Abstract: A process for providing cDNAs containing full primary structure information of proteins by selectively synthesizing full-length cDNAs containing sequences starting from the capped region of mRNAs is disclosed. The invention provides a process for producing an intermediate for the synthesis of a full-length cDNA, which comprises the steps of treating mRNA extracted from cells to eliminate the phosphate group from the 5' end of an uncapped degraded mRNA; decapping from the 5' end of a capped intact mRNA; and ligating either a DNA oligonucleotide or a DNA-RNA chimeric oligonucleotide represented by the following general formula [I] to the 5' end phosphate group formed in the above step by the action of T4 RNA ligase, thereby selectively adding either the DNA oligonucleotide or the DNA-RNA chimeric oligonucleotide having an arbitrary sequence to the 5' end of the intact mRNA.5'-dN1-dN2- . . . -dNm-N1-N2- . . .

Abstract: Nerve growth factor production accelerating agents containing oxazopyrroloquinolines, pyrroquinolinequinones and/or their esters as active ingredient are provided. As the oxazopyrroloquinolines and their esters exhibit such production accelerating activity, they are suitably utilized for preventing and treating functional disorders of central nervous system, particularly, Alzheimer's dementia, cerebral ischemia and spinal trauma, as well as for functional disorders of Peripheral nervous system, particularly, peripheral nervous system trauma and diabetic neurosis. As the pyrroquinolineguinones and their esters exhibit strong nerve growth factor production accelerating activity, they are suitably utilized for preventing and treating functional disorders of peripheral nervous system, particularly, peripheral nervous system trauma, diabetic neuropathy, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalamide derivatives and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroisophthalimide derivatives having excellent effects as effective active ingredients of herbicides, and processes for preparing the same, and provides the compounds having a more efficient herbicidal activity, and efficient and industrial processes for the preparation thereof.More specifically, the tetrahydrophthalimide derivative obtained by reacting a halogen-substituted 5-cycloalkyloxyaniline derivative with a 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, or the tetrahydroisophthalimide derivative of the present invention is reacted with various types of amines to prepare a tetrahydrophthalamide derivative represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## These tetrahydrophthalamide derivatives and the tetrahydroisophthalimide derivatives exhibit excellent herbicidal activities in the soil treatment in the paddy field and field and the stem-foliar treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a copolymer consisting of a polyacrylate type backbone having mesogenic groups in the side chains, which comprises an acrylate type repeating unit (I) wherein a mesogenic group is bonded by an ester linkage via an alkylene chain, and an acrylate type repeating unit (II) wherein a mesogenic group is bonded by an ester linkage via an alkylene chain containing a siloxane bond; the molar ratio of the repeating unit of the formula (I) to the repeating unit of the formula (II) ranging from 95/5 to 20/80 and the number average molecular weight being at least 1,000. The copolymer of the present invention exhibits liquid crystallinity at a relatively low temperature, i.e., around a room temperature. Accordingly, the polymer is useful for a display material of a large area, a light-shuttering material and a light-controlling glass material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalamide derivatives and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydroisophthalimide derivatives having excellent effects as effective active ingredients of herbicides, and processes for preparing the same, and provides the compounds having a more efficient herbicidal activity, and efficient and industrial processes for the preparation thereof.More specifically, the tetrahydrophthalimide derivative obtained by reacting a halogen-substituted 5-cycloalkyloxyaniline derivative with a 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, or the tetrahydroisophthalimide derivative of the present invention is reacted with various types of amines to prepare a tetrahydrophthalamide derivative represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## These tetrahydrophthalamide derivatives and the tetrahydroisophthalimide derivatives exhibit excellent herbicidal activities in the soil treatment in the paddy field and field and the stem-foliar treatment.

Abstract: A lactone is prepared by catalytically hydrogenating a dicarboxylic acid having 3 to 10 carbon atoms or a functional derivative thereof in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the elements of group VIII of the periodic table or a combination of said metal with an element selected from the elements of groups IVa, VIb and VIIb of the peridic table, and further in the co-presence of an alkali metal salt or an alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A modified protease is disclosed, which is a mutant of the thermostable neutral protease wherein at least one amino acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 1 selected from the group consisting of the 144th leucine residue, the th aspartic acid residue, the 187th glutamic acid residue and the 227th asparagine residues is replaced with an amino acid residue other than said amino acid.

Abstract: A benzene derivative substituted with a heterocyclic ring represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, X represents a halogen atom, and Z represents ##STR2## in which said cycloalkyl group may be substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a process for preparing the same, and a herbicidal agent comprising the above compound as an active ingredient are disclosed. The compound has an excellent effect in that the compound exhibits a markedly high herbicidal effect on weeds in the field and the paddy field at a low dose and yet exhibits markedly low noxious effects on main crops.

Abstract: A drug for hepatic diseases, particularly an ameliorant for hepatic functions and a drug for hepatitis, containing docosahexaenoic acid or a derivative thereof (DHA) as an active ingredient. The DHA as the active drug ingredient, though also taking part in the metabolism of cholesterol formed in vivo and exuding into the plasma, mainly metabolizes that cholesterol specifically which is accumulated in hepatic microsomes as a result of hypometabolism or dysbolism to thereby bring about the recovery of flexibility of a microsome lipid membrane, thus enhancing the enzymatic activity, and to significantly reduce a triglyceride, thus being prospective as an ameliorant for hepatic functions in treating fatty liver, hepatic cirrhosis, etc. The invention also provides a drug for hepatitis, which can inhibit the induction of hepatitis which is one of the factor causative of chronic hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic insufficiency, etc.

