Abstract: To identify antigens of the 2D7 antibody, the present inventors cloned the 2D7 antigen. The results suggested that the 2D7 antigen is an HLA class I molecule. Based on this finding, the present inventors examined whether the 2D7 antibody has cell death-inducing activity. Nuclei fragmentation was observed when the 2D7 antibody was cross-linked with another antibody, indicating that cell-death was induced. Further, diabodies of the 2D7 antibody were found to have very strong cell death-inducing activities, even without the addition of another antibody. These results indicate that minibodies of an HLA-recognizing antibody can be used as cell death-inducing agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gene encoding a fucose transporter, a fucose transporter polypeptide, a method for screening for a compound that binds to a fucose transporter or a compound that inhibits fucose transport activity, a cell having inhibited fucose transporter functions, and a cell wherein the expression of the fucose transporter is inhibited.

Abstract: Methods for isolating polynucleotides encoding antibodies against lesional tissues are provided, wherein the methods comprise the steps of: (a) isolating a B cell(s) that infiltrates into a lesional tissue of interest; and (b) obtaining an antibody-encoding polynucleotide from the isolated B cell(s). The lesions may be a cancer tissue or such. Antibody genes can be obtained without depending on B cell cloning. Accordingly, it is also possible to obtain genes encoding human-derived antibodies which are difficult to clone. Genes that encode antibodies against cancer can be obtained using cancer tissues as the lesion.

Abstract: Anti-human Mpl antibodies were isolated and purified, and then anti-human Mpl diabodies and anti-human Mpl sc(Fv)2 were purified using genetic engineering techniques. Furthermore, the present inventors succeeded in humanizing anti-human Mpl sc(Fv)2. The diabodies and sc(Fv)2 were assayed for TPO-like agonistic activity, and were found to have activities higher than those of anti-human Mpl antibodies, or activities equivalent to or higher than those of naturally-occurring human TPO ligand.

Abstract: The present inventors used antibody engineering techniques to prepare functional antibodies that correspond to individual mutations in causative genes of diseases, and discovered that such antibodies enable the treatment of the diseases. Specifically, the inventors succeeded in preparing ligands, particularly minibodies, which have agonistic activity to receptors that have almost completely lost responsiveness to their natural ligands because of gene mutations (for example, a thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor whose reactivity to TPO has been markedly impaired), and which can transduce signals by interacting with these mutant receptors at levels comparable to normal.

Abstract: A DNA encoding a novel protein SMAP-1 having a signal sequence was successfully isolated by screening a cDNA library derived from human fetal hepatocyte using the TMT method developed originally by the inventors. Based on the expression pattern and structural properties, SMAP-1 was suggested to be a molecule playing an important role in living cells.

Abstract: A reshaped human anti-HM1.24 antibody comprising: (A) L chains each comprising (1) a constant region of a human L chain, and (2) FRs of a human L chain, and CDRs of L chain of mouse anti-HM1.24 monoclonal antibody; and (B) H chains each comprising (2) a constant region of a human H chain, and (2) FRs of a human H chain, and CDRs of H chain of mouse anti-HM1.24 monoclonal antibody. Since the majority of the reshaped human antibody is derived from human antibody and the CDR has a low antigenicity, the reshaped human antibody of the present invention has low antigenicity and therefore is very promising in medical and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Methods for measuring transporter activity using budding baculoviruses that do not express endogenous transporters on their envelope have a low background level and can measure the target activity with a high sensitivity. Such methods can be used to measure functional changes due to transporter SNPs over a more extensive range of substrates, and can be applied to tailor-made therapies.

Abstract: Revealed are that the actions of inflammatory cytokine and the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF induced by an inflammatory stimulus as well as the production of other inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 induced by the former class of inflammatory cytokines are all suppressed by inhibiting the signal transduction through TAK1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of screening for compounds that inhibit signal transduction by inflammatory cytokines. The methods include providing a sample that contains a TAK1 and a TAB1; contacting the sample with a compound; detecting binding between the TAK1 and the TAB1; and selecting the compound if binding between the TAK1 and TAB1 is inhibited in the sample compared to a control.

