Abstract: The present invention is to construct a DNA replication reaction system which is excellent in versatility and is easily used. An amino acid sequence of a PCNA monomer which is one of factors involved in DNA replication is prepared so that amino acid residues causing mutual charge repulsion constitute a site which causes, when an N terminal region of the PCNA monomer and a C terminal region of another PCNA monomer act as an interface to form a multimeric complex, an intermolecular interaction of the monomers in an interface region of the monomers.

Abstract: The present invention was aimed at reducing transcription activating activity of MITF-M to inhibit production of BCL2 gene product and thereby to allow treatment and/or prevention of melanoma The present invention provided a method of inhibiting production of BCL2 gene product and an agent for inhibiting the same, which inhibit binding of protein selected from a group consisting of HLF, ELK4 and CLOCK to MITF-M, a method of inducing cell death of melanoma cells, an agent for inducing the same, an agent for treating and/or preventing diseases accompanied by enhanced production of BCL2 gene product, such as melanoma, a method of treating and/or preventing the diseases, a method of identifying any one of the following compounds: a compound that inhibits the aforementioned binding; a compound that inhibits production of BCL2 gene product; and a compound that increases sensitivity of melanoma to melanoma drugs, as well as a reagent kit.

Abstract: A method and an agent for inhibiting the oligomerization of procaspase-1, a method and an agent for inhibiting the activation of procaspase-1, a method and an agent for inhibiting the production of caspase-1, a method of preventing and/or treating an inflammatory disease, and an agent for preventing and/or treating an inflammatory disease, all of which comprise inhibiting the binding of NOD2 to procaspase-1; a method of identifying a compound that inhibits the binding of NOD2 to procaspase-1; and a reagent kit for use in the identifying method are provided.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide proteins that have both DNA primase activity and DNA polymerase activity. This subject is solved by a protein (p41) that has an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. This is for the first time that proteins that have both DNA primase activity and DNA polymerase activity were found. A protein (p46) that has amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 forms a complex with p41, and enforces DNA synthesis activity that is independent and/or dependent from primer of p41.

Abstract: An image analysis device (100) integratively takes photographs within each well at a predetermined magnification. An image controlling device (200) communicates with the image analysis device (100) via a network (300) for acquiring the taken images and displays the same as thumbnails. On the display of the image controlling device (200), the operator designates locations of the sample to be photographed for each well. The image controlling device (200) informs the image analysis device (100) of the instructions for photographing in accordance with the designated conditions. The image analysis device (100) individually takes photographs in accordance with the locations and conditions designated by the image controlling device (200).