Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having melanocortin receptor agonist activity or antagonist activity, which is a novel biaryl compound represented by the formula (I): wherein ring A and ring B are optionally further substituted 6-membered aromatic rings; X is —CONR4—, —SO2NR4—, —CH2NR4— (R4 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc.), etc.; Y is a spacer having 1 to 12 atoms, etc.; Z is —CONR6—, —CO— (R6 is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group), etc.; R1 is an optionally substituted amino group, etc.; R2 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc.; R3 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc.; and R5 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc.; or a salt thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-human animal embryonic stem cells in which a lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like lysophospholipase endogenous gene is inactivated; non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene; methods of screening for prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug using the cells or the animals; and prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug obtainable by the screening. The non-human animal ES cells of the invention in which their LLPL gene is inactivated are very useful in creating non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene. The LLPL expression deficient non-human animals of the invention can be disease models for such diseases caused by insufficiency of the biological activities of LLPL since the animals lack various biological activities inducible by LLPL.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a body weight gain inhibitor and the like. The ligand of the present invention is useful as a superior body weight gain inhibitor and the like, or for a screening of the superior body weight gain inhibitor and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for pulmonary hypertension, comprising an antagonistic mutein of MCP-1 or a salt thereof, a DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the antagonistic mutein of MCP-1, or a neutralizing antibody against MCP-1. The antagonistic mutein of MCP-1 or a salt thereof, the DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding the antagonistic mutein of MCP-1, or the neutralizing antibody against MCP-1 has hypotensive activity, and thus is useful as a pharmaceutical agent for preventing and/or treating pulmonary hypertension (primary pulmonary hypertension, in particular).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel benzazepine derivative represented by formula: wherein, R1 is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring, R2 is lower alkyl group, etc., Y is an optionally substituted imino group, ring A and ring B are independently an optionally substituted aromatic ring, W is formula —W1—X2—W2— (W1 and W2 are independently S(O)m1 (m1 is 0, 1, or 2), etc., and X2 is an optionally substituted alkylene group etc.), a preparation method and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing an antibody, by which metastin or its derivative can be quantified specifically with a high sensitivity, a method of detecting/quantifying metastin or its derivative using the antibody, and a diagnostic agent (e.g., a diagnostic for pregnancy) the same. Specifically, an antibody capable of specifically reacting with a partial peptide at the N-terminus or C-terminus of a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or its derivative, and a method of detecting/quantifying metastin or its derivative using the antibody as well as a diagnostic agent using the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein belonging to an ADAM family, a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, a DNA encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the DNA, a transformant, a method for producing the protein, a medicine comprising the protein or the DNA, an antibody against the protein, a method/kit for screening for a compound or a salt thereof which promotes or inhibits the protease activity or the extracellular metric degrading enzyme activity (preferably, the peptidoglycan degrading enzyme activity) of the protein, a compound obtained by the screening, and a medicine comprising the compound. The present protein and a DNA encoding it can be used, for example, as an agent for treating or preventing various diseases such as disc herniation, ischialgia, glomerular nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, hepatic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis or osteopetrosis. In addition, the present antibody can be used for quantitating the present protein in a test solution.

Abstract: A novel sodium-dependent bile acid transporter protein, an Na+/H+ exchange transporter protein, a P-type ATPase protein and a vanilloid receptor protein, and polynucleotides encoding these proteins are useful in screening preventives/remedies for hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, genital diseases or digestive diseases; respiratory diseases, renal diseases or digestive diseases; pancreatic diseases, central nerve diseases, digestive diseases or respiratory diseases; inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid diseases or diabetic neurosis; etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein belonging to an ADAM family, a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, a DNA encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the DNA, a transformant, a method for producing the protein, a medicine comprising the protein or the DNA, an antibody against the protein, a method/kit for screening for a compound or a salt thereof which promotes or inhibits the protease activity or the extracellular metric degrading enzyme activity (preferably, the peptidoglycan degrading enzyme activity) of the protein, a compound obtained by the screening, and a medicine comprising the compound. The present protein and a DNA encoding it can be used, for example, as an agent for treating or preventing various diseases such as disc herniation, ischialgia, glomerular nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, hepatic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis or osteopetrosis. In addition, the present antibody can be used for quantitating the present protein in a test solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protein belonging to an ADAM family, a partial peptide thereof or a salt thereof, a DNA encoding the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the DNA, a transformant, a method for producing the protein, a medicine comprising the protein or the DNA, an antibody against the protein, a method/kit for screening for a compound or a salt thereof which promotes or inhibits the protease activity or the extracellular metric degrading enzyme activity (preferably, the peptidoglycan degrading enzyme activity) of the protein, a compound obtained by the screening, and a medicine comprising the compound. The present protein and a DNA encoding it can be used, for example, as an agent for treating or preventing various diseases such as disc herniation, ischialgia, glomerular nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, hepatic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis or osteopetrosis. In addition, the present antibody can be used for quantitating the present protein in a test solution.

