Abstract: A disk storage device stores write data in a cache area of a data buffer according to a write command from a host, reports write completion to the host, and then writes the write data in the cache area to a storage medium. The disk storage device stores the write data stored in the data buffer in a save area created on the storage disk in response to the reception of a command which requires integrity, other than a write command, and reports a response to the host. Therefore processing time of this command and response time to the host can be decreased, while maintaining the safety of the write data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method by which, novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) genes or GPCR proteins which could discover the biocommunication system or identify novel target proteins for medicine can be searched for cyclopaedically on a data base. The method comprises the steps of: extracting open reading frames (ORFs) comprising 250 to 1000 amino acid residues from the human genome data; eliminating ORFs derived from repeated sequences of DNA, ORFs with substantial undetermined amino acids, and ORFs in which any single amino acid residue comprising more than 20% of the whole sequence; extracting ORFs having 6 to 8 transmembrane segments using SOSUI; and searching the obtained ORFs for genes homologous to known GPCR genes, preferably, genes wherein their highest homologous genes in homology search are GPCR genes or GPCR associated genes.