Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for the preparation of docetaxel having an amorphous, anhydrous crystalline, or hydrated crystalline structure. In accordance with the invention, highly pure amorphous, anhydrous crystalline, or hydrated crystalline docetaxel can be produced with a high yield by using a solvent precipitation method, colloid formation method, etc.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for purification of paclitaxel from a paclitaxel-containing material. The method comprises the following steps: (a) extracting a paclitaxel-containing material with an organic solvent to obtain an extract, and concentrating the extract; (b) adding the concentrate with an organic solvent which is not mixed with water to separate an organic solvent phase and then concentrating; (c) subjecting the concentrate to normal phase chromatography to obtain an eluate; (d) dissolving the eluate in an acetone or dichloromethane followed by adding pentane or hexane to form a precipitate; and (e) subjecting the precipitate to high performance liquid chromatography. According to the method of the present invention, paclitaxel of over 99.5% purity can be easily obtained from a Taxus genus plant with a high yield.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for efficiently separating and purifying 13-dehydroxybaccatin III and 10-deacetylpaclitaxel with a high purity of 90% or higher purity, preferably 99.5% or higher purity, from taxane-containing materials such as Taxus species, and the thusly obtained highly pure 13-dehydroxybaccatin III and 10-deacetylpaclitaxel can be used as semi-synthetic precursors of paclitaxel and/or docetaxel that are anticancer agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for detecting an infinitesimal quantity of ?-1,3-glucan, a preparation method thereof and a diagnostic kit detecting ?-1,3-glucan. The composition of the present invention shows phenoloxidase activity by ?-1,3-glucan in the presence of calcium ions. Using the composition of the present invention, a sample is gathered from a specimen, the composition of the present invention and calcium ions are added to the sample, and ?-1,3-glucan is detected by measuring phenoloxidase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high yield process for producing soluble dietary fiber from corn hull. More specifically, the present invention comprises removing starch and protein with enzymes from corn hull which is by-product of wet-milling process for production of corn starch, extracting the resultant with alkaline solution to form a alkaline extract, treating the alkaline extract with enzymes, and drying the enzyme-treated solution, to produce dietary fiber with low viscosity and containing hemicellulose as a major component at high yield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant adenoviruses expressing interleukin-18 protein, and gene therapy using them. More particularly, the invention provides recombinant adenoviruses Ad.promIL-18, Ad.GMmIL-18, Ad.prohIL-18, Ad.hIL-18CPP32- and Ad.preprotrypsin.hIL-18CPP32- which are effectively capable of treating a variety of cancer cells by promoting and enhancing an immune response in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA constructs that can produce antimicrobial materials efficiently from microorganisms and the preparation method thereof. The present invention also relates to the useful vector for the DNA construct. The DNA construct according to the present invention comprises a first gene coding for entire, a part of or a derivative of purF gene and a second gene coding for antimicrobial peptide. According to the present invention, antimicrobial peptides can be mass-produced by the following steps: preparing an expression vector containing a DNA construct comprising a first gene coding for an entire, a part of or a derivative of purF gene and a second gene coding for antimicrobial peptide; transforming the bacterial host cells with the above-mentioned vector, culturing the transformed cell to express the above-mentioned DNA construct; and recovering the above antimicrobial peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relate to a method to increase the production level of paclitaxel by changing the temperature during the plant cell culture. According to the present invention, the production of the paclitaxel comprises the following procedure: (i) cultivating the Taxus genus plant cells in a medium at ca. 20 to 25° C.; and (ii) when growth of the plant cells has progressed sufficiently, changing the cultivation temperature to ca. 26 to 32° C. to continue the culture. The present invention comprises also the method of increasing the paclitaxel production by inoculating the cells at a high initial concentration and by increasing the saccharide concentration in the medium: According to the present invention, paclitaxel can be mass-produced conveniently and therefore has an industrial application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnosis method of cancer using SYG972 gene and to the genomic DNA and to a promoter regulating transcription of the gene. Expression of SYG972 gene is greatly reduced in breast cancer cells compared to normal breast cells. Therefore the present invention provides a method of diagnosis method by using the gene of the present invention or its fragments as a probe. SYG972 genomic according to the present invention is composed of 4 exons and 3 introns. Promoter is 3 kb long from the transcription initiating site in the 5′ direction. SYG972 genomic DNA and promoter can be used to design and screen drugs to promote or to inhibit apoptosis and differentiation of cells, especially to screen drugs to treat cancer, a disease wherein cell growth and differentiation is abnormal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel use of histone and an active fragment thereof and provides a pharmaceutical composition containing histone as an active ingredient to improve the symptoms of progressive, inflammatory and autoimmune arthritis. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention includes histone, especially histone H1, histone H2A, histone H2B, histone H3, histone H4, an active fragment thereof, and a mixture thereof as an active ingredient, and could include pharmacologically approved carriers if necessary. Histone or its active fragment lowered induction of arthritis and reduced arthritis index more effectively than steroidal dexamethasone and also had a significant preventive effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for detecting an infinitesimal quantity of beta-1,3-glucan, a preparation method thereof and a diagnostic kit detecting beta-1,3-glucan. The composition of the present invention shows phenoloxidase activity by beta-1.3-glucan in the presence of calcium ions. Using the composition of the present invention, a sample is gathered from a specimen, the composition of the present invention and calcium ions are added to the sample, and beta-1,3-glucan is detected by measuring phenoloxidase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of mass-producing lactoferrin polypeptides from yeast which is resistant to lactoferrin polypeptides. The present invention also provides Pichia strains, especially Pichia pastoris KCTC 0500BP, that are resistant to lactoferrin polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein related to encapsulation in immune reaction and a gene encoding the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mass production of taxol which comprises adding sugar into a culture medium containing sugar in the course of semicontinuous culture of Taxus genus plant cell, and a universal method for mass production of taxol which comprises culturing Taxus genus plant cell in a culture medium containing sugar and AgNO3 as well. In accordance with the present invention, large amount of taxol can be produced with a high yield, simply by manipulating the culture condition of Taxus genus plant cell culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel use of histone and provides a pharmaceutical composition containing histone as an active ingredient to improve the symptoms of progressive, inflammatory and autoimmune arthritis. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention includes histone, especially histone H1 as an active ingredient, and could include pharmacologically approved carriers if necessary. Histone H1 lowered induction of arthritis and reduced arthritis index more effectively than steroidal dexamethasone and also had a significant preventive effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for mass production of an antimicrobial peptide, which comprises the steps of: constructing a fusion gene containing a first gene encoding a negatively charged acidic peptide having at least two cysteine residues and a second gene encoding a positively charged basic antimicrobial peptide; transforming a host microorganism with an expression vector comprising the fusion gene; cultivating the transformed microorganism to express a fusion peptide containing the acidic peptide and antimicrobial peptide, and, recovering the expressed antimicrobial peptide. In accordance with the present invention, the inhibitory effect of the expressed antimicrobial peptide on the growth of the host microorganism can be dramatically minimized by fusing it with the acidic peptide. Accordingly, antimicrobial peptides can be produced massively from a recombinant microorganism regardless of the kind of the antimicrobial peptides.