Abstract: A reshaped human anti-HM1.24 antibody comprising: (A) L chains each comprising (1) a constant region of a human L chain, and (2) FRs of a human L chain, and CDRs of L chain of mouse anti-HM1.24 monoclonal antibody; and (B) H chains each comprising (2) a constant region of a human H chain, and (2) FRs of a human H chain, and CDRs of H chain of mouse anti-HM1.24 monoclonal antibody. Since the majority of the reshaped human antibody is derived from human antibody and the CDR has a low antigenicity, the reshaped human antibody of the present invention has low antigenicity and therefore is very promising in medical and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel gene having a reverse transcriptase motif. The invention isolates a novel gene having a reverse transcriptase motif, and gives its complete base sequence determined. The invention also provides a protein encoded by the gene, and an antibody against the protein. The use of them is useful in developing a method for detecting telomerase activity, a method for detecting a cancer cell, a telomerase activity inhibitor, and a method for screening a telomerase activity inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses reshaped antibody to human medulloblastoma cells comprising: (A) an L chain comprising: (1) a human L chain C region, and (2) an L chain V region comprising human L chain FRs and L chain CDRs of mouse monoclonal antibody ONS-M21 to human medulloblastoma cells; and, (B) an H chain containing: (1) a human H chain C region, and (2) an H chain V region comprising human H chain FRs and H chain CDRs of mouse monoclonal antibody ONS-M21 to human medulloblastoma cells. Since the majority of this reshaped human antibody is derived from a human antibody and mouse CDRs have a low level of antigenicity, the reshaped human antibody of the present invention has a low level of antigenicity in humans, and is therefore expected to be useful as a therapeutic agent and diagnostic tool for brain tumors such as medulloblastoma which strongly express antigen that is recognized by this antibody.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel gene having a reverse transcriptase motif. The invention isolates a novel gene having a reverse transcriptase motif, and gives its complete base sequence determined. The invention also provides a protein encoded by the gene, and an antibody against the protein. The use of them is useful in developing a method for detecting telomerase activity, a method for detecting a cancer cell, a telomerase activity inhibitor, and a method for screening a telomerase activity inhibitor.

Abstract: A billet for a thixocasting process and a thixocasting process using the billet allows casting using a thixocasting process to be realized at low production cost without permeation of an oxide film to the inside of the billet in injection molding. In a billet used for a thixocasting process continuously cast by intermittently drawing out, the interval of the oscillation marks is 10 mm or less and the maximum tilt angle of the oscillation marks relative to a cross section which is at a right angle to the drawing out direction is 45° or less.

Abstract: A reshaped human antibody to the human IL-6R, comprising: (A) an L chain comprising, (1) a human L chain C region, and (2) an L chain V region comprising human L chain framework regions (FRs), and mouse L chain complementary determination regions (CDRs) of a momoclonal antibody to the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R); and (B) an H chain comprising, (1) a human H chain C region, and (2) an H chain V region comprising human H chain FRS, and mouse H chain CDRs of a monoclonal antibody to the IL-6R. Since major portion of the reshaped human antibody is derived from a human antibody and the mouse CDRs which are less immunogenic, the present reshaped human antibody is less immunogenic to human, and therefor is promised for therapeutic uses.

Abstract: There are provided a genomic DNA comprising 4 exons encoding the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and 3 introns ligating them, and a splicing variant of said genomic DNA; as well as a DNA having the base sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and a promoter activity and the fragment thereof, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An iron based alloy material for a thixocasting process and a method for casting the material which extends the service life of dies by inhibiting solidification contraction, and in which casting defects such as size variations and cracks can be inhibited. The material comprises 1.6 wt %?C?2.5 wt % and 3.0 wt %<Si?5.5 wt %, and a carbon equivalent (the value of CE) defined as “C(wt %)+?Si(wt %)” of 2.9 to 3.5. This material is made to be in a half-melted state with 35 to 50 wt % of a solid phase to be cast under a pressure load.

Abstract: A method for isolating a gene encoding a membrane-bound protein characterized by fusing a functional protein with a fused protein itself, which differs from the existing TMT method in which an epitope recognized by an antibody is carried in a fused protein. This method enabled selective isolation of a gene encoding a membrane-bound protein.

Abstract: Modified antibodies containing 2 or more H chain V domains and or more L chain V domains of a monoclonal antibody which can transduce a signal into cells by crosslinking a cell surface molecule, thereby serving as an agonist. Because of being usable as agonists for signal transduction, these modified antibodies are useful as, for example, preventives and/or remedies for various diseases such as cancer, inflammation, hormone disorders and blood diseases.