Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening drugs inhibiting the expression of OSF-2 gene or the production or function of the protein encoded thereby and therapeutic agents for heart failure having such effects. Useful methods for diagnosing heart failure can be provided by monitoring the expression or variation of said gene or the production of the protein encoded thereby. The present invention also provides transgenic animals with forced expression of OSF-2 gene and methods for studying changes in gene expression or protein production or the functions of various genes or proteins with the progress of the pathology of heart failure using them and novel therapeutic agents for heart failure.

Abstract: For a method of inducing differentiation of cardiomyocytes from stem cells, a method is provided to induce efficiently and selectively differentiation of cardiomyocytes by such a method in which the stem cells are cultured to induce differentiation into cardiomyocytes in the presence of a substance that inhibits BMP signaling.

Abstract: A prophylactic or therapeutic method for a disease associated with decreased expression of AOP-1 gene or AOP-1, comprising (1) transfecting a nucleic acid encoding AOP-1 or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having an addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids as compared with the amino acid sequence of AOP-1 while retaining the function of AOP-1, or (2) administering a material enhancing the expression of AOP-1 gene, a material enhancing the production of AOP-1 or a material enhancing the function of AOP-1.

Abstract: For a method of inducing differentiation of cardiomyocytes from stem cells, a method is provided to induce efficiently and selectively differentiation of cardiomyocytes by such a method in which the stem cells are cultured to induce differentiation into cardiomyocytes in the presence of a substance that inhibits BMP signaling.

Abstract: A prophylactic or therapeutic method for a disease associated with decreased expression of AOP-1 gene or AOP-1, comprising (1) transfecting a nucleic acid encoding AOP-1 or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having an addition, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids as compared with the amino acid sequence of AOP-1 while retaining the function of AOP-1, or (2) administering a material enhancing the expression of AOP-1 gene, a material enhancing the production of AOP-1 or a material enhancing the function of AOP-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening drugs inhibiting the expression of OSF-2 gene or the production or function of the protein encoded thereby and therapeutic agents for heart failure having such effects. Useful methods for diagnosing heart failure can be provided by monitoring the expression or variation of said gene or the production of the protein encoded thereby. The present invention also provides transgenic animals with forced expression of OSF-2 gene and methods for studying changes in gene expression or protein production or the functions of various genes or proteins with the progress of the pathology of heart failure using them and novel therapeutic agents for heart failure.

Abstract: A process for production of a desired protein comprising the steps of:a culturing animal cells capable of producing the desired protein in a medium containing trichostatin compounds; andrecovering the desired protein from the culture.

Abstract: E. coli deficient in protease activities, said activities being not inhibited with diisopropyl fluorophosphate, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, N-.alpha.-tosyl-L-lysyl chloromethyl ketone, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, leupeptin, antipain, .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin or chymostatin, and being inhibited with zinc chloride or copper chloride is disclosed.This E. coli is useful as a host for creating a transformant capable of expressing an exogenous protein or polypeptide.The protein or polypeptide expressed by the transformant may be extracted and purified with a quite low level of decomposition.