Abstract: The polypeptides in the present invention possess the effects of promoting and inhibiting the secretion of prolactin, and are thus useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion stimulants, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as hypoovarianism, spermatic underdevelopment, menopausal symptoms, hypothyroidism, etc. The polypeptides are useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion inhibitors, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as pituitary tumor, diencephalon tumor, menstrual disorder, autoimmune diseases, prolactinoma, sterility, impotence, amenorrhea, lactorrhea, acromegaly, Chiari-Frommel syndrome, Argonz-del Castilo syndrome, Forbes-Albright syndrome, lymphoma, Sheehan's syndrome, spermatogenesis disorder, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides an insulin sensitizer and a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for diseases involved by sugar metabolic abnormality, comprising a substance that inhibits the expression or activity of CPSF5 protein and/or a substance that inhibits the expression or activity of CPSF6 protein. Provided as the substances are (a) an antisense nucleic acid against a nucleic acid that encodes CPSF5 (or CPSF6), (b) an siRNA against an RNA that encodes CPSF5 (or CPSF6), (c) a nucleic acid capable of producing an siRNA against an RNA that encodes CPSF5 (or CPSF6), and the like. Also provided is a screening method for an insulin resistance ameliorating substance using a cell that produces CPSF5 and/or CPSF6.

Abstract: By using a G protein-coupled receptor protein comprising the same or substantially the same as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 8, or a salt thereof, and a fatty acid, a compound or its salt that changes the binding property of the receptor protein or a salt thereof to the fatty acid can be efficiently screened.

Abstract: A GPR7 ligand containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 wherein the N-terminal amino acid residue may optionally be brominated, is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of the GPR7 expression system, in screening a candidate compound for a drug such as an antiobestic, etc.

Abstract: The polypeptides in the present invention possess the effects of promoting and inhibiting the secretion of prolactin, and are thus useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion stimulants, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as hypoovarianism, spermatic underdevelopment, menopausal symptoms, hypothyroidism, etc. The polypeptides are useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion inhibitors, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as pituitary tumor, diencephalon tumor, menstrual disorder, autoimmune diseases, prolactinoma, sterility, impotence, amenorrhea, lactorrhea, acromegaly, Chiari-Frommel syndrome, Argonz-del Castilo syndrome, Forbes-Albright syndrome, lymphoma, Sheehan's syndrome, spermatogenesis disorder, etc.

Abstract: The polypeptides in the present invention possess the effects of promoting and inhibiting the secretion of prolactin, and are thus useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion stimulants, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as hypoovarianism, spermatic underdevelopment, menopausal symptoms, hypothyroidism, etc. The polypeptides are useful as drugs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in terms of prolactin secretion inhibitors, which are associated with the secretion of prolactin, such as pituitary tumor, diencephalon tumor, menstrual disorder, autoimmune diseases, prolactinoma, sterility, impotence, amenorrhea, lactorrhea, acromegaly, Chiari-Frommel syndrome, Argonz-del Castilo syndrome, Forbes-Albright syndrome, lymphoma, Sheehan's syndrome, spermatogenesis disorder, etc.

Abstract: The peptides and precursors thereof, inclusive salts thereof, of the present invention are useful as a pharmaceutical composition, for example as therapeutic or prophylactic agents for hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer and the like, hormone secretion inhibitors, tumor growth inhibitors, neural activity or sleep modulators, etc. The DNAs coding for the peptides or precursors of the invention are useful as a pharmaceutical composition, for example as agents for the gene therapy or prevention of hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer and the like, hormone secretion inhibitors, tumor growth inhibitors, neural activity or sleep modulators, etc. Furthermore, the DNAs coding for the peptides or precursors of the invention are useful as agents for the gene diagnosis of various diseases, for example, hormone-producing tumors, acromegaly, gigantism, dementia, gastric ulcer, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ligand polypeptide for the human pituitary- and mouse pancreas-derived G protein-coupled receptor proteins. The ligand polypeptide or the DNA which codes for the ligand polypeptide can be used for (1) development of medicines such as pituitary function modulators, central nervious system function modulators, and pancreatic function modulators, and (2) development of receptor binding assay systems using the expression of recombinant receptor proteins and screening of pharmaceutical candidate compounds. In particular, by the receptor binding assay systems utilizing the expression of recombinant G protein-coupled receptor proteins in accordance with the invention, agonists and antagonists of G protein-coupled receptors which are specific to human and other warm-blooded animals can be screened and the agonists or antagonists obtained can be used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents for various diseases.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a method for analyzing gene expression, a novel use for a receptor protein and the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for analyzing gene expression, which is characterized by identifying genes, which are characteristically promoted or suppressed in certain cells or tissues by quantitatively analyzing the individual expressed amounts of a plural number of genes collectively, an assay kit employed in the method and the like. The present invention also provides a method of screening compounds or salts thereof which alter the binding properties of a novel G protein coupled receptor protein comprising an amino acid sequence identical or substantially identical to the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 9 or a salt thereof with a ligand, characterized by the use of the protein or salt thereof and a protein (such as a lectin) showing an affinity for a sugar chain which is one of the ligands.

