Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel method of detecting a function or activity of a polypeptide which is related to bone metabolism, in particular, differentiation (maturation) of osteoblast or morphological change (retraction), specifically relating to a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acids are deleted, substituted or added in the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, or a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid which is capable of hybridizing under stringent condition with a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or a complement sequence thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a novel protein and a novel gene which are related to bone metabolism, in particular, differentiation (maturation) of osteoblast or morphological change (retraction), and to disclose a polypeptide which comprises a polypeptide selected from the following (A), (B) and (C), and has a function or an activity selected from the following (i), (ii) and (iii):

Abstract: An isolated gene encoding a polypeptide which is required for secretion of esterase originated from a microorganism of the genus Serratia, a recombinant plasmid comprising a plasmid prepared by inserting the isolated gene into a vector plasmid, a microorganism transformed with the recombinant plasmid, and a method for the production of an esterase which comprises cultivating the transformant microorganism as set forth above in a medium and collecting the produced esterase outside and inside the cells. The transformed microorganism have remarkably excellent capability of extracellular secretion of esterase.

Abstract: A gene encoding a polypeptide which participates in the mechanism of secretion of esterase originated from a microorganism of the genus Serratia, a recombinant plasmid comprising a plasmid prepared by inserting said gene into a vector plasmid, a microorganism transformed with said recombinant plasmid, and a method for the production of an esterase which comprises cultivating the transformant microorganism as set forth above in a medium and collecting the produced esterase outside and inside the cells. Said transformed microorganism have remarkably excellent capability of extracellular secretion of esterase.

Abstract: A gene encoding an esterase originated from a microorganism of the genus Serratia, a mutant strain having high esterase productivity containing said gene, a recombinant plasmid comprising said gene inserted into a vector plasmid, a novel microorganism transformed with said recombinant plasmid, and a method for the production of an esterase which comprises cultivating the mutant strain or the novel microorganism as set forth above in a medium and collecting the produced esterase outside and inside the cells. Said mutant strain having high esterase productivity and new transformed microorganism have excellent esterase productivity and can produce the desired esterase in high purity on a large scale.

Abstract: A novel esterase which is derived from Serratia marcescens is disclosed. Said esterase has the following physico-chemical properties and enzymatic characteristics:(1) Activity; it (i.e., said esterase) hydrolyzes an ester bond of organic carboxylates, (2) Substrate specificity; it acts on alkyl esters of organic carboxylic acids, triglycerides or thiol esters, (3) Optimum pH; its optimum pH is 7.5-9.0 when the hydrolysis is carried out by using olive oil as the substrate, (4) pH stability; it is stable at pH 5.0-9.0 when it is stored at 30.degree. C. for one hour, (5) Optimum temperature; its optimum temperature is 40.degree.-50.degree. C. when the hydrolysis is carried out by using olive oil as the substrate, (6) Heat stability; it is stable at a temperature of not higher than 50.degree. C. when it is stored at pH 8.0 for 30 minutes, (7) Molecular weight; 62,000.+-.2,000 (SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), (8) Isoelectric point; 4.6.+-.0.