Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a transformant altered so as to produce a secondary metabolite in which a benzene ring of the secondary product is modified at the para-position with a functional group containing a nitrogen atom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellulase preparation comprising nonionic surfactants together with endoglucanases derived from Zygomycetes; a detergent composition comprising the above cellulase preparation with detergent components; a method of treating fabric which comprises treating cellulose-containing fabric with the above cellulase preparation so as to improve the properties of the fabric; a method of deinking waster paper which comprises a step of treating waste paper with the above cellulase preparation together with a deinking agent; and a method of improving the freeness of paper pulp which comprises a step of treating paper pulp with the above cellulase preparation.

Abstract: A process for producing a transgenic plant which accumulates a fructooligosaccharide, comprising the step of transforming a plant with a gene construct comprising a gene encoding ?-fructofuranosidase capable of converting sucrose into a fructooligosaccharide, and a transgenic plant produced by the process, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which is involved in midecamycin biosynthesis, wherein the protein contains 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 the amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid modifications without affecting activity of the protein.

Abstract: A new agricultural and horticultural fungicide having an excellent control effect is provided. 4-Quinolinol derivatives represented by the following formula: or agriculturally and horticulturally acceptable acid addition salts thereof.

Abstract: Remedies for spinocerebellar degeneration or compositions for treating the same which contain as the active ingredient one or more members selected from among D-cycloserine, D-serine esters, D-serine and salts thereof. A method for treating spincerebellar degeneration which comprises administering to a patient with this disease in an efficacious dose of one or more members selected from among D-cycloserine, D-serine esters, D-serine and salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein which is involved in midecamycin biosynthesis, wherein the protein contains 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 the amino acid sequence having one or more amino acid modifications without affecting activity of the protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel peroxidase enzyme with high dye degradation activity, the genetic information thereof and a method for degrading and decolorizing dye by using the same. The invention enables the degradation and decolorizing of a wide range of dye types in an efficient manner with no occurrence of any problem, such as secondary pollution due to the generation of hazardous byproducts or the discharge of the greenhouse effect gas due to high-level energy consumption. In accordance with the invention, further, the enzyme can be supplied at a large quantity, on the basis of the genetic information, so the enzyme can be applied to the treatment of wastewater containing dyes and the like, in the fields of staining industry and the like.

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: The present invention provides a protein having saponin-decomposing activity, more specifically a protein which can decompose a glycoside having soyasapogenol B as an aglycone to produce soyasapogenol B, a polynucleotide encoding such a protein, and a method of producing soyasapogenol B on a large scale using the same. A protein according to the present invention are concerned with (a), (b) or (c), namely (a) a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, and 6; (b) a protein that has at least 50% homology to the protein comprising the amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) and having saponin-decomposing activity; or (c) a protein comprising a modified amino acid sequence of the sequence described in (a) that has one or more amino acid residues deleted, substituted, inserted, or added and having saponin-decomposing activity.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an ectoparasite control agent for homothermic animals, which has high control effect and is safe. The compounds according to the present invention are compounds represented by formula (I) and salts thereof: wherein R1 represents optionally substituted alkyl; optionally substituted alkenyl; optionally substituted alkynyl; OR5 wherein R5 represents optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, or optionally substituted alkynyl; or SR5 wherein R5 is as defined above, R2 represents optionally substituted alkyl, any one of R3 and R4 represents hydrogen and the other represents fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or CF3, and X represents fluorine or chlorine.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound represented by formula (IIa?) wherein Q represents group (i) as defined in the specification and R2 to R5, R31, R32, and R52 are as defined in the specification, by (1) reacting a compound represented by formula (V) wherein R2 to R5 and R52 are as defined in the specification. with a compound represented by R31R32C?O wherein R31 and R32 are as defined in the specification; (2) reacting the compound prepared in (1) with a compound represented by R71—C(?O)—R72 wherein R71 and R72 each independently represent a chlorine atom, 4-nitrophenyl, or 1-imidazolyl; and (3) reacting the compound prepared in (2) with a compound represented by R33OH wherein R33 is as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel crystalline 2-(1-isopropoxycarbonyloxy-2-methylpropyl)-7,8-dimethoxy-4(5H),10-dioxo-2H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-c][1]benzazepine and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel cellulase having an amino acid sequence in which the 162nd and/or 166th amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of cellulase NCE5 are substituted. Further, a polynucleotide encoding the novel cellulase, an expression vector containing the polynucleotide, a host cell transformed with the expression vector, and a cellulase preparation and a washing composition containing the cellulase are disclosed. The cellulase of the present invention is resistant to surfactants, and maintains a high activity even under alkaline conditions.

Abstract: A novel organic molecular catalysts represented by the following formula (1) or (2): and a method for carrying out asymmetric reactions/asymmetric synthesis using these organic molecular catalysts.

Abstract: A method is provided for selectively occluding neovascular vessels formed in the ocular fundus of an eye, which includes intravenously administering a mono-L-aspartyl chlorin compound to a patient; subsequently estimating an appropriate time point when the mono-L-aspartyl chlorin compound has decreased in its concentration or has been eliminated from the retinal normal vascular vessels of the patient but is still remaining at an appropriate concentration in the vascular walls of the neovascular vessels of the ocular fundus; irradiating a laser light at a 664 nm-wavelength which is initiated at the appropriate time; and using the irradiation of the laser light to target lesions comprising the neovascular vessels, at a controlled power.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein R represents a group that is easily removable upon hydrolysis in vivo. This compound is usable in the production of prodrug-type carbapenem antibacterial agents for oral administration. The use of this compound in the process of production of the antibacterial agents can realize enhanced production efficiency and reduced production cost.

Abstract: A compound represented by the general formula (I) or a salt thereof which has excellent antibacterial activity (R1 represents hydrogen atom or an alkylcarbonyl group, R2 represents hydrogen atom, oxygen atom, hydroxyl group, or an alkylcarbonyloxy group, for example, when R2 is hydrogen atom, R3 represents group (a) (each of R5 and R6 represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group), R4 represents hydrogen atom or group (c) (each of R8 and R9 represents hydrogen atom or an alkylcarbonyl group), and Me represents methyl group).

Abstract: A 4-phenyl-4-oxo-2-butenoate derivative is stably supplied in a short period of time, at low cost, in high purity and on an industrial scale by a process for producing the 4-phenyl-4-oxo-2-butenoate derivative, which comprises simultaneously or continuously reacting a sulfuric ester, an aromatic hydrocarbon and a maleic anhydride derivative.

Abstract: An apparatus for clogging blood vessels of an eye fundus includes an illuminating optical system (1) for illuminating an eye fundus of a subject, who has been given an injection of an infrared fluorescent agent, with infrared rays of light and exciting the infrared fluorescent agent so as to generate infrared fluorescence, a photographic optical system (2) for observing and photographing the eye fundus, and a projecting optical system (21) for projecting a laser beam of light having a specific wavelength onto the subject who has been also given an injection of a photosensitive substance which undergoes a photochemical change by the laser beam. In the apparatus, while a region which emits infrared fluorescence is being observed, the laser beam is projected onto the photosensitive substance so as to clog blood vessels of a diseased part in the depth of the eye fundus.