Abstract: An isolated polypeptide having a thermostable ribonuclease H activity from Archaeoglobus profundus is highly useful in genetic engineering, as well as a gene encoding this polypeptide and a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide.

Abstract: Isolated DNAs which are DNAs having a base sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOS:1 to 6 in Sequence Listing or fragments thereof and showing a stationary phase-specific promoter activity in gram positive bacteria.

Abstract: A method for transferring a gene into a fat cell or progenitor fat cell comprising the step of infecting the fat cell or progenitor cell with a retrovirus vector having a foreign gene in the presence of a substance having both of a retrovirus-binding site and a target cell-binding site in the molecule or a mixture of a substance having a retrovirus-binding site and a substance having a target cell-binding site, the target cell-binding site having a region that can bind to VLA-5 and/or a region that can bind to VLA-4.

Abstract: To provide a method for selecting a marker gene useful for cancer classification; a method for classifying cancer using the gene; a method for detecting cancer; a kit usable for the classification method or detection method; and a DNA array carrying the gene. According to the present invention, there can be obtained a gene, wherein expression of the above gene is altered independently from genes each of which expression is altered specifically during cell proliferation and expression level of the above gene is specifically altered depending on every type of cancer samples to be tested, whereby the classification or detection of cancer can be carried out conveniently and quickly without giving surgical treatment. Therefore, the present invention is useful for the diagnosis, the treatment, and the like of cancer.

Abstract: Problem: To provide a fungal bed culture enabling stable production of a hon-shimeji mushroom in large scale commercial cultivation as well as a method of fungal bed cultivation of a hon-shimeji mushroom using the fungal bed culture. Solution: There is provided a fungal bed culture of a hon-shimeji mushroom inoculated with a liquid seed culture characterized in that the surface of a culture medium for cultivation has a liquid seed culture inoculated portion and a liquid seed culture non-inoculated portion as well as a fungal bed cultivation method of a hon-shimeji mushroom characterized by generating a fruit body from the fungal bed culture. According to the present invention improves the formation rate of budlet in the fungal bed cultivation of a hon-shimeji mushroom, thereby enabling stable production of a hon-shimeji mushroom in large scale commercial cultivation.

Abstract: A DNA synthesis reaction-enhancer comprising at least one kind selected from the group consisting of acidic substances and cationic complexes; a DNA synthesis method in which during a DNA synthesis reaction a reaction is carried out in the presence of the above enhancer by using DNA polymerase; a DNA synthesis reaction composition comprising the above enhancer; a DNA synthesis reaction composition comprising two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity; a DNA synthesis method in which during a DNA synthesis reaction two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity are used; a kit for use in in vitro DNA synthesis, comprising two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity; and a kit for use in in vitro DNA synthesis, wherein the kit comprises the DNA synthesis reaction-enhancer and DNA polymerase.

Abstract: Polypeptides having an RNase H activity highly useful in genetic engineering; genes encoding these polypeptides; and a process for genetic engineeringly producing these polypeptides.

Abstract: A polypeptide having a high fidelity DNA polymerase activity and thus being useful as a genetic engineering reagent; a gene encoding this polypeptide; a method of producing the polypeptide; and a method of amplifying a nucleic acid by using the polypeptide.

Abstract: Medicinal compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing diseases with sensitivity to 3,6-anhydrogalactopyranose represented by formula (1): foods, drinks, cosmetics, etc. containing as the active ingredient at least one member selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned compound, its aldehyde, its hydrate and 2-O-methylated derivatives thereof and soluble sugar compounds containing the above compound. This compound also shows, for example, an apoptosis-inducing activity, a carcinostatic activity and inhibitory activities on the production of active oxygen, lipid peroxide radicals and NO, which makes it useful also as the active ingredient of antioxidants and preservatives.

Abstract: A DNA synthesis reaction-enhancer comprising at least one kind selected from the group consisting of acidic substances and cationic complexes; a DNA synthesis method in which during a DNA synthesis reaction a reaction is carried out in the presence of the above enhancer by using DNA polymerase; a DNA synthesis reaction composition comprising the above enhancer; a DNA synthesis reaction composition comprising two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity; a DNA synthesis method in which during a DNA synthesis reaction two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity are used; a kit for use in in vitro DNA synthesis, comprising two or more kinds of DNA polymerases each having 3??5? exonuclease activity; and a kit for use in in vitro DNA synthesis, wherein the kit comprises the DNA synthesis reaction-enhancer and DNA polymerase.

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: 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: According to the present invention, there are provided kneading-free Angelica keiskei tea leaves obtainable by a treatment comprising a step for roast-heating a dried material of Angelica keiskei; an Angelica keiskei tea beverage produced by using the kneading-free Angelica keiskei tea leaves; and a process for producing thereof. The Angelica keiskei tea leaves are preferably heated at a heating temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. in the roast-heating treatment, and the dried material of Angelica keiskei to be subjected to the roast-heating is preferably obtained by drying in a dried system after blanching and has a moisture content of 20% or less. Further, according to the present invention, there is also provided an Angelica keiskei chalcone function-formulated beverage comprising formulated Angelica keiskei chalcones that are components specific to Angelica keiskei.

Abstract: A polypeptide having an endonuclease activity derived from a psychrophilic microorganism Shewanella sp. strain AC10, which exhibits high activity at low temperatures, can remove any nucleic acid present in a protein solution and can reduce the viscosity of a protein extract; and a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide.

Abstract: A novel endoribonuclease activity exhibiting polypeptide; a nucleic acid coding for the polypeptide; a recombinant DNA comprising the nucleic acid; a transformant obtained by transformation using the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the polypeptide, characterized by including the steps of culturing the transformant and collecting the polypeptide from the culture; a process for producing single-strand RNA fragments, characterized by including the step of causing the polypeptide to act on a single-strand RNA; and a method of fragmenting a single-strand RNA.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergoses; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergoses, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: There can be provided a fungal antigen which is an insoluble fraction obtainable from fungal cells of which cell wall has been substantially removed or at least partially removed; a process for producing the same; a nucleic acid encoding the fungal antigen; a biologic product containing the fungal antigen; a method of stimulating immunological responses by using the biologic product; a method of suppressing allergic reaction to fungi in a vertebrate; and a method for diagnosing a disease caused by fungi in a vertebrate.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a virus vector free of a serum, and a serum-free medium for cultivation of a virus producer cell which can be used for the method are provided. By cultivating a virus producer cell using a serum-free medium containing serum albumin, it is possible to cultivate the cell in a state equivalent to that in a serum-containing medium to produce a virus vector at a sufficient titer. The virus vector prepared from the virus producer cell cultivated in the medium exhibits gene transfer efficiency comparable to that of a conventional vector. The medium is useful for gene therapy and studies thereof.

Abstract: There are provided hyperthermostable proteases having an amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of the Sequence Listing or functional equivalents thereof and hyperthermostable protease genes encoding those hyperthermostable protease. There is also disclosed a process for preparation of a hyperthermostable protease by culturing a transformant containing the gene.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a fungal bed cultivation method of a hon-shimeji mushroom, wherein induction of primordia of a fruit body is conducted by illumination under incubation conditions, and an ongoing culture for fungal bed cultivation of a hon-shimeji mushroom, wherein primordia of a fruit body have been formed thereon during incubation. The culture medium is maintained in a clean state and it is advantageous because the formation of primordia of a fruit body can be carried out in a clean environment and the culture medium wherein primordia of a fruit body have been formed can be transferred to distant mushroom cultivation facilities under clean conditions as such.