Abstract: The invention relates to the novel use of mutants of subtilisin in organic syntheses reactions in non-native environments. Especially the invention relates to methods for the use of mutant subtilisins in organic solvents for the catalysis of reactions involving ester formation and cleavage, including acylations and deacylations, and amidations and deamidations. The methods provide novel strategies which are useful in the synthesis of deoxynucleosides, dideoxynucleosides, peptides, sugars and the like.

Abstract: Vectors are provided that are capable of expressing, in microbial transformants, a protein having the native amino acid sequence of a bioadhesive precursor protein of a marine animal selected from the group consisting of mussels, barnacles, and oysters. The bioadhesive precursor protein can be expressed in transformants, recovered and converted to a bioadhesive protein by hydroxylation.

Abstract: A DNA sequence comprising:(a) a hybrid first yeast promoter comprising the functional segment of the DNA sequence encoding the upstream activation site of a gene selected from the group consisting of GAL1, GAL7 and GAL10, operably linked to the functional segment of the transcription initiation site of MF-.alpha.-1;(b) the functional segment of a signal sequence substantially comprising preferred yeast codons;(c) the functional segment of the DNA sequence comprising a Saccharomyces GAPDH transcription terminator;(d) the functional segment of the Saccharomyces 2.mu. circle replication origin; and(e) the functional segment of the yeast LEU2-d selectable marker. The DNA sequence may further comprise, inserted in phase between the signal sequence and transcription terminator, the functional segment of a DNA sequence encoding a heterologous target peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to modified subtilisin enzymes which have increased thermal stability. The modified subtilisin enzymes have at least two or more amino acid mutations which confer increased thermal stability. It has been discovered that combining individual stabilizing mutations in subtilisin frequently results in an additive increase in thermal stability. In addition, the invention pertains to cloned mutant genes coding for a subtilisin material having at least two amino acid substitution which has increased thermal stability.