Abstract: This invention provides a polynucleotide that encodes a protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and such protein that can be used for producing D-lactic acid. This polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (a), and it hybridizes under stringent conditions with a probe comprising all or part of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complementary strand thereof and encodes a protein having D-lactate dehydrogenase activity (b).

Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: Lactic acid with high optical purity that has not previously been achieved is produced. It has been found that the optical purity of lactic acid is reduced as the racemization reaction of lactic acid proceeds when lactic acid coexists with glycerol. By reducing the amount of glycerol prior to concentrating lactic acid by heating, the optical purity of lactic acid after concentration by heating can be maintained at a high level.

Abstract: This invention provides a polynucleotide that encodes a protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and such protein that can be used for producing D-lactic acid. This polynucleotide has the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 (a), and it hybridizes under stringent conditions with a probe comprising all or part of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a complementary strand thereof and encodes a protein having D-lactate dehydrogenase activity (b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a transformant having a gene expression inducing system having better responsiveness. The transformant of the invention has a galactose induction system and retains a coding region having a galactose induction system and encoding an assisting protein assisting transcription activation by a protein having the Gal4 activity under control of a constitutive promoter, and a coding region encoding an endogenous or exogenous desired protein under control of a galactose-inducible promoter.

Abstract: A car washing machine (1) is composed of a front body (1A) provided with a rocker brush (11), a top brush (12), side brushes (13) and so forth as washing means for washing a vehicle (2), and a rear body (1B) provided with a top nozzle (21), side nozzles (22) and so forth as drying means for drying the vehicle (2). The front and rear bodies (1A and 1B) are capable of separately traveling. According to this arrangement, the washing operation of the vehicle (2) using the washing means provided on the front body (1A) and the drying operation using the drying means provided on the rear body (1B) can be executed in a spaced apart relationship, thus preventing the drying finish from being deteriorated by water splashes produced during the washing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transformant into which has been incorporated DNA for coding a foreign protein having lactate dehydrogenase activity and provided with pyruvic acid substrate affinity that equals or exceeds the pyruvic acid substrate affinity of the pyruvate decarboxylase inherent in the host organism. Said transformant can stably mass-produce lactic acid inside a host organism having the pyruvate decarboxylase gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of expressing a gene by inserting the genome into a host organism using genetic engineering techniques. The present invention further relates to a novel promoter, a recombinant vector containing the promoter and a target gene, a transformant containing the recombinant vector, and a method of producing a useful gene product or useful substance using the transformant.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.

Abstract: A car washing machine (1) is composed of a front body (1A) provided with a rocker brush (11), a top brush (12), side brushes (13) and so forth as washing means for washing a vehicle (2), and a rear body (1B) provided with a top nozzle (21), side nozzles (22) and so forth as drying means for drying the vehicle (2). The front and rear bodies (1A and 1B) are capable of separately traveling. According to this arrangement, the washing operation of the vehicle (2) using the washing means provided on the front body (1A) and the drying operation using the drying means provided on the rear body (1B) can be executed in a spaced apart relationship, thus preventing the drying finish from being deteriorated by water splashes produced during the washing operation.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host.The megakaryocyte differentiation factor accelerates differentiation of megakaryocytes in the presence of IL-3, and acts as a thrombopoietin, and therefore an effective medicament to various diseases involving a decrease in platelete.

Abstract: A novel megakaryocyte differentiation factor, for example, consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO: 30; DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factor, an expression vector comprising the DNA, a host transformed with the expression vector, and a process for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factor using the host. The megakaryocyte differentiation factor accelerates differentiation of megakaryocytes in the presence of IL-3, and acts as a thrombopoietin, and therefore an effective medicament to various diseases involving a decrease in platelete.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel megakaryocyte differentiation factors, which are useful as therapeutic agents due to their accelerating effects on the differentiation of megakaryocytes and their thrombopoietic effects. The megakaryocyte differentiation factors of the present invention include the megakaryocyte differentiation factor having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 34. The present invention also provides DNA coding for the megakaryocyte differentiation factors of the present invention, expression vectors containing the DNA, hosts transformed with the expression vectors, and processes for production of the megakaryocyte differentiation factors using transformed hosts. The present invention further provides specific antibodies to the megakaryocyte differentiation factors of the present invention.

Abstract: A synthetic resin pallet is provided with at least one slip preventing member on the upper and or lower surfaces of the deck board. The slip preventing member is made of relatively soft and flexible material, preferably a polyolefin resin.

Abstract: A pencil lead comprises an extrudate of a kneaded blend of a coloring material and a novolak resin or a derivative thereof.