Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo

Kozo Yamamoto

Masashi Kurimoto

Takeshi Ario

Madoka Taniai

Hiroto Chaen

Tomoyuki Nishimoto

Kazuhiko Maruta

Tetsuya Nakada

Iwao Okamoto

Tetsuya Mori

Tsunetaka Ohta

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel ketose 3-epimerase, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, and a process for producing a ketose by using the enzyme. The present invention solves the above objects by providing a ketose 3-epimerase which is obtainable from a microorganism of the genus, a process for producing the same, a DNA encoding the enzyme, a recombinant DNA and transformant comprising the DNA, and a process for converting D- or L-ketohexose into corresponding D- or L-ketohexose by epimerizing the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of the D- or L-ketohexose; and D- or L-ketopentose into corresponding D- or L-ketopentose by epimerizing the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of the D- or L-ketopentose; by using the enzyme.

Ketose 3-epimerase, its preparation and uses

Disclosed are created stable polypeptides which are capable of inducing the production of interferon-gamma by immunocompetent cells. The present polypeptides contain specific amino acid sequences usually derived from the wild-type polypeptides, being capable of the production of interferon-gamma, by replacing the cysteine(s) with different amino acid(s). The present polypeptides possess a stability and an activity of inducing the production of IFN-&#x3b3; by immunocompetent cells, both of which are significantly higher than those of the wild-type polypeptides. In addition to the activity, the present polypeptides can exhibit remarkable activities of inducing the formation of killer cells and enhancing thier cytotoxicities. The present polypeptides are easily obtainable by the process according to the present invention using recombinant DNA techniques. Thus the present polypeptides are useful for agents to treat and/or prevent susceptive diseases such as viral diseases, infections, malignant tumors, and immunopathies.

DNA encoding loypeptides having interferon-&#x3b3; inducing activity

Disclosed are polypeptides which originate from mammal, having L-asparaginase activity. The polypeptides are easily prepared by applying recombinant DNA techniques to DNAs encoding the polypeptides and they exert satisfactory effects in the treatment and/or the prevention for diseases caused by tumor cells dependent on L-asparagine, and cause no substantial serious side effects even when administered to humans in relatively-high dose.

Polypeptides having L-asparaginase activity

Disclosed are created stable polypeptides which are capable of inducing the production of interferon-gamma by immunocompetent cells. The present polypeptides contain specific amino acid sequences usually derived from the wild-type polypeptides, being capable of the production of interferon-gamma, by replacing the cysteine(s) with different amino acid(s). The present polypeptides possess a stability and an activity of inducing the production of IFN-&ggr; by immunocompetent cells, both of which are significantly higher than those of the wild-type polypeptides. In addition to the activity, the present polypeptides can exhibit remarkable activities of inducing the formation of killer cells and enhancing thier cytotoxicities. The present polypeptides are easily obtainable by the process according to the present invention using recombinant DNA techniques. Thus the present polypeptides are useful for agents to treat and/or prevent susceptive diseases such as viral diseases, infections, malignant tumors, and immunopathies.

Polypeptides having interferon-&ggr; inducing activity

Insertion of IFN-alpha promoters in recombinant DNAs improves their expression efficiencies for useful polypeptides. Expression of such a recombinant DNA in host cells of mammalian origin is artificially controllable by the presence and absence of external stimuli using IFN-alpha inducers. Thus, transformants with such a recombinant DNA readily increase to a maximized cell density with causing neither damages nor extinction due to polypeptides they produce, and subsequent exposure to IFN-alpha inducers allows the proliferated cells to efficiently produce polypeptides with significant glycosylations.

Growing community of inventors

Okayama, Japan

Kozo Yamamoto