Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided (1) various cell lines derived from hypothalamus and Langerhans islets of mammals, (2) process for producing an active peptide and expression cloning system of active peptide precursor gene using the cell line as a host, (3) a method of screening or evaluating a substance capable of acting on the cells using the cell line, (4) a method of screening or isolating a useful gene or useful peptide using the cell line and (5) a highly-sensitive and simple assay system for GPCR ligand used in the above expression cloning system.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: To provide an immortalized capillary pericyte line which maintains the original function/property of the cell line-deriving tissue, its establishment method, and the screening method for useful substance using the immortalized capillary pericyte line. Cerebral tissue of a transgenic rat carrying the large T antigen gene of SV40 thermo-sensitive mutant line tsA58 is homogenized and the resultant brain capillaries are treated with protease, thus obtained brain capillary cells are subcultured to establish an immortalized cell that expresses SV40 thermo-sensitive large T antigen, PDGF receptor ?, and Angiopoietin-1. In addition, the immortalized vascular pericyte line has ability to deposit calcium on matrix by dense culture.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided (1) various cell lines derived from hypothalamus and Langerhans islets of mammals, (2) process for producing an active peptide and expression cloning system of active peptide precursor gene using the cell line as a host, (3) a method of screening or evaluating a substance capable of acting on the cells using the cell line, (4) a method of screening or isolating a useful gene or useful peptide using the cell line and (5) a highly-sensitive and simple assay system for GPCR ligand used in the above expression cloning system.

Abstract: This invention provides a method to induce the differentiation of animal cells wherein said cells are brought into contact with cytokine only in a suitable growth phase of animal cells, and also provides a system to control the differentiation potency of animal cells wherein two or more cytokines are combined for use in the cultivation or growing of animal cells.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided (1) various cell lines derived from hypothalamus and Langerhans islets of mammals, (2) process for producing an active peptide and expression cloning system of active peptide precursor gene using the cell line as a host, (3) a method of screening or evaluating a substance capable of acting on the cells using the cell line, (4) a method of screening or isolating a useful gene or useful peptide using the cell line and (5) a highly-sensitive and simple assay system for GPCR ligand used in the above expression cloning system.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling whithin the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: Novel human genes falling within the category of family genes relating to p53 gene which is known as a cell proliferation regulatory gene, and gene products thereof. A human p51 gene characterized by containing a base sequence encoding an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; a human p51 gene having a base sequence consisting of the 145- to 1488-bases in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2; vectors containing these genes; host cells transformed with these vectors; a process for producing a p51 protein having the amino sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1; which comprises culturing the above host cells and harvesting the protein from the thus obtained culture; and the p51 protein having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an immortalized natural killer cell line retaining the function and characteristics intrinsic to natural killer cells, a method for establishing the same, a method for screening for useful substances using the immortalized natural killer cell line, and a cell vaccine. By culturing natural killer cells obtained by isolating natural killer cells from the spleen of a transgenic mouse to which a large T-antigen gene of SV40 temperature-sensitive mutant tsA58 is introduced, a cell line which proliferates and activates in the presence of Interleukin-2, has azurophilic granules within cytoplasm, and retains an ability to kill a target cell without presensitization and/or an ability to kill target cells coated with an antibody, is established.

Abstract: To provide an immortalized capillary pericyte line which maintains the original function/property of the cell line-deriving tissue, its establishment method, and the screening method for useful substance using the immortalized capillary pericyte line. Cerebral tissue of a transgenic rat carrying the large T antigen gene of SV40 thermo-sensitive mutant line tsA58 is homogenized and the resultant brain capillaries are treated with protease, thus obtained brain capillary cells are subcultured to establish an immortalized cell that expresses SV40 thermo-sensitive large T antigen, PDGF receptor &bgr;, and Angiopoietin-1. In addition, the immortalized vascular pericyte line has ability to deposit calcium on matrix by dense culture.

Abstract: Established cells derived from retinal capillary endothelial cells, choroid plexus epithelial cells, or brain capillary endothelial cells or a transgenic animal carrying a large T-antigen gene of an SV40 temperature sensitive mutant tsA58. The cell line derived from retinal capillary endothelial cells expresses a temperature sensitive SV40 large T-antigen, GLUT-1 transporter, and p-glycoprotein. The cell line derived from choroid plexus epithelial cells expresses a temperature sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene and shows localization of Na+—K+ ATPase and GLUT-1 transporter in the cell membrane. When cultured in a monolayer, it shows the localization of Na+—K+ ATPase in the apical side. The cell line derived from brain capillary endothelial cells expresses a temperature sensitive SV40 large T-antigen, GLUT-1 transporter, p-glycoprotein, alkaline phosphatase, and &ggr;-glutamyltransferase.

Abstract: Lymphotoxin-producing human T-cell hybridomas are incubated in a medium containing phorbol myristate acetate, concanavalin-A or a mixture thereof, the resulting cells are fractionated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation method to isolate a messenger RNA in 12.6S to 14.6S fractions, and a gene containing a part encoding a polypeptide having a lymphotoxin-activity is prepared from the messenger RNA. The gene is represented by the base sequence of the Table 1 as herein given. Using the present gene, a new lymphotoxin having the amino acid sequence (I) or (II) as given herein can be obtained by genetic engineering technology.

Abstract: Lymphotoxin-producing human T-cell hybridomas are incubated in a medium containing phorbol myristate acetate, concanavalin-A or a mixture thereof, the resulting cells are fractionated by sucrose density-gradient centrifugation method to isolate a messenger RNA in 12.6S to 14.6S fractions, and a gene containing a part encoding a polypeptide having a lymphotoxin-activity is prepared from the messenger RNA. The gene is represented by the nucleotide sequence of the Table 1 as herein given. Using the present gene, a new lymphotoxin having the amino acid sequence (I) or (II) as given herein can be obtained by genetic engineering technology.