Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide enzymes that have high endoglucanase activity and yet exhibit high activity even under alkaline conditions, and genes encoding the same. The enzyme according to the invention has the following properties: a) exhibiting endoglucanase activity; and b) capable of completely removing fuzz from regenerated cellulose fabrics at a concentration of 1 mg of the protein/L or below. The enzyme of the invention having endoglucanase activity is a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11; a modified protein thereof exhibiting endoglucanase activity; or a homologue of the protein or the modified protein.

Abstract: A medicament useful for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of nerve system diseases which comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, X represents a group represented by the following general formula (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI), “A” represents a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 6-membered carbocyclic group and the like, “B” represents CH2 and the like, “n” represents 0 to 2, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like, R2, R3, and R7 to R14 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group which may be substituted and the like, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group which may be substituted and the like, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like, R6 represents a saturated or unsaturated monocyclic or bicyclic carbocyclic group and the like, and R5 and R6, R7 and R8, R9 and R10, or R11 and R12 may bind to each other to form a cyclic structure.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gene which encodes the D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase. A D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase according to the present invention is a protein comprising an amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 that has one or more modifications selected from a substitution, a deletion, an addition and an insertion and has D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase activity. A D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase gene according to the present invention comprises a nucleotide sequence which encodes the D-phenyllactic acid dehydrogenase, for example the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: A medicament useful for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of nerve system diseases which comprises, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein, X represents a group represented by the following general formula (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI), “A” represents a saturated or unsaturated 3- to 6-membered carbocyclic group and the like, “B” represents CH2 and the like, “n” represents 0 to 2, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like, R2, R3, and R7 to R14 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group which may be substituted and the like, R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group which may be substituted and the like, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and the like, R6 represents a saturated or unsaturated monocyclic or bicyclic carbocyclic group and the like, and R5 and R6, R7 and R8, R9 and R10, or R11 and R12 may bind to each other to form a cyclic structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a promoter and a terminator which coordinately function with the expression of an endogenous gene in a filamentous fungus that belongs to Agonomycetes, particularly in Mycelia sterilia. A promoter of the present invention comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a homologue thereof. A terminator of the present invention comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and a homologue thereof. The present invention further provides an expression vector that highly expresses a protein of interest in a filamentous fungus, a transformed filamentous fungus that highly produces a protein of interest, and a process of producing the protein of interest in the transformed filamentous fungus.

Abstract: Disclosed are 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H), 10-dioxo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine, which has been rendered amorphous and possesses improved absorption and dissoluvability, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same. Also disclosed are processes for producing 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H), 10-dioxo-2H-1,2, 3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine, which has been rendered amorphous, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method of producing soyasapogenol B and to provide novel microorganisms. The present invention provides a method of producing soyasapogenol B comprising the steps of culturing microorganisms that belong to genus Neocosmospora or genus Eupenicillium, in a medium containing a glycoside having soyasapogenol B as an aglycone, and then collecting soyasapogenol B from the resulting culture.

Abstract: This invention provides a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor partial activator which has a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor activating action, in addition to its serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonism, and does not cause constipation as a side effect. Particularly, based on the finding that newly synthesized benzoxazole derivatives typified by the compounds of the following formula (2) have strong serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonism and serotonin 5-HT3 receptor activating action, this invention provides these benzoxazole derivatives as serotonin 5-HT3 receptor partial activators.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided an indole derivative having the general formula (I) wherein A is an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom which nitrogen atom is optionally substituted with an alkyl group, and (i) R1 and R2 each stand for a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, independently, or (ii) R1 and R2 as taken together form a cycloalkyl group or an aromatic ring, or (iii) R1 and R2 as taken together form a heterocyclic ring, and R3 is a hydrogen atom, a (C1-C10)alkyl group or others, R4 is a substituted alkyl group and R5 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group and so on, as novel compounds by a novel chemical synthetic process. The indole derivative of formula (I) exhibits a useful chymase inhibitory activity.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): and a compound of the formula (V): as well as a compound of the formula (X): which are each a novel siastatin B derivative having a potent inhibitory activity against a glycosidase, are now synthesized by new processes. The compound of the formula (I), the compound of the formula (V) and the compound of the formula (X) have a potent enzyme-inhibitory activity to a glycosidase, which is particularly N-acetyl-galactosaminidase, galactosidase, glucosidase and mannosidase.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide carbapenem derivatives which have potent antibiotic activity against MRSA, PRSP, Influenzavirus, and &bgr;-lactamase-producing bacteria and are stable against DHP-1. The compounds according to the present invention are compounds represented by formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: wherein R1 represents H or methyl; R2 and R3 each independently represent H, halogen, lower alkyl or the like; R4 represents optionally substituted lower alkylthio or the like; and R5 represents optionally substituted lower alkyl or the like.

