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 also provides antibodies that are specifically reactive with trophinin or a trophinin-assisting protein. 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 substantially pure integrin characterized in that it consists of an .alpha..sub.v and a .beta..sub.1 subunit. The receptor binds to fibronectin and GRGDSPK but does not bind to vitronectin. The .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 receptor can be used to determine the presence of ligands for the receptor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of attaching peptides containing a biologically active site, for example RGD-containing adhesion peptides, to a solid surface through a hydrophobic domain, and peptides so attached. The hydrophobic domain can contain either hydrophobic amino acids, such as leucine, valine, isoleucine or phenylalanine, or fatty acids, such as, for example, myristic acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid or other fatty acids. Additionally, spacers, such as amino acids, between the hydrophobic domain and the biologically active domain can improve the presentation of the biologically active site. Specific peptides of the invention includeGRGDSPASSKG.sub.4 RL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2 ;GRGDSPASSKS.sub.3 RL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2 ; andGRGDSPASSKSSKRL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of attaching peptides containing a biologically active site, for example RGD-containing adhesion peptides, to a solid surface through a hydrophobic domain, and peptides so attached. The hydrophobic domain can contain either hydrophobic amino acids, such as leucine, valine, isoleucine or phenylalanine, or fatty acids, such as, for example, myristic acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid or other fatty acids. Additionally, spacers, such as amino acids, between the hydrophobic domain and the biologically active domain can improve the presentation of the biologically active site. Specific peptides of the invention includeGRGDSPASSKG.sub.4 RL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2 ;GRGDSPASSKS.sub.3 RL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2 ; andGRGDSPASSKSSKRL.sub.6 RNH.sub.2.

Abstract: The invention provides substantially purified T-cadherin polypeptides and isolated nucleic acids which encode the T-cadherin polypeptides. Antibodies reactive with various forms of T-cadherin, but not reactive with N-, E- or P-cadherin are also provided. The invention provides methods for detecting the various forms of T-cadherin in a subject as well as a method of detecting tumor growth which consists of inhibiting the activity of T-cadherin in a tumor. A method of effecting traumatized neurons is provided. The method entails treating traumatized neurons with a therapeutically effective dose of T-cadherin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting an activity of TGF.beta. comprising contacting the TGF.beta. with a purified decorin. In a specific embodiment, 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.

Abstract: The invention provides a purified polypeptide having substantially the same amino acid sequence and activity as the protein having the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1 , or a characteristic fragment thereof. The polypeptide is a transcriptional activator. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and uses are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of substantially pure human recombinant decorin which involves the combination of three separate stages characterized by contacting decorin-containing cell culture medium with (1) a first strong anionic exchange resin; then with (2) a hydrophobic interactive chromatographic resin; and finally with (3) a second strong anionic exchange resin. By using a combination of steps, and certain reagents, in particular a 2.4 to 3 molar GuHCl solution to elute decorin from a hydrophobic interactive column, the process of this invention provides a more convenient and reproducible process for purifying human recombinant decorin. The invention also provides a process for detecting the presence of guanidinium ions in a sample solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of screening a substance for the ability to effect the formation of a retinoid X receptor homodimer comprising combining the substance and a solution containing retinoid X receptors and determining the presence of homodimer formation. Also provided is a method of screening a substance for an effect on a retinoid X receptor homodimer's ability to bind DNA comprising combining the substance with the homodimer and determining the effect of the compound on the homodimer's ability to bind DNA. A method of inhibiting an activity of a retinoid X receptor heterodimer comprising increasing the formation of a retinoid X receptor homodimer, thereby preventing the retinoid X receptor from forming a heterodimer and preventing the resulting heterodimer activity is also provided. A method of inhibiting an activity of a retinoid X receptor homodimer is also provided. In addition, a method of screening a response element for binding with a retinoid X receptor homodimer is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a disease or pathological condition resulting in apoptotic cell death. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in cells affected by the disease or pathological condition. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. Also provided is a method of prolonging the in vivo survival of transplanted cells for the treatment of a disease or pathological condition. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in a population of cells and transplanting the population of cells having increased Bcl-2 activity into a subject. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. A method to enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to therapy is provided that includes decreasing the activity of Bcl-2 in the malignant cells.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting the invasion of cells, particularly malignant cells through an extracellular membrane by contacting the membrane-cell interface with synthetic Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides. In one embodiment, the invention provides peptides containing the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Thr, more specifically Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Thr-Pro, which inhibits the attachment of cells to type I collagen in addition to fibronectin and vitronectin, and a method of inhibiting the attachment of cells to type I collagen. The invention further provides an assay for quantitating the invasive quality of cells by determining the amount of such peptides necessary to prevent the cells from penetrating an extracellular membrane, such as an amniotic membrane, in vitro.

Abstract: Method for the isolation and characterization of a 140,000 dalton cell surface glycoprotein with the properties expected of a fibronectin receptor is described.

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 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 extracellular matrix protein binding to integrins; to block attachment of cells expressing these integrins to extracellular matrix proteins; and to promote cell attachment when coated onto a surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for converting a pathologic hyperproliferative human cell to its non-malignant phenotype. The method comprises introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity and growing the cell under conditions such that the polypeptide is produced. This invention also relates to a method of converting a population of pathologic hyperproliferative cells in a subject to a non-hyperproliferative state by expressing, in some but not all of the hyperproliferative cells, an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity. In a further aspect, the invention relates to promoting differentiation of pathologically hyperproliferative cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing or inhibiting wound contraction in a subject having a wound comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide or a polypeptide. The invention provides, for example, a method of reducing or inhibiting wound contraction comprising the administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide having more than three consecutive basic amino acids. The invention also provides a method of reducing or inhibiting wound contraction comprising the administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising decorin.

Abstract: Antibodies against integrins are disclosed, as are methods of making same. Such antibodies are elicited by immunizing with synthetic peptides corresponding to the cytoplasmic domains, or functional portions thereof, of various integrin subunits. Peptides employed for such immunization include known cytoplasmic domain amino acid sequences for integrin subunits, as well as newly discovered cytoplasmic domain amino acid sequences for integrin subunits. The latter amino acid sequences are also disclosed and described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding both a soluble and membrane-bound human .beta.-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, the I-branching enzyme (IGnT). The invention also provides vectors containing the isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding human IGnT as well as recombinant host cells transformed with the vectors. The invention further provides a method of preparing a membrane-bound form of human IGnT and methods of preparing and purifying soluble human IGnT and active fragments of either form. Also provided are antisense oligonucleotides complementary to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a human IGnT or an active fragment thereof, antibodies directed to the human IGnT, pharmaceutical compositions related to the human IGnT and transgenic nonhuman mammals expressing DNA encoding normal or mutant human IGnT. Also provided are methods for regulating the expression of human IGnT and methods for modifying a biological function mediated by the regulatory activity of human IGnT.

Abstract: The present invention provides regulatory elements that are linked to genes involved in cell death and are regulated by p53 tumor suppressor protein. Examples of such p53 responsive elements (p53-RE) include p53-RE.sup.D, which is involved in p53-mediated down-regulation of the Bcl-2 gene, and p53-RE.sup.U, which is involved in p53-mediated up-regulation of the Bax gene. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying agents such as drugs that effectively modulate expression of a gene that is involved in cell death and contains a p53-RE.

Abstract: Bridged bicyclic aromatic compounds are provided having the structure ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and n are as defined herein. The novel compounds are useful for modulating gene expression of retinoic acid receptors, vitamin D receptors and thyroid receptors. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for modulating gene expression are provided as well.