Abstract: The present invention provides information on a mutant xylose isomerase gene and a mutant protein with which it is possible to impart high xylose metabolic capacity to budding yeast. Also provided is a yeast strain having the mutant xylose isomerase gene. Additionally provided is an efficient method for producing a useful substance using the yeast strain. The present invention provides mutant Clostridium-phytofermentans-derived xylose isomerase (CpXI) having high xylose metabolic activity, the CpXI comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence in which the number 63 threonine of SEQ ID NO: 11 of CpXI is substituted by isoleucine, leucine, glycine, or histidine and/or the number 162 valine is substituted by alanine.

Abstract: The present invention provides information on a mutant xylose isomerase gene and a mutant protein with which it is possible to impart high xylose metabolic capacity to budding yeast. Also provided is a yeast strain having the mutant xylose isomerase gene. Additionally provided is an efficient method for producing a useful substance using the yeast strain. The present invention provides mutant Clostridium-phytofermentans-derived xylose isomerase (CpXI) having high xylose metabolic activity, the CpXI comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence in which the number 63 threonine of SEQ ID NO: 11 of CpXI is substituted by isoleucine, lysine, glycine, or histidine and/or the number 162 valine is substituted by alanine.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to: mutant genes having a mutation such as a base substitution in the MTH1, GRR1 and/or CDC19 coding regions thereof; mutant proteins coded by said mutant genes; an upstream region of the GRR1 coding region having a mutation such as a base substitution; a yeast such as Saccharomyces having said upstream region; and a method for producing a substance such as ethanol by using said yeast.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to: mutant genes having a mutation such as a base substitution in the MTH1, GRR1 and/or CDC19 coding regions thereof; mutant proteins coded by said mutant genes; an upstream region of the GRR1 coding region having a mutation such as a base substitution; a yeast such as Saccharomyces having said upstream region; and a method for producing a substance such as ethanol by using said yeast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing Cypridina luciferase labeled with hydrophilic biotin, characterized in that a biotin reagent containing a polyalkylene glycol structure as a spacer is reacted with Cypridina luciferase, and biotin-labeled Cypridina luciferase wherein a sugar chain in Cypridina luciferase has been biotinylated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an altered emission spectrum. A specific amino acid residue(s) is substituted in a luciferase derived from Cypridina noctiluca and then the resulting mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an emission spectrum differing from that of the wild-type luciferase is screened for.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing Cypridina luciferase labeled with hydrophilic biotin, characterized in that a biotin reagent containing a polyalkylene glycol structure as a spacer is reacted with Cypridina luciferase, and biotin-labeled Cypridina luciferase wherein a sugar chain in Cypridina luciferase has been biotinylated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an altered emission spectrum. A specific amino acid residue(s) is substituted in a luciferase derived from Cypridina noctiluca and then the resulting mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an emission spectrum differing from that of the wild-type luciferase is screened for.

Abstract: The present invention provides antifreeze proteins produced by a basidiomycete. The antifreeze protein has a high antifreeze activity such as a thermal hysteresis activity or an ice-recrystallization inhibition activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA fragment having a cold-inducible promoter function of yeast, which has high activity in a low temperature range, by identifying a DNA fragment, which exists in a non-translation region located upstream of the 5?-terminal side of a gene selected from the group consisting of cold-inducible genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and has a cold-inducible promoter function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing Cypridina luciferase labeled with hydrophilic biotin, characterized in that a biotin reagent containing a polyalkylene glycol structure as a spacer is reacted with Cypridina luciferase, and biotin-labeled Cypridina luciferase wherein a sugar chain in Cypridina luciferase has been biotinylated.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method for convenient and highly sensitive reporter assay. A secretory luminescent enzyme is used as a reporter protein so as to evaluate the expression, functions, transcriptional activity, or transcriptional control functions of a foreign gene or a foreign DNA fragment.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the identification of secretory signal peptides exhibiting higher secretion efficiency than conventional secretory signal peptides. Secretory signal peptides exhibiting higher secretion ability than the secretory signal peptides used in conventional membrane and secretory protein expression systems are identified and isolated from membrane proteins and secretory proteins existing in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome.

Abstract: The present invention provides antifreeze proteins produced by a basidiomycete. The antifreeze protein has a high antifreeze activity such as a thermal hysteresis activity or an ice-recrystallization inhibition activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DNA fragment having a cold-inducible promoter function of yeast, which has high activity in a low temperature range, by identifying a DNA fragment, which exists in a non-translation region located upstream of the 5?-terminal side of a gene selected from the group consisting of cold-inducible genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and has a cold-inducible promoter function.

Abstract: The present invention provides antifreeze proteins produced by a basidiomycete. The antifreeze protein has a high antifreeze activity such as a thermal hysteresis activity or an ice-recrystallization inhibition activity.