What is claimed is:
1. An isolated, vertebrate nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 locus.
2. A DNA molecule of claim 1.
3. A cDNA molecule of claim 2.
4. A genomic DNA molecule of claim 2.
5. An RNA molecule of claim 1.
6. A human nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
7. A nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of the bcl-6 locus.
8. A DNA molecule of claim 7.
9. An RNA molecule of claim 7.
10. An isolated, vertebrate nucleic acid molecule of claim 3 operatively linked to a promoter of RNA transcription.
11. A vector which comprises the nucleic acid molecule of claims 2 or 10.
12. A vector of claim 11, wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule is linked to a plasmid.
13. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 12 designated pGB31 (ATCC Accession No. 75476).
14. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 12 designated pGB3s (ATCC Accession No. 75477).
15. A host vector system for the production of a polypeptide encoded by bcl-6 locus, which comprises the vector of claim 11 in a suitable host.
16. A host vector system of claim 15, wherein the suitable host is a bacterial cell, insect cell, or animal cell.
17. A method of producing a polypeptide encoded by bcl-6 locus, which comprises growing the host vector system of claim 11 under suitable conditions permitting production of the polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide so produced.
18. A polypeptide encoded by the isolated, vertebrate nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
19. An antibody capable of binding to polypeptide encoded by bcl-6.
20. A monoclonal antibody of claim 19.
21. A polyclonal antibody of claim 19.
22. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 that is labelled with a detectable marker.
23. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 22, wherein the marker is a radioactive label, a calorimetric, luminescent, or a fluorescent marker.
24. An antagonist capable of blocking the expression of claim 18.
25. The antagonist of claim 24, wherein the antagonist is a triplex oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing to nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
26. An antisense molecule capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1.
27. The antisense molecule of claim 26, wherein the molecule is a DNA.
28. The antisense molecule of claim 26, wherein the molecule is a RNA.
29. A triplex oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing with a double stranded DNA molecule of claim 2.
30. A transgenic nonhuman mammal which comprises the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 introduced into the mammal at an embryonic stage.
31. An assay for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, comprising (a) incubating a sample of suitable body fluid for a subject with a monoclonal antibody reactive with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells to a solid support, (b) removing unbound body fluid from the support, and (c) determining the level of antigen activity exhibited by the bound body fluid to the support.
32. A method for screening putative therapeutic agents for treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which comprises determining in a first sample from a subject with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma the presence of the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, administering to the subject a therapeutic amount of the agent such that the agent is contacted with the cell associated with the condition, determining after a suitable period the amount of the isolated nucleic acid molecule in a sample from the treated subject, and comparing the amount of isolated nucleic acid molecule determined in the first sample with the amount determined in the sample from the treated subject, a difference indicating the effectiveness of the agent, thereby screening putative therapeutic agents for treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
33. A method for diagnosing B-cell lymphoma in a subject comprising:
(a) obtaining DNA sample from the subject;
(b) cleave the DNA sample into fragments;
(c) separating the DNA fragments by size fractionation;
(d) hybridizing the DNA fragments with a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of the bcl-6 locus to detect the DNA fragment containing the bcl-6 sequence; and
(e) comparing the detected DNA fragment from (d) with the DNA fragment from a known normal subject, the difference in size of the fragments indicating the occurrence of B-cell lymphoma in the subject.
34. A method of claim 33, where in step (b), the DNA sample is cleaved by restriction enzyme.
35. A method of claim 33, wherein the size fractionation is step (c) is effected by a polyacrylamide or agarose gel.
36. A method of claim 33, where in step (d), the nucleic acid molecule is labeled with a detectable marker.
37. A method of claim 36, wherein the detectable marker is a radiolabelled molecule, a fluorescent molecule, an enzyme, or a ligand.
38. A method of claim 33, further comprising transferring the DNA fragments into a solid matrix before step (d).
39. A method for diagnosing B-cell lymphoma in a subject comprising:
(a) obtaining RNA sample from the subject;
(b) separating the RNA sample into different species by size fractionation;
(c) hybridizing the RNA species with a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of the bcl-6 locus to detect the RNA species containing the bcl-6 sequence; and
(d) comparing the detected RNA species from step (c) with the RNA species from a known normal subject, the difference in size of the species indicating the occurrence of B-cell lymphoma in the subject.
