Abstract: The present invention relates to an amino acid transporter protein having the ability to mediate the transport of amino acids into a cell, a gene encoding the protein, an antibody having a reactivity with the protein, a cell which produces the antibody, related kits and methods.

Abstract: A human antibody or a functional fragment thereof having specific binding ability to CD98 which is derived from the cell membrane of cancer cells and is in the form of a complex with a protein having an amino acid transporter activity (for example, LAT1) is disclosed. This antibody binds to CD98 in the form of a dimer with LAT1 on the surface of cancer cells, specifically attacks cancer cells expressing CD98 via the immune system by ADCC or CDC, and further inhibits amino acid uptake of the cancer cells via LAT1, to suppress growth of the cancer cells. Accordingly, a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer comprising this antibody or a fragment thereof, which acts on various cancers, is specific to cancer, and causes no side effect, is provided.

Abstract: A cerebral organic anion transporter OAT3 which is useful as a protein regulating the uptake/excretion of organic anionic substances in the brain; a nucleic acid having a base sequence encoding the same; and an antibody against the same. The amino acid sequence and the base sequence of the above OAT3 are shown in Sequence Listing in the description.

Abstract: A compound represented by the general formula 1 as described, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, a solvate thereof, a chelate thereof, a non-covalent complex thereof, a pro-drug thereof, a radio-labeled analog thereof (i.e. 18F, 124I, 11C, etc), and mixtures of any of the foregoing, for diagnosis or monitoring of a medical condition.

Abstract: A human antibody or a functional fragment thereof having specific binding ability to CD98 which is derived from the cell membrane of cancer cells and is in the form of a complex with a protein having an amino acid transporter activity (for example, LAT1) is disclosed. This antibody binds to CD98 in the form of a dimer with LAT1 on the surface of cancer cells, specifically attacks cancer cells expressing CD98 via the immune system by ADCC or CDC, and further inhibits amino acid uptake of the cancer cells via LAT1, to suppress growth of the cancer cells. Accordingly, a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer comprising this antibody or a fragment thereof, which acts on various cancers, is specific to cancer, and causes no side effect, is provided.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a sodium-independent transporter carrying an acidic amino acid and its gene. A protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and being capable of sodium-independently transporting an acidic amino acid and its analogs; a gene encoding this protein; a fused protein of the above protein with an auxiliary factor enabling the expression of its function; a gene encoding the same; a method of analyzing the function of a transporter using the same: and utilization thereof.

Abstract: A human antibody or a functional fragment thereof having specific binding ability to CD98 which is derived from the cell membrane of cancer cells and is in the form of a complex with a protein having an amino acid transporter activity (for example, LAT1) is disclosed. This antibody binds to CD98 in the form of a dimer with LAT1 on the surface of cancer cells, specifically attacks cancer cells expressing CD98 via the immune system by ADCC or CDC, and further inhibits amino acid uptake of the cancer cells via LAT1, to suppress growth of the cancer cells. Accordingly, a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer comprising this antibody or a fragment thereof, which acts on various cancers, is specific to cancer, and causes no side effect, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to kits and methods for determining (diagnosing) prostate cancer malignancy and to predict patient prognoses. In addition to the Gleason's classification and the TMN classification, the invention kit and methods provide improved procedures with molecular markers. These new diagnostic methods provide methods capable of determining prostate cancer malignancy more accurately and easily through combination with the Gleason's classification via biopsies at an early stage before surgical operation; even when specimens taken through a fine needle examination are used instead of specimens extracted during a surgical operation.

Abstract: A novel amino acid transporter molecule mediating transportation of amino acids, which are nutrients essentially required in the survival and proliferation of various normal cells constituting a living body and various pathology-associated abnormal cells such as tumor cells, into cells and being expressed specifically in tumor cells compared with normal cells; and drugs for treating various pathogenic conditions such as tumor (cancer) which are obtained by identifying and isolating the above amino acid transporter molecule and identifying a substance capable of inhibiting the biological activity and/or expression of this molecule. Intensive studies were made to identify a tumor cell membrane surface molecule associating or interacting with a cell membrane surface 4F2hc molecule seemingly playing an important role in the activation of an unknown amino acid transporter.

Abstract: It is intended to clarify a transportation system participating in the uric acid uptake in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and provide a novel remedy, a preventive or a treating agent for vascular disorders, hypertension and renal disorders with the use of a drug participating in this transportation system. It is also intended to provide a novel screening system for a remedy, a preventive or a treating agent for vascular disorders, hypertension and renal disorders with the use of such a transportation system.

