Abstract: The thermostable cellobiohydrolase of the present invention is a polypeptide which has cellobiohydrolase activity at least under conditions of a temperature of 75° C. and a pH of 5.5, and which includes a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, or 7, a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted, or added in an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, or 7, or a polypeptide including an amino acid sequence having 80% or greater but less than 100% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, or 7.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple measurement tool which can rapidly measure various chemical substances contained in environments or from inside a living body by a simple or inexpensive means/method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fruit-specific promoter, which is suitable for the expression in a broader range of developmental stages of a fruit. Provided is a fruit-specific promoter DNA, which consists of a nucleotide sequence having 85% or more identity with the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 and has promoter activity in mature-green fruits.

Abstract: A pipette core member is used in a pipette for sampling a sample. This pipette core member includes: a pump body including a reservoir communicated with one suction/discharge port of an electroosmotic flow pump, the electroosmotic flow pump and the reservoir being integrally formed; and a capillary connected to the electroosmotic flow pump and communicated with the other suction/discharge port of the electroosmotic flow pump. The capillary is secured to the pump body.

Abstract: Singar is identified as a novel molecule, whose expression is varied before and after the polarization of a nerve cell, and occurs in the tip of an elongating axon, called a growth cone, which is important for the formation or elongation of an axon. Singar is expressed specifically in the brain and the amount of Singar expression is largely increased in an individual during periods where the formation of axons is increased. It is observed that Singar is highly enriched in the growth cone at the tip of an axon. When the expression of Singar is inhibited in nerve cells in culture, the formation of multiple axons is induced. Thus, the inhibition of Singar can induce axon formation. Therefore, by inhibiting the expression or activity of Singar, it becomes possible to induce or promote the formation or elongation of an axon in a nerve cell.

Abstract: The present invention, the objects of which are to find out a gene encoding a protein having functions equivalent to those of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and the protein, and to provide a method for identifying a compound that regulates functions and/or expression of the protein, and to provide a useful mean for preventing and/or treating diseases related to the gene and the protein, provides a DNA comprising base sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1 or complementary strand thereof, complementary strand of the DNA, a protein encoded by the DNA, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant containing the vector, an antibody against the protein, a method for identifying a compound that regulates functions and/or expression of the protein using aforementioned members, an agent for improving and a method for improving depression state, a pharmaceutical composition, and a reagent kit.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. The DNA according to the present invention is highly expressed in prostatic adenocarcinoma and ovarian carcinoma, and is a cancer-associated gene, so that it is possible to inhibit cancer by blocking the binding of the present protein to its ligand. Accordingly, the present antibody is used not only in the detection of the present protein, but also as an agent for the treatment or prevention of cancers such as prostatic adenocarcinoma and ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract: DNA encoding a cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfated form (CCK-8S) G-protein coupled receptor, a complementary strand thereof, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant containing the vector, a pharmaceutical composition, and a reagent kit are provided. Such DNA and constructs are useful in identifying a compound that inhibits or promotes a function of the protein and/or expression of a DNA encoding the protein. Such DNA and constructs are also useful for identifying an anti-depressant drug or a compound that has an anti-depressant action.

Abstract: A novel gene apparently encoding a transmembrane glycoprotein has been successfully isolated by constructing a cDNA library of 4 kb or above in size from mRNA expressed in human adult brain and analyzing the structures of the cDNAs contained within said library by the shotgun method. The novel gene shows brain-specific expression and the protein encoded by said gene has a typical PDZ binding motif.

Abstract: Singar is identified as a novel molecule, whose expression is varied before and after the polarization of a nerve cell, and occurs in the tip of an elongating axon, called a growth cone, which is important for the formation or elongation of an axon. Singar is expressed specifically in the brain and the amount of Singar expression is largely increased in an individual during periods where the formation of axons is increased. It is observed that Singar is highly enriched in the growth cone at the tip of an axon. When the expression of Singar is inhibited in nerve cells in culture, the formation of multiple axons is induced. Thus, the inhibition of Singar can induce axon formation. Therefore, by inhibiting the expression or activity of Singar, it becomes possible to induce or promote the formation or elongation of an axon in a nerve cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel plexin family like DNA, a gene containing the DNA, novel polypeptide encoded by the DNA, a recombinant protein containing the polypeptide or heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides, methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention. Conditions that can be diagnosed, screened, prevented, or treated by the compositions herein include prophylactic, angiogenesis and conservation of functions in various organs, angiogenesis at the time of tumor and regeneration of various organs, proliferation, differentiation and preservation of function of the cells in various organs, aging, and dysfunction of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a novel DNA, a carcinoma-associated gene comprising the DNA, a recombinant protein encoded by the DNA, an antibody binding to the protein, an anti-carcinoma agent comprising the antibody, a low-molecular-weight compound binding to the protein, and a screening system. An example of such a novel DNA is a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the following polypeptide (a) or (b): (a) a polypeptide, consisting of an amino acid sequence identical to or substantially identical to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polypeptide, consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or a plurality of amino acids and having biological activity substantially equivalent to the functions of the polypeptide (a).

