Abstract: Based on a partial sequence of a target gene having an unidentified sequence, a partial sequence corresponding thereto is extracted from a genome sequence by homology search on a database. Exon regions are predicted using plural programs, respectively, and common sequences among the predicted exon regions are extracted. A set of primers is designed based on a combination of a 5′ end sequence and a 3′ end sequence selected from the plurality of common sequences. Amplification using the selected combination of 5′ end and 3′ end sequences as a set of primers results in an amplified gene that may be cloned. A display system for preparing primer sequences and utilizing the prepared primer sequences.

Abstract: A reagent for immunologically detecting rheumatism containing as an antigen at least one mammalian protein selected from among ezrin, radixin and moesin and/or a peptide composed of at least nine consecutive amino acid residues found in the amino acid sequences of ezrin, radixin and moesin; and a method of detecting autoantibodies present in the serum of a rheumatic. An immunological reaction using this reagent enables precritical or early diagnosis of rheumatism. An immunological detection using the above autoantigenic proteins is convenient and reliable as an early serodiagnostic method based on rheumatism-specific antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide having the following amino acid sequence:Ala-Xaa1-Leu-Xaa2-Phe-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5-(Xaa6)n(wherein Xaa1 and Xaa4 each independently represents an amino acid residue which may have an alkyl or heteroalkyl side chain which may be substituted by a hydroxy, amino or guanidyl group;Xaa2 and Xaa6 each independently represents an amino acid residue which may have an alkyl or heteroalkyl side chain which may be substituted by a hydroxyl group;Xaa3 and Xaa5 each independently represents an amino acid residue which may have a hydrophobic side chain; andn stands for 1 or 0), or derivatives thereof; and a modification thereof.The peptide or derivatives thereof according to the present invention is useful as a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, rejection reaction attendant on the organ transplantation, inflammation or the like.

Abstract: A reagent for immunologically detecting rheumatism containing as an antigen at least one mammalian protein selected from among ezrin, radixin and moesin and/or a peptide composed of at least nine consecutive amino acid residues found in the amino acid sequences of ezrin, radixin and moesin; and a method of detecting autoantibodies present in the serum of a rheumatic. An immunological reaction using this reagent enables precritical or early diagnosis of rheumatism. An immunological detection using the above autoantigenic proteins is convenient and reliable as an early serodiagnostic method based on rheumatism-specific antigens.

Abstract: Mutant proteins of human DNA topoisomerase I having an amino acid sequence in which tyrosine at the 592nd position of human DNA topoisomerase I is lacking or replaced with phenylalanine and which contains at least 30 amino acids in succession of the amino acid sequence subsequent to the 542nd amino acid of human DNA topoisomerase I.Above described mutant proteins react with anti-Scl-70, antibody in the sera of autoimmune disease patients of diffuse scleroderma and can be produced by genetic engineering using E. coli, and therefore they are useful as a diagnostic agent of scleroderma.