Abstract: The present invention provides agents for preventing, improving or treating phosphorus-related disorders and oral preparations; agents high in biosafety and phosphorus adsorptive power, which contain, as an active ingredient, ferric hydroxide as produced under such conditions that a ferrous species is present.

Abstract: It is intended to identify and provide a novel carnitine transporter gene participating in carnitine transport in the testis and epididymis and carnitine transporter which is a protein encoded by the gene. A protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids and being capable of transporting carnitine or its analog; and a gene encoding this protein.

Abstract: It is intended to provide amino acid transporters which act as a single molecule and transport neutral amino acids typified by branched amino acids, and genes thereof. A protein consisting of an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6 or 8 or an amino acid sequence derived from an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6 or 8 by deletion, substitution or addition of one to several amino acids, and being capable of sodium-independently transporting neutral amino acids typified by branched amino acids and analogs thereof as a single molecule. A gene which is a DNA consisting of a base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5 or 7 or a DNA hybridizable with it and encodes a protein capable of sodium-independently transporting branched amino acids as a single molecule.

Abstract: To provide highly safe therapeutic or preventive agents for hyperuricemia, more specifically uricosuric agents, which have potent uricosuric effect and do not cause grave hepatic disorder. Medicinal compositions for the treatment or prevention of hyperuricemia or diseases caused by hyperuricemia, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers; uricosuric agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and inhibitors against the uptake of uric acid in kidney, which contain 6-hydroxybenzbromarone or salts thereof; and a process for the production of 6-hydroxybenzbromarone.

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: It is intended to provide a sodium-independent transporter carrying an acidic amino acid and its gene. A protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and being capable of sodium-independently transporting an acidic amino acid and its analogs; a gene encoding this protein; a fused protein of the above protein with an auxiliary factor enabling the expression of its function; a gene encoding the same; a method of analyzing the function of a transporter using the same: and utilization thereof.

Abstract: A novel amino acid transporter molecule mediating transportation of amino acids, which are nutrients essentially required in the survival and proliferation of various normal cells constituting a living body and various pathology-associated abnormal cells such as tumor cells, into cells and being expressed specifically in tumor cells compared with normal cells; and drugs for treating various pathogenic conditions such as tumor (cancer) which are obtained by identifying and isolating the above amino acid transporter molecule and identifying a substance capable of inhibiting the biological activity and/or expression of this molecule. Intensive studies were made to identify a tumor cell membrane surface molecule associating or interacting with a cell membrane surface 4F2hc molecule seemingly playing an important role in the activation of an unknown amino acid transporter.

Abstract: A novel organic anion transporter gene participating in organic anion transport in the placenta; and an organic anion transporter which is a polypeptide encoded by the gene. A placental organic anion transporter OAT4, more particularly, a placental organic anion transporter OAT4 having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2 or an amino acid sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution or addition of a part of the amino acids thereof. A nucleic acid (preferably DNA) having a base sequence encoding the placental organic anion transporter OAT4 or a base sequence hybridizable therewith under stringent conditions.

Abstract: 1. An aromatic amino acid derivative represented by the formula (I) or its pharmacologically acceptable salt: wherein, R1 is a hydrogen atom or an amino-protecting group, R2 is a halogen atom or an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, R3 is {circle around (1)} a hydrogen atom, {circle around (2)} an aroylamino group, {circle around (3)} a phenyl group substituted with lower alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, etc. {circle around (4)} a naphthyl or tetrahydronaphthyl group optionally substituted with hydroxy, lower alkoxy or di(lower)alkylamino, {circle around (5)} an unsaturated mono-cyclic heterocyclic group containing N, O and/or S substituted with lower alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl or tetrahydroquinolyl, {circle around (6)} an unsaturated or partially saturated condensed heterocyclic group containing N, O and/or S, optionally substituted with oxo, carboxy, amino, lower alkyl, etc.; X is a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group; Y is oxygen atom or nitrogen atom; l is 0 or 1; m is 0, 1 or 2; n is an integer of 0-5.

Abstract: It is intended to identify and provide a novel carnitine transporter gene participating in carnitine transport in the testis and epididymis and carnitine transporter which is a protein encoded by the gene. 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 carnitine or its analog; and a gene encoding this protein.