of accuracy without the need for specialized equipment, and also provides a nucleic acid detection device. Provided are a method for detecting a nucleic acid under visible light via a color reaction produced by contact between a chromogenic leuco dye and the multi-stranded nucleic acid, as well as a nucleic acid detection device using this method.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid food composition capable of semi-solidifying in the stomach, which is a one-pack type product containing a water-soluble dietary fiber preliminarily added thereto and in the form of a liquid that can be easily taken, and stably sustains the liquid nature thereof during distribution and storage. The liquid food composition, which is capable of semi-solidifying in an acidic region, comprises a water-soluble dietary fiber (a), a specific metal compound (b), a protein (c) and an emulsifier (d), and the particle size distribution of particles contained in said liquid food composition shows two or more peaks in a neutral region.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an antifreeze protein which is capable of being efficiently produced on an industrial level at low cost and which is safe and has an excellent antifreezing activity for use on a practical level. Also, an objective of the present invention is to provide a polypeptide that corresponds to the active part of the antifreeze protein; a composition, a food, a biological sample protectant and a cosmetic containing the antifreeze protein or the polypeptide; and an antibody that specifically reacts with the antifreeze protein or the polypeptide. The antifreeze protein according to the present invention is characterized in being derived from a plant and having a specific amino acid sequence or being a plant seed protein.

Abstract: The objective to be solved by the present invention is to provide an ice-crystallization inhibitor which has a practicable and excellent ice-crystallization inhibiting property and which can be efficiently and stably produced in a safe process suitable for food production. Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide an antibody which specifically reacts with the ice-crystallization inhibitor, and a composition, a food, a biological sample protectant and a cosmetic which contain the ice-crystallization inhibitor. Furthermore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a polysaccharide which is derived from a basidiomycete and which is used for inhibiting ice-crystallization of a liquid containing water, and a method for inhibiting ice-crystallization of a liquid containing water. The ice-crystallization inhibitor according to the present invention is characterized in being a polysaccharide derived from a basidiomycete.

Abstract: An objective to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance which has an excellent ice-crystal growth inhibiting activity suitable for practical use and which can be produced easily, efficiently and economically in safe steps usable in food production. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing the ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance, a polypeptide which is an active part of the ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance, as well as an ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance composition, a food, a biological sample protectant and a cosmetic each containing the ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance or the polypeptide. The ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance according to the present invention is characterized in that the ice-crystal growth inhibiting substance is derived from a plant, and has a molecular weight of 400 kDa or more as measured by gel filtration chromatography.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a novel emulsifier which is obtainable from an edible yeast and is highly safe and shows by itself a high level of emulsifying property and high emulsion stability; a water-soluble composition containing a liposoluble substance, together with the emulsifier; and methods of producing these. The present invention includes: an emulsifier which comprises, as an active ingredient, a carbohydrate- and protein-based complex derived from a culture fluid obtained by cultivating an edible yeast; a water-soluble composition which comprises an emulsifier and a liposoluble substance; and a method of producing the emulsifier and the water-soluble composition.

Abstract: An objective to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a method for producing a heat processed food which can be uniformly heated in a short time without causing “unevenness of heating” on microwave oven cooking. Another objective of the present invention is also to provide a heat professed food, use of an antifreeze protein in producing a heat processed food, a method for improving an effect of heating treatment on a heat professed food, and an agent for improving an effect of heating treatment. The method for producing a heat processed food according to the present invention is characterized in comprising the steps of adding an antifreeze protein to a food material or a food; and cooling the resulting mixture.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an antifreeze substance which is suitable for practical use and has excellent antifreeze activity in a safe process flow applicable to food production in a simple, efficient and inexpensive manner. The first method for producing a plant extract containing an antifreeze substance according to the present invention comprises the steps of drying a plant containing the antifreeze substance and extracting the antifreeze substance from the dried plant. The second method for producing a plant extract containing an antifreeze substance according to the present invention comprises the steps of extracting the antifreeze substance from a plant, and treating the obtained extract from the extracting step with an adsorbent.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a method and a device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid, which enable simple and precise visual detection of a nucleic acid amplified by a nucleic acid amplification method, without necessity of a special device. The present invention relates to a method for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample, comprising the steps of: (1) contacting a sample with a dye to react with each other; and (2) observing a substance produced by the reaction with visible light, and evaluating the presence of a nucleic acid by eye. The present invention also relates to a device or kit for detecting a nucleic acid in a sample, comprising: a carrier (a) that holds a dye which can bind to a nucleic acid; a path (c) for passing a sample through (a) the carrier; and an evaluation part (d) for observing a substance produced by the reaction between the sample and the dye with visible light, and evaluating the presence of a nucleic acid by eye.

Abstract: In the present invention, an amplified DNA fragment having a first substance binding site to which a first substance is specifically bindable is prepared, which amplified DNA fragment amplified by a nucleic acid amplification method. The amplified DNA fragment is concentrated by binding the amplified DNA fragment to the first substance. The concentration makes it possible to detect the DNA highly sensitively. Therefore, with the arrangement, it is possible to detect the amplified DNA fragment amplified by the nucleic acid amplification method, easily and highly accurately without requiring any special device.

Abstract: Production of efficiently producing agaro-oligosaccharide; a polypeptide having an agarase activity which is usable in, for example, efficiently extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel; the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide; a gene encoding the polypeptide; a process for producing the polypeptide; a process for producing agaro-oligosaccharide; and a process for extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an ?-agarase activity, a gene encoding the polypeptide, a method for producing the polypeptide by genetic engineering and a method for producing an agarooligosaccharide using the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention is a fibroblast activator, collagen production promoter, collagen contraction promoter, hyaluronic acid production promoter, ATP production promoter or melanin formation suppressor, which contains, as an active ingredient, at least one kind of compound selected from the group consisting of conagenin, a conagenin derivative, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as a composition (skin external preparation, cosmetic, pharmaceutical product or food, which is a composition for the improvement of wrinkles or a whitening composition) containing such activator, promoter or melanin formation suppressor. According to the present invention, a safe skin external preparation, cosmetic (cosmetic composition), pharmaceutical product or food, which shows a high wrinkle improving effect, can be provided, and a safe skin external preparation, cosmetic (cosmetic composition), pharmaceutical product or food, which shows a high whitening effect can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a novel emulsifier which is obtainable from an edible yeast and is highly safe and shows by itself a high level of emulsifying property and high emulsion stability; a water-soluble composition containing a liposoluble substance, together with the emulsifier; and methods of producing these. The present invention includes: an emulsifier which comprises, as an active ingredient, a carbohydrate- and protein-based complex derived from a culture fluid obtained by cultivating an edible yeast; a water-soluble composition which comprises an emulsifier and a liposoluble substance; and a method of producing the emulsifier and the water-soluble composition.

Abstract: A process for producing a target protein at low temperature, comprising inducing expression of not only a vector having introduced therein a gene coding for the target protein but also a vector having a chaperone gene introduced therein.

Abstract: A gene encoding a polypeptide having an activity of digesting sulfated fucogalactan which is useful in sugar chain engineering reagents, analyzing the structures of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides and preparing degraded products of the polysaccharides; a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide; and the polypeptide obtained by the process.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an ?-agarase activity, a gene encoding the polypeptide, a method for producing the polypeptide by genetic engineering and a method for producing an agarooligosaccharide using the polypeptide.