Abstract: A DNA fragment which encodes a polypeptide defined in the following (a) or (b), and a polypeptide defined in the following (c) or (d):

Abstract: There are provided cosmetics which have not only a reduced effect on the “gleam” caused by irregular light reflection but also a reduced effect on “stickiness” based on an oil raw material, giving a good feeling during use such as spreadability, etc., and being excellent in the sustaining of the makeup effect. There are used N&egr;-long chain acyllysine crystals whose average diameter or mode diameter lies in the range of 3˜15 &mgr;m without being subjected to the mechanical pulverization.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel acylsulfonamide derivative which can be used as an ACC activity inhibitor effective for the treatment of visceral fat syndrome that becomes the risk-factor of diseases of adult people such as myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction and diabetes.

Abstract: In a method for producing a target substance by utilizing a microorganism, which comprises culturing the microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate the target substance in the medium and collecting the target substance from the culture, there is used, as the microorganism, a mutant strain or recombinant strain of a microorganism in which maltose assimilation is controlled by an interaction between IIAGlc protein of glucose PTS and a protein involved in non-PTS uptake of maltose, and the interaction between the IIAGlc protein and the protein involved in non-PTS uptake of maltose is reduced or eliminated in the mutant strain or recombinant strain.

Abstract: L-cysteine is produced by culturing a coryneform bacterium in which intracellular serine acetyltransferase activity is increased by transformation with a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase, such modification of an expression control sequence of a gene coding for serine acetyltransferase that expression of the gene in a cell should be enhanced and for forth, preferably in which L-cysteine decomposition system is further suppressed, in a medium to produce and accumulate L-cysteine in culture and collecting the L-cysteine from the culture.

Abstract: Xylitol is produced by allowing xylitol dehydrogenase or cells instoduced with a DNA coding for xylitol dehydrogenase, which is a protein of the following (A) or (B) to act on D-xylulose, and collecting produced xylitol:

Abstract: A DNA encoding the following protein (A) or (B) which participates in a temperature sensitivity to a surfactant of coryneform bacteria:

Abstract: Provided are an anti-inflammatory agent containing, as an active ingredient, at least one selected from amino acid derivatives represented by formula (I) wherein Ar represents an optionally substituted 2-hydroxyaryl group, n is 0 or 1, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a side chain of an &agr;-amino acid or &bgr;-amino acid, X represents —O— or —NH—, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a group that forms, together with R2 and an adjacent atoms, a cyclic structure of pyroglutamic acid, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, and salts thereof, and toiletries or skin external products containing the same. The anti-inflammatory agent of the invention inhibits expression of an inflammatory protein and activation of a gene transcription control factor that participates therein, and exhibits a good feeling upon use and a safety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment in a subject from complications relating to diabetes mellitus using at least a postprandial blood sugar lowering agent and/or methods for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of neuropathy in a subject.

Abstract: The present invention enables production of a plant resistant to environmental stresses including drought stress. The invention increases stress resistance to a plant by increasing raffinose content in the plant.

Abstract: Low-calory sweeteners comprising novel aspartyl dipeptide ester derivatives and their salts have a sweetening potency of up to 35000 times that of sugar and include compounds such as N-[N-[3-(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-L-&agr;-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester and N-[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-&agr;-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprising (A) 5 to 30% by weight of at least one kind of surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant based on the total weight of the composition; (B) 0.1 to 5% by weight of a substance selected from the group consisting of an N-long-chain acyl acidic amino acid and a salt thereof based on the total weight of the composition; and (C) less than 0.2% by weight of a cationic polymer compound based on the total weight of the composition. The detergent composition provided has good foaming property and causes no friction during rinsing, as well as has excellent feeling of use by imparting moistness without tackiness to skin and providing good hair control without stiffness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for wood-polymer composites containing a thermoplastic resin, wood flour and a polyol ester compound having not less than one hydroxyl group esterified with fatty acid, and a wood-polymer composite made from this composition. According to the present invention, a wood-polymer composite having well-balanced mechanical strength and processability, as compared to products made from lumber alone and products made from thermoplastic resin alone, and a composition for wood-polymer composites therefor can be provided.

Abstract: In this application is disclosed a process for producing 3,9-bis(2-chloroethyl)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane comprising a step of reacting acrolein, pentaerythritol, and hydrogen chloride at one step, according to which the compound can be obtained conveniently in high yields.

Abstract: Anti-thrombotic agents containing humanized antibodies which bind to von Willebrand factor.

Abstract: Aspartyl dipeptide ester derivatives, such as a N-[N-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyl]-L-&agr;-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, or salts thereof, having a high degree of sweetness compared to conventional sweeteners. These derivatives are excellent in sweetening potency and may be used as sweetener components in products such as foods and drinks. They may also be used as low calorie sweeteners and in methods of sweetening products. Foods and drinks comprising these derivatives as well as methods for their production.

Abstract: An amino group of an &agr;-amino acid ester is protected as an imine, and it is then reacted with a halomethyllithium to obtain an N-protected-&agr;-aminohalomethylketone. Further, this N-protected-&agr;-aminohalomethylketone is treated with an acid to obtain an &agr;-aminohalomethylketone. This process is suited for industrial production, and can produce an &agr;-aminohalomethylketone and its related compounds economically and efficiently.

Abstract: A Type IV crystal of (Z)-N-[2-methoxy-5-[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)vinyl]phenyl]-L-serinamide hydrochloride, which can be produced by crystallization using a solvent containing water at 2% by weight at the maximum and which has a X ray powder diffraction pattern containing peaks at least at 13.4°, 18.7°, 19.4°, and 22.5° (2&thgr;), is provided. This compound is useful as an effective ingredient for a carcinostatic agent. The crystal of the present invention has excellent properties desirable from the standpoint of the production of medicinal products, i.e., reduced water adsorption and extremely high stability to water. Also provided are a method for producing the Type IV crystal thereof and a method for use of the crystal.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions containing one or more aspartyl dipeptide derivatives represented by formulas (1) and/or (2) mixed with another high intensity sweetner, such Aspartame, sugar, sugar alcohol, and oligosaccharide; food, beverages, and/or medicinal products containing these compositions, methods of using the compositions to impart sweetness in food, beverages, and/or medicinal products to impart sweetness or suppress a bitter taste; and methods of making the compositions and products.

Abstract: An N-9-position alkylated form is selectively precipitated by subjecting a mixture containing the N-9-position alkylated form and an N-7-position alkylated form of 2-amino-6-halopurine to a crystallization step using a mixed solvent of an organic solvent and water. Then, this N-9-position alkylated form is reduced to give famciclovir. By this method of the present invention, famciclovir known as an antiviral agent, and an intermediate compound therefor can be efficiently produced.