Takara Shuzo Co., Inc.

Takara Bio Inc.

Other

Fujita Health University

Kimikazu Hashino

Ikunoshin Kato

Kiyozo Asada

Nobuto Koyama

Takashi Ueno

Takashi Uemori

Fusao Kimizuka

Yoshikazu Kurosawa

Hideto Chono

Mutsumi Sano

Mio Morishita

Mitsuhiro Ueno

Hirofumi Yoshioka

Kei Fujinaga

Yoh'ichi Ohdate

Tsuyoshi Miyamura

Tatsuru Kinoshita

Yuki Taguchi

Shouichi Goto

Yasutoshi Kawase

Hideyuki Matsushita

Kiyotoshi Sekiguchi

Koiti Titani

Miki Odate

Atsushi Shimada

Haruko Konishi

An isolated polypeptide includes the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID No. 13 and an isolated nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, such as an isolated nucleic acid including the nucleic acid sequence shown in SEQ. ID No. 17. The isolated polypeptide includes two heparin binding polypeptides connected in tandem and the isolated nucleic acid encodes these. The polypeptide and nucleic acid sequences can improve retroviral vector mediated gene transfer efficiency into target cells.

Enhancement of retroviral gene transduction employing polypeptides comprising the fibronectin heparin II binding domain

A polypeptide represented by SEQ. ID No. 13, a polypeptide represented by SEQ. ID No. 30 or functional equivalents thereof and a polypeptide represented by SEQ. ID No. 17.

Method for gene transfer into target cells with retrovirus

The present invention provides a method for increasing the efficiency of gene transfer into target cells with a retrovirus. The transduction is affected by infecting target cells with a retrovirus in the presence of a mixture of a functional material having a retrovirus binding domain, and a second functional material having target cell binding domain. The target cells may be selected from the group of unintentional hematopoietic progenitor cells and erythrocyte precursor, specifically pluripotent stem cells or embryopalstic stem cells.

Improved methods for transferring a gene into target cells by using a retrovirus, wherein the gene transfer efficiency is improved and the target cells are efficiently transformed by binding the retrovirus to a functional substance which is immobilized on as carrier and having an activity of binding to retroviruses followed by washing; using an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cells, laminin or mannose-rich type sugar chain as a substance having an activity of binding to the target cells; pre-treating the target cells so as to inactivate transferrin receptor, or introducing a new functional group into the functional substance.

Gene transfer methods

The present invention provides a kit to carry out retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into target cells. The kit contains a functional material bearing a retrovirus binding domain, another functional material bearing a target cell binding domain, an artificial substrate for incubating the retrovirus contacted with the target cells, and a target cell growth factor for pre-stimulating target cells to spur them along the cell cycle. The kit of the invention may further comprise a recombinant retroviral vector, necessary buffers, and the like.

Methods and kits for improving retroviral-mediated gene transfer utilizing molecules, or mixture thereof, containing retroviral binding domains and target cell binding domains

The present invention offers a method for the purification or removal of virus characterized in containing a step where the virus in the virus-containing sample is adsorbed with sulfated-fucose-containing polysaccharide(s) and/or degradation product(s) thereof.

Method of purifying and removing viruses

An isolated SDS-resistant hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase gene derived from Pyrococcus furiosus. Examples thereof include genes respectively shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2 and genes each hybridizable with the above gene shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. A method of cloning the hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase gene in which each of the above genes or pacts thereof is used as a probe or primer. A process for producing a hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase by culturing a transformant into which a plasmid containing each of the above gene has been introduced.

Hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase gene, enzyme encoded thereby, and

Method for production of transfected cells

An isolated hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase gene derived from Pyrococcus furiosus is described. Examples include DNA sequences shown in SEQ ID NO. 2 and SEQ ID NO. 4 and DNAs hybridizable with these DNAs. A method of cloning the hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase gene in which each of the above sequences or portions thereof is used as a probe or primer is described. A process for producing a hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase by culturing a transformant into which a plasmid containing each of the above genes has been introduced is described. A particularly preferred gene encodes an SDS-resistant hyperthermostable .beta.-galactosidase.

This invention provides an antibody having antigen binding activity and which has a heavy chain constant region into which has been introduced an RGDS amino acid sequence giving the antibody affinity for cells, including macrophages. The antibody exhibits artificial cell adhesive activity which is the newly expressed activity that results from insertion of the RGDS amino acid sequence. This antibody having artificial cell adhesive activity can accelerate the phagocytosis of macrophages, and can activate other effector cells. Therefore, this antibody contributes to the self-defense mechanism.

Artificial antibody

A polypeptide having the cell-spreading activity of human fibronectin. Methods of preparing the polypeptide are described.

Growing community of inventors

Takatsuki, Japan

Kimikazu Hashino