Abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) adhere to and orient along micropatterned grooves having a depth of 1 to 10 ?m and a width of 1 to 20 ?m that are imposed on the surface of a vascular implant device. The VSMCs maintain an elongated morphology and reduced proliferation resulting in a decrease in occurrence of intimal hyperplasia upon device implantation.

Abstract: Post-translational O-sulfonation of a serine or threonine residue of proteins is detected, optionally comparatively, wherein the detected O-sulfonation is detected under a first physiological condition, and is compared with a control O-sulfonation detected under a second physiological condition, and a difference between the detected and control O-sulfonations indicates a difference between the first and second physiological conditions. Predetermined changes in physiological conditions are used to infer specific changes in O-sulfonation. Proteins are modified by introducing a predetermined change in O-sulfonation at a serine or threonine residue of the protein, and optionally, detecting a resultant change in O-sulfonation. These methods include introducing or increasing O-sulfonation, eliminating or reducing O-sulfonation; and derivatizing or substituting O-sulfonation.

Abstract: An amide is formed by reacting an ?-ketoacid or salt thereof in a decarboxylative condensation reaction with an amine or salt thereof comprising a nitrogen covalently bound to an atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. The amide bond is formed between the ?-carbon of the ketoacid and the nitrogen of the amine. The ?-ketoacid can be formed using a novel sulfur reagent.

Abstract: Delta protein expression in a cell is reduced by introducing miR-1 into the cell, and detecting a resultant reduction of Delta protein expression in the cell.

Abstract: Oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp)-specific binding agents are used to reduce OMgp-mediated axon growth inhibition. Mixtures of axons and OMgp and mixtures of Nogo receptor (NgR) and OMgp are used in pharmaceutical screens to characterize agents as inhibiting binding of NgR to OMgp and promoting axon regeneration.

Abstract: An amide is formed by reacting an ?-ketoacid or salt thereof in a decarboxylative condensation reaction with an amine or salt thereof comprising a nitrogen covalently bound to an atom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. The amide bond is formed between the ?-carbon of the ketoacid and the nitrogen of the amine. The ?-ketoacid can be formed using a novel sulfur reagent.

Abstract: Specific binding of a foreign core ligand to a PAS domain, wherein the PAS domain is predetermined, prefolded in its native state, and comprises a hydrophobic core that has no NMR-apparent a priori formed ligand cavity, is determined using NMR spectra of the PAS domain in the presence and absence of a foreign ligand bound within the hydrophobic core. A functional surface binding specificity of a PAS domain is changed by (a) introducing into the hydrophobic core of the PAS domain a foreign ligand of the PAS domain; and (b) detecting a change in the functional surface binding specificity of the PAS domain.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided to inhibit release of HCV from an HCV-infected cell by contacting the cell with a VLDL assembly inhibitor, and detecting a resultant inhibition of HVC release from the cell. The methods can be used to decrease serum viremia of an HCV-infected person.

Abstract: Caspase activity and apoptosis are promoted using active, dimeric Smac peptide mimetics of the general formula M1-L-M2, wherein moieties M1 and M2 are monomeric Smac mimetics and L is a covalent linker. Target cancerous or inflammatory cells are contacted with an effective amount of an active, dimeric Smac mimetic, and a resultant increase in apoptosis of the target cells is detected. The contacting step may be effected by administering to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the dimeric mimetic, wherein the individual may be subject to concurrent or antecedent radiation or chemotherapy for treatment of a neoproliferative pathology.

Abstract: Human individuals at increased risk for vascular pathology are identified by determining whether the individuals' genome comprises a Notch1 allele predetermined to be associated with an increased risk for vascular pathology. Notch1 alleles are identified as being associated with increased risk for vascular pathology by detecting the presence of a same Notch allele in a plurality of persons with increased risk for vascular pathology.

Abstract: Inhibitors of Nogo Receptor (NgR)-p75 binding are used to reduce NgR-p75 binding mediated axon growth inhibition. Mixtures of NgR and p75 are used in pharmaceutical screens to characterize agents as inhibiting binding of NgR to p75 and promoting axon regeneration.

Abstract: A necrosis assays is performed with a cell expressing RIPK1 and RIP3 by (a) culturing the cell with a smac mimetic, caspase-8 inhibitor and TNF-?; and (b) detecting a resultant necrosis of the cell.

Abstract: Ornithine ?-aminotransferase (OAT) facilitates microtubule assembly in addition to its aminotransferase activity in mitochondria. An N-terminal proteolysis of the first 17 amino acids of OAT block its transport to the mitochondria. The resultant truncated protein (OATC) forms specific complexes with mitotic spindle promoting proteins such as Eg5 and takes on a Ran-dependent spindle-assembly activity. Methods and compositions for inhibiting mitotic spindle assembly in a cell by specifically inhibiting OAT, and methods for screening for inhibitors of (1) the spindle-assembly function of OAT, (2) the protease that N-truncates OAT, (3) the OAT/RanGTP association and (4) the OAT/Eg5 association are disclosed.

Abstract: Protein logic gates are made from autoregulated fusion proteins comprising an output domain and a plurality of input domains, wherein at least one of the input domains is heterologous to the output domain, and the input domains interact with each other to allosterically and external, ligand-dependently regulate the output domain. The output domain may be constitutively active, and in the absence of the ligand, the input domains interact to inhibit the output domain. The activity of the output domain is user discretionary, and may include activities that are catalytic, label-generative, metabolic-regulative, apototic, specific-binding, etc. Multiple input domains can cooperatively regulate the fusion protein in a wide variety of functionalities, including as an OR-gate, an AND-gate, and an AND-NOT-gate. The gates may be incorporated into cells and therein used to modulate cell function.

Abstract: Formulations and methods for transmucosal delivery of a beneficial agent are described in which a pH-responsive component and a temperature-responsive component are combined and applied to a mucous membrane. The temperature-responsive component is a component that, in aqueous solutions, is capable of undergoing a temperature-dependent sol to gel phase transition. The formulations may be characterized as having bioadhesive properties, and are suitable for delivery of a variety of beneficial agents.

Abstract: A lagomorph derived monoclonal antibody for recognizing the progesterone receptor (PR) (clone SP2) with immunohistochemistry and methods for creating such an antibody are disclosed. No need of target retrieval in immunohistochemistry is their prominent advantage compared to currently available PR antibody. Furthermore, the very low background when the lagomorph derived monoclonal antibody is used in immunohistochemistry is also impressive. The immunohistochemistry comparative study with about fifty clinical specimens showed that the new PR antibody (clone SP2) antibody had favorable results when compared to mouse monoclonal antibody PR (clone 1A6), the best one in the current market. The PR antibody may prove of great value in the assessment of PR status in human breast cancer. Humanized versions of the PR antibody may provide therapeutic benefits.

Abstract: Ghrelin is acylated by ghrelin O-acyltransferase. Ghrelin O-acyltransferase assays comprise contacting a mixture of ghrelin and recombinant ghrelin O-acyltransferase with an agent; and detecting a resultant decrease in acylation of the ghrelin by the acyltransferase.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to Kuz involvement in angiogenesis.

Abstract: A method is provided to identify a modulator of ?Klotho-dependant glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) upregulation that specifically modulates interaction of ?Klotho and an FGFR.

Abstract: The invention is a method for analyzing immature reticulocytes for the presence of micronuclei. The method includes reticulocyte enrichment, fluorescent labeling, micronuclei staining, and analysis using single-laser flow cytometry. The invention also includes kits containing reagents to use in the method.