Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel modified thermostable DNA polymerase having a reverse transcription activity. According to the present invention, there is provided a DNA polymerase having an activity to catalyze a reverse transcription reaction in the presence of Mg2+ and comprising an amino acid sequence having an identity of 90% or higher to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 and amino acid substitutions at both positions 744 and 745 with positively charged amino acids.

Abstract: By establishing a simple method for extracting a nucleic acid from a human specimen, and using the LAMP method, which is an isothermal gene amplification method showing superior quickness and convenience, with a concept of measurement different from the conventional ones, there is established a test method including steps up to detection with a measurement apparatus.

Abstract: It is intended to provide novel mutant RNA polymerases enabling a transcriptional sequencing method whereby a high SN ratio can be achieved in sequence analysis with the use of capillary and longer and more accurate base sequencial data can be obtained by a single reaction. More specifically, a mutant RNA polymerase derived from a wild type RNA polymerase by substitution of at least one amino acid and deletion of at least one amino acid, or a mutant RNA polymerase derived from a wild type RNA polymerase by deletion of at least one amino acid, wherein the above-described substitution and/or deletion of amino acid(s) have been performed so that the resultant mutant RNA polymerase has an enhanced ability to incorporate 3′-deoxynucleotide as a substrate compared with the wild type RNA polymerase corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A transcriptional sequence method whereby a high SN ratio can be obtained in sequence analysis with the use of capillary and longer and more accurate base sequence data can be obtained in a single reaction. More specifically, a method of determining a DNA base sequence involving the step of obtaining a nucleic acid transcription product with the use of an RNA polymerase, a template DNA having a promoter sequence for the RNA polymerase and substrates of the RNA polymerase. The substrates of the RNA polymerase involve a 3′-deoxynucleotide derivative. The RNA polymerase is a mutant RNA polymerase derived from a wild type RNA polymerase by substitution of at least one amino acid or deletion of at least one amino acid. The substitution and/or deletion of the amino acid(s) are performed so that the mutant RNA polymerase has an enhanced capability of incorporating the 3′-deoxynucleotide derivative as a substrate compared with the corresponding wild type RNA polymerase.

Abstract: A testing system for urinalysis is provided comprising a support member which carries a developing phase, a reagent carrying means, a urine applying section, and a urine-reagent developing area. In order to prevent inaccurate test results which may result from splashing the sample onto the device, a water-repellent agent is coated onto both sides of the reagent phase and the urine-reagent developing phase, as well as onto both sides of the support member where the reagent phase and the urine-reagent developing phase are provided. The water repellent agent is solidified, and a transparent resin film is attached to the upper surfaces of the reagent phase and the urine-reagent developing phase. In another embodiment, instead of the combination of a water repellent agent and a transparent resin film attached to the upper surfaces of the reagent phase and the urine-reagent developing phase, the device is enclosed in an envelope-like or cylindrical transparent resin film or container.

Abstract: A recombinant bacteriophage, a method for producing and selecting the recombinant bacteriophage and a method for heterologous cloning of DNA are disclosed. The recombinant bacteriophage is produced by ligating genetic fragments encoding a desired genetic trait with DNA from a bacteriophage, incubating with DNA from a second Bacillus microorganism prototrophic for a growth requirement, incubating with a host Bacillus auxotrophic for the growth requirement. Transformed host Bacillus are selected by growing the mixture on a growth medium which does not contain the growth requirement and determining the presence of the genetic trait. The recombinant bacteriophage containing the desired genetic trait is recovered from the host Bacillus by induction. Heterologous cloning can be accomplished by incubating a host Bacillus with the recombinant bacteriophage.

Abstract: A method is described for increasing the yield of a product from a microorganism containing a regulatory gene, by altering the microorganism. The method involves introducing into the microorganism at least one structural gene for the product by lysogenizing the microorganism with a recombinant bacteriophage containing the structural gene.