Abstract: By using (1) a G protein-coupled receptor protein having the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or its salt and (2) a fatty acid or an eicosanoid, a compound or its salt that can change the binding properties of the receptor protein or its salt to the fatty acid or the eicosanoid can be screened efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ligand polypeptide for the human pituitary- and mouse pancreas-derived G protein-coupled receptor proteins. The ligand polypeptide or the DNA which codes for the ligand polypeptide can be used for (1) development of medicines such as pituitary function modulators, central nervious system function modulators, and pancreatic function modulators, and (2) development of receptor binding assay systems using the expression of recombinant receptor proteins and screening of pharmaceutical candidate compounds. In particular, by the receptor binding assay systems utilizing the expression of recombinant G protein-coupled receptor proteins in accordance with the invention, agonists and antagonists of G protein-coupled receptors which are specific to human and other warm-blooded animals can be screened and the agonists or antagonists obtained can be used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents for various diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polypeptide or a salt thereof having an analgesic peptide-like structure. The protein (polypeptide) of the present invention, a partial peptide thereof, and a DNA encoding the same can be used for preparation of an antibody and an antiserum to the protein, construction of the expression system for the protein (polypeptide), screening of a pharmaceutical candidate compound using the expression system, etc.

Abstract: Using a G protein-coupled receptor protein (TGR4) or its salt containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and a phospholipid compound, a compound that alters the binding property between the receptor protein or its salt, and the phospholipids compound, or a salt thereof, can be efficiently screened.

Abstract: Secretory proteins comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by, for example, SEQ ID NO: 23 are useful physiologically active substances binding to AQ27 receptor.

Abstract: A GPR7 ligand containing the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 wherein the N-terminal amino acid residue may optionally be brominated, is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of the GPR7 expression system, in screening a candidate compound for a drug such as an antiobestic, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ligand polypeptide for the human pituitary- and mouse pancreas-derived G protein-coupled receptor proteins. The ligand polypeptide or the DNA which codes for the ligand polypeptide can be used for (1) development of medicines such as pituitary function modulators, central nervious system function modulators, and pancreatic function modulators, and (2) development of receptor binding assay systems using the expression of recombinant receptor proteins and screening of pharmaceutical candidate compounds. In particular, by the receptor binding assay systems utilizing the expression of recombinant G protein-coupled receptor proteins in accordance with the invention, agonists and antagonists of G protein-coupled receptors which are specific to human and other warm-blooded animals can be screened and the agonists or antagonists obtained can be used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents for various diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polypeptides having physiological activity related to anterior pituitary hormones (such as LH, FSH, and TSH), DNAs coding for such polypeptides, methods for screening compounds or their salts which promote or inhibit the activity of the polypeptides of the present invention, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel G protein-coupled receptor proteins derived from mouse heart and rat whole brain, which are useful in screening agonists/antagonists, etc., DNAs encoding these proteins, and the like.

Abstract: Galanin receptor proteins, production and use thereof including screening of galanin receptor agonists and antagonists are provided. Galanin receptor proteins, etc. or salts thereof, partial peptides thereof, DNAs coding for the above galanin receptor protein, processes for producing the above receptor protein, methods of screening for a galanin receptor agonist and/or antagonist or screening kits therefor, agonist and/or antagonist compounds or salts thereof obtained by the above screening method or the screening kit, pharmaceutical compositions containing the above compound or its salt, and antibodies against the above receptor protein are provided. It is allowable to efficiently screen a galanin receptor agonist or antagonist by using the galanin receptor protein, the partial peptide thereof, the galanin receptor protein-encoding DNA, the receptor protein-containing cell or its membrane fraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the murine- derived ligand polypeptide for the G protein-coupled receptor proteins.