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: 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: 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 polypeptide having an RNaseH activity and being highly useful in gene engineering; a gene encoding. this polypeptide; and a genetic engineering process for producing the polypeptide.

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.

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 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 Nucleotide useful for detecting a base substitution in a gene, a method for detecting a base substitution in a gene using said Nucleotide, and a kit for the same.

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: Three enzymes degrading sulfated glucuronofucan; processes for producing these enzymes; activators for these enzymes; glucuronofucan sulfate and degradation products thereof; and a novel microorganism.

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 promoter, an intron and a terminator by which a useful foreign gene can be efficiently expressed in algae and which are thus useful in breeding algae using genetic engineering techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 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 for treating a preventing a disease accompanying an abnormality in an amount of insulin or insulin response, 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 a processed product derived from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of (a) a plant belonging to Tiliaceae, (b) a plant belonging to Zingiberaceae, (c) a plant belonging to Compositae, (d) a plant belonging to Liliaceae, and (e) a plant belonging to Polygonaceae.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament, a food, a beverage or a feed, each comprising as an effective ingredient a compound having an enhancing action for NGF production, which is effective for a treatment, an amelioration of symptom, prevention or the like of a disease requiring enhancement of NGF production, wherein the compound has a coumarin and/or chroman backbone. Since no toxicity is especially found in the effective ingredient of the present invention, and there is no risk of incidence of adverse actions, the treatment or the like of the above disease can be safely and appropriately carried out.

Abstract: Accurate and highly reproducible means of detecting a base substitution mutation (for example, SNP), an insertion mutation or a deletion mutation with the use of a nucleic acid sample in a trace amount and a method of typing gene polymorphisms using the means.

Abstract: An enzyme which decomposes a sulfated fucoglucuronomannan and is useful in the field of glycotechnology; a process for producing the enzyme; a fucoidan fraction reduced in the number of the kinds of molecules and useful as a reagent in glycotechnology; a sulfated fucoglucuronomannan oligosaccharide; and processes for producing the fraction and oligosaccharide.