Abstract: The invention is directed to substantially purified Eph-related protein tyrosine kinases, or functional fragments thereof, having about 23 to 66 percent amino acid sequence identity in their carboxyl terminal variable regions compared to known members of the Eph subclass of tyrosine kinases. Nucleic acids encoding such Eph-related protein tyrosine kinases, vectors and host cells are also provided. The invention is also directed to a method of diagnosing cancer and determining cancer prognosis. The method includes removing a tissue or cell sample from a subject suspected of having cancer and determining the level of Eph-related protein tyrosine kinase in the sample, wherein a change in the level or activity of a Eph-related protein tyrosine kinase compared to a normal sample indicates the presence of a cancer or indicates the level of malignancy of a cancer.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel synthetic polypeptide derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin. The synthetic polypeptide of the invention encompasses a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site, and is capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly. In contrast to previously identified fibronectin fragments that block fibronectin matrix assembly by blocking an initial event in matrix assembly (i.e., fibronectin binding to cells), the invention polypeptide appears to inhibit an intermediate step in matrix assembly, i.e., fibronectin self-association prior to the disulfide cross-linking that stabilizes the fibronectin matrix.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel purified TGF-.beta. binding protein, alone or complexed with TGF-.beta.. The TGF-.beta. binding protein is useful to purify TGF-.beta. in a sample and to modify the regulatory activities of TGF-.beta..

Abstract: A substantially pure heterotrimeric laminin variant comprising the structure M-X-B2, wherein M is the M polypeptide of merosin; X is selected from the group consisting of the B1 chain of laminin and S-laminin; and B2 is the B2 chain of laminin.

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: A method is provided for detecting T-cell dysfunctions. The method includes detecting an alteration in the level of a protein regulating synthesis of the hexasaccharide NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta .1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.6)GalNAc on leukosialin of T-cells from a subject suspected of having a T-cell dysfunction compared to resting T-cells from a normal individual. The protein regulating synthesis of the hexasaccharide can be core 2 GlcNAc transferase and can be detected by either a change in its amount or activity. Also provided is a method of detecting T-cell dysfunctions which includes detecting an alteration in the level of leukosialin having the hexasaccharide NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3(NeuNAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta .1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.6)GlcNAc on T-cells from a subject suspected of having a T-cell dysfunction compared to resting T-cells from a normal individual. Kits for detecting T-cell dysfunction are provided as well.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the discovery of a 23 kD protein, designated herein as Queb, that has specific binding affinity for the purine base Queuine. The invention particularly relates to polypeptides having specific binding reactivity with Queuine and methods of using such polypeptides to purify Queuine and Queuine-containing substances. The invention also relates to antibodies having specific reactivity with Queuine or Queb. Methods for determining the presence and concentration of Queuine and Queb are also provided as well as methods for the diagnosis of a pathological disease or prognosis of a patient having a disease associated with Queuine, Queuine-containing substances such as Queuine-tRNA, or Queb. Kits useful for performing the methods of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method of isolating cell surface receptors utilizing a short peptide sequence bound to an affinity column. Cell surface receptors which bind selectively to the short peptide and which are specific to various adhesion proteins may be isolated therewith from various cell preparations. These receptors, whose functional integrity has been maintained by the presence of the peptide ligand, are incorporated into liposomes and used to deliver specific compounds inside the liposomes to select tissues containing the specific adhesion proteins.

Abstract: The invention provides the discovery that estrogen receptor is a constitutive transcriptional activator and a repressor. These activities are lacking in the mutant estrogen receptor. The invention provides assays and methods for determining estrogen binding activity of ligands. The invention also provides therapeutic methods and the detection of pathologies associated with a mutated estrogen receptor.

Abstract: An adhesion receptor for laminin is provided. The receptor is isolated from cell or tissue extracts and fractionated on an affinity column composed of cell attachment-promoting fragments of laminin coupled to Sepharose.TM. in the presence of divalent cations. This receptor can be used to prepare specific antibodies for the analysis of the amount of laminin receptor expressed by cells and has other applications in cellular and tumor biology.

Abstract: The invention relates to the fibroblast proteoglycan, versican. The versican core protein has the amino acid sequence, and is encoded by the nucleotide sequence, as shown in FIG. 1. The nucleotide sequence and method of hyaluronic acid binding domain is provided and methods of preparing recombinant proteins having hyaluronic acid binding activity are provided. Such protein can be used to determine the presence of hyaluronic acid and as a vehicle to bring other molecules in contact with hyaluronic acid. The complete versican sequence will allow the production of the entire versican molecule to be used, for example, in tissue reconstruction. Nucleic acid probes are provided which are useful for detecting nucleic acid sequences encoding versican. The invention also provides antibodies reactive with versican.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially pure integrin-type receptor characterized in that it consists of an .alpha..sub.v and a .beta..sub.1 subunit. The .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 integrin binds to fibronectin and GRGDSPK but does not bind to vitronectin. The .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 integrin can be used to determine the presence of a .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 ligand and to develop adhesion peptides specific for the various integrins. The presence of the .alpha..sub.v .beta..sub.1 integrin can be used to assess ability of cells to adhere to fibronectin.

Abstract: This invention provides a substantially purified thyroid hormone receptor, termed herbA-T, defined by its complete amino acid sequence deduced from its cDNA and the binding of thyroid hormone by the protein translated from the mRNA corresponding to the cDNA. The cDNA, the protein produced from it, and antibodies reactive therewith are also provided.

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 relates to structural and regulatory DNA sequences encoding the germ cell ALP gene. These sequences differ at identified positions from the PLAP gene. Labelled nucleotide sequences complementary to germ cell ALP encoding nucleotide sequences but differing from PLAP may be used to detect the presence of the gene. The invention also relates to gene fragments specifying amino acid sequences which are specific to germ cell ALP and to antibodies raised against germ cell ALP-specific peptide fragments, their diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Abstract: The peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-R-Y wherein X is H or at least one amino acid and Y is OH or at least one amino acid, and R is an amino acid selected from Thr or Cys, or other amino acid, having the same cell-attachment activity as fibronectin and the peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Y, wherein X and Y, having said activity are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of using synthetic cell attachment-promoting peptides from fibronectin to detach cultured cells from the substratum is described.

Abstract: A substantially purified carbohydrate is provided which is isolated from chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. The carbohydrate is immunogenic and can be utilized to raise both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract: A method of using synthetic cell attachment-promoting peptides from fibronectin to detach cultured cells from the substratum is described.

Abstract: The peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-R-Y wherein X is H or at least one amino acid and Y is OH or at least one amino acid, and R is an amino acid selected from Thr or Cys, or other amino acid, having the same cell-attachent activity as fibronectin and the peptide X-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Y, wherein X and Y, having said activity are disclosed.