Abstract: A method of producing a modified monocotyledonous plant having a desired character is provided. The method comprises isolating a gene containing a nucleic acid hybridizable to a nucleic acid indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1 under stringent conditions, and inhibiting expression of the isolated gene.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for strongly expressing an exogenous gene specifically in plant tissue (particularly, tissue having active cell prolifaration) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsEF1?1 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing the promoter and an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: A gene relating to the regeneration ability of plants was successfully isolated and identified using linkage analysis. Furthermore, methods for breeding highly regenerative varieties, methods for transforming unculturable varieties, and methods for selecting transformed cells, wherein these methods utilize this gene, were also discovered. The present invention is useful in fields such as cultivar improvement and gene analysis that uses transformation methods.

Abstract: User information related to a predetermined user, including a user ID, is obtained from a server on a network. Telephone book information, including the user ID and a telephone number of a communication apparatus that the predetermined user uses, is input on an operation unit of the present communication apparatus. The user information and the telephone book information are stored while being associated based on the user ID. The telephone book information associated with the user information based on the user ID is displayed as secondary information of the user information, when the user information of the predetermined user is displayed on a display and when display of further information of the predetermined user is instructed.

Abstract: A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a presence information setting unit that sets presence information including a user display name and its apparatus state, and a presence information notification unit that that notifies an opposing apparatus of the presence information. The communication apparatus further include an action information acquisition unit that detects an opposing user action of the opposing apparatus. The communication apparatus determines that the user is “Away” or “Not Available” when the action information detector detects no user reaction after a predetermined time has passed since the opposing apparatus user's action was detected.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for expressing an exogenous gene specifically in vegetative growth tissue (particularly, stems and/or leaves) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsGA3ox2 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide DNAs encoding novel plant proteins having a gibberellin (GA) 2-oxidation activity. Another objective is to modify plant height by utilizing these DNAs for regulating the gibberellin content. PCR was performed using degenerate primers, and novel OsGA2ox2 and OsGA2ox3 genes were obtained. The present inventors discovered that unlike products of other GA2-oxidases such as OsGA2ox1, the product of OsGA2ox3 catalyzes the two-step oxidation of GA20 to GA29 and then of GA29 to GA29-catabolite. In addition, the present inventors also found that the growth of the transgenic rice plants expressing OsGA2ox3 was suppressed as compared to control plants.

Abstract: The present inventors presumed that the sd1 gene was the C20 oxidase gene, and isolated and identified the rice counterpart of Arbidopsis C20 oxidase gene. As a result, it was revealed that the rice sd1 gene encodes a novel C20 oxidase. Further studies showed that mutation in this gene led to plant semidwarfing. Utilization of the plant sd1 gene is expected to increase the yield of plants, particularly useful agricultural crops and ornamental plants, to add aesthetic value to ornamental plants through dwarfing, and also to increase the yield and efficient breeding of dwarfed plants by marker selection.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully produced rice dwarf mutant d61 and also isolated the OsBRI1 gene which corresponds to a region in the d61 locus. OsBRI1 is found to increase plant brassinosteroid sensitivity. Moreover, the present inventors showed that OsBRI1 functions in growth and development process of rice, such as, internode elongation by inducing internode cell elongation and the inclination of the lamina joint. By introducing antisense nucleotides or dominant negative of OsBRI1, the present inventors produced transgenic rice plants whose phenotype was modified.

Abstract: An expander for the lower part of the body is provided with a lumbar band (1) having corresponding catching members (2), an elastic strip (7) insertably fitted into and woven with the lumbar band (1), and a sole contact plate (6) having inserting portions (3) for both feet mounted thereon. The elastic strip (7) is woven around a substantially back half of the lumbar band (1), and coupling rings (7b) mounted at the opposite outer ends of the elastic strip (7) pulled out from the opposite sides of a front part of the lumbar band (1) are coupled to corresponding upper-end hooks (20a) of length-adjustable straps (20) connected with side portions (6a) of the sole contact plate (6) in a looped state.

