Abstract: It is intended to identify and provide a novel urate transporter gene participating in the urate transport in the kidney and a urate transporter which is a polypeptide encoded by the above gene. Namely, a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or an amino acid sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids and being capable of transporting uric acid and its analogs; and a gene encoding this protein.

Abstract: An optical device has a light-transmitting optical substrate formed with a multilayer film and a barrier layer disposed on the multilayer film side thereof. The light-transmitting optical substrate has a refractive index Ns (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of 1.7≦Ns≦1.9, whereas the barrier layer has a refractive index Nb (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of −0.1≦Nb−Ns≦0.1.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a light-transmitting optical substrate formed with a multilayer film and a barrier layer disposed on the multilayer film side thereof. The light-transmitting optical substrate has a refractive index Ns (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of 1.7≦Ns≦1.9, whereas the barrier layer has a refractive index Nb (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of −0.1≦Nb−Ns≦0.1.

Abstract: An independent suspension provided with a knuckle for rotatably supporting a wheel thereon and a sub-knuckle member pivotally supported on the knuckle, the knuckle connected to the leading terminal of a lower arm through a first ball joint and the basal terminal part of the lower arm is attached to an automobile body. The leading terminal of an upper arm is connected to the sub-knuckle member through a second ball joint and the basal terminal part of the upper arm is attached to the automobile body side. The leading terminal of a control link attached to the automobile body side is connected to the knuckle member through a third ball joint. The axis which passes the centers of the first ball joint and the second ball joint constitutes itself a steering axis. The center of the third ball joint is offset relative to the point of intersection between the horizontal plane passing the third ball joint and the steering axis.