Abstract: The present invention is a process to express a target peptide in a large amount and accumulate the target peptide in host cells in the form of inclusion bodies. The process comprises:A) culturing host cells transformed with a plasmid able to express a gene coding for a fusion protein represented in the formula A--L--B, wherein B is a target peptide, A is a protective peptide comprising a 90-210 amino acid fragment E. coli .beta.-galactosidase, and L is a linker peptide positioned between the C-terminus of the protective peptide and the N-terminus of the target peptide and selected so that when the fusion protein is treated by an enzyme or chemical substance, the target peptide is separated, and wherein the protective peptide and linker peptide are selected so that the isoelectric point of the fusion protein in between 4.9 and 6.

Abstract: A KEX2 endoprotease produced by a recombinant DNA technique, a KEX2 endoprotease shortened at the C-terminal of a native enzyme and still containing a C-terminal hydrophobic region, a soluble KEX2 endoprotease without a C-terminal hydrophobic region; DNA's coding for the above-mentioned enzymes; expression plasmids containing the DNA; hosts transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the above-mentioned enzymes using the transformed host; and a process for production of biologically active polypeptide using the above-mentioned enzyme.

Abstract: A KEX2 endoprotease produced by a recombinant DNA technique, a KEX2 endoprotease shortened at the C-terminal of a native enzyme and still containing a C-terminal hydrophobic region, a soluble KEX2 endoprotease without a C-terminal hydrophobic region; DNA's coding for the above-mentioned enzymes; expression plasmids containing the DNA; hosts transformed with the plasmid; a process for production of the above-mentioned enzymes using the transformed host; and a process for production of biologically active polypeptide using the above-mentioned enzyme.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DNA fragment comprising a base sequence coding for a peptide occurring in human atrium cordis and having diuretic action or a precursor of the peptide, plasmids containing the DNA fragment, microorganisms transformed with the plasmid, and a process for production of the peptide using the transformant.Also disclosed is a new peptide consisting of 126 amino acids occurring in human atrium cordis and a precursor thereof. The peptide has notable diuretic action and hypotensive or antihypertensive actions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vector plasmid capable of efficient tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, a process capable of efficient TNF production in a host transformed with said plasmid and a composition containing the TNF produced by said process.The novel plasmid of the present invention is characterized by having inserted therein a DNA fragment that has a phage-derived promoter region upstream of a structural gene for TNF and in which a DNA fragment containing an E. coli gene-derived transcription termination coding base sequence (terminator) is joined immediately downstream of a base sequence coding for the termination of translation of said structural gene.

Abstract: A process for the production of a physiologically active peptide (a target peptide) containing cysteine residue, comprising the steps of:(1) culturing Escherichia coli transformed with a plasmid capable of expressing a fusion protein under control of a promoter of E.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vector plasmid capable of efficient tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, a process capable of efficient TNF production in a host transformed with said plasmid and a composition containing the TNF produced by said process.The novel plasmid of the present invention is characterized by having inserted therein a DNA fragment that has a phage-derived promoter region upstream of a structural gene for TNF and in which a DNA fragment containing an E. coli gene-derived transcription termination coding base sequence (terminator) is joined immediately downstream of a base sequence coding for the termination of translation of said structural gene.