Abstract: A specific binding assay process which is useful for quick qualitative or quantitative measurement and which can be used for various purposes, and a specific binding assay device suitable for the practice of the process, in which a substance to be assayed in a liquid test sample is determined qualitatively or quantitatively by developing the substance in a liquid test sample in a matrix, which comprises the steps of, for example: allowing the substance to be assayed to reach with a specific binding substance which has specific affinity for the substance to be assayed; allowing a signal substance generator (a substance which competes with the substance to be assayed for the specific binding substance and which generates a signal) to change its distribution in the matrix in response to the reaction of the above step, and; detecting the resulting distributional changes at a detection means as changes of signals which are rate-limited by the mass transfer of a signal substance generated from the signal substa

Abstract: DNA fragments having a nucleotide sequence represented by x and vectors containing the DNA fragment, wherein the nucleotide sequence x encodes an amino acid sequence represented by any one of the following formulae 1 to 8:formula 1 AVLPQEEEGSG,formula 2 AVLPQEEEGSGGGQLVTEVTKKEDSG,formula 3 AVLDQEEEGSG,formula 4 AVLPQEEEGDG,formula 5 AVLPQEEEGSGD,formula 6 AVLPQEEEGSGDD,formula 7 AVLPQEEEGSGDDD, andformula 8 ADDPQEEEGSG.Expression of a protein of interest and its secretion from host cells into the extracellular milieu can be increased by expressing or secreting the protein of interest in the form of a fusion protein with a specified polypeptide encoded by the DNA fragment of the present invention using the vector of the present invention, by means of recombinant DNA techniques in which the inventive DNA fragment is used.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence that constitutes a portion of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) and which has no antigenicity against human and high activity to inhibit various proteases, as well as other novel polypeptides having excellent activities to inhibit various proteases obtained by mutation of the former novel polypeptide. This invention also provides novel enzyme inhibition processes, drug compositions and treating methods making use of the novel polypeptide, DNA fragments containing nucleotide sequences which encode the novel polypeptides, vectors containing the DNA fragments and transformants transformed with the DNA fragments or the vectors, as well as processes for the production of the novel polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention particularly provides a novel polypeptide having high protease-inhibiting activity, preferably FXa-inhibiting activity, which comprises, at least as a part of the polypeptide, an amino acid sequence resulting from substitution of an amino acid for at least one amino acid in the following amino acid sequence (1), wherein the amino acid substitution is at least one substitution selected from the following substitution means (i) to (iii). It also provides a process for the production of the polypeptide, a novel DNA fragment encoding the polypeptide and a drug composition containing the same.Amino acid sequence (1) ##STR1## (i) Substitution of 15 position Gln counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Gln.(ii) Substitution of 42 position Tyr counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Tyr.(iii) Substitution of 7 position Arg counting from the N-terminus by an amino acid other than Arg.

Abstract: This invention particularly provides a novel polypeptide having high protease-inhibiting activity, preferably FXa-inhibiting activity, which comprises, an lease as a part of the polypeptide, an amino acid sequence resulting from substitution of an amino acid for at least one amino acid in the following amino acid sequence (1), wherein the amino acid substitution is at least one substitution selected from the following substitution means (i) to (iii). It also provides a process for the production of the polypeptide, a novel DNA fragment encoding the polypeptide and a drug composition containing the same.

Abstract: A specific binding assay process which is useful for quick qualitative or quantitative measurement and which can be used for various purposes, and a specific binding assay device suitable for the practice of the process,in which a substance to be assayed in a liquid test sample is determined qualitatively or quantitatively by developing the substance in a liquid test sample in a matrix, which comprises the steps of, for example:allowing the substance to be assayed to react with a specific binding substance which has specific affinity for the substance to be assayed;allowing a signal substance generator (a substance which competes with the substance to be assayed for the specific binding substance and which generates a signal) to chance its distribution in the matrix in response to the reaction of the above step, and;detecting the resulting distributional changes at a detection means as changes of signals which are rate-limited by the mass transfer of a signal substance generated from the signal substance gene

Abstract: A reagent for use in an immunoassay for measuring haptens, antigens or antibodies by means of a competitive binding method, which comprises a combination of an antibody and a labelled hapten or a labelled antigen or a combination of a hapten or an antigen and a labelled antibody, wherein the antibody and the labelled hapten or the labelled antigen in one combination or the hapten or the antigen and the labelled antibody in another combination are capable of undergoing reversible binding, and a device for use in an immunoassay wherein the reagent of the present invention is included in a single container.An immunoassay can be performed in a short time by the use of the immunoassay device of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention particularly provides a novel polypeptide having high protease-inhibiting activity, preferably FXa-inhibiting activity, which comprises, at least as a part of the polypeptide, an amino acid sequence resulting from substitution of an amino acid for at least one amino acid in the following amino acid sequence (1), wherein the amino acid substitution is at least one substitution selected from the following substitution means (i) to (iii). It also provides a process for the production of the polypeptide, a novel DNA fragment encoding the polypeptide and a drug composition containing the same.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence that constitutes a portion of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) and which has no antigenicity against human and high activity to inhibit various proteases, as well as other novel polypeptides having excellent activities to inhibit various proteases obtained by mutation of the former novel polypeptide. This invention also provides novel enzyme inhibition processes, drug compositions and treating methods making use of the novel polypeptide, DNA fragments containing nucleotide sequences which encode the novel polypeptides, vectors containing the DNA fragments and transformants transformed with the DNA fragments or the vectors, as well as processes for the production of the novel polypeptides.

Abstract: A reagent for use in an immunoassay for measuring haptens, antigens or antibodies by means of a competitive binding method, which comprises a combination of an antibody and a labelled hapten or a labelled antigen or a combination of a hapten or an antigen and a labelled antibody, wherein the antibody and the labelled hapten or the labelled antigen in one combination or the hapten or the antigen and the labelled antibody in another combination are capable of undergoing reversible binding, and a device for use in an immunoassay wherein the reagent of the present invention is included in a single container. This immunoassay can be performed in a short time by the use of the immunoassay device of the present invention.

Abstract: A fluorescent compound, which is readily capable of forming a stable complex with a rare-earth metal ion having fluorescence with satisfactory intensity even in an aqueous system and long fluorescence lifetime when formed a complex with the rare-earth metal ion, a complex of the fluorescent compound and the rare-earth metal ion, and a labelled reagent made therefrom, together with a specific binding assay using said labelling agent.A fluorescent compound expressed by the following formula A, typically exemplified by 2,15-diaza[3,3](2,9)-1,10-phenanthrolinophane-N.sup.2,N.sup.15 -diacetic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing interferon comprises culturing interferon-producing mammalian cells in a cell culture medium containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, an ascorbic acid derivative and a vanadium compound. According to the process of the present invention, interferon can be produced in large amounts.

Abstract: A method for the mass production of interferon, wherein cultured cells are brought into contact with at least one polyhydric alcohol, thereby achieving a remarkable increase in the production of interferon from the cultured cells.

Abstract: A method for purifying interferon having anti-cancer effects or anti-viral effects, wherein highly purified interferon can be easily obtained by a single operation in a recovery of about 100%. In this method, interferon is obtained by specifically adsorbing interferon onto a carrier containing acrylonitrile polymer and eluting the adsorbed interferon with an appropriate buffer.