Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides having morphogenesis promoting activity and in particular, hair promoting activity. The oligopeptides may be in monomer form, monomer having a reactive substance bound form or as a polymer, such as a dimer including a homodimer; heterodimer; homotrimer; or heterodimer. The present invention also provides monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize a 220 kDa antigen of epithelial new hair follicles; hybridomas producing such antibody; and methods and kits for assaying hair growth in mammalian subjects.

Abstract: The present invention provides oligopeptides having morphogenesis promoting activity and in particular, hair promoting activity. The oligopeptides may be in monomer form, monomer having a reactive substance bound form or as a polymer, such as a dimer including a homodimer; heterodimer; homotrimer; or heterodimer. The present invention also provides monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize a 220 kDa antigen of epithelial new hair follicles; hybridomas producing such antibody; and methods and kits for assaying hair growth in mammalian subjects.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a modified epimorphin obtained by adding a hydrophilic peptide composed of 5 to 99 amino acids to at least one terminus of a polypeptide containing the functional domain of epimorphin, and a modified epimorphin composed of a polypeptide having a structure wherein a hydrophobic domain adjacent to the C-terminus of the whole-length epimorphin consisting of a coiled coil domain (1) on the N-terminal side, a functional domain (2) at the center, a coiled coil domain (3) on the C-terminal side and the hydrophobic domain (4) adjacent to the C-terminus has been deleted from the whole-length epimorphin, and at least part of amino acids have been deleted from the terminal side of at least one of the coiled coil domains (1) and (3) as well.

Abstract: An antibacterial vascular prosthesis obtained by winding a tube, fiber or sheet formed from a polymeric material and combined with an antibacterial substance on the outer surface of a vascular prosthesis composed of a tubular porous body formed of a synthetic resin is provided. The antibacterial vascular prosthesis can exhibit an antibacterial activity over a long period of time without impairing the porous structure, antithrombogenicity and histocompatibility inherent in the vascular prosthesis composed of the tubular porous body formed of the synthetic resin. An antibacterial surgical suture comprising a tube or fiber formed from a polymeric material and combined with an antibacterial substance is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are Human Id genes (Id-1H and Id-1H') and variants thereof. Origin, preparation process, biochemical functions and the like: two synthetic oligonucleotides separately having base sequences corresponding to regions of amino acid sequence, which are almost completely conserved by three mouse Id genes (Id-1, Id-2 and HLH462) are used as probes to screen clones having respective cDNAs complementary to the probes from a cDNA library of human TIG-1 fibroblasts in accordance with the hybridization method, thereby isolating human Id genes. The expression of the human Id genes specifically varies according to the state of cell proliferation, in particular, the acquisition of cell aging and permanently proliferating ability.