Abstract: A composition for the cryopreservation of cells according to the present invention at least comprises sericin and one or more components selected from the group consisting of amino acids and saccharides. Further, a method for the cryopreservation of cells according to the present invention comprises the steps of placing target cells in the abovementioned composition for the cryopreservation of cells and cryopreserving them. According to the composition for the cryopreservation of cells of the present invention, cells can be cryopreserved over a long period of time without the use of serum and components derived from serum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adiponectin production enhancer comprising sericin as an active ingredient, and to a pharmaceutical composition and food and drink comprising sericin. These are effective in the prevention and/or amelioration of various diseases caused by reduction of blood adiponectin level such as arteriosclerosis, fatty liver and diabetes associated with obesity. The enhancer, the pharmaceutical composition and the food and drink according to the invention have excellent adiponectin production enhancing effects as well as high safety and are expected to be broadly applied to a variety of pharmaceutical preparations and food and drink.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a medium supplement for animal cell culture and an animal cell culture medium. The present invention relates to a medium supplement for animal cell culture comprising sericin or a sericin derivative and an animal cell culture medium comprising at least said medium supplement and a basal medium composition.

Abstract: A peptide according to the present invention is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a peptide having a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence described in (a) above, in which one or more amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, inserted or added, and having cell death-preventing activity and/or cell growth-promoting activity; and (c) a peptide which has an amino acid sequence having at least 80% homology with the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence described in (a) above and has cell death-preventing activity and/or cell growth-promoting activity. The peptide has cell death-preventing activity and/or cell growth-promoting activity, is highly safe, and can be produced without difficulty. The peptide is useful as a culture supplement or as an effective component for a cell culture medium.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a new protein derived from the silkworm middle silk gland and a DNA encoding said protein. The present invention relates to a protein of the following (a) or (b): (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a protein comprising a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence described in (a) above, in which one or more amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, inserted or added, and having protease activity.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a medium supplement for animal cell culture and an animal cell culture medium. The present invention relates to a medium supplement for animal cell culture comprising sericin or a sericin derivative and an animal cell culture medium comprising at least said medium supplement and a basal medium composition.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a means to prevent freeze-induced decrease in protein activity. The present invention relates to a method for preventing freeze-induced decrease in protein activity comprising adding a polypeptide comprising the following amino acid sequence (I) to a protein to be frozen. Further, the present invention relates to use of a polypeptide comprising the following amino acid sequence (I) to produce an agent for preventing freeze-induced decrease in protein activity: (SEQ ID NO: 1) Ser-Ser-Thr-Gly-Ser-X1-Ser-X2-Thr-Asp-X3-X4-X5-X6- X7-X8-Gly-Ser-X9-Thr-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Ser-Thr-Tyr- Gly-Tyr-Ser-Ser-X10-X11-X12-X13-Gly-X14-Val (I).

Abstract: The present invention provides a skin cancer preventive agent that inhibits the promotion of carcinogenesis of skin cancer while having high levels of safety and stability as well as being free of adverse side effects. The present invention is characterized by containing sericin.

Abstract: Discarded rubber tires are charged in random state into a vertical dry distillation furnace, and the tires at a lower part thereof are caused to undergo combustion to give off hot combustion gases by which the tires at higher levels undergo dry distillation to produce distillation gases which are useable as fuel. The combustion is started by burners and is then self-sustained by supplying only air. The furnace interior at its part below the combustion zone is expanded or flared in the downward direction to an open end immersed in water, but the downward movement of the tires and residue is braked by a self-sustained grate effect until the residue finally drops out of the furnace to be removed by a conveyor. The continuous and efficient operation over a long period of this furnace is assisted by a separator also capable of long continuous operation.

Abstract: A mother blank for producing starting sheets used in electrolytic non-ferrous metal production, is composed of a laminar electrolytic deposition member comprising a planar metal member constituting the central layer of laminar deposition member, and electrically conductive polybutene resin layers constituting two surface layers of the laminar deposition member, and a frame-like member made of an electrically nonconductive polybutene resin and attached integrally to the periphery of the laminar deposition member.

Abstract: A method of operating a reverberatory furnace for copper smelting, wherein an oxygen fuel burner is provided in addition to the main fuel oil burners, and the oxygen content and flow rate of the oxygen-fuel gas mixture is so adjusted that the latent heat due to CO and H.sub.2 produced through the combustion in the combustion gas can be utilized at its maximum for increasing the smelting speed and SO.sub.2 content.

Abstract: A viscous water-in-oil type emulsion comprising a dye or a fluorescent brightening agent which is sparingly soluble in water and liquid hydrocarbons, water, a liquid hydrocarbon and a nonionic or amphoteric surface active agent. The emulsion is suitable for dyeing or brightening hydrophobic fibers.