Abstract: A method for synthesizing cDNA characterized by performing a reverse transcription reaction in the presence of an enzyme having a reverse transcriptional activity and another enzyme different from the former one which as a 3′-5′ exonuclease activity.

Abstract: A product obtained by heating at least one substance selected from the following (a), (b) and (c). (a) uronic acid or uronic acid derivative; (b) a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and (c) a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid or a substance containing a saccharide compound containing uronic acid derivative; and food, beverage or a pharmaceutical agent which is characterized in containing the above-mentioned heat-treated product.

Abstract: A vector which is characterized in containing each of the following elements: (1) a promoter which shows its action in the host to be used; (2) regulatory region for regulating the action of the promoter of (1); and (3) a region which codes for the 5′-untranslated region derived from cold-shock protein gene mRNA or a region which codes for the region where substitution, deletion, insertion or addition of at least one base is applied to the said untranslated region.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an &agr;-agarase activity, a gene encoding the polypeptide, a method for producing the polypeptide by genetic engineering and a method for producing an agarooligosaccharide using the polypeptide.

Abstract: A hyperthermostable protease having the amino acid sequence represented by the SEQ ID NO:1 of the Sequence Listing or a sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution, insertion or addition of one to several amino acid residues, a gene encoding the hyperthermostable protease, and a process for preparing the protease, aiming at providing by genetic engineering techniques a hyperthermophile protease which is advantageous for industrial use.

Abstract: A method for performing site-directed mutagenesis characterized in that the method includes the step of carrying out PCR by the use of a double-stranded DNA vector having one or more amber codons, the vector resulting from insertion of a target DNA fragment for site-directed mutagenesis, and at least two kinds of selection primers; and a kit for site-directed mutagenesis for use in the above method, characterized in that the kit includes amber codon reversion primers. According to the present invention, there can be provided a method for performing site-directed mutagenesis and a kit, which is useful for genetic engineering or protein engineering, more simply and rapidly. By using the method and the kit of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently obtain a mutation-introduced gene at the desired position by simply transforming a host with a PCR product obtained by PCR.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated gene coding for a protein regulating aureobasidin sensitivity; a process for cloning the gene with the use of the gene or a part of the same as a probe; a nucleic acid probe being hybridizable with the gene; an antisense DNA or RNA of the gene; a recombinant or transformant having the gene contained therein; an isolated protein regulating aureobasidin sensitivity and a process for producing the same by using the transformant; an antibody for the protein; a process for detecting the protein or the gene; and a process for screening an antimycotic by using the protein or the transformant. The invention is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases including mycoses.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergoses; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergoses, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: A novel feline cytokine protein having the activity to enhance the cytotoxic activity of feline cytotoxic T lymphocytes, a DNA sequence coding for said protein, a recombinant DNA for expressing said protein, an expression vector comprising said recombinant DNA, a transformant which is transformed with said expression vector, a process for preparing said protein by culturing said transformant, and an antibody against said protein are provided. The novel feline cytokine protein of the present invention is a heterologous dimer comprising FLAF p35 and FLAF p40 and can be used for treating feline infectious diseases such as feline herpes virus type 1 (FHV-1) or feline calicivirus (FCV).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor capable of enhancing DNA synthesizing-activity of a DNA polymerase; a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor possessing an activity of binding to a DNA polymerase and a method for producing the same; a gene encoding the DNA polymerase-associated factor; a method of DNA synthesis by using a DNA polymerase in the presence of the DNA polymerase-associated factor; and a kit comprising the DNA polymerase-associated factor. According to the present invention, there can be provided in vitro DNA synthesis and a DNA amplification system which are more excellent than conventional techniques by utilizing the DNA polymerase-associated factor of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel sphingolipid ceramide N-deacylase (SCDase) having a wide substrate specificity; a method for enzymatically producing a lysosphingolipid or a sphingolipid derivative using the SCDase which is useful in the fields of medicine, carbohydrate engineering, cell engineering, and the like; the lysosphingolipid or sphingolipid derivative obtained by this production method; a gene which encodes a polypeptide having an SCDase activity useful in sphingolipid technology; a method for industrially producing a polypeptide having an SCDase deacylase activity and a recombinant polypeptide thereof using a transformant to which the gene is introduced; a probe or primer which hybridizes to the gene; and an antibody or a fragment thereof which specifically binds to the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kit to carry out retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into target cells. The kit contains a functional material bearing a retrovirus binding domain, another functional material bearing a target cell binding domain, an artificial substrate for incubating the retrovirus contacted with the target cells, and a target cell growth factor for pre-stimulating target cells to spur them along the cell cycle. The kit of the invention may further comprise a recombinant retroviral vector, necessary buffers, and the like.

Abstract: There are provided hyperthermostable proteases having an amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 and 5 of the Sequence Listing or functional equivalents thereof and hyperthermostable protease genes encoding those hyperthermostable protease. There is also disclosed a process for preparation of a hyperthermostable protease by culturing a transformant containing the gene.

Abstract: To provide a nucleic acid encoding a receptor protein kinase, wherein the nucleic acid has tandem duplication in a nucleotide sequence of a juxtamembrane and is useful for diagnosis of leukemia; a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid; an antibody capable of specifically binding to a region encoded by the nucleic acid having tandem duplication occurring in a nucleotide sequence of a juxtamembrane; a nucleic acid capable of specifically binding to the nucleic acid having tandem duplication occurring in a nucleotide sequence of a juxtamembrane; a method for detection of the nucleic acid encoding a receptor protein kinase; and a kit therefor.

Abstract: A formulation and kit of thermostable or other DNA polymerases comprising at least one thermostable or other DNA polymerase which lacks 3′-exonuclease activity, and at least one thermostable DNA polymerase exhibiting 3′-exonuclease activity. Also provided is an improved method for enzymatic extension of DNA strands, especially while, but not limited to, amplifying nucleic acid sequences by polymerase chain reaction wherein the above formulation is made and used to catalyze primer extension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA polymerase possesses the properties of 1) exhibiting higher polymerase activity when assayed by using as a substrate a complex resulting from primer annealing to a single stranded template DNA, as compared to the case where an activated DNA is used as a substrate; 2) possessing a 3′→5′ exonuclease activity; 3) being capable of amplifying a DNA fragment of about 20 kbp, in the case where polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is carried out using &lgr;-DNA as a template. It also relates to a DNA polymerase-constituting protein; a DNA containing the base sequence encoding thereof; and a method for producing the DNA polymerase. The present invention provides a novel DNA polymerase possessing both a high primer extensibility and a 3′→5′ exonuclease activity.

Abstract: There can be provided a fungal antigen which is an insoluble fraction obtainable from fungal cells of which cell wall has been substantially removed or at least partially removed; a process for producing the same; a nucleic acid encoding the fungal antigen; a biologic product containing the fungal antigen; a method of stimulating immunological responses by using the biologic product; a method of suppressing allergic reaction to fungi in a vertebrate; and a method for diagnosing a disease caused by fungi in a vertebrate.

Abstract: To provide a polypeptide having ceramidase activity, and a gene encoding thereof useful as an reagent for lipid engineering and as indices for diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, an easy method for detecting the polypeptide and method for detecting the gene as well as a method for detecting atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: A novel endo-fucoidan-lyase and a novel microorganism, Fucoidanobacter marinus SI-0098 (FERM BP-5403) useful in the production of sugar compounds are disclosed Sugar compounds represented by the following general formula (1), wherein at least one of alcoholic hydroxyl group has been sulfated, or salts thereof: wherein Y represents hydrogen or a group represented by the following formula (2).