Abstract: Provided is a method for rapidly and easily detecting a mutated nucleic acid, which is contained in a small amount in a nucleic acid sample together with wild-type nucleic acids, with high specificity and high sensitivity. In the method of the present invention, amplification of a detection region comprising a target site by a nucleic acid amplification method is inhibited, by the steps of allowing a nucleic acid having a target site to coexist with a clamp probe comprising a photo-crosslinking nucleic acid and having a sequence complementary to the target site, and photo-crosslinking the nucleic acid having the target site with the clamp probe by photo-irradiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoreactive crosslinking agent that is capable of crosslinking a sequence which cannot be photo-crosslinked by psoralen, and is capable of photo-crosslinking using a light having a longer wavelength, as compared with psoralen. The present invention also provides a compound having a group represented by formula (I) coupled with a group represented by formula (II).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the purification and collection of a nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence, which can be carried out within an extremely short period and can achieve both high sequence-specificity and a high collection rate. Specifically disclosed is a method for the purification of a target nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence and contained in a nucleic acid mixture. The method comprises the steps of: hybridizing a photo-ligating nucleic acid having a group represented by formula (I) as abase moiety with the target nucleic acid to form a hybrid; irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-ligation of the hybrid; removing any un-photo-ligated nucleic acid by washing; and irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-cleavage of the hybrid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting methylcytosine in DNA rapidly, conveniently, and with high sensitivity. The present invention relates to a method for detecting methylcytosine by using a methylcytosine photocoupling agent (a photoresponsive probe) consisting of nucleic acids having a group represented by the Formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV) as a base moiety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method that can easily manufacture a compound known as photoresponsive (photocoupling) nucleic acids at high yield in a shorter period of time than that of the conventional technology. The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a photoresponsive nucleic acid which includes a step of reacting a nucleic acid having groups represented by the Formula I, the Formula III, the Formula IV, or the Formula V and a compound represented by the Formula II, or reacting a nucleic acid having groups represented by the Formula VI, the Formula VIII, the Formula IX, or the Formula X and a compound represented by the Formula VII by heating them by microwaves in the presence of a metal catalyst, a basic substance, and a solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the purification and collection of a nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence, which can be carried out within an extremely short period and can achieve both high sequence-specificity and a high collection rate. Specifically disclosed is a method for the purification of a target nucleic acid comprising a specific nucleotide sequence and contained in a nucleic acid mixture. The method comprises the steps of: hybridizing a photo-ligating nucleic acid having a group represented by formula (I) as abase moiety with the target nucleic acid to form a hybrid; irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-ligation of the hybrid; removing any un-photo-ligated nucleic acid by washing; and irradiating the hybrid of the photo-ligating nucleic acid and the target nucleic acid with light to cause the photo-cleavage of the hybrid.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for detecting a target nucleic acid with a specific base sequence existing in a sample mixture with high specificity and sensitivity by utilizing the formation of a hybrid with a complementary strand as a detection principle, and a nucleic acid for the detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photoreactive crosslinking agent that is capable of crosslinking a sequence which cannot be photo-crosslinked by psoralen, and is capable of photo-crosslinking using a light having a longer wavelength, as compared with psoralen. The present invention also provides a compound having a group represented by formula (I) coupled with a group represented by formula (II).

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method for detecting a target nucleic acid with a specific base sequence existing in a sample mixture with high specificity and sensitivity by utilizing the formation of a hybrid with a complementary strand as a detection principle, and a nucleic acid for the detection.

Abstract: As a novel technique, which gives selective photoligation in high yield and enables ligated site-specific photocleavage, as well as free and reversible control of photoligation and photocleavage, a reversible photoligating nucleic acid of the following formula (1): is used to control photoligation and photocleavage to and from biofunctional polymers freely.

Abstract: A concentration controlling apparatus is provided for controlling the toner concentration of a developer contained in a developer unit. The developer contains a plurality of components including toner to be transferred to a photosensitive body for forming an electrostatic latent image. The concentration controlling apparatus includes a toner concentration detector for detecting the toner concentration of the developer, a supply determiner for determining a need for toner supply in response to detection output from the toner concentration detector, and a toner supplier for supplying a dose of the toner to the developer unit in accordance with the determination by the supply determiner. The supply determiner determines the need for toner supply at a higher toner concentration in a print-off state than in a print-on state.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by laser beam irradiation from an optical unit. A developing unit, which receives toner from a toner feeder and is provided with a toner agitator, supplies toner onto the drum for converting the latent image to a visible image. A toner sensor detects the concentration of the toner within the developing unit for output of a corresponding detection signal. A toner supply controller controls the toner feeder by comparing the output of the toner sensor with a varying standard voltage which varies linearly from a peak level to a steady level. An exposure start controller causes the optical unit to start irradiating the photosensitive drum with light after the rotation of the drum is stabilized but before the output of the toner sensor reaches the peak level.

Abstract: A printing control method and a printing apparatus that, in case of a fraction produced in a calculation of the number of lines in a page to be printed owing to relations between the length of a paper page or the length of a printing page and the resolution, figures below the decimal point are omitted to determine the number of lines per page, by which various paper feed control units are applicable, and also, when the total of the fractions becomes more than the set value, a correction line is inserted, by which the printing is made on the correct position without causing accumulation of displaced printing positions by fraction treatment, even in case of a large number of pages to be printed.

Abstract: A toner image carrying member is disposed beside the substantially mid-point of a delivery path for continuous paper. A first delivery device and second delivery device are disposed upstream and downstream of the toner image carrying member in a delivery direction of the continuous paper, respectively. The delivery speed of the second delivery device in the delivery direction is controlled to be greater than the delivery speed of the first delivery device, thereby imparting tension to the continuous paper.