Abstract: A novel bone-strengthening agent, a bone-strengthening food composition and a bone-strengthening feed composition which aim at preventing a decrease in bone density in association with the onset or progress of osteoporosis. It is found out that not merely added-up effects but synergistic effects can be achieved by the combined use of CPP, which is known as promoting the absorption of calcium essentially required for the soundness of bone and thus exerting an effect of strengthening bone, with genistein which directly acts on the bone tissue, inhibits bone resorption, and promotes osteogenesis and thus exerts an effect of strengthening bone.

Abstract: A substance having affinity for an opioid &dgr; receptor, which is represented by the following general formula (I): wherein, X represents a group of the general formula: —CO—N(R5)(R6) (II) and the like, n represents 1 to 3, R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like, R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like, R4 represents a saturated or unsaturated monocyclic or bicyclic carbocyclic group and the like, R5 to R12 represent a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group and the like, and R3 and R4, R5 and R6, R7 or R8 and R9 and R10 may bind to each other to form a cyclic structure, and a medicament useful for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of central nervous system diseases and peripheral nervous system diseases comprising the substance as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound of formula (1) or an acid addition salt thereof which has excellent rice blast control effect: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, —COR1, —COOR1, in which R1 represents alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, —COCH2OCH3, or —COCH2OCOCH3.

Abstract: Disclosed are compounds represented by formula (I) which have triglyceride biosynthesis inhibitory activity in the liver and inhibitory activity against the secretion of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein from the liver and particularly have excellent inhibitory activity against the secretion of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein, are free from side effect of accumulation of lipids in the liver, and are useful for the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerotic diseases.

Abstract: A new agricultural and horticultural fungicide having an excellent control effect is provided.

Abstract: A cooking control method and a cooking control system for a food extruder used for producing direct-puffed snacks includes a material supply mechanism, a hydration mechanism, a processing mechanism including an extruder, and a control computer. The control computer determines a specific power consumption value from the electric energy consumed by the extruder and the supplied amount of the dough material, at the time of producing snacks having excellent quality, to designate this value as a reference value, compares this reference value of the specific power consumption value with the actual specific power consumption value, and when the difference is small, controls the number of revolutions of the extruder, and when the difference is large, controls not only the number of revolutions of the extruder, but also the amount of water added and the feed amount of materials, to thereby stabilize the snack quality.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide highly water-soluble compounds having integrin &agr;v&bgr;3 antagonistic activity.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula (I) and a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 represents hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group and the like; R2 and R3 represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an alkoxyl group and the like; X represents —CH2—, —O—, or —NH—; A represents the following group (II): [in which R7 and R8 represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group and the like; R9 and R10 represents hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, hydroxyl group, phenyl group, an alkyl group and the like] and the like; and E represents hydrogen atom and the like, which has inhibitory activity against carboxypeptidase B and is useful for therapeutic and/or preventive treatment of a thrombotic disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which is involved in midecamycin biosynthesis, wherein said protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 10, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 22 to 26, and 28 to 38 or a modified amino acid sequence of said amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid modifications without affecting activity of the protein.