Abstract: A novel artificial nucleic acid base pair which is obtained by forming a selective base pair by introducing a group having steric hindrance (preferably a group having steric hindrance and static repulsion and a stacking effect) and can be recognized by a polymerase such as DNA polymerase; a novel artificial gene; and a method of designing nucleic acid bases so as to form a selective base pair with the use of steric hindrance, static repulsion and stacking effect at the base moity of the nucleic acid. An artificial nucleic acid comprising these bases; a process for producing the same; a codon containing the same; a nucleic acid molecule containing the same; a process for producing a non-natural gene by using the same; a process for producing a novel protein by using the above nucleic acid molecule or non-natural gene, and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production and uses, as well as their variants, agonists and antagonists, and their uses. In particular, the invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides of a Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) DnaI related protein, as well as its variants. The invention also relates to a specific interaction between the S. aureus DnaI related protein or specific regions thereof, and a growth-inhibitory protein encoded by the S. aureus bacteriophage 77 genome. The phage open reading frame (ORF) product interacts with amino acids 150–313 of S. aureus DnaI polypeptide, and the invention relates to the use of this interaction target site as the basis of drug screening assays. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for the inhibition of bacterial growth, and the treatment of bacterial infection via the inhibition of DnaI.

Abstract: The present invention is related to nucleic acid molecules, the peptides encoded by said nucleic acid moleucles and the inhibitors direacted against said nucleic acid molecules or said peptides. The present invention concerns also the pharmaceutical composition, the diagnostic and/or dosage device comprising said products and methods for identifying the inhibitors according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention describes a previously unknown gene, termed 5?OT-EST, which is responsible for inducing an obesity and/or infertility phenotype in transgenic animals, and transgenic animals comprising mutants of 5?OT-EST which are useful for assaying compounds for the treatment of obesity and/or infertility.

Abstract: This invention is related to a process for preparing polymeric Li-ion cell with high-capacity as well as the cells manufactured with the process. The process produces anode paste with lithium salt and cobalt oxide and sprays the paste onto aluminum current collector to form the anode; produces cathode paste with two lithium-embedded carbon materials and sprays the paste to copper current collector to form the cathode; produces a paste with polyvinylidene fluoride, silicon dioxide (gas phase), o-dibutyl phthalate ester, and acetone and sprays the paste onto a polyester film to form the diaphragm; performs extraction for the cell assembled with said anode, diaphragm, and cathode, welds lugs, immerses the cell into electrolyte to, and packs the cell with aluminum-plastic composite film, and finally performs formation for the cell, so that a polymeric Li-ion cell with high-capacity is accomplished.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of that utilizes a reflective enclosure to simulate optical homogeneity in an otherwise inhomogeneous sample. The illumination sources and sample are placed within the reflective enclosure, thus providing a method for examining a sample that is different from transmission, reflection or transflection. This apparatus and method are particularly well adapted to in vivo non-invasive testing for constituents of blood.

Abstract: An altered antibody is produced by replacing the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of a variable region of an immunoglobulin (Ig) with the CDRs from an Ig of different specificity, using recombinant DNA techniques. The gene coding sequence for producing the altered antibody may be produced by site-directed mutagenesis using long oligonucleotides or using gene synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotides for HSV detection and the use of these polypeptides in kits and methods for HSV detection.

Abstract: A method in which a temperature gradient is generated across a “gradient” block, and an apparatus comprising a block across which a temperature gradient can be generated. By setting up such a gradient, multiple reaction mixtures held in wells on the gradient block can be simultaneously run at temperatures which differ only slightly, thereby permitting an optimum temperature for the reaction to be quickly identified. In a preferred embodiment the gradient block is integrated into a thermal cycler used for nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric expression promoter comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence derived from a first plant promoter containing a plant vascular expression promoter region, where the plant vascular expression promoter region is replaced with a nucleic acid sequence derived from a second plant promoter and containing a plant green tissue expression promoter region. The present invention also relates to a vector, a cell, and a transgenic plant containing the chimeric expression promoter, as well as a method of nucleic acid expresssion using the chimeric expression promoter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new 1,6-dihydro-7H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one compounds of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a stereoisomer thereof, useful for treatment of impotence diseases: wherein R1 and R2 may be the same or different and independently be C1-6 alkyl. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the compounds of formula (I).

