Abstract: A novel microorganism which has the following characteristics: morphology (coccoid, rod shaped); gram staining (+), spore forming (−), motility (−), relationship to oxygen (aerobic), oxidase test (−), catalase test (+), resistance to acid (−), rod-coccus cycle (+), and GC content of DNA (mole%) (73 (by HPLC)), and which can decompose chloroethylene. The microorganism can decompose in 24 hours 30 ppm of trichloroethylene, and decompose of 100 ppm of trichloroethylene by 50%.

Abstract: A method for detecting or assaying one constituting member in a specific binding pair, for example, the antigen in an antigen/antibody pair, by utilizing specific binding such as binding between an antigen and an antibody, together with redox reaction for detecting a label, wherein an oxygen micro-electrode with a sensing surface area of 1 mm2 or less is used; and an apparatus to which the method is applicable. According to the method and by using the apparatus, redox reaction for assaying the label can be completed in such a short time as several minutes. Therefore, an inexpensive disposable apparatus for household use can be realized.

Abstract: A method for detecting or assaying one constituting member in a specific binding pair, for example, the antigen in an antigen/antibody pair, by utilizing specific binding such as binding between an antigen and an antibody, together with redox reaction for detecting a label, wherein an oxygen micro-electrode with a sensing surface area of 1 mm2 or less is used; and an apparatus to which the method is applicable. According to the method and by using the apparatus, redox reaction for assaying the label can be completed in such a short time as several minutes. Therefore, an inexpensive disposable apparatus for household use can be realized.

Abstract: A novel microorganism which has the following characteristics: morphology (coccoid, rod shaped), gram staining (+), spore forming (−), motility (−), relationship to exygen (aerobic), oxidase test (−), catalase test (+), resistance to acid (−), rod-coccus cycle (+), and GC content of DNA (mole %) (73 (by HPLC)), and which can decompose chloroethylene. The microorganism can decompose in 24 hours 30 ppm of trichloroethylene, and decompose of 100 ppm of trichloroethylene by 50%.

Abstract: Microorganisms belonging to the genus Burkholderia and having the ability to decompose halogenated hydrocarbon, which are able to decompose 50% or more of 100 ppm of trichloroethylene in 2 days, or decompose 100% of 30 ppm of trichloroethylene in 18 hours, as well as providing a process for decomposing halogenated hydrocarbons in water or soil using those microorganisms.

Abstract: A method of detecting nucleic acid utilizes hybridization between the nucleic acid to be detected which is present on an immobilizing support and a DNA probe which is complementary to at least a portion of the desired nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid. The present DNA probe includes a hapten attached via a linker which a hapten is gibberellin or a gibberellin derivative. After hybridization by reaction between the nucleic acid to be detected and the DNA probe, the unreacted DNA probe is removed, and then labelled anti-hapten antibody is allowed to bind with the DNA probe of the hybrid and the labelling is used to detect the nucleic acid.Accordingly, stable detecting sensitivity may be achieved regardless of the label mixing ratio or labelling ratio, and thus regardless of the nucleotide sequence composition of the nucleic acid being tested.

Abstract: A highly thermostable polypeptide possessing protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) activity, a gene coding for the polypeptide and a process for producing the polyeptide are provided. The polypeptide possessing PDI activity is characterized by A) having a capability of catalyzing a disulfide exchange in proteins, B) recognizing mainly ribonuclease A as a substrate, C) having a suitable active temperature of 20.degree. to 70.degree. C., D) being stable at a pH value of 6 to 9, and E) having a molecular weight of about 60,000 to 62,000. Since it has a higher thermostability and exhibits a stable activity in a wider dithiothreitol concentration range as compared with the conventional PDI, it is possible to provide a novel enzyme active protein which can be advantageously used for a refolding reaction of certain proteins.

Abstract: A highly thermostable polypeptide possessing protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) activity, a gene coding for the polypeptide and a process for producing the polypeptide are provided. The polypeptide possessing PDI activity is characterized by A) having a capability of catalyzing a disulfide exchange in proteins, B) recognizing mainly ribonuclease A as a substrate, C) having a suitable active temperature of 20.degree. to 70.degree. C., D) being stable at a pH value of 6 to 9, and E) having a molecular weight of about 60,000 to 62,000. Since it has a higher thermostability and exhibits a stable activity in a wider dithiothreitol concentration range as compared with the conventional PDI, it is possible to provide a novel enzyme active protein which can be advantageously used for a refolding reaction of certain proteins.

Abstract: Method of treating a tumor in a mammal comprises administering to said mammal an effective anti-tumor amount of proteases originating from microorganisms.Method of treating a tumor in a mammal comprises administering to said mammal an effective anti-tumor amount of a protease originating from a microorganism which protease is chemically modified by one of the following procedures:(a) coupling with a saccharide,(b) introduction of a hydrophobic polymeric group,(c) alteration of electric charge of the protein surface,(d) conjugation with a low molecular weight anti-tumor agent of molecular weight less than 2,000,(e) formation of dimer or oligomer by cross-linking of protease molecules,(f) conjugation with a synthetic polycation,(g) conjugation with a synthetic polyanion, and(h) combination of the above-mentioned procedures.