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 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: Improved methods for transferring a gene into target cells by using a retrovirus, wherein the gene transfer efficiency is improved and the target cells are efficiently transformed by binding the retrovirus to a functional substance which is immobilized on as carrier and having an activity of binding to retroviruses followed by washing; using an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cells, laminin or mannose-rich type sugar chain as a substance having an activity of binding to the target cells; pre-treating the target cells so as to inactivate transferring receptor, or introducing a new functional group into the functional substance.

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: 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: In the case where a template nucleic acid has sequences substantially the same as each other, a primer is designed in a region between these sequences so as to give a product in a ladder structure in which a target region is polymerized in a single sequence via the same sequences in the ICAN reaction. By using a chimeric oligonucleotide primer and a ladder-forming oligonucleotide primer containing a specific base sequence, an amplification product having a ladder structure can be positively formed and thus the sensitivity, amplification efficiency and reaction speed in the ICAN reaction can be elevated.

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: The invention relates to a gene, dep, which confers resistance to the antibacterial activity of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one (DHCP). The invention further relates to the putative protein encoded by dep, which is a hydrophobic, transmembrane efflux protein specific for DHCP. The invention further relates to plasmids containing the dep gene, and to bacterial cells expressing dep. Furthermore, the invention provides applications for use in conferring resistance to antibacterial activity in organisms. The dep gene can be used to identify compounds which inhibit the efflux activity responsible for the resistance to DHCP or to compounds which are functionally equivalent to DHCP.

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 ceramidase activity inhibitor which inhibits ceramidase activity, specifically neutral/alkaline ceramidase activity, characterized in that the inhibitor comprises, as an active ingredient, a processed product derived from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of plants belonging to Ginkgoaceae, plants belonging to Cucurbitaceae, plants belonging to Rutaceae, plants belonging to Laminariaceae, plants belonging to Myrtaceae and plants belonging to Compositae, and a medicament, a quasi-drug, cosmetics and a food, each comprising the inhibitor.

Abstract: Sulfated fucan lyase capable of decomposing sulfated fucan derived from sea cucumber; a process for producing the enzyme; a low molecular compound obtained by causing the enzyme to act on sulfated fucan; a process for producing the same; and an activating factor for sulfated fucan lyase.

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.