Abstract: The anti-19P2 ligand monoclonal antibodies of the invention (in particular P2L-1Ca) have very high binding ability and can neutralize the arachidonic acid metabolite releasing activity of the 19P2 ligand. Therefore, they can be used, among others, as diagnostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents for various diseases caused by some or other abnormality in the pituitary function modulating activity (e.g. prolactin secretion promoting activity), central nervous system modulating activity and pancreatic function modulating activity, among others, supposedly possessed by the 19P2 ligand. The immunoassay method using the monoclonal antibodies of the invention by the sandwich technique (in particular the sandwich technique using the monoclonal antibody and an antibody recognizing an intermediate portion of the 19P2 ligand) can assay the 19P2 ligand or a derivative thereof specifically and with high sensitivity.

Abstract: A protein and DNA encoding the same are useful as preventives/remedies for diseases such as hypoglycemia, etc. The protein of the present invention is also useful as a reagent for screening a compound that inhibits the binding of the protein of the present invention to IRAP (insulin responsive aminopeptidase) or to GLUT4 (glucose transporter 4). The compound that inhibits the binding of the protein of the present invention to IRAP or GLUT4 is useful as a preventive/remedy for diseases, e.g., hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, etc.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide having a cell death inhibitory activity and use thereof is provided. The polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it can be used as a diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic agent for various diseases and disorders. Certain suitable diseases and disorders which may be diagnosed, treated, or prevented with the polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it are selected from neurodegenerative diseases, brain dysfunctions, cancers, immunological disease, infections, gastrointestinal diseases, circulatory diseases, and endocrine diseases. The polypeptide and the polynucleotide encoding it can be used as a cell death inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of peptide to which G-protein coupled receptor protein recognizes as a ligand. Since the ligand polypeptide of the present invention has a stimulating action on oxytocin secretion, it is useful as a drug for ameliorating, preserving or treating various diseases related to oxytocin secretion such as uterine inertia, atonic hemorrhage, placental expulsion, subinvolution and the like.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 each is H or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, or R1 and R2 form a 3- to 8-membered carbo or heterocyclic ring which may be substituted; R3 is H, a lower alkyl which may be substituted or an aromatic group which may be substituted; R4 is (1) an aromatic group which may be substituted, (2) an aliphatic hydrocarbon group substituted by an aromatic group which may be substituted, which hydrocarbon group may be further substituted or (3) an acyl; X and Y each is oxygen or sulfur which may be oxidized; and ring A is a benzene ring which may be further substituted, or a salt thereof, is useful for an agent for suppressing neurodegeneration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel metalloprotease having a proteolytic activity, its partial peptide or a salt either of them, a DNA coding for the protein, a recombinant vector comprising the DNA, a transformant carrying the recombinant vector, a process for producing the protein, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the DNA, an antibody against the protein, a method for screening for a compound which activates or inhibits a proteolytic activity of the protein, a kit for screening for the compound, and a compound which activates or inhibits a proteolytic activity of the protein which is identified by the screening method or the kit. The DNA coding for the protein of the present invention can be used as a therapeutic and prophylactic composition for a variety of diseases including diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatolienal fibrosis, hepatocirrhosis, osteopetrosis and herniated disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening a compound or its salt that alters the binding property between MCH or its salt and SLC-1 or its salt, characterized by using MCH or its derivative or a salt thereof and SLC-1 or its salt is useful for screening an SLC-1 agonist which can be used not only as an appetite (eating) promoting agent but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for weak pains, atonic bleeding, before and after expulsion, subinvolution of uterus, cesarean section, induced abortion, galactostasis, and the like, and an SLC-1 antagonist which can be used not only as an antiobestic agents (drug), an appetite (eating) modulator, and the like, but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for hyperstimulation, ankylosing uterine contractions, fetal distress, uterine rupture, cervical laceration, preterm delivery, Prader-Wili syndrome and the like.

Abstract: Novel proteins of the present invention that have an organic anion transport activity are useful as, for example, a diagnostic marker for kidney diseases, liver diseases, pancreas diseases, immunological diseases associated with thymus failures, reproductive diseases, digestive diseases, spleen diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, myelitis, diabetes, hypertension, reperfusion injury following ischemia, retinitis, central nervous diseases, skin diseases, thyroid hormone-associated diseases, etc. Compounds that promote or inhibit the activity of the above protein, which are obtained by a screening method using the protein, can be used as, for example, prophylactic/therapeutic agents for the above-described diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound represented by Formula: wherein ring A and ring B may be same or different and each is an optionally substituted homocyclic or heterocyclic ring and the like, each R1 may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclic group or SR2, etc., X1 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group or —NR3—, etc, X2 is a bond, an optionally substituted divalent C1-3 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, —NR4—, —O— or —S(O)p— (wherein p is 0, 1 or 2), each Y may be same or different and is a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, a halogen atom, a carboxyl group, an acyl group, an optionally substituted hydroxy group, an optionally substituted amino group, SR5, an oxo group, a thioxo group, an optionally substituted imino group, a nitro group, a cyano group, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thienopyrimidine compound, represented by the formula [wherein, R1 is C1-4 alkyl, R2 is (1) phenyl optionally having a substituent such as amino, mono C1-4 alkylamino and di C1-4 alkylamino, or (2) a heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent such as amino, mono C1-4 alkylamino and di C1-4 alkylamino and the like, R3 is a hydrogen atom or C1-4 alkyl, R4 is C1-4 alkyl optionally having a substituent such as C1-4 alkoxy-carbonyl, carboxyl, mono C1-4 alkylamino and N—C1-4 alkyl-N—C7-10 aralkylamino and the like] or a salt thereof, which has antagonistic action for gonadotropin-releasing hormone.