Abstract: A polypeptide having an ?-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: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed for treating or preventing a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for induction of an adipocyte differentiation, each comprising as an effective ingredient a processed product derived from a plant belonging to Umbelliferae.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an antitumor agent, an apoptosis-inducing agent or an angiogenesis-suppressing agent having the effect even via an oral route, containing a compound contained in an inexpensive edible basidiomycete or a composition derived from an edible basidiomycete, and a food having the antitumor activity, the apoptosis-inducing activity or the angiogenesis-suppressing activity containing the compound or the composition can be obtained. Therefore, the present invention is particularly useful, especially in the field of a medicine and a health food.

Abstract: Production of efficiently producing agaro-oligosaccharide; a polypeptide having an agarase activity which is usable in, for example, efficiently extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel; the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide; a gene encoding the polypeptide; a process for producing the polypeptide; a process for producing agaro-oligosaccharide; and a process for extracting a substance such as a nucleic acid from an agarose gel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease requiring promotion of osteogenesis or enhancement of bone morphogenetic protein production, an agent for promotion of osteogenesis or an agent for enhancement of bone morphogenetic protein production, and a food, beverage or feed for promotion of osteogenesis or enhancement of bone morphogenetic protein production, characterized in that each comprises as an effective ingredient a processed product derived from a plant. Also, the present invention relates to a method for measuring an enhancing action for bone morphogenetic protein production, a method for screening a substance having an enhancing action for bone morphogenetic protein production, and a method for preparing a substance having an enhancing action for bone morphogenetic protein production, each method using a specified cell.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an RNase III activity with which the length of a dsRNA degradation product can be easily controlled depending on reaction conditions and, in preparing a dsRNA having a length allowing it to serve as an siRNA in RNA interference, a low-molecular weight product having little RNA interferring effect is scarcely formed; a method of degrading a dsRNA with the use of the above polypeptide; and a composition and a kit for the above method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease that requires enhancement of nerve growth factor production, an enhancer for nerve growth factor production, or a food, beverage or feed for enhancing nerve growth factor production, each comprising as an effective ingredient a specified compound or a salt thereof having enhancing activity for nerve growth factor production; a method for enhancing nerve growth factor production, comprising administering to a mammal the above-mentioned compound or a salt thereof; and use of the above-mentioned compound or a salt thereof in the preparation of a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease that requires enhancement of nerve growth factor production, an enhancer for nerve growth factor production, or a food, beverage or feed for enhancing nerve growth factor production. In addition, the present invention provides novel compounds having enhancing activity for nerve growth factor production.

Abstract: A material containing agarobiose; a method for preparing the material; and a food, a drink or a seasoning using the material, which is tasty and has the effect of alleviating a stimulant taste and of enhancing the depth of sweetness.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an ?-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 vector having a region encoding a cold shock protein gene mRNA-origin 5?-nontranslated region, characterized in that the 5?-nontranslated region has a mutation having been transferred therein so as to change the distance of the stem structure formed by the region.

Abstract: A gene encoding a polypeptide having an activity of digesting sulfated fucogalactan which is useful in sugar chain engineering reagents, analyzing the structures of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides and preparing degraded products of the polysaccharides; a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide; and the polypeptide obtained by the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel chalcone compound, its derivative or a salt thereof, each having a suppressive action of NO production or an inhibitory action of aldose reductase. In addition, the present invention provides a medicament, a food, a beverage or a feed having a therapeutic or prophylactic effect for a disease showing sensitivity to the compound, by utilizing the physiological actions of the compound.

Abstract: A material containing agarobiose; a method for preparing the material; and a food, a drink or a seasoning using the material, which is tasty and has the effect of alleviating a stimulant taste and of enhancing the depth of sweetness.

Abstract: A gene encoding a polypeptide having an activity of digesting sulfated fucogalactan which is useful in sugar chain engineering reagents, analyzing the structures of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides and preparing degraded products of the polysaccharides; a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide; and the polypeptide obtained by the process.

Abstract: A protein having an activity of degrading a dsRNA, namely, being capable of acting on a long-chain dsRNA to form a dsRNA of a definite length; a method of efficiently preparing a dsRNA of a definite length which comprises treating a dsRNA with the protein having an activity of degrading a dsRNA in the coexistence of a protein having an activity of binding to a nucleic acid such as a protein having an RNA-binding activity; and a method of using the protein having an activity of binding to a nucleic acid to elevate the efficiency in an RNA synthesis reaction typified by dsRNA synthesis.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent and prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an agent for an insulin-mimetic action, a food, beverage and feed, an agent for enhancing glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, characterized in that each comprises as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a chalcone compound, an acetophenone compound, a coumarin compound, a phthalide compound, derivatives thereof, and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an extract obtainable by extracting a plant belonging to Umbelliferae, or a processed product thereof, with a water-containing alcohol; a process for preparing the extract; a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response and/or diabetic complications, characterized in that the therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; an agent for an insulin-mimetic action, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; a food, beverage or feed, comprising the extract as defined above; an agent for enhancing glucose uptake into a cell, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; to an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, characterized in that the agent comprises as an effective ingredient the extract as defined above; and an inhibi

Abstract: A universal method of searching for a nucleic acid capable of effectively inhibiting gene expression; a nucleic acid construct to be used in this method; a vector; and a kit for the above method. This method is characterized in that a nucleic acid construct, which is a nucleic acid construct having a promoter sequence, at least two gene sequences and a poly A signal sequence and in which the above-described at least two gene sequences are transcribed as a single molecule RNA and at least one gene sequence is in the translatable state while at least one gene sequence is encoded in the substantially untranslatable state, is constructed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, an insulin-mimetic action agent, a food, beverage, or feed, an agent for enhancement of glucose uptake into a cell, and an agent for inducing differentiation into an adipocyte, each comprising as an effective ingredient at least one compound selected from the group consisting of specified compounds having an insulin-mimetic action, derivatives thereof, and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of analyzing, in chromosomal DNA having a retroviral vector incorporated therein, DNA region derived from chromosome which is adjacent to the vector, characterized in that a primer extension reaction and a nucleic acid amplification reaction are carried out in the presence of a compound capable of lowering the Tm value of double stranded nucleic acid. There are further provided a kit and buffer for use in this method.