Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight which has utilization as an inhibitor of peritoneal disorder caused by long-term use of a peritoneal dialysis fluid containing glucose or a polysaccharide thereof as an osmotic agent, utilization as an osmotic agent in a peritoneal dialysis fluid, and the like. The chondroitin sulfate having a decreased molecular weight of the present invention as a means for achieving the object is characterized by having a weight average molecular weight of from 1000 to 20000 and containing a constituent disaccharide unit represented by the following structural formula in an amount of from 65 o to 100% (molar ratio) of the total.

Abstract: A carba-sugar amine derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2) is used as the active ingredient of a ?-galactosidase inhibitor or a glycolipid metabolic disorder treating agent. Wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents H, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group, with the proviso that both are not H at the same time, and each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydroxyl group or hydroxyl group having a substituent. Also, R7 represents an alkyl group, and each of R8, R9, R10 and R11 independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydroxyl group having a substituent.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an expression vector that allows for stable production of N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase 2 in large amounts and a process for production of N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase 2 using the same. The present invention provides a recombinant baculovirus expression vector obtained by incorporating into baculovirus DNA, a DNA fragment having lobster L21 DNA, DNA encoding gp67 signal peptide and DNA encoding the 79th to 883rd amino acids of human N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase 2 in this order in the 5? to 3? direction.

Abstract: A very safe and useful agent for inhibiting fungal growth and the like are provided by the present invention. Specifically, the present invention provides (1) an agent for inhibiting fungal growth comprising hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt as the active ingredient, and a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof excluding a heavy metal salt to contact with a fungus, (2) an agent for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth possessed by a cell, which comprises a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase as the active ingredient, (3) a method for reinforcing activity of inhibiting fungal growth of a cell, which comprises at least a step of transfecting a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase into the cell, and (4) a method for inhibiting fungal growth, which comprises at least a step of allowing a cell transfected with a DNA encoding a hyaluronic acid synthase to contact with a fungus.

Abstract: Chondroitin is produced by culturing a UDP-glucuronic acid-producing bacterium transfected with a kfoA gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and a kfoC gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and having chondroitin-producing ability. Chondroitin is collected from the bacterium.

Abstract: A chondroitin polymerase having such properties that it transfers GlcUA and GalNAc alternately to a non-reduced terminal of a sugar chain from a GlcUA donor and a GalNAc donor, respectively, and the like; and a process for producing the chondroitin polymerase.

Abstract: The invention provides a virus harboring a DNA encoding a subunit of limulus-derived factor G, the virus being capable of mass-producing a (1?3)-?-D-glucan assay reagent of satisfactory quality, steadily and at low cost, a cell harboring the virus, and a method of producing factor G by use of the cell.

Abstract: A process for producing a polysaccharide sponge comprises the steps of (A) freezing a photoreactive polysaccharide solution, and (B) irradiating the frozen photoreactive polysaccharide solution with light to crosslink the photoreactive polysaccharide, thereby obtaining the polysaccharide sponge. The process includes simplified steps requiring no removal of solvent, and has such an advantage that impurities are easily removed therefrom.

Abstract: A complex consisting of galectin-3 and chondroitin oligosaccharide and methods for seperating and detecting the chondroitin oligosaccharide in a sample using the immobilized complex.

Abstract: Disclosed are: (A) a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or (B) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 including deletion, substitution or addition of one or several amino acid residues and having chondroitin synthase activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; a method for producing the polypeptide, comprising at least the steps of: (1) expressing the nucleic acid to produce the polypeptide; and (2) collecting the polypeptide produced in the step (1); and a crystal of the polypeptide. The crystal may be a monoclinic or tetragonal crystal.

Abstract: A peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 13, preferably a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 9 or a peptide having any one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 10 and 15 to 17, is used as an active ingredient of an agent for promoting growth or differentiation of cells such as osteoblasts, chondroblasts, cementoblasts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament-derived cells.

Abstract: A method of measuring a molecular weight of hyaluronic acid, comprising at least reacting hyaluronic acid in a sample containing the hyaluronic acid with a hyaluronic acid-binding protein to measure an amount of the hyaluronic acid-binding protein that is bound to the hyaluronic acid in the sample or a value that reflects the amount.

Abstract: A medical composition for protuberance of epithelium, which comprises a solution comprising a polysaccharide or a medically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the solution has a viscosity of: (1) from 50 to 500 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 7.7 to 10.0 s?1; (2) from 45 to 300 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 19.2 to 20.0 s?1; and (3) from 40 to 200 mPa·s at a shear rate of from 38.3 to s?1, when measured using a rotational viscometer at 25° C., and a syringe filled with the medical composition.

Abstract: A method for promoting expression of a heat shock protein, or for inhibiting cell injury or cell death, or for treating a disease for which cell or tissue protection is desired, or for promoting production of IL-10, or for inhibiting production of IL-8, by administering an effective amount of a fraction containing a hyaluronic acid tetrasaccharide comprising four saccharide residues and having certain physicochemical properties or by administering an effective amount of an isolated and substantially pure tetrasaccharide of formula (1) described in the application. Methods for preserving an organ.

Abstract: A hybridoma capable of producing a monoclonal antibody against dectin-1, and a monoclonal antibody which specifically reacts with dectin-1.

Abstract: A method for detecting lysosomal storage diseases including the steps of performing an assay for a single species of glycosaminoglycan contained in a specimen and correlating results of the assay with lysosomal storage diseases. A body fluid such as urine or blood can be employed as a specimen. The assay can be performed by use of a polypeptide that is capable of specifically binding to a glycosaminoglycan-containing molecule. The polypeptide may be an antibody, or a polypeptide having an antigen-binding site of an antibody.

Abstract: A carba-sugar amine derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2) is used as the active ingredient of a ?-galactosidase inhibitor or a glycolipid metabolic disorder treating agent. Wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents H, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group, with the proviso that both are not H at the same time, and each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydroxyl group or hydroxyl group having a substituent. Also, R7 represents an alkyl group, and each of R8, R9, R10 and R11 independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydroxyl group having a substituent.

Abstract: An antibody that reacts with 2-O-desulfated acharan sulfate, a hybridoma that produces the antibody, a detection method and a detection kit to which the antibody is applied are disclosed. The antibody that reacts with 2-O-desulfated acharan sulfate can be produced by immunizing a mammal using as an antigen a substance obtained by chemically bonding a protein to 2-O-desulfated acharan sulfate.

Abstract: An anti-acharan sulfate antibody, a hybridoma that produces the antibody, a detection method and a detection kit to which the antibody is applied are disclosed. The anti-acharan sulfate antibody can be produced by immunizing a mammal using as an antigen a substance obtained by chemically bonding a protein to acharan sulfate.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide ?1,4-galactosyltransferase to transfer a galactose residue to C4 position of galactose residue of lactosylceramide or galactosylceramide, and DNA coding for the enzyme. What is provided includes the following polypeptides (a) and (b), and DNAs encoding thereof: (a) a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by the amino acid Nos. 46-353 in SEQ ID NO: 2; or (b) a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence including substitution, deletion, insertion or transposition of one or few amino acids in the amino acid sequence of (a) and which has an enzymatic activity to transfer a galactose residue from a galactose donor to C4 position of galactose residue of lactosylceramide or galactosylceramide which serves as an acceptor.