Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a novel glycosyl derivative of cyclotetrasaccharide represented by cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, and it is solved by providing a branched cyclotetrasaccharide, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms in the hydroxyl groups of cyclotetrasaccharide are replaced with an optionally substituted glycosyl group, with the proviso that, when only one hydrogen atom in the C-6 hydroxyl group among the above hydrogen atoms is substituted with an optionally-substituted glycosyl group, the substituted glycosyl group is one selected from those excluding D-glucosyl group.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a means to effectively enhance the production of cytokines and/or chemokines in mammals. The object is solved by providing an agent for enhancing the production of cytokines and/or chemokines, which comprises, as an effective ingredient, a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3; a polypeptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs:1 to 3, where one or more amino acids thereof are deleted or replaced with other amino acid(s) and/or one or more amino acids are added thereunto, without substantially losing the biological activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a composition of metal ion compound whose inherent and unsatisfactory properties for its industrial application such as deliquescence, reducing power, oxidizing power, low solubility in water, etc., have been improved; and their preparations and uses. The present invention solves the above object by providing an associated complex of ?-glycosyl ?,?-trehalose and a metal ion compound, and its preparations and uses.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a polypeptide which can be used to produce a saccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an ?-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme which forms a cyclotetrasaccharide having the structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?} from a saccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of at least three and having both the ?-1,6 glucosidic linkage as a linkage at the non-reducing end and the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage other than the linkage at the non-reducing end; microorganisms which produce the enzyme; process for producing the enzyme; cyclotetrasaccharide or saccharide compositions comprising the same; and uses thereof.

Abstract: The objects of the present invention are to reveal a specific combination of human interferon-? subtypes that remarkably enhances the expression of protein synthesis inhibitory genes, and to provide an expression enhancer comprising as effective ingredients interferon-? subtypes in such a combination and uses thereof. The above objects are solved by providing an expression enhancer for protein synthesis inhibitory genes which comprises as effective ingredients interferon-?2 and interferon-?8 subtypes of human interferon-?, and uses thereof including pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A reduction inhibitory agent for active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises trehalose as an effective ingredient. A method for inhibiting the reduction of active-oxygen eliminating activity comprises incorporating either trehalose or the reduction inhibitory agent into plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants. A composition is provided that reduces the active-oxygen eliminating activity of plant edible products and/or plant antioxidants.

Abstract: A non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and a trehalose-releasing enzyme, which have an optimum temperature in a medium temperature range, i.e., a temperature of over 40 or 45° C. but below 60° C.; and an optimum pH in an acid pH range, i.e., a pH of less than 7. The two-types of enzymes can be obtained in a desired amount, for example, by culturing in a nutrient culture medium microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes or by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: The present invention has the object to dehydrate hydrous matters without denaturing or deteriorating them by using a dehydrating agent comprising an anhydrous cyclotetrasaccharide, and provides a dehydrating agent comprising the cyclotetrasaccharide; a method for dehydrating hydrous matters through a step of incorporating, contacting or coexisting the cyclotetrasaccharide into, with, or in the hydrous matters; and dehydrated products obtainable thereby.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a powdery product comprising crystalline ?-maltose monohydrate which is powderized by spray method, and has a high-solubility in aqueous solvents and a satisfactory handleability, and to its preparation and uses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a physiologically active complex which comprises a proteinaceous part with TNF activity and a high molecular part bound artificially to the N-terminus of the proteinaceous part. The proteinaceous part in the complex has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 where Xaa is a member selected from the group consisting of asparagine, alanine, arginine, serine, threonine, proline, methionine, and leucine; while the high molecular part in the complex is a homopolymer of polyethylene glycol, copolymer of polyethylene glycol, or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside which has a melting point of 119–123° C.; a saccharide composition comprising the same; a process for producing the same or the saccharide composition comprising the same, which comprises (i) crystallizing ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside from its solution and (ii) collecting the grown crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside; a method for converting amorphous ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside to crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside in the presence of moisture; and a composition comprising the crystalline ?-D-glucosyl ?-D-galactoside or the saccharide composition comprising the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are a receptor protein which recognize a novel cytokine, i.e., interleukin-18, a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein, and uses thereof. The receptor protein is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent autoimmune and allergic disease because it suppresses and regulates excessive immunoreaction. The monoclonal antibody specifically reacts with interleukin-18, exhibiting efficacy in purification, detection and inhibition of interleukin-18.

Abstract: A human IFN-? inducing polypeptide and its nucleotide sequence was isolated, purified and characterized. Pharmaceutical compositions containing this novel IFN-? inducing polypeptide or active fragments thereof are formulated and monoclonal antibodies are raised against this polypeptide or antigenic fragments thereof. The polypeptide can be used in a method for treating diseases susceptive to treatment with IFN-?, and methods for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells or for inducing the formation of LAK cells, such as to treat tumors and malignant pathologies.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel process for producing isomaltose and isomaltitol, and uses thereof, and it solves the object by establishing a process for producing isomaltose comprising a step of contacting a saccharide, having the ?-1,4 glucosidic linkage as the linkage of non-reducing end and a glucose polymerization degree of at least two, with an ?-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme and an ?-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme derived from a specific microorganism; a process for producing isomaltitol using the isomaltose produced by the above process; saccharide compositions comprising the isomaltose and/or the isomaltitol produced by the above processes; and uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for inducing receptor potential, which comprises an organic dye compound capable of inducing/evoking receptor potential in response to photostimulation in the optic nerve, wherein the organic dye compound is a polymethine organic dye compound. Also disclosed is a substituent material for the retina comprising the agent.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a polypeptide which can be used to produce a saccharide having a structure of cyclo{?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?3)-?-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?}, a DNA encoding the polypeptide, and uses thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel hedgehog protein, i.e., a Desert hedgehog protein of human origin including mature and precursor forms, a DNA encoding the protein, a monoclonal antibody recognizing the protein, a process for producing the protein, and a method for detecting the protein. The hedgehog protein is useful in establishment of hybridomas which produce antibodies recognizing the protein, and the monoclonal antibody is useful in detection and purification of the protein. The hedgehog protein, DNA, and monoclonal antibody of this invention have efficacy in elucidation of hereditary morphological abnormalities in humans to establish their treatments and diagnoses.

Abstract: Disclosed are artificially produced peptide capable of neutralizing the biological activities of IL-18, which comprises a part or the whole of the variable regions in anti interleukin 18 antibody, including single chain variable region fragments and humanized antibodies, a process of producing the peptide, and uses thereof. The peptide is useful as pharmaceutical to treat and prevent diseases such as autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, where the biological activities of interleukin-18 are involved.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing processed foods, which effectively exert the inherent flavor and taste of food materials, provide superior preservative stability, and keep the original form and color of the food materials; and to provide processed foods produced by the process. The object is solved by establishing the process for producing processed foods which is characterized in that it comprises the steps of contacting raw food materials with a saccharide to accrete and/or penitrate the saccharide to and/or into an intact food material without blanching and then heating the resulting mixture by one or more heating methods selected from the group consisting of steaming, baking, frying, and microwaving to effectively exert the inherent flavor and taste of the food material, and to provide superior preservative stability; and processed foods produced by the process.