Abstract: A method of separating and purifying nucleic acids from samples containing cells, such as blood and culture solutions. According to the method of the invention, a cell extract obtained by cell disruption is adsorbed by a filter made of a nonwoven fabric and the nucleic acid is eluted after washing the filter. Alkaline conditions of pH 12 or higher may be employed for elution of the nucleic acid, or the filter-adsorbed nucleic acid may be eluted by treatment with active oxygen or by using a surfactant. Nucleic acids separated and purified by the method of the invention can be used in nucleic acid amplification and nucleic acid sequence analysis techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for isolating nucleic acid comprising a step of preparing suspension containing nucleic acid-adsorbed nucleic acid-binding carriers by mixing material containing nucleic acid, nucleic acid-binding carriers and a solution for adsorbing/releasing nucleic acid, wherein the step is conducted under heating, a step of separating nucleic acid-adsorbed nucleic acid-binding carriers from a liquid phase, a step of washing nucleic acid-adsorbed nucleic acid-binding carriers, a step of drying and a step of eluting nucleic acid, and a cartridge for chemical reaction that enables such chemical reaction to be performed quickly and conveniently.

Abstract: Disclosed is a peptide for binding thereto a low density lipoprotein, which has an amino acid sequence represented by the formula (I) or (II) and which has an electric charge (E) satisfying the following requirement: +1.ltoreq.E.ltoreq.+4 wherein E is defined by the formula: E=(the number of positive functional groups present in the peptide)-(the number of negative functional groups present in the peptide): ##STR1## wherein each a is independently Phe or Trp; each p is independently Arg or Lys; each X.sup.1, each X.sup.2 and each X.sup.3 are individually, independently an arbitrary amino acid residue; and m, n, p, q and r satisfy the following requirement: 2.ltoreq.m+n+p+q+r.ltoreq.10, wherein m and n satisfy the following requirements: 2.ltoreq.m+n.ltoreq.10 and 1.ltoreq.m, n.ltoreq.9, and p, q and r satisfy the following requirements: 0.ltoreq.p+q+r.ltoreq.8, 0.ltoreq.p, r.ltoreq.8 and 0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.5.