Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a polypeptide (I) including the following amino acid sequence (II) in a molecule thereof: TyrAlaGluHisLysSerHisArgGlyGluTyrSerValCys (II) AspSerGluSerLeuTrpValThrAspLysSerSerAlaIle spIleArgGlyHisGlnValThrValLeuGlyGluIleLys ThrGlyAsnSerProValLysGlnTyrPheTyrGluThrArg CysLysGluAlaArgProValLysAsnGlyCysArgGlyIle AspAspLysHisTrpAsnSerGlnCysLysThrSerGlnThr TyrValArgAlaLeuThrSerGluAsnAsnLysLeuValGly TrpArgTrpIleArgIleAspThrSerCysValCysAlaLeu SerArgLysIleGlyArg (2) a DNA sequence coding for the polypeptide described in (1), (3) a vector including the DNA described in (2), (4) a transformant transformed by the vector described in (3), and (5) a process for producing the polypeptide (I) which comprises cultivating the transformant described in (4) in a culture medium to produce and accumulate the polypeptide described in (1) in a culture.

Abstract: Cyclic pentapeptides are disclosed having the following formula (I)-Cyclo(-A1-A2-A3-A4-A5-)-wherein A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 are amino acid residues. The pentapeptide has amino acid residues in positions 1-2-3 to form a &ggr;-turn, and amino acid residues in positions 3-4-5-1 to form a &bgr;-turn in combination with the &ggr;-turn. D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3, and A5 and L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4. Compounds having &ggr;-turns and &bgr;-turns can be synthesized, regardless of the kinds of amino acid residues, and it is possible to synthesize compounds in which desired amino acid residues are introduced into sites of &bgr;-turn and &ggr;-turn based on their importance from the viewpoint of biological activity. The present invention is therefore available for design of compounds having biological activity.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a prophylactic and/or therapeutic drug for obesity and obesity-associated diseasestor diabetes with a reduced risk for central side effects and high universality in usage. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the following formula: wherein Ar represents phenyl which may be substituted and/or condensed; n represents an integer of 1 to 10; R represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, which may not be the same in its n occurrences; R may be bound to either Ar or a substituent for Ar; Y represents an amino group which may be subsituted or a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which may be substituted, or a salt thereof, which can be used for a thermogenic agent, an antiobesity agent, a lipolytic agent, or a prophylactic and/or treating drug for obesity-associated diseases.

Abstract: A compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 represents an amino group which may be substituted; R2 represents a carboxy group which may be esterified or amidated; R3, R4, R5 and R6 each represent a hydroxy group which may be protected; Q represents an aryl group which may be substituted; or a salt thereof is disclosed. The compound (I) possesses ant-Helicobacter pylori activity, and is useful in the prevention or treatment of various diseases associated with Helicobacter bacteria, such as duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, chronic gastritis and cancer of the stomach.

Abstract: A compound represented by the formula: [wherein ring A represents a homocycle optionally having substituents or a nitrogen-containing heterocycle optionally having substituents; D and E are O or S; one of R1 and R2 represents a group represented by the formula: (wherein Ar1 and Ar2 represent an aromatic group optionally having substituents; Ar1 and Ar2 may form a condensed cyclic group optionally having substituents together with an adjacent carbon atom; ring B represents a nitrogen-containing heterocycle optionally having substituents; X and Y are a bond, O, S(O)p (p is an integer of 0 to 2), NR4 (R4 is H or a lower alkyl group) or a bivalent straight-chained lower hydrocarbon group, which may contain 1 to 3 hetero atoms, optionally having substituents; and R3 represents H, a hydroxy group optionally having substituents or an optionally esterified carboxyl group); and the other is a hydrogen atom, a cyano group or a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituents&rsq

Abstract: A method of producing sustained-release microcapsules which comprises dispersing a physiologically active polypeptide into a solution of a biodegradable polymer and zinc oxide in an organic solvent, followed by removing the organic solvent; which provides a sustained-release preparation showing a high entrapment ratio of the physiologically active polypeptide and its constant high blood concentration levels over a long period of time.