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel protein that works as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for a Rho family protein being one group of small GTP-binding proteins, namely, a polynucleotide shown by the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5, or the complementary strand, the equivalents of the polynucleotide, a protein encoded by the polynucleotide, a vector containing the polynucleotide, a transformant containing the vector, an antibody against the protein encoded by the polynucleotide, a method of identifying a compound that inhibits the function of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide and/or the expression of the polynucleotide, a method of determining a disease, a pharmaceutical composition, and a reagent kit are provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a nucleic acid amplification method for amplifying a desired nucleic acid while suppressing amplification of byproducts in a PCR reaction, a reagent kit used for nucleic acid amplification, a method of detecting single nucleotide polymorphism to detect single nucleotide polymorphism by utilizing that amplification of byproducts is suppressed in a PCR reaction, and a reagent kit used for detecting single nucleotide polymorphism. The method of amplifying nucleic acids by PCR is characterized by admixing in a reaction solution, a homologous recombinant protein which contains at least one of a RecA protein derived from Thermus thermophilus, and a modified RecA protein obtained by modification of the RecA protein and having a function similar to that of the RecA protein, and carrying out PCR.

Abstract: A gene encoding a novel protein that works as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for a Rho family protein being one group of small GTP-binding proteins, namely, a polynucleotide shown by the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 5, or the complementary strand, the equivalents of the polynucleotide, a protein encoded by the polynucleotide, a vector containing the polynucleotide, a transformant containing the vector, an antibody against the protein encoded by the polynucleotide, a method of identifying a compound that inhibits the function of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide and/or the expression of the polynucleotide, a method of determining a disease, a pharmaceutical composition, and a reagent kit are provided.

Abstract: A pipette core member is used in a pipette for sampling a sample. This pipette core member includes: a pump body including a reservoir communicated with one suction/discharge port of an electroosmotic flow pump, the electroosmotic flow pump and the reservoir being integrally formed; and a capillary connected to the electroosmotic flow pump and communicated with the other suction/discharge port of the electroosmotic flow pump. The capillary is secured to the pump body.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system in which an apoptosis-inducing factor is expressed in an expression promoter-dependent manner, which is not a system wherein a toxin is introduced externally, and a novel protein that can enhance an apoptosis signal used in the system. The present invention relates to An apoptosis-inducing factor comprising a fusion protein of a polypeptide comprising FADD or a constituting domain thereof and a protein with a self-assembling activity, an expression vector comprising DNA encoding the apoptosis-inducing factor, a transgenic animal having the expression vector introduced therein, an animal wherein apoptosis is induced in a specific cell or tissue and/or at a specific time and a method for producing the animal.

Abstract: A novel gene apparently encoding a transmembrane glycoprotein has been successfully isolated by constructing a cDNA library of 4 kb or above in size from mRNA expressed in human adult brain and analyzing the structures of the cDNAs contained within said library by the shotgun method. The novel gene shows brain-specific expression and the protein encoded by said gene has a typical PDZ binding motif.

Abstract: The present invention, the objects of which are to find out a gene encoding a protein having functions equivalent to those of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and the protein, and to provide a method for identifying a compound that regulates functions and/or expression of the protein, and to provide a useful mean for preventing and/or treating diseases related to the gene and the protein, provides a DNA comprising base sequence described in SEQ ID NO: 1 or complementary strand thereof, complementary strand of the DNA, a protein encoded by the DNA, a vector containing the DNA, a transformant containing the vector, an antibody against the protein, a method for identifying a compound that regulates functions and/or expression of the protein using aforementioned members, an agent for improving and a method for improving depression state, a pharmaceutical composition, and a reagent kit.

Abstract: A transformant plant transformed with an expression vector, the expression vector including a nucleotide sequence encoding a first polypeptide which has thermophilic endo-1,4-beta-glucanase activity, so that the polypeptide is capable of being expressed in a host cell of the transformant plant.