Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method to obtain an antibody for a hydrophobic peptide, which can be used for general purposes easily and with great reliability. Also provided is a method for preparing an antigen characterized in that a hydrophobic peptide, which is unbound to carrier protein, is used as high-molecular-weight aggregates in an aqueous solution containing a nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an antibody against an amyloid precursor protein signal peptide. The invention provides an amyloid precursor protein signal peptide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method to obtain an antibody for a hydrophobic peptide, which can be used for general purposes easily and with great reliability. Also provided is a method for preparing an antigen characterized in that a hydrophobic peptide, which is unbound to carrier protein, is used as high-molecular-weight aggregates in an aqueous solution containing a nonionic surfactant.

Abstract: An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an antibody against an amyloid precursor protein signal peptide. The invention provides an amyloid precursor protein signal peptide.

Abstract: The method of purifying environmental DNA and the method of screening for a gene encoding a functional protein from environmental DNA are provided. DNA from a environmental sample is purified by recovering DNA from an environmental sample and allowing the thus recovered DNA to be subjected to gel filtration chromatography and ion exchange chromatography. In addition, a display library of DNA derived from an environmental sample is created so that screening is carried out in terms of the interaction of the above display library with ligands. Thus, screening of protein-encoding genes can be carried out.

Abstract: A novel polypeptide is provided, which can be utilized to treat diseases accompanying neovascularization, such as solid tumors, and is useful as a low molecular weight VEGF inhibitor. The polypeptide contains immunoglobulin-like domain 1 and immunoglobulin-like domain 2 of the extracellular domain of the VEGF receptor KDR. Since it has smaller molecular weight than the conventional polypeptides with retaining VEGF inhibitory activity, it is expected that it can be readily expressed using recombinant DNA techniques and infiltrates into diseased sites more quickly.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a low molecular weight VEGF inhibitor that can be utilized to treat diseases accompanying neovascularization, such as solid tumors. It was found that a polypeptide containing immunoglobulin-like domain 1 and immunoglobulin-like domain 2 but neither immunoglobulin-like main 6 nor immunoglobulin-like domain 7 of the extracellular domain of the VEGF receptor FLT possess VEGF inhibitory activity.

Abstract: A peptide corresponding to a portion of human vascular permeability factor (VPF) and a VPF monoclonal antibody recognizing the peptide are provided. The peptide of the invention is useful as an antigen for preparing a monoclonal antibody against VPF and as a reagent for biochemical analysis. The monoclonal antibody of the invention reactive with the above peptide is useful not only as a reagent for biochemical analysis but also as a diagnostic agent or therapeutic agent for various diseases such as cancer.