Abstract: Cyclic pentapeptides having a &ggr;-turn and a &bgr;-turn wherein the cyclic pentapeptide has the following formula (I): Cyclo(—A1—A2—A3—A4—A5—)  (I) wherein A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 are amino acid residues; said pentapeptide having amino acid residues in positions 1-2-3 to form a &ggr;-turn, and amino acid residues in positions 3-4-5-1 to form a &bgr;-turn in combination with the &ggr;-turn; in which D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3 and A5 and L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4 or wherein L-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A1, A3 and A5 and D-&agr;-amino acid residues are selected for A2 and A4; are provided.

Abstract: The transgenic animal of this invention can be used as an animal model for renal disease, bone disease, joint disease, pulmonary disease, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, cardiac disease, diabetes, obesity, digestive organ disease, infectious disease, allergic disease, endocrine disease, dementia or cancer, or complications thereof; and provides a nonhuman transgenic mammal for the unraveling of the mechanisms of said diseases, explorations for the development of therapeutic modalities for the diseases, and the screening of candidate therapeutic drugs.

Abstract: Novel 2,4-oxazolidinedione compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrocarbon residue or a heterocyclic group each of which may be substituted; Y is --CO--, --CH(OH)-- or --NR.sup.3 -- (wherein R.sup.3 is an alkyl group which may be substituted); m is 0 or 1; n is 0, 1 or 2; X is CH or N; A is bivalent straight or branched hydrocarbon chain residue having 1 to 7 carbon atoms; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each are hydrogen or an alkyl group, or R and R are combined with each other to form a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic group optionally containing nitrogen; L and M each are hydrogen, or L and M are combined with each other to form a bond, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, having excellent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities and are useful as anti-diabetics or hypolipidemic agents.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical composition of the invention, which comprises a benzimidazole compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, cyano, carboxy, carboalkoxy, carboalkoxyalkyl, carbamoyl, carbamoylalkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, trifluoromethyl, acyl, carbamoyloxy, nitro, acyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, alkylthio or alkylsulfinyl, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl, acyl, carboalkoxy, carbamoyl, alkylcarbamoyl, dialkylcarbamoyl, alkylcarbonylmethyl, alkoxycarbonylmethyl or alkylsulfonyl, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are the same or different and each is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy or alkoxyalkoxy, R.sup.4 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy which may optionally be fluorinated, or alkoxyalkoxy, and m is an integer of 0 through 4, and a basic inorganic salt stabilizing agent, is physically stable. Magnesium and calcium basic inorganic salt stabilizing agents are particularly useful.

Abstract: This invention relates to prophylactic or therapeutic drug for diabetic nephropathy or glomerulonephritis, comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound or salt thereof represented by general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 stands for H or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue; R.sup.2 stands for an optionally esterified carboxyl group; R.sup.3 stands for a group actually or potentially capable of forming an anion; X shows that the phenylene and phenyl groups bind to each other directly or through a spacer having an atomic chain length of two or less; n stands for 1 or 2; ring A stands for a benzene ring having an optional substituent in addition to R.sup.2 ; Y stands for a bond, --O--, --S(O).sub.m -- (wherein m stands for 0, 1 or 2), or --N(R.sup.4)-- (wherein R.sup.4 stands for H or an optionally substituted alkyl group).

Abstract: The monoclonal antibody generated by immunizing a mammal with human MAP kinase ERK1 and the polyclonal antibody generated by immunizing an animal with the phosphorylation region of the sequence of MAP kinase or a fragment of human MAP kinase are used either alone or in combination to detect and assay various MAP kinase species including ERK2.

