Abstract: An objective of this invention is to extend the range of choosing organic dye compounds as radiation-absorbing agents in a variety of fields by providing a novel organic dye compound which absorbs short-wavelength visible radiation and exhibits a superior in optical resistance, solubility in solvents, and heat characteristics required in a novel field in which the organic dye compound is applied: The objective is attainable by providing a cyanine dye which has a specific structure and exhibits a major adsorption maximum at a wavelength longer than 400 nm in a solution.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an option of non-reducing saccharide by providing a novel non-reducing saccharide composed of glucose as constituents and to provide a novel enzyme forming the non-reducing saccharide, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the non-reducing saccharide, and uses thereof. The present invention solves the above object by providing a novel cyclic saccharide having a structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?4)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6}, cyclic maltosylmaltose, novel cyclic maltosylmaltose-forming enzyme, a method and process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, a composition comprising the cyclic maltosylmaltose or a saccharide composition comprising the same, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a method for enhancing biological activity and/or expanding suitable region for biological activity of living bodies contacting with aqueous environment, and solves the above object by providing a method for enhancing biological activity and/or expanding suitable region for biological activity of living bodies contacting with aqueous environment by incorporating ?,?-trehalose or a saccharide derivative thereof when allowing living bodies to contact with aqueous environment for biological activity of the living bodies contacting with the aqueous environment, and composition and agent for enhancing biological activity and/or expanding suitable region for biological activity of living bodies.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: Disclosed are a reduction inhibitory agent for active oxygen eliminating activity, comprising: (a) at least 10% (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1, on a dry solid basis; and (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of saccharides and edible fibers; a method for inhibiting the reduction of active oxygen eliminating activity, comprising a step of incorporating at least one percent (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1 to a plant substance, on a dry solid basis, into said plant substance with active oxygen eliminating activity in an aqueous system; and a composition obtainable by incorporating at least one percent (w/w) of a cyclotetrasaccharide having a basic cyclic structure in Chemical Formula 1 to said plant substance, on a dry solid basis, into a plant substance with active oxygen eliminating activity to inhibit the reduction of the activity of said plant substance.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (EL) device which contains a novel coumarin derivative composed of a coumarin ring, a naphthalene ring with one or more hydrocarbon groups, and a five-membered hetero ring condensed with the naphthalene ring so as to give an electronic resonance through the coumarin and naphthalene rings. The coumarin derivative emits a visible luminescence with a satisfactory color purity, which consistently continues over a long period of time even at an elevated temperature when used in such an organic device.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme, process of the same, cyclotetrasaccharide, and saccharide composition comprising the saccharide which are obtainable by using the enzyme; and is solved by establishing an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme which forms a saccharide, having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end, by catalyzing the ?-glucosyl-transfer from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least two and having the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end without substantially increasing the reducing power; ?-isomaltosyl-transferring method using the enzyme; method for forming ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide; process for producing a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-

Abstract: The present invention has objects to provide a functional powdery product prepared by allowing carriers to support one or more members selected from vitamin glycosides, and to provide external dermatological agents having satisfactory usability, which contain the above functional powdery products and effectively exert the functions of vitamins. These objects are solved by providing a functional powdery product prepared by allowing carriers such as saccharides to support one or more members selected from vitamin glycosides, and by providing external dermatological agents incorporated with the functional powdery products.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel glycosyl derivative of cyclotetrasaccharide represented by cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, and it is solved by providing a branched cyclotetrasaccharide, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in the hydroxyl groups of cyclotetrasaccharide are replaced with an optionally substituted glycosyl group, with the proviso that, when only one hydrogen atom in the C-6 hydroxyl group among the above hydrogen atoms is substituted with an optionally-substituted glycosyl group, the substituted glycosyl group is one selected from those excluding D-glucosyl group.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a means to effectively enhance the production of cytokines and/or chemokines in mammals. The object is solved by providing an agent for enhancing the production of cytokines and/or chemokines, which comprises, as an effective ingredient, a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3; a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where one or more amino acids thereof are deleted or replaced with other amino acid(s) and/or one or more amino acids are added thereunto, without substantially losing the biological activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a composition which exerts a higher effect on recovering health from articular disorders than that attained by amino sugars and glycosaminoglycans. The present invention solves the object by providing an agent for treating articular disorders, comprising an amino sugar and trehalose as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a composition of metal ion compound whose inherent and unsatisfactory properties for its industrial application such as deliquescence, reducing power, oxidizing power, low solubility in water, etc., have been improved; and their preparations and uses. The present invention solves the above object by providing an associated complex of ?-glycosyl ?,?-trehalose and a metal ion compound, and its preparations and uses.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a polypeptide which can be used to produce a saccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme which forms a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?} from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end; microorganisms which produce the enzyme; process for producing the enzyme; cyclotetrasaccharide or saccharide compositions comprising the same; and uses thereof.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to reveal a specific combination of human interferon-? subtypes that remarkably enhances the expression of protein synthesis inhibitory genes, and to provide an expression enhancer comprising as effective ingredients interferon-? subtypes in such a combination and uses thereof. The above objects are solved by providing an expression enhancer for protein synthesis inhibitory genes which comprises as effective ingredients interferon-?2 and interferon-?8 subtypes of human interferon-?, and uses thereof including pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A reduction inhibitory agent for active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises trehalose as an effective ingredient. A method for inhibiting the reduction of active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises incorporating either trehalose or the reduction inhibitory agent into plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants. A composition is provided that reduces the active-oxygen eliminating activity of plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants.

Abstract: The present invention has the object to dehydrate hydrous matters without denaturing or deteriorating them by using a dehydrating agent comprising an anhydrous cyclotetrasaccharide, and provides a dehydrating agent comprising the cyclotetrasaccharide; a method for dehydrating hydrous matters through a step of incorporating, contacting or coexisting the cyclotetrasaccharide into, with, or in the hydrous matters; and dehydrated products obtainable thereby.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a powdery product comprising crystalline ?-maltose monohydrate which is powderized by spray method, and has a high-solubility in aqueous solvents and a satisfactory handleability, and to its preparation and uses.