Abstract: Proteins having activity that promotes STAT6 activation, which are used for diagnosing, treating or preventing diseases associated with the excessive activation or inhibition of STAT6 are provided. Using a STAT6 response reporter plasmid, cDNA encoding a protein capable of promoting STAT6 activation was cloned from the cDNA library constructed from human lung fibroblasts, and the DNA sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence are determined. The protein, the DNA encoding the protein, a recombinant vector containing the DNA, and a transformant containing the recombinant vector are useful for screening a substance inhibiting or promoting STAT6 activation.

Abstract: A novel .omega.-carboxyalcohol oxidase catalyzes at least one of the following reactions:R--CH.sub.2 OH+O.sub.2 .fwdarw.R--CHO+H.sub.2 O.sub.2 a)R--CHO+O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.R--COOH+H.sub.2 O.sub.2 b)wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, .omega.-carboxyalkyl or .omega.-carboxyalkenyl. The enzyme has substrate specificity on at least 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol and 1-hexanol, and has no substrate specificity on methanol, ethanol or glycerol. The enzyme does not require the presence of NAD or NADP for its use. Also disclosed is a process for producing the enzyme, an assay method for substrates of the enzyme, and a process for producing carboxylic acid employing the enzyme.

Abstract: A method for assaying aliphatic alcohol, aliphatic aldehyde or .omega.-carboxylic acid derivatives thereof, using a novel .omega.-carboxyalcohol oxidase which catalyzes at least one of the following reactions:a) R--CH.sub.2 OH+O.sub.2 .fwdarw.R--CHO+H.sub.2 O.sub.2b) R--CHO+O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.R--COOH+H.sub.2 O.sub.2wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, .omega.-carboxyalkyl or .omega.-carboxyalkenyl. The enzyme has substrate specificity on at least 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol and 1-hexanol, and has no substrate specificity on methanol, ethanol or glycerol. The enzyme does not require the presence of NAD or NADP for its use. Also disclosed is a process for producing the enzyme, an assay method for substrates of the enzyme, and a process for producing carboxylic acid employing the enzyme.

Abstract: A novel .omega.-carboxyalcohol oxidase catalyzes at least one of the following reactions:a) R--CH.sub.2 OH+O.sub.2 .fwdarw.R--CHO+H.sub.2 O.sub.2b) R--CHO+O.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.R--COOH+H.sub.2 O.sub.2wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl, .omega.-carboxyalkyl or .omega.- carboxyalkenyl. The enzyme has substrate specificity on at least 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid, 1-dodecanol, 1-decanol, 1-octanol and 1-hexanol, and has no substrate specificity on methanol, ethanol or glycerol. The enzyme does not require the presence of NAD or NADP for its use. Also disclosed is a process for producing the enzyme, an assay method for substrates of the enzyme, and a process for producing carboxylic acid employing the enzyme.

Abstract: A antibiotic L53-18A and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which are useful for treatment of bacterial inventions are obtained by culturing, for example, Saccharopolyspora sp. L53-18 (FERM BP 2231) in a medium and the antibiotic accumulated therein is collected.