Abstract: Cyclic pentapeptides are disclosed having the following formula (I) --Cyclo(-A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -A.sub.3 -A.sub.4 -A.sub.5 -)-- wherein A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, A.sub.4 and A.sub.5, are amino acid residues. The pentapeptide has amino acid residues in positions 1-2-3 to form a .gamma.-turn, and amino acid residues in positions 3-4-5-1 to form a .beta.-turn in combination with the .gamma.-turn. D-.alpha.-amino acid residues are selected for A.sub.1, A.sub.3, and A.sub.5 and L-.alpha.-amino acid residues are selected for A.sub.2 and A.sub.4. Compounds having .gamma.-turns and .beta.-turns can be synthesized, regardless of the kinds of amino acid residues, and it is possible to synthesize compounds in which desired amino acid residues are introduced into sites of .beta.-turn and .gamma.-turn based on their importance from the viewpoint of biological activity. The present invention is therefore available for design of compounds having biological activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polypeptide represented by the following amino acid sequence: ##STR1## wherein n is 0 or 1 and X represents Pro Ala Gly Thr Arg Ala Asn Asn Thr Leu Leu Asp Ser Arg Gly Trp Gly Thr Leu Leu Ser Arg Ser Arg Ala Gly or a fragment thereof (n=0: SEQ ID NO:1, n=1: SEQ ID NO:2), a recombinant DNA coding for the polypeptide, a vector containing the recombinant DNA, the preparation of a transformant carrying the vector, and the production of the polypeptide with the transformant. The use of this peptide in pharmaceutical compositions is also provided.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition having improved stability which comprises a fumagillol derivative and a fatty acid ester of glycerin or polyglycerin is disclosed. The composition is useful for treating diseases associated with angiogenesis such as hepatoma, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a DNA containing a DNA segment coding for PACAP38; (2) a precursor protein of PACAP38; (3) a transformant containing a DNA having a DNA segment coding for PACAP38; (4) a method of preparing mature PACAP38 comprising cultivating the transformant described in the above (3), producing and accumulating a protein in a culture, and collecting the resulting protein; and (5) a method for preparing the above polypeptide comprising condensing a partial amino acid or a peptide which can constitute the mature PACAP38, with a residual portion, and removing a protective group if a product has the protective group. The DNA is applied to experimental animals to understand their brain functions, which serves to elucidate human brain functions. PACAP38 provides information about growth and maintenance of rat and human brain nerves, and can also be utilized as therapeutic agents for various neuropathy.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) a stabilized FGF protein composition which comprises an FGF protein and water-insoluble hydroxypropyl cellulose; (2) a method for preparing a stabilized FGF protein composition, which comprises admixing an FGF protein with a water-insoluble hydroxypropyl cellulose; and (3) a method for stabilizing an FGF protein which comprises admixing an FGF protein with a water-insoluble hydroxypropyl cellulose, whereby the stabilized FGF protein can be provided. The composition is obtained in a solid state which has improved stability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to unsaturated carboxylic acid amide derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein ring A stands for an optionally substituted aromatic ring; R.sup.1 stands for a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue or forms an optionally substituted carbocyclic ring with the adjacent group --CH.dbd.C-- together with two carbon atoms constituting the ring A; R.sup.2 stands for a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue or an optionally substituted acyl group; R.sup.3 stands for an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue; and n denotes an integer ranging from 2 to 6, and salts thereof, as well as the production thereof.The compounds of the present invention act on the central nervous system of mammals and has a strong anti-cholinesterase activity, which can be used for the prophylaxis and therapy of, for example, senile dementia, Alzheimer's diseases, Huntington's chorea, et., and are useful as medicines.

Abstract: A method for improvement of a sensitivity of enzyme detection by irradiating enzymatic reaction components containing free radical contaminants with light ranging from the ultraviolet through the visible light spectrum prior to an enzyme detection reaction is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for molding lactitol-containing food inclusive of food additives which comprises heating a mixture of a solid food material and lactitol which contains not less than 30% by weight of lactitol, molding the mixture in a semi-molten state and optionally pulverizing the molded product.