Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a substance having an apoptosis-inducing ability characterized in including a step of subjecting at least one compound selected from the following (a), (b), (c) and (d) [excluding uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives; and compounds which contain uronic acid and/or uronic acid derivatives] to a heating treatment: (a) pentose; (b) pentose derivatives; (c) compounds containing pentose; (d) compounds containing pentose derivatives.

Abstract: A substance for inducing apoptosis represented by specific formulae. A pharmaceutical composition which can be used for an anticancer agent containing said substance.

Abstract: Polypeptides having an RNase H activity highly useful in genetic engineering; genes encoding these polypeptides; and a process for genetic engineeringly producing these polypeptides.

Abstract: A product obtained by heating at least one substance selected from the following (a), (b) and (c).

Abstract: An antiviral agent which is characterized in containing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one represented by the following formula [I] and an optically active substance and a salt thereof as an effective component.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose are represented by formula (I): 1

Abstract: Polypeptides having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or derived therefrom by at least one of deletion, addition, insertion or substitution of one or more amino acids in the above sequence and showing a cellobiohydrolase activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for increasing the efficiency of gene transfer into target cells with a retrovirus. The transduction is effected by infecting target cells with a retrovirus in the presence of a mixture of a functional material having a retrovirus binding domain, and a second functional material having target cell binding domain. The target cells may be selected from the group of unipotential hematopoietic progenitor cells and erythrocyte precursor, specifically pluripotent stem cells or embryopalstic stem cells.

Abstract: Remedies or preventives for diseases with a need for immunoregulation, diseases with a need for inhibition of inflammation, diseases with a need for regulation of tumor necrosis factor production, diseases with a need for regulation of fungal growth, diseases with a need for regulation of cell adhesion or disease with a deed for induction of heat-shock protein, which contain as the active ingredient at least one compound selected from among cyclopentenone derivatives represented by general formula [I], optically active isomers and salts thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or an aromatic aliphatic group.

Abstract: A substance for inducing apoptosis represented by specific formulae. A pharmaceutical composition which can be used for an anticancer agent containing said substance.

Abstract: Therapeutic or preventive agents for diseases requiring apoptosis induction, cancerous diseases, diseases requiring the inhibition of active oxygen production, those requiring the inhibition of nitrogen monoxide production, those requiring the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, those requiring the inhibition of synovial cell proliferation, those requiring the induction of heat shock protein production or those requiring the inhibition of &agr;-glycosidase, which contain as the active ingredient compounds selected from among compounds represented by general formula (I), (wherein X and Y are each H or CH2OH, provided that when X is CH2OH, Y is H, while when X is H, Y is CH2OH), those represented by general formula (II), (wherein R is a residue obtained by freeing a compound having an SH group from the SH group) and salts of both; and foods, drinks, cosmetics and so on, containing compounds selected from among compounds of general formula (I), those of general formula (II) and salts of both

Abstract: A method for immobilizing a DNA upon preparation of a DNA microbead array, the method comprising forming a covalent bond between a DNA to be immobilized and an anti-tag DNA on a microbead using a DNA polymerase and a DNA ligase, wherein the DNA polymerase and the DNA ligase are reacted at the same time.

Abstract: A substance for inducing apoptosis represented by specific formulae. A pharmaceutical composition which can be used for an anticancer agent containing said substance.

Abstract: An antiviral agent which is characterized in containing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one represented by the following formula [I] and an optically active substance and a salt thereof as an effective component.

Abstract: An isolated gene having a DNA sequence coding for the polypeptide having a degrading activity of the sulfated-fucose-containing polysaccharide or having the functionally identical activity as above.

Abstract: A product obtained by heating at least one substance selected from the following (a), (b) and (c). (a) uronic acid or uronic acid derivative; (b) a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and (c) a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and food, beverage or a pharmaceutical agent which is characterized in containing the above-mentioned heat-treated product.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the efficiency of retroviral mediated gene transfer into viable target cells, which comprises transducing the target cells by infecting the target cells with a replication defective recombinant retrovirus that infects the target cells in an aqueous medium in the presence of (a) a mixture of an effective amount of a first functional material having a retrovirus binding domain that binds said retrovirus, and an effective amount of a second functional material having a target cell binding domain that binds said target cell, or (b) an effective amount of a bifunctional material having both a retroviral binding domain which does not contain the heparin binding domain derived from human fibronectin, and a target cell binding domain, wherein the bifunctional material has a retrovirus binding domain that binds to said retrovirus and a target cell binding domain that binds to the target cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kit to carry out retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into target cells. The kit contains a functional material bearing a retrovirus binding domain, another functional material bearing a target cell binding domain, an artificial substrate for incubating the retrovirus contacted with the target cells, and a target cell growth factor for pre-stimulating target cells to spur them along the cell cycle. The kit of the invention may further comprise a recombinant retroviral vector, necessary buffers, and the like.