Abstract: A pyridine derivative represented by the following formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof. These compounds directly or indirectly act on neuronal cells in vivo and are effective in the amelioration and curing of nerve disorders due to neuronal degeneration, such as, for example, traumatic symptoms and maladies, disorders induced by drugs such as alcohol and antineoplastic agents, inflammatory disorders, metabolic disorders observed in diabetes, and disorders due to idiopathic degeneration of peripheral nerves. These compounds are also effective for ameliorating and curing symptoms and maladies due to degeneration of central nerves, for example, Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular ischemia, Down's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, diseases secondary to cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction, intracerebral bleeding, head injuries, amnesia, and spinal neuropathy.

Abstract: A novel parenchymal hepatocyte growth factor originating in a human or animal liver, having an estimated molecular weight according to nonreductive SDS-PAGE of about 63,000 to about 69,000, an estimated molecular weight according to reductive SDS-PAGE of about 32,000 to about 36,000 and an estimated molecular weight according to gel filtration of about 60 to about 70 Kd; and having an activity of effecting the growth of parenchymal hepatocyte has been obtained from the hemihepatectomized tissue. Furthermore, a gene coding for the above substance has been obtained from the mRNA of the above tissue and it has thus become possible to mass-produce the above substance.

Abstract: A DNA fragment encoding a novel human-derived tumor cell growth inhibitor can be obtained from a cDNA library originating from human colon tumor cell, using as a DNA probe a DNA fragment encoding mouse human-derived tumor cell growth inhibitor. An expression plasmid bearing a promoter originating from Bacillus brevis, a signal peptide originating from Bacillus brevis and a DNA fragment encoding human-derived tumor cell growth inhibitor downstream of the signal peptide is constructed and Bacillus brevis is transformed by the expression plasmid. The resulting transformant is incubated to secret the novel inhibitor out of the cell so that the novel inhibitor can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: DNA fragments encoding a tumor cell growth inhibitors and having a nucleotide sequence shown by formula (1) below, which are produced by preparing cDNA library from mRNA of the established 3T3 cell-derived cell line, amplifying various DNA fragments considered to encode the tumor cell growth inhibitors by the PCR method, analyzing the nucleotide sequences of these DNA fragments and determining the nucleotide sequences of the DNA fragments encoding the inhibitors: ##STR1## wherein X represents TTC TTT CTA or TTC (SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2).

Abstract: Novel tumor cell growth inhibitor is a protein which can be obtained from the culture supernatant of 3T3 cell-derived cell line and which has the following properties:(a) molecular weight 3,700.+-.370 daltons when measured by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions;(b) column propertythe inhibitor is not substantially adsorbed onto an anionic exchange resin column at pH of about 7.4 but is substantially adsorbed onto a cationic exchange resin column at pH of about 5.0The inhibitor has an inhibitory activity on human promyelogenic leukemia cells and human uterocervical tumor-derived cells and is useful for the treatment of leaukemia or uterus tumor.

Abstract: An epoxysuccinic acid derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt are useful as cathepsin B inhibitors.

Abstract: Tripeptide derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a formyl group or a dimethoxymethyl group have antitumor and enzyme inhibition effects.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel peptide derivatives. Said peptide derivatives are useful as a substrate for the activity assay of enzymes of the group EC 3. 4. 22, for example, cathepsin L, cathepsin B and cathepsin H. Said peptide derivatives which contain L-methionine radical are prepared according to the methods conventional in peptide chemistry. As typical examples are mentioned D-leucyl-L-tyrosyl-L-methionine-.beta.-naphthylamide formate, .beta.-alanyl-L-tyrosyl-L-methionine-.beta.-naphthylamide formate and succinyl-L-tyrosyl-L-methionine-p-nitroanilide.

Abstract: An epoxysuccinyl amino acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkali metal, benzyl or cycloalkyl having 5 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is alkyl having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, benzyloxycarbonyl, acetyl or benzoyl, and n is an integer of 2 to 7. The subject compounds exhibit inhibitory activity towards thiol protease, especially, calcium-activated neutral thiol protease which exists in excess in muscle tissues of mammals afflicted with muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: An epoxysuccinyl amino acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkali metal, R.sup.2 is isobutyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or benzyloxycarbonyl, and n is an integer of 5 to 7. The subject compounds exhibit inhibitory activity towards thiol protease, especially, calcium-activated neutral thiol protease which exists in excess in muscle tissues of mammals afflicted with muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: The epoxysuccinic acid derivatives of this invention are prepared by esterification of an epoxysuccinic acid or a halide thereof, by partial hydrolysis of an epoxysuccinic acid diester, by amidation of an epoxysuccinic acid monoester, or by hydrolysis of an epoxysuccinic acid amide monoester. These epoxysuccinic acid derivatives have excellent thiol protease inhibitory activity and anti-inflammatory activity without the acceleration of vascular permeability.

Abstract: The epoxysuccinamic acid compounds of the present invention are prepared by reaction of monoesters of epoxysuccinic acid or monoesters of epoxysuccinic acid chloride with amino compounds. These epoxysuccinamic acid compounds have excellent anti-inflammatory activity, thiol protease inhibitory activity, muscular dystrophy inhibitory activity and anti-hypertensive activity without acceleration of vascular permeability.

Abstract: An epoxysuccinic acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkali metal, alkyl having 1-2 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5-6 carbon atoms or benzyl, R.sup.2 is alkyl having 3-4 carbon atoms or benzyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sup.4 is alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl, cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbon atoms or a group of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1-4 carbon atoms or said alkyl substituted with hydroxy, methylmercapto, phenyl, hydroxyphenyl, indolyl, an optionally protected carboxy, an optionally protected amino or an optionally protected guanidino, and R.sup.6 is hydroxy, alkalimetaloxy, alkoxy having 1-2 carbon atoms, benzyloxy, amino or dimethylamino, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring, or said heterocyclic ring substituted with a protected carboxy.

Abstract: An epoxysuccinic acid derivative of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkali metal, alkyl having 1-2 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 5-6 carbon atoms or benzyl, R.sup.2 is alkyl having 3-4 carbon atoms or benzyl, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sup.4 is alkyl having 1-10 carbon atoms, phenyl, benzyl, phenethyl or cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbon atoms or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5-6 membered heterocyclic ring, or said heterocyclic ring substituted with a protected carboxy.