Abstract: Provided is a novel agent capable of binding to a CUG repeat sequence. The agent comprises a compound A having a binding response of 10 resonance units (RU) or more at 25 nM to a (CUG)9 RNA immobilized at 401 RU as determined by surface plasmon resonance.

Abstract: Methods of treating diseases caused by repeat DNA instability are described herein. The methods described herein can inhibit the further expansion of repeat DNA and, in some instances, reduce the size of the repeat DNA (e.g., reduce the number of repeats).

Abstract: Methods of treating diseases caused by repeat DNA instability are described herein. The methods described herein can inhibit the further expansion of repeat DNA and, in some instances, reduce the size of the repeat DNA (e.g., reduce the number of repeats).

Abstract: Provided are a PCR method and a PCR kit each of which has higher detection accuracy and is more convenient. A PCR method of the present invention subjects a sample to a PCR reaction, the sample containing: a primer set including a first primer and a second primer; a template amplified by the primer set; a first probe which loses at least one bulge structure in a case where a double strand is formed by the first probe and the first primer and which forms the at least one bulge structure by being dissociated from the double strand formed by the first probe and the first primer; and a bulge structure-binding molecule which emits a signal by binding to the at least one bulge structure.

Abstract: Provided are a PCR method and a PCR kit each of which has higher detection accuracy and is more convenient. A PCR method of the present invention subjects a sample to a PCR reaction, the sample containing: a primer set including a first primer and a second primer; a template amplified by the primer set; a first probe which loses at least one bulge structure in a case where a double strand is formed by the first probe and the first primer and which forms the at least one bulge structure by being dissociated from the double strand formed by the first probe and the first primer; and a bulge structure-binding molecule which emits a signal by binding to the at least one bulge structure.

Abstract: A method for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in nucleic acids, characterized in that the method includes mixing (A) a nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleotide sequence complementarily hybridizable to an evaluation subject nucleic acid/an antisense strand thereof containing at least one single nucleotide polymorphism, and tagged with a nucleotide sequence of a hairpin structure having a bulge at a 5?-terminal thereof, wherein a guanine residue is introduced at an adjoining position of the bulge, and wherein a naphthyridine derivative compound is immobilized to the bulge; and (B) the evaluation subject nucleic acids; and detecting a signal ascribed to the naphthyridine derivative compound when the above nucleic acid probe and the above evaluation subject nucleic acids are hybridized, thereby evaluating the above single nucleotide polymorphism.

Abstract: A method is provided which enables quick, convenient, inexpensive, and high sensitivity confirmation of nucleic acid amplification after a nucleic acid amplification reaction. The DNA fragment in accordance with the present invention is a single-stranded DNA fragment containing a hairpin structure which in turn contains a bulge, wherein the DNA fragment is used as being attached to the 5? end of a primer used in nucleic acid amplification. The nucleic acid amplification confirmation method in accordance with the present invention quantifies a hairpin primer containing the DNA fragment at its 5? end by using bulge-binding fluorescent molecules after carrying out PCR or like nucleic acid amplification reaction using the hairpin primer. SNPs are detected quickly and conveniently at low cost and with high sensitivity by applying the nucleic acid amplification confirmation method, for example, to allele specific PCR.

Abstract: A disk drive device includes a base, a hub on which a recording disk is to be mounted, and a fluid dynamic bearing unit that supports the hub in a freely rotatable manner relative to the base. The hub includes a hub protrusion to be engaged with the center hole of the recording disk, and amount portion on which the recording disk is to be mounted. A manufacturing method of this disk drive device applies electromechanical machining to the hub protrusion to form an electromechanical machined surface.

