Abstract: The present invention provides a ligand to GPR8, in particular polypeptides capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as DNA, encoding for such polypeptides. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of a GPR8 expression system, for screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, and prolactin production inhibitors.

Abstract: A melanin-concentrating hormone antagonist which comprises a compound of the formula: wherein Ar1 is a cyclic group which may have substituents; X is a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Y is a bond or a spacer having a main chain of 1 to 6 atoms; Ar is a monocyclic aromatic ring which may be condensed with a 4 to 8 membered non-aromatic ring, and may have further substituents; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may have substituents; R1 and R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; R2 may form a spiro ring together with Ar; or R2, together with the adjacent nitrogen atom and Y, may form a nitrogen-containing hetero ring which may have substituents; or a salt thereof; which is useful as an agent for preventing or treating obesity, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specifically reacting with partial peptides in the C-terminal region of polypeptides having amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 8 or derivatives thereof, a method of quantifying urotensin II using the antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies (e.g., for central nerve diseases, mental disorders, circulatory diseases, heart diseases, renal diseases, urinary tract disorders, or the like).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for screening a compound or its salt that alters the binding property between MCH or its salt and SLC-1 or its salt, characterized by using MCH or its derivative or a salt thereof and SLC-1 or its salt is useful for screening an SLC-1 agonist which can be used not only as an appetite (eating) promoting agent but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for weak pains, atonic bleeding, before and after expulsion, subinvolution of uterus, cesarean section, induced abortion, galactostasis, and the like, and an SLC-1 antagonist which can be used not only as an antiobestic agents (drug), an appetite (eating) modulator, and the like, but also as a prophylactic/therapeutic agent for hyperstimulation, ankylosing uterine contractions, fetal distress, uterine rupture, cervical laceration, preterm delivery, Prader-Wili syndrome and the like.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a ligand to GPR8, its DNA, etc., and more particularly, a polypeptide capable of binding to GPR8 or its amides or esters, or salts thereof, as well as its DNA, etc. The ligand to GPR8 of the present invention is useful in developing a receptor-binding assay system with the use of a GPR8 expression system, screening candidate compounds for drugs such as preventive/therapeutic agents for obesity, appetite stimulants, prolactin production inhibitors, etc.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a novel polypeptide, a receptor, a DNA thereof, and the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a polypeptide having a binding ability to the protein represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3, or its amide, its ester or its salt, a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, an antisense polynucleotide or an antibody to the polypeptide, a screening of agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity, etc., which comprises using the above, and the like. The polypeptide, receptor, polynucleotide, antisense polynucleotide, antibody and the like are useful for an agent of prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like. Further, they are useful for a screening of an agent for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, obesity and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a preventive/therapeutic agent for anorexia nervosa, a preventive/therapeutic agent for obesity, etc. More specifically, the present invention provides a method/a kit for screening a compound or its salt that changes the binding properties of GPR7 to a polypeptide capable of binding specifically to GPR7, characterized by using GPR7 and the said polypeptide, compounds thus obtained, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screening method for a compound or a salt thereof that alters the binding property of MCH or a salt thereof to SLT or a salt thereof, or a partial peptide thereof, an amide or an ester thereof, or a salt thereof, characterized by using MCH, a derivative or a salt thereof and SLT or a salt thereof, or a partial peptide thereof, an amide or an ester thereof, or a salt thereof. The screening method of the present invention is useful for screening an SLT agonist, which can be used as an agent for promoting appetite (eating), and an SLT antagonist, which can be used as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for obesity.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a novel protein useful for a screening of agonists/antagonists. Specifically, the present invention provides rat- and mouse-derived protein or its salt, DNA encoding the protein, a determination method of ligand to the protein, a screening method and a screening kit for a compound that alters a binding property between ligand and the protein, a compound or its salt obtainable by the screening, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a connector holder for holding a connector during wiring of the connector which facilitates accurate positioning of protection material about wires of a cable. The connector holder includes a support member such as a pillar for mounting the invention to the wiring board. The connector holder includes a holder portion which houses a connector in an insertable and removable manner in such a condition that the wires can be connected thereto, and a positioning member is integrally provided with the holder portion and assists in the positioning of protection material about cable wires connected to the connector. The positioning member may also include an adjustable pin capable of positioning protection material arranged around the periphery of a cable in such a condition that the plurality of wires of the cable connected with a connector is arranged on both sides of the positioning member.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating thrombosis containing, as an active component, a saccharoascorbic acid derivative such as 2,3-di-O-benzyl-D-glucosaccharoascorbic acid n-octadecanethiol ester is disclosed.