Abstract: Disclosed is a method of enhancing absorption (pinocytosis efficiecy) of immunoglobulins administered to postnatal domestic mammals (e.g., bovine) by using selenium. As an example of a selenium compound added, sodium selenite is particularly effective.

Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro gravity environmental control apparatus, such as a plant cultivating apparatus, an animal raising apparatus, and a micro gravity environmental control method, such as a plant cultivating method, an animal raising method, a breeding method, capable of cultivating a plant and raising an animal by using soil and also capable of recovering moisture supplied to the soil so as to reuse the moisture, under a weightless environment or a micro gravity environment. There is provided a micro gravity environmental control apparatus comprising a chamber, an air suction pipe arranged in the vicinity of a lower end portion within the chamber, and an air sucking part communicated and connected with the air suction pipe and used for sucking air within the chamber out of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a diagnostic method for paratuberculosis by which an animal infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis can be diagnosed at a high sensitivity in the sub-clinical infection stage before the specific antibody level begins to increase and a large number of specimens can be treated. The present invention provides: a diagnostic method for paratuberculosis characterized by collecting the blood of a subject animal, adding an anti-IL-10 antibody and a Mycobacterium avium subsp.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a method of reducing the total amount of stored protein, to develop a technique required therefor, and to provide a plant and its seeds developed by the above method and a method of using such a plant and seeds. More specifically, a nucleic acid molecule containing a consecutive nucleic acid sequence of at least 15 in length which is complementary with a nucleic acid sequence encoding prolamin polypeptide or a nucleic acid sequence having a homology of at least about 70% to the complementary nucleic acid sequence having at least 15 nucleotide length. A method of reducing the expression dose of a protein in a seed of a plant which comprises: A) the step of providing the above-described nucleic acid molecule; B) the step of transferring the nucleic acid molecule into the cells of the plant; C) the step of re-differentiating the cells to construct a transgenic plant; and D) the step of obtaining seeds from the transgenic plant.

Abstract: The present inventors succeeded in developing a vector that expresses high levels of a foreign gene in plant seeds by utilizing a 5?-untranslated region of a gene encoding a seed storage protein. The inventors also succeeded in accumulating high levels of a foreign gene product in plant seeds by utilizing a seed storage protein defective mutant as a target for foreign gene transfer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to clone a gene which is involved in synthesis of fatty acid having trans-11-, cis-13-conjugated double bonds from fatty acid having a double bone at position ?12.

Abstract: By coating the outer surface of carbon nanotubes with various polymers of different properties, such properties as insulation property, reactivity, optical visibility, solvent dispersion property and so on are given to the outer surface of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel esterase derived from Ideonella sp. 0-0013 strain (FERM BP-08660) having the following properties: (1) function, substrate specificity: hydrolyzes methyl 3-hydroxypalmitate to generate 3-hydroxypalmitic acid and methanol; (2) optimal temperature for functioning: 37° C.; (3) optimal pH and stable pH range: pH 7 or more to pH 10 or less; (4) temperature stability: 97% of the enzyme is stable at 43° C.; (5) inhibition, activation, and stabilization: activated by sodium ion and potassium ion, and inhibited by strontium ion, iron ion (divalent), and methyl palmitate; (6) molecular weight: about 46,500 Da (by SDS-PAGE), about 41,000 Da (by a gel filtration method); and (7) isoelectric point: pI 4 (by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing method); a microorganism producing the enzyme; and a method of producing the enzyme.

Abstract: Genomic DNA containing the promoter region of the pMADS3 gene was isolated, ligated to a reporter gene, and then introduced into petunia plants via an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Surprisingly, the resultant plants became double-flowered by conversion of stamens into petaloid structures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environmental stress-tolerant plant. The invention discloses a transgenic plant containing a gene in which a DNA encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 with the deletion of amino acids from positions 136-165 thereof, the DNA being operably linked downstream of a stress responsive promoter.

Abstract: A rice photosensitivity gene Hd1 is successfully isolated by linkage analysis. It is found out that the photosensitivity of a plant can be modified by transferring this gene or controlling the expression thereof. It is further found out that the photosensitivity of a plant can be evaluated by examining the presence/absence of this functional gene.

Abstract: cDNAs (RISBZ1, RISBZ4, and RISBZ5) encoding bZIP transcription factors were isolated from a cDNA library originating in rice plant seed. The cDNAs encode novel proteins and have binding activity to the GCN4 motif. Among them, RISBZ1 activated transcription mediated by the GCN4 motif by 100-fold or more. Since the expression of RISBZ1 precedes the expression of a seed storage protein gene and is expressed only in maturing seeds, it is suggested that RISBZ1 controls the expression of rice seed storage proteins. In addition, by linking the recognition sequence of the transcription factor, the GCN4 motif, in tandem and introducing it into the promoter for a gene encoding seed storage protein to facilitate its binding to the transcription factor RISBZ1, expression of a foreign gene under the control of the modified promoters is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: An automatic irrigation system having a simplified structure can intermittently supply water (and liquid fertilizer) required by farmer products under water saving conditions depending on the weather condition of the day independent of the size of an irrigation area. Water from a water source is pumped by a motor pump driven with electric power generated by a solar panel and stored in a storage tank. When a predetermined amount of water is stored in the tank, a water draining device continuously drains the stored water. This cycle is repeated in proportion to an amount of solar radiation incident on the solar panel. The water is then guided to the irrigation area with a tube irrigation system.

Abstract: By linkage analysis, the Hd3a gene was successfully isolated. It was discovered that the flowering time of plant could be modified either by introducing the Hd3a gene or by controlling its expression.

Abstract: A method that comprises analyzing codon types encoding amino acids at positions 127 and/or 172 of the amino acid sequence of the bovine growth hormone, and evaluating the growth ability and/or the ability to accumulate fat in the muscle of cattle based on the analytical results.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content. PCR was performed using degenerate primers, and novel OsGA2ox2 and OsGA2ox3 genes were obtained. The present inventors discovered that unlike products of other GA2-oxidases such as OsGA2ox1, the product of OsGA2ox3 catalyzes the two-step oxidation of GA20 to GA29 and then of GA29 to GA29-catabolite. In addition, the present inventors also found that the growth of the transgenic rice plants expressing OsGA2ox3 was suppressed as compared to control plants.

Abstract: Identification of a gene from monocotyledonous plants such as rice, which codes for a transcription factor specific to a stress tolerant gene and provision of a novel environmental stress tolerant plant using the gene. From the rice genome, a gene, which binds to a cis element existing upstream of the gene encoding a stress responsive protein and for a transcription factor to activate the transcription of the gene, is identified. Further, the gene of the transcription factor is used to transform a plant, thereby improving tolerance against environmental stresses such as low temperature, dehydration, and salt stresses.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to isolate and identify genes responsive to plant hormones, such as, brassinolide, and to provide these genes and their use. The present inventors found two novel genes (referred to as OsBLE1 gene and OsBLE2 gene) whose expressions are markedly increased by brassinolide and auxin, using DNA microarray techniques and Northern blotting. Transformed rice plants were produced using Agrobacterium EHA101 which comprise antisense polynucleotide against OsBLE1 and OsBLE2 under the control of the CaMV35S promoter in a binary vector pIG121-Hm. As a result, the transformed rice plants exhibited inhibition in stem and leaf growth as compared with controls which carried the vector alone.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel ester compound and the use thereof as a sex attractant.