Abstract: A method for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in nucleic acids, characterized in that the method includes mixing (A) a nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleotide sequence complementarily hybridizable to an evaluation subject nucleic acid/an antisense strand thereof containing at least one single nucleotide polymorphism, and tagged with a nucleotide sequence of a hairpin structure having a bulge at a 5?-terminal thereof, wherein a guanine residue is introduced at an adjoining position of the bulge, and wherein a naphthyridine derivative compound is immobilized to the bulge; and (B) the evaluation subject nucleic acids; and detecting a signal ascribed to the naphthyridine derivative compound when the above nucleic acid probe and the above evaluation subject nucleic acids are hybridized, thereby evaluating the above single nucleotide polymorphism.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is disclosed for measuring a binding affinity between a nucleic acid and a test substance, which contains an organic fluorescent substance capable of binding to an RNA and which emits fluorescence having an intensity greater while the organic fluorescent substance is liberated from an RNA than while the organic fluorescent substance is bound to an RNA. This enables a highly accurate and easy measurement of a binding affinity between a test substance and a nucleic acid, and allows various substances to be examined as a test substance.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is disclosed for measuring a binding affinity between a nucleic acid and a test substance, which contains an organic fluorescent substance capable of binding to an RNA and which emits fluorescence having an intensity greater while the organic fluorescent substance is liberated from an RNA than while the organic fluorescent substance is bound to an RNA. This enables a highly accurate and easy measurement of a binding affinity between a test substance and a nucleic acid, and allows various substances to be examined as a test substance.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is disclosed for measuring a binding affinity between a nucleic acid and a test substance, which contains an organic fluorescent substance capable of binding to an RNA and which emits fluorescence having an intensity greater while the organic fluorescent substance is liberated from an RNA than while the organic fluorescent substance is bound to an RNA. This enables a highly accurate and easy measurement of a binding affinity between a test substance and a nucleic acid, and allows various substances to be examined as a test substance.

Abstract: A method is provided which enables quick, convenient, inexpensive, and high sensitivity confirmation of nucleic acid amplification after a nucleic acid amplification reaction. The DNA fragment in accordance with the present invention is a single-stranded DNA fragment containing a hairpin structure which in turn contains a bulge, wherein the DNA fragment is used as being attached to the 5? end of a primer used in nucleic acid amplification. The nucleic acid amplification confirmation method in accordance with the present invention quantifies a hairpin primer containing the DNA fragment at its 5? end by using bulge-binding fluorescent molecules after carrying out PCR or like nucleic acid amplification reaction using the hairpin primer. SNPs are detected quickly and conveniently at low cost and with high sensitivity by applying the nucleic acid amplification confirmation method, for example, to allele specific PCR.

Abstract: A method of forming a self-connective structure (a hairpin structure, a four-stranded structure, etc.) of a single-stranded oligonucleotide chain by forming a mimetic base pair of a mismatch base pair failing to form any normal base pair among base pairs of the single-stranded oligonucleotide chain with the use of a compounds represented by the following general formula (I): A-L-B (I) wherein A represents a chemical structural moiety capable of forming a pair with one base of a base pair failing to form any normal base pair; B represents a chemical structural moiety capable of forming a pair with the other base of the base pair failing to form any normal base pair; and L represents a linker structure by which the chemical structures A and B are linked to each other; and a method of inhibiting the activity of enzyme according to the previous method.

Abstract: An inhibitor contains naphthyridine dimer, a naphthyridine-azaquinolone hybrid, a trinaphthyridine-azaquinolone hybrid, or a trinaphthyridine-azaquinolone hybrid derivative. In order to inhibit binding of 100 nM of RRE to 100 nM of Rev protein, for example, an inhibitor containing naphthyridine dimer is used at a molarity of 1.2 ?M to 12 ?M, an inhibitor containing the naphthyridine-azaquinolone hybrid is used at a molarity of 2 ?M to 20 ?M, or an inhibitor containing the trinaphthyridine-azaquinolone hybrid derivative is used at a molarity of 200 nM to 2 ?M. This makes it possible to effectively inhibit binding of RRE to Rev protein.

Abstract: A method of forming a self-connective structure (a hairpin structure, a four-stranded structure, etc.) of a single-stranded oligonucleotide chain by forming a mimetic base pair of a mismatch base pair failing to form any normal base pair among base pairs of the single-stranded oligonucleotide chain with the use of a compounds represented by the following general formula (I): A—L—B (I) wherein A represents a chemical structural moiety capable of forming a pair with one base of a base pair failing to form any normal base pair; B represents a chemical structural moiety capable of forming a pair with the other base of the base pair failing to form any normal base pair; and L represents a linker structure by which the chemical structures A and B are linked to each other; and a method of inhibiting the activity of enzyme according to the previous method.

Abstract: A method whereby a mismatched base pair in a nucleic acid such as DNA or RNA can be conveniently and highly sensitively detected; and detection reagents therefor.