Abstract: A gene that regulates the increase and decrease of the particle-bearing number (including glumous flowers, fruits, and seeds) of plants was successfully isolated and identified by a linkage analysis. In addition, breeding methods that utilize this gene to increase the particle-bearing number (including glumous flowers, fruits, and seeds) of plants were also discovered. The present invention is useful in fields such as breeding of improved plant varieties.

Abstract: Novel GA2?-hydroxylase genes were successfully isolated from rice. In addition, plants whose plant type has been modified compared with their wild type counterparts, were successfully constructed via these genes.

Abstract: Genomic DNA and cDNA encoding GA 3?-hydroxylase were isolated from rice. When the expression of these genes was suppressed in rice plants, the plants became dwarfed compared with the wild type plants.

Abstract: A packet switch which includes input line interfaces for converting variable length packets received from input lines to fixed length cells, a switch unit for switching said packets in cell units, output line interfaces for converting output cells from the switching unit to variable length packets and transmitting the variable length packets over output lines. Each of the input line interfaces has a cell output controller for queuing the fixed length cells for each output line according to the degree of priority of the cells, and for selectively outputting the stored cells in the queues in order of priority, thereby to suppress the transmission of cells with a low priority during the times of congestion.

Abstract: A C3 plant has a gene for an enzyme involved in a C4 pathway of photosynthesis and expresses the C4 photosynthesis gene at a high level. More specifically, the C3 plant includes DNA which contains (a) an expression control region of a gene for an enzyme involved in a photosynthetic pathway of a phylogenetically related C4 plant and (b) a structural gene for an enzyme involved in a photosynthetic pathway of the C4 plant. The C3 plant expresses the enzyme encoded by the structural gene at a high level.

Abstract: The present inventors presumed that the sd1 gene was the C20 oxidase gene, and isolated and identified the rice counterpart of Arbidopsis C20 oxidase gene. As a result, it was revealed that the rice sd1 gene encodes a novel C20 oxidase. Further studies showed that mutation in this gene led to plant semidwarfing. Utilization of the plant sd1 gene is expected to increase the yield of plants, particularly useful agricultural crops and ornamental plants, to add aesthetic value to ornamental plants through dwarfing, and also to increase the yield and efficient breeding of dwarfed plants by marker selection.

Abstract: A C3 plant has a gene for an enzyme involved in a C4 pathway of photosynthesis and expresses the C4 photosynthesis gene at a high level. More specifically, the C3 plant includes DNA which contains (a) an expression control region of a gene for an enzyme involved in a photosynthetic pathway of a phylogenetically related C4 plant and (b) a structural gene for an enzyme involved in a photosynthetic pathway of the C4 plant. The C3 plant expresses the enzyme encoded by the structural gene at a high level.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for strongly expressing an exogenous gene specifically in plant tissue (particularly, tissue having active cell prolifaration) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsEF1&bgr;1 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing the promoter and an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: DNA having promoter activity for expressing an exogenous gene specifically in vegetative growth tissue (particularly, stems and/or leaves) is provided. The DNA is a rice OsGA3ox2 gene promoter which has a sequence indicated by SEQ ID NO. 1, or a portion of said sequence whose promoter activity is equivalent to that of said sequence indicated by SEQ ID No. 1. An expression vector containing an exogenous gene expressibly linked to the promoter is also provided. A plant cell transformed with the expression vector, a plant regenerated from the plant cell, a progeny of the plant, a propagator of the plant, and a seed obtained from the progeny are also provided. A method for introducing an exogenous gene into plants using an expression vector is also provided.

Abstract: The present inventors successfully produced rice dwarf mutant d61 and also isolated the OsBRI1 gene which corresponds to a region in the d61 locus. OsBRI1 is found to increase plant brassinosteroid sensitivity. Moreover, the present inventors showed that OsBRI1 functions in growth and development process of rice, such as, internode elongation by inducing internode cell elongation and the inclination of the lamina joint. By introducing antisense nucleotides or dominant negative of OsBRI1, the present inventors produced transgenic rice plants whose phenotype was modified.