Abstract: The invention relates to polynucleotides for HSV detection and the use of these polypeptides in kits and methods for HSV detection.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a recombinant cell expressing a nucleotide sequence encoding a G protein coupled receptor having an amino acid sequence which presents more than 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID.NO.1 as well as to a drug screening method and kit using the orphan G protein coupled receptor GPR86, identified hereafter as receptor for ADP (P2Y13) and a homologous sequence, the corresponding polynucleotide and said recombinant cell to identify agonist, inverse agonist and antagonist compounds applicable to a diagnostic, prevention and/or treatment of various diseases and disorders.

Abstract: The invention relates to proteins or polypeptides that comprise intramolecular dimers of fluorescent protein monomers. More specifically, the invention relates to recombinant polypeptides comprising a monomer of a fluorescent polypeptide, a linker peptide, and a second monomer of that fluorescent polypeptide, where the monomers form an intramolecular dimer. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding Intramolecular Dimer Fluorescent Proteins (IDFPs) and vectors comprising such nucleic acids. The invention further relates to methods of making IDFPs and methods of using them. IDFPs are, useful in any application suited for fluorescent proteins and are particularly useful in applications in which more than one fluorescent protein sharing complementary dimerization interfaces is present in the same mixture or is expressed in the same cell, because IDFPs do not form heterodimers.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an inhibitor of the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase SHIP2 protein or its encoding nucleotide sequence identified by SEQ ID NO. 1 or of SHIP2 mRNA expression. The present invention is also related to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said inhibitor and an adequate pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and to a non-human knock-out mammal comprising homozygously or heterozygously a partial or total deletion in its genome of the inositol polyphoshate 5-phosphatase SHIP2 nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: A peptide has an amino acid sequence having more than 80% homology with the amino acid sequence listed as SEQ ID NO:4. A nucleic acid molecule has more than 80% homology with one of the nucleic acid sequences listed as SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2 and SEQ ID NO:3. Ligands, anti-ligands, cells vectors relating to the peptide and/or nucleic acid molecule are also used.

Abstract: The invention provides an X-ray crystal structure of the 30S ribosome, obtained from Thermus thermophilus 30S subunit, having a tetragonal space group P41212 with unit cell dimensions of a=401.4±4.0 ?, b=401.4±4.0 ?, c=175.9±5.0 ?. An advantageous feature of the structure is that it diffracts beyond 3 ? resolution. The invention also provides a crystal of 30S having the three dimensional atomic coordinates of the 30S ribosome, the coordinates being provided in Tables 1A and 1B. The data may be used for the rational design and modelling of inhibitors for the 30S ribosome, which have potential use as antibiotics.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the treatment of type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and other conditions using newly identified stem cells that are capable of differentiation into a variety of pancreatic islet cells, including insulin-producing beta cells, as well as hepatocytes. Nestin has been identified as a molecular marker for pancreatic stem cells, while cytokeratin-19 serves as a marker for a distinct class of islet ductal cells. Methods are described whereby nestin-positive stem cells can be isolated from pancreatic islets and cultured to obtain further stem cells or pseudo-islet like structures. Methods for ex vivo differentiation of the pancreatic stem cells are disclosed. Methods are described whereby pancreatic stem cells can be isolated, expanded, and transplanted into a patient in need thereof, either allogeneically, isogeneically or xenogenically, to provide replacement for lost or damaged insulin-secreting cells or other cells.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to methods for detection of mutations in a PKD gene using DHPLC. The invention includes the following aspects: identification of PKD unique sites; design of PKD-specific primers; amplification of PKD-specific products; and analysis of PCR amplified products by DHPLC. The invention further relates to compositions such as identified unique sites and PKD-specific primers, and kits for performing the methods of the invention.

Abstract: wherein R1 is a C3-8 branched or cyclic alkyl group, and R2 is a C1-8 straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkyl group, is effective as a photoacid generator when used in a photoresist material for light of 300 nm or less.