40. A method of claim 39, wherein the size fractionation in step (b) is effected by a polyacrylamide or agarose gel.
41. A method of claim 39, where in step (c), the nucleic acid molecule is labeled with a detectable marker.
42. A method of claim 41, wherein the detectable marker is a radiolabelled molecule, a fluorescent molecule, an enzyme, or a ligand.
43. A method of claim 39, further comprising transferring the RNA species into a solid matrix before step (c).
44. A method of treating a subject with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, comprising administering an effective amount of the antisense molecule of claim 26 operatively linked to a suitable regulatory element coupled with a therapeutic DNA into a tumor cell of a subject, thereby treating the subject with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
45. A method of treating a subject with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, comprising administering an effective amount of the antagonist of claim 23, and a suitable acceptable carrier, thereby treating the subject with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A recording medium library apparatus comprising: a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges therein; a readwrite portion for readingwriting data fromto said magnetic tape cartridge; a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said readwrite portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said magnetic tape cartridge therein; and, a tape cartridge loadingunloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
said tape cartridge loadingunloading mechanism is of a transfer-roller type; and,
at a final stage of a loading operation of said magnetic tape cartridge into said readwrite portion or into said cartridge storage portion, said tape cartridge loadingunloading mechanism functions to positively push a rear-end portion or a front-end portion of said magnetic tape cartridge forward or rearward to complete said loading operation.
2. A magnetic tape library apparatus comprising: a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges therein; a readwrite portion for readingwriting data fromto said magnetic tape cartridge; a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said readwrite portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said magnetic tape cartridge therein; and, a tape cartridge loadingunloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
said tape cartridge loadingunloading mechanism is provided with: a pair of cartridge transfer-rollers which are disposed adjacent to a transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge on said carrier, and spaced a predetermined distance away from each other in a loadingunloading direction of said magnetic tape cartridge; a roller arm which has said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to its opposite-end portions; a guide for guiding in motion said roller arm along said transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge in said loadingunloading direction thereof; a roller arm linear driving means for linear driving said roller arm along said guide; a transfer-roller rotary driving means for rotatably driving said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers in a manner such that said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers linearly move said magnetic tape cartridge in a direction in which said roller arm is linearly driven; and, a roller arm rotary driving means for rotatably driving said roller arm itself when said roller arm reaches a front-end portion or a rear-end portion of said guide, in which end portion a trailing one or a leading one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers separates from both said guide and a side surface of said magnetic tape cartridge outwardly on said carrier while said leading one or said trailing one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers projects inwardly into said transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge upon rotation of said roller arm.
3. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said guide extends substantially over an entire length of said carrier in said loadingunloading direction of said magnetic tape cartridge; and, said roller arm rotary driving means operates at a time when said roller arm reaches each of a forward-end portion and a rearward-end portion of said guide.
4. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: a home position of said roller arm is set at a central portion of said guide; and, a ratio in feed amount between said roller arm linear driving means and said roller arm rotary driving means is designed in a manner such that a feed amount of said magnetic tape cartridge transferred forward or rearward via one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers when reaching substantially half an entire length of said magnetic tape cartridge before said roller arm transferred from said home position reaches said forward-end portion or said rearward-end portion of said guide.
5. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: provided in only one of opposite-side portions of said carrier are said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers, said roller arm, said guide, said roller arm linear driving means, and said roller arm rotary driving means; and, provided in an other of said opposite-side portions of said carrier is a row of a plurality of rollers which cooperate with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers to sandwich said magnetic tape cartridge therebetween and transfer said magnetic tape cartridge forward or rearward.
6. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: said guide is constructed of a groove; a rack is disposed adjacent to said guide outside said transfer path of said magnetic tape cartridge to extend in parallel to said guide; gears capable of meshing with said rack are integrally formed with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers; a main-engaging projection is provided in a central portion of said roller arm, and slidably engaged with said guide in an insertion manner to ensure that said rack meshes with said gears without fail, so that said transfer-roller rotary driving means is constructed of said rack, said gears and said roller arm linear driving means, wherein said roller arm linear driving means moves said main-engaging projection along said guide; sub-engaging projections are provided in a vicinity of each of a pair of pivoted portions of said cartridge transfer-rollers in said roller arm, wherein said sub-engaging projections are shorter in length than said main-engaging projection and slidably engaged with said guide together with said main-engaging projection in an insertion manner; sub-engaging projection separation areas are formed in a vicinity of each of a front-end portion and a rear-end portion of said guide to permit only said sub-engaging projections to escape from said groove of said guide through said sub-engaging projection separation areas by setting a height of said groove in said sub-engaging projection separation areas at a value shorter than a length of said main-engaging projection having been inserted in said groove of said guide so as to prevent only said main-engaging projection from escaping from said groove through said sub-engaging projection separation areas; sub-guides which are identical in construction with said guide and connected with each of said front-end portion and said rear-end portion of said guide to form an extension thereof; and, said roller arm rotary driving means is constructed of said main-engaging projection, said sub-engaging projections, said sub-engaging projection separation areas, said sub-guides, and said roller arm linear driving means.
7. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a connection portion through which said guide is connected with said sub-guides assumes a substantially circularly-curved shape.
8. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said guide extends substantially over said entire length of said magnetic tape cartridge in said loadingunloading direction thereof on said carrier; and, both said sub-engaging projection separation areas and said sub-guides are provided in each of said front-end portion and said rear-end portion of said guide.
9. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: a home position of said roller arm is set at a central portion of said guide; and, a ratio in diameter between said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers and said gears is designed in a manner such that a feed amount of said magnetic tape cartridge transferred forward or rearward via one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers reaches substantially half the entire length of said magnetic tape cartridge before said roller arm transferred from said home position reaches said front-end portion or said rear-end portion of said guide.
10. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: provided in only one of opposite-side portions of said carrier are said guide, said rack, said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers, said roller arm, said sub-engaging projection separation areas, and said sub-guides; and, provided in the other of said opposite-side portions of said carrier is a row of a plurality of rollers which cooperate with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers to sandwich said magnetic tape cartridge therebetween and transfer said magnetic tape cartridge forward or rearward.
11. A recording medium library apparatus comprising: a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of recording medium cartridges therein; a readwrite portion for readingwriting data fromto said recording medium cartridge; a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said readwrite portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said recording medium cartridge therein; and, a recording medium cartridge loadingunloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
said recording medium cartridge loadingunloading mechanism is of a transfer-roller type; and,
at a final stage of a loading operation of said recording medium cartridge into said readwrite portion or into said cartridge storage portion, said recording medium cartridge loadingunloading mechanism functions to positively push a rear-end portion or a front-end portion of said recording medium cartridge forward or rearward to complete said loading operation.
12. A recording medium library apparatus comprising: a cartridge storage portion for storing a plurality of recording medium cartridges therein; a readwrite portion for readingwriting data fromto said recording medium cartridge; a carrier which is reciprocally moved between said cartridge storage portion and said readwrite portion in a condition in which said carrier holds said recording medium cartridge therein; and, a recording medium cartridge loadingunloading mechanism provided in said carrier, wherein:
said recording medium cartridge loadingunloading mechanism is provided with: a pair of cartridge transfer-rollers which are disposed adjacent to a transfer path of said recording medium cartridge on said carrier, and spaced a predetermined distance away from each other in a loadingunloading direction of said recording medium cartridge; a roller arm which has said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers pivoted to its opposite-end portions; a guide for guiding in motion said roller arm along said transfer path of said recording medium cartridge in said loadingunloading direction thereof; a roller arm linear driving means for linear driving said roller arm along said guide; a transfer-roller rotary driving means for rotatably driving said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers in a manner such that said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers linearly move said recording medium cartridge in a direction in which said roller arm is linearly driven; and, a roller arm rotary driving means for rotatably driving said roller arm itself when said roller arm reaches a front-end portion or a rear-end portion of said guide, in which end portion a trailing one or a leading one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers separates from both said guide and a side surface of said recording medium cartridge outwardly on said carrier while said leading one or said trailing one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers projects inwardly into said transfer path of said recording medium cartridge upon rotation of said roller arm.
13. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: said guide extends substantially over an entire length of said carrier in said loadingunloading direction of said recording medium cartridge; and, said roller arm rotary driving means operates at a time when said roller arm reaches each of a forward-end portion and a rearward-end portion of said guide.
14. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: a home position of said roller arm is set at a central portion of said guide; and, a ratio in feed amount between said roller arm linear driving means and said roller arm rotary driving means is designed in a manner such that a feed amount of said recording medium cartridge transferred forward or rearward via one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers when reaching substantially half an entire length of said recording medium cartridge before said roller arm transferred from said home position reaches said forward-end portion or said rearward-end portion of said guide.
15. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: provided in only one of opposite-side portions of said carrier are said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers, said roller arm, said guide, said roller arm linear driving means, and said roller arm rotary driving means; and, provided in an other of said opposite-side portions of said carrier is a row of a plurality of rollers which cooperate with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers to sandwich said recording medium cartridge therebetween and transfer said recording medium cartridge forward or rearward.
16. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: said guide is constructed of a groove; a rack is disposed adjacent to said guide outside said transfer path of said recording medium cartridge to extend in parallel to said guide; gears capable of meshing with said rack are integrally formed with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers; a main-engaging projection is provided in a central portion of said roller arm, and slidably engaged with said guide in an insertion manner to ensure that said rack meshes with said gears without fail, so that said transfer-roller rotary driving means is constructed of said rack, said gears and said roller arm linear driving means, wherein said roller arm linear driving means moves said main-engaging projection along said guide; sub-engaging projections are provided in a vicinity of each of a pair of pivoted portions of said cartridge transfer-rollers in said roller arm, wherein said sub-engaging projections are shorter in length than said main-engaging projection and slidably engaged with said guide together with said main-engaging projection in an insertion manner; sub-engaging projection separation areas are formed in a vicinity of each of a front-end portion and a rear-end portion of said guide to permit only said sub-engaging projections to escape from said groove of said guide through said sub-engaging projection separation areas by setting a height of said groove in said sub-engaging projection separation areas at a value shorter than a length of said main-engaging projection having been inserted in said groove of said guide so as to prevent only said main-engaging projection from escaping from said groove through said sub-engaging projection separation areas; sub-guides which are identical in construction with said guide and connected with each of said front-end portion and said rear-end portion of said guide to form an extension thereof; and, said roller arm rotary driving means is constructed of said main-engaging projection, said sub-engaging projections, said sub-engaging projection separation areas, said sub-guides, and said roller arm linear driving means.
17. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a connection portion through which said guide is connected with said sub-guides assumes a substantially circularly-curved shape.
18. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: said guide extends substantially over said entire length of said recording medium cartridge in said loadingunloading direction thereof on said carrier; and, both said sub-engaging projection separation areas and said sub-guides are provided in each of said front-end portion and said rear-end portion of said guide.
19. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: a home position of said roller arm is set at a central portion of said guide; and, a ratio in diameter between said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers and said gears is designed in a manner such that a feed amount of said recording medium cartridge transferred forward or rearward via one of said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers reaches substantially half the entire length of said recording medium cartridge before said roller arm transferred from said home position reaches said front-end portion or said rear-end portion of said guide.
20. The recording medium library apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: provided in only one of opposite-side portions of said carrier are said guide, said rack, said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers, said roller arm, said sub-engaging projection separation areas, and said sub-guides; and, provided in the other of said opposite-side portions of said carrier is a row of a plurality of rollers which cooperate with said pair of said cartridge transfer-rollers to sandwich said recording medium cartridge therebetween and transfer said recording medium cartridge forward or rearward.