Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel conjugates of a synthetic polypeptide containing RGD or (dR)GD and a biodegradable polymer, hyaluronate. The conjugates are prepared by any one of three different methods provided by the present invention: (1) an epoxide method (2) a sodium periodate method, and (3) a tresyl chloride method. The conjugates prepared by these methods are useful to aid in wound healing and tissue regeneration by providing a temporary matrix for tissue repair. The invention also provides novel RGD-peptides.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclic peptides which inhibit platelet aggregation without causing prolonged bleeding time. The invention provides RGD or KGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic amino acids adjacent to the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Peptides of this nature are also provided which contain in addition to the hydrophobic amino acid an adjacent positively charged amino acid. Such peptides have a high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and a low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel .beta.1.fwdarw.6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, which forms core 2 oligosaccharide structures in O-glycans, and a novel acceptor molecule, leukosialin, CD43, for core 2 .beta.1.fwdarw.6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity. The amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences encoding these molecules, as well as active fragments thereof, also are disclosed. A method for isolating nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins having enzymatic activity is disclosed, using CHO cells that support replication of plasmid vectors having a polyoma virus origin of replication. A method to obtain a suitable cell line that expresses an acceptor molecule also is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of a cell regulatory factor which includes contacting the cell regulatory factor with a purified polypeptide, the polypeptide including the cell regulatory factor binding domain of a protein which is characterized by a leucine-rich repeat of about 24 amino acids. The present invention relates to the ability of decorin, a 40,000 dalton protein that usually carries a glycosaminoglycan chain, to bind TGF-.beta.. The invention also provides a novel cell regulatory factor designated MRF. Also provided are methods of identifying, detecting and purifying cell regulatory factors and proteins which bind and affect the activity of cell regulatory factors. The present invention further relates to methods for the prevention or reduction of scarring by administering decorin or a functional equivalent of decorin to a wound. The methods are particularly useful for dermal wounds resulting from burns, injuries or surgery.

Abstract: The present invention provides substantially purified mammalian trophinin which can mediate cell adhesion. The invention also provides substantially purified trophinin-assisting proteins, which interact with trophinin to mediate cell adhesion. The invention further provides antibodies that are specifically reactive with trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein. In addition, the invention provides active fragments of trophinin or trophinin-assisting proteins. The invention further provides a nucleic acid molecule encoding trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein, vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules and host cells containing the vectors. The invention also provides a nucleotide sequence that can hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule encoding trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein. The invention further provides methods to detect trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein or a nucleic acid molecule encoding trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel human protein, SATB1, that binds matrix/scaffold-associating DNA regions (MARs). The novel human protein, predominantly expressed in the thymus, has an approximate molecular weight of about 85.9 kD. The SATB1 cDNA encodes a 763 amino acid sequence protein that is capable of binding to special AT rich sequences (ATC sequences). The invention further provides antibodies specifically reactive with such protein. Isolated nucleic acids encoding the novel MAR-binding protein are also provided, as well as vectors containing the nucleic acids and recombinant host cells transformed with such vectors. The invention further provides methods of detecting such nucleic acids by contacting a sample with a nucleic acid probe having a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing with the isolated nucleic acids of the present invention. Such probes can correspond to the ATC sequences.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The invention provides RGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic moieties adjacent the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Such peptides have an high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel purified human lysosomal membrane sialoglycoproteins. These novel human proteins, lamp-1 and lamp-2, are highly glycosylated and are the major carriers of polylactosaminoglycan, when expressed on the cell surface participate in various cellular adhesion interactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bcl-2 gene inhibitory element (BIE), which can inhibit expression of a gene in position-dependent and orientation-dependent manner. The invention provides, for example, BIE-1, having the nucleotide sequence 5'-CAAGAATGCAA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 1), which acts in an orientation-dependent and position-dependent manner to down-regulate the expression of the bcl-2 gene. The invention also provides a BIE binding factor (BBF), which is a cellular factor that can bind to a BIE. The invention provides, for example, BBF-A, which binds to BIE-1, including a nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8) encoding a portion of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9) of BBF-A. The invention further provides an antibody that specifically binds BBF-A. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying agents that can increase or decrease the binding of a BBF to a BIE, modulate the expression of a nucleic acid molecule linked to a BIE or modulate apoptosis in a cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially purified polypeptide, epitaxin, which is produced by fibroblasts and can stimulate migration of and DNA synthesis in a tumor cell. The invention also provides antibodies that are specifically reactive with epitaxin and cell lines that produce such antibodies. The invention also provides an active fragment antagonist of ETX activity, which can reduce or inhibit at least one activity of ETX. The invention further provides a method for controlling tumor cell migration and a method for controlling DNA synthesis in a tumor cell, comprising contacting the tumor cell with a composition of the invention. The invention also provides a method of increasing the sensitivity of a tumor cell to a cancer therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Abstract: The present invention provides mammalian protein tyrosine phosphatases, human PTP-BAS type 4, human PTP-BAS type 5a and mouse PTP-BAS type 5b, each of which is a Fas-associated protein (FAP), nucleic acid molecules encoding a PTP-BAS type 4 or a PTP-BAS type 5 and antibodies specific for a PTP-BAS type 4 or for a PTP-BAS type 5. The invention also provides methods for identifying FAP's, which can associate with Fas and can modulate apoptosis. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that can effectively alter the association of a FAP with Fas and, therefore, can increase or decrease the level of apoptosis in a cell. The invention further provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS or fragment of a PTP-BAS or an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a portion of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides having specificity for fibronectin-binding and vitronectin-binding integrins, and in particular for .alpha..sub.5 .beta..sub.1 integrin. These peptides are characterized by having the ability to interfere with fibronectin binding to .alpha..sub.5 .beta..sub.1 integrin, to block attachment of cells expressing integrins to extracellular matrix proteins and to promote cell attachment when immobilized onto a surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel .beta.1.fwdarw.6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, which forms core 2 oligosaccharide structures in O-glycans, and a novel acceptor molecule, leukosialin, CD43, for core 2 .beta.1.fwdarw.6 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity. The amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences encoding these molecules, as well as active fragments thereof, also are disclosed. A method for isolating nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins having enzymatic activity is disclosed, using CHO cells that support replication of plasmid vectors having a polyoma virus origin of replication. A method to obtain a suitable cell line that expresses an acceptor molecule also is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a purified protein, having an apparent molecular weight of about 800 kDa, designated merosin. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid sequence which encodes merosin. The invention further provides antibodies, vectors, and the expression of recombinant proteins by use of a host vector system. The invention also provides the use of merosin to promote neurite growth and for certain diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for in vivo panning of a library to identify molecules that specifically home to a selected organ.

Abstract: The invention provides cyclic peptides which inhibit platelet aggregation without causing prolonged bleeding time. The invention provides RGD or KGD containing peptides which are cyclized and contain hydrophobic moieties adjacent to the carboxy terminus of the RGD sequence. Peptides of this nature are also provided which contain in addition to the hydrophobic moiety an adjacent positively charged moiety. Such peptides have a high affinity for the receptor IIb/IIIa and a low affinity for the fibronectin and vitronectin receptors. Such peptides can be administered in a suitable physiologically acceptable carrier to therapeutically treat thrombosis.