Abstract: A benzene derivative substituted with a heterocyclic ring represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, X represents a halogen atom, and Z represents ##STR2## in which said cycloalkyl group may be substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a process for preparing the same, and a herbicidal agent comprising the above compound as an active ingredient are disclosed. The compound has an excellent effect in that the compound exhibits a markedly high herbicidal effect on weeds in the field and the paddy field at a low dose and yet exhibits markedly low noxious effects on main crops.

Abstract: The present invention related to a drug release controlling material responsive to changes in temperature comprising the polyester gel which is obtained by polymerization of a polyfunctional macromonomer represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, A represents an aliphatic polyester chain, m is 0 or 1, and p, which may be the same or different in each branched chain, represents an integer of from 0 to 6, optionally with a polyethylene glycol derivative which contains polymerizable group(s) at the end(s). The drug release controlling material has an on-off control function of drug release responsive to changes in temperature depending upon the gel transition of the aliphatic polyester gel.

Abstract: Disclosed are fluorobenzene derivatives, which are important intermediates for producing herbicidal oxazolidinedione derivatives, and methods of producing them. The fluorobenzene derivatives include compounds of a formula (11): ##STR1## where X is a halogen atom, R.sup.3 is a nitro, amino or isocyanato group or R.sup.1 OCONH, and R.sup.1 is an alkyl or phenyl group. Via the intermediates of the invention, oxazolidinedione derivatives can be produced with high yield.

Abstract: The present invention provides optically active esters of 7-substituted 3,5-difunctionalized 6-heptenoic acids represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic group or a substituted vinyl group;Ar is a condensed aromatic group;X.sup.1 and Y.sup.1 are not the same and each is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; andX.sup.2 and Y.sup.2 are not the same and each is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group or enantiomers thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are fluorobenzene derivatives, which are important intermediates for producing herbicidal oxazolidinedione derivatives, and methods of producing them. The fluorobenzene derivatives include compounds of a formula (11): ##STR1## where X is a halogen atom, R.sup.3 is a nitro, amino or isocyanato group or R.sup.1 OCONH, and R.sup.1 is an alkyl or phenyl group. Via the intermediates of the invention, oxazolidinedione derivatives can be produced with high yield.

Abstract: A silanol compound having a mesogenic group, of the following formula (III): ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, which may be the same or different, is an alkyl group or a phenyl group, X is a single bond, an oxygen atom, or a group of the formula --COO--or "OCO--, Q is a mesogenic group, and p is an integer of from 2 to 20, and a process for its production. Also disclosed are a polymerizable monomer of the following formula (I) and a polymer having repeating units of the following formula (II). ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or a phenyl group, each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 which may be the same or different, is an alkyl group or a phenyl group, m is an integer of from 2 to 20, n is an integer of from 0 to 50, and X, Q and p are as defined above.

Abstract: Disclosed are fluorobenzene derivatives, which are important intermediates for producing herbicidal oxazolidinedione derivatives, and methods of producing them. The fluorobenzene derivatives include compounds of a formula (11): ##STR1## where X is a halogen atom, R.sup.3 is a nitro, amino or isocyanato group or R.sup.1 OCONH, and R.sup.1 is an alkyl or phenyl group. Via the intermediates of the invention, oxazolidinedione derivatives can be produced with high yield.

Abstract: The present invention provides optically active esters of 7-substituted 3,5-difunctionalized 6-heptenoic acids represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaromatic group or a substituted vinyl group;Ar is a condensed aromatic group;X.sup.1 and Y.sup.1 are not the same and each is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, or may be combined to represent an oxygen atom which forms a carbonyl group together with the carbon atom to which X.sup.1 and Y.sup.1 are attached; andX.sup.2 and Y.sup.2 are not the same and each is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, or may be combined to represent an oxygen atom which forms a carbonyl group together with the carbon atom to which X.sup.2 and Y.sup.2 are attached,or enantiomers thereof.The present invention further provides processes for preparing the above optically active esters and 7-substituted (3R, 5S, 6E)-3,5-dihydroxy-6-hepten-1,5-olides.

Abstract: An optically active epoxycyclohexane derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a 4-oxycarbonyl-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-3(Z)-buten-1-yl or 4-hydroxycarbonyl-3-methyl-1(E),3(Z)-butadien-1-yl group; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a lower alkoxy group or together form a 1,3-dioxolane ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded,and an enantiometer thereof.An optically active epoxycyclohexanone derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl, allyl, aralkyl or aryl group,and an enantiomer thereof.Further, the process for preparing these compounds, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for the production of eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of a) culturing a microorganism capable of producing lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas and Shewanella, to produce lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid, and b) recovering the eicosapentaenoic acid from the cultured product; a process for production of a lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid comprising the steps of a) culturing a microorganism capable of producing lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas and Shewanella, to produce lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid, and b) recovering the lipid containing eicosapentaenoic acid; and microorganisms capable of producing eicosapentaenoic acid belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas, Alteromonas, and Shewanella.

Abstract: A pyridine-compound is reacted with fluorine together with a .[.Bronsted.]. .Iadd.Bronsted .Iaddend.acid-compound or Lewis acid to form a N-fluoropyridinium salt which is very active to other compounds but is very selective for the preparation of a desired product and this product is very useful for a fluorine-introducing agent which makes it useful for the preparation of fluoro-compounds such as thyroid inhibitor.