Abstract: Novel carbonyl hydrolase variants derived from the DNA sequences of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human carbonyl hydrolases are disclosed. The variant carbonyl hydrolases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant carbonyl hydrolase to generate the substitution of a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase. Such variant carbonyl hydrolases have properties which are different from those of the precursor hydrolase, such as altered proteolytic activity, altered stability, etc. The substituted amino acid residues correspond to positions +76 in combination with one or more of the following residues +99, +101, +103, +104, +107, +123, +27, +105, +109, +126, +128, +135, +156, +166, +195, +197, +204, +206, +210, +216, +217, +218, +222, +260, +265 and/or +274 in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to identification of a gene upregulated by interferon-? administration corresponding to the cDNA sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. Determination of expression products of this gene is proposed as having utility in predicting responsiveness to treatment with interferon-a and other interferons which act at the Type 1 interferon receptor. Therapeutic use of the protein encoded by the same gene is also envisaged.

Abstract: Disclosed are derivatives of glycopeptides that are substituted at the C-terminus with a substituent that comprises two or more (e.g. 2, 3, 4, or 5) carboxy (CO2H) groups; and pharmaceutical compositions containing such glycopeptide derivatives. The disclosed glycopeptide derivatives are useful as antibacterial agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to the polynucleotide sequence of a nontypeable stain of Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and uses thereof. The invention also relates to NTHi genes which are upregulated during or in response to NTHi infection of the middle ear and/or the nasopharynx.

Abstract: We claim an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a ligand binding domain of glucose regulated protein of 94 kDa (GRP94), a chimeric polynucleotide consisting of said nucleic acid molecule operably linked to a heterologous promoter wherein said nucleic acid molecule is optionally linked to a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous polypeptide so as to form a fusion protein between the GRP94 ligand binding domain polypeptide and said heterologous polypeptide, a vector consisting of said chimeric polynucleotide, and a host cell comprising said chimeric polynucleotide.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to screen and identify a novel antimicrobial protein which can inhibit the growth of plant pathogenic microorganisms at a relatively low concentration such as Pyricularia oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani causative of two major diseases causing damage to rice crops and, further, to clone the gene of this protein. According to the present invention, an antimicrobial protein which can be obtained from a fraction of an aqueous extract of Lyophyllum shimeji precipitated by the ammonium sulfate precipitation method, has an antimicrobial activity at least against Rhizoctonia solani or Pyricularia oryzae, and shows the presence of components of about 70 kDa and/or about 65 kDa in molecular weight in the SDS-PAGE method. A gene encoding this protein and a method of using the same are provided.

Abstract: Methanotrophic bacterial strains are provided that have been optimized for the production of carotenoid compounds through the down-regulation of one or more of the crtN1, ald, crtN2 and crtN3 genes of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway. The resulting strains lack pigmented C30 carotenoid compounds, and show an increase in the production of C40 carotenoids. The use of the optimized host strains for the production of the C40 carotenoids canthaxanthin and astaxanthin is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of KshA protein or of KshB protein, encoded by nucleotides 499–1695 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or by nucleotides 387–1427 of SEQ ID NO:2, respectively, and functional homologues thereof. The polynucleotides of the invention can be used to construct genetically modified microorganisms blocked in 3-ketosteroid 9?-hydroxylase activity, which are useful in the microbial degradation of steroids to accumulate certain steroid products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel exendin agonist compounds useful in treatment of Type I and II diabetes, and useful in lowering plasma glucose levels, reducing body weight, and delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying.

Abstract: A method to increase carotenoid production in carotenogenic microbial host cells is provided by down-regulating or disrupting glycogen synthesis. Disruption of glycogen synthase activity in a carotenogenic microbial host cell significantly increased carotenoid production. Carotenogenic microorganisms are also provided that have been optimized for the production of carotenoid compounds through the down-regulation and/or disruption of glycogen synthase activity.

Abstract: Methods for making glycoproteins, both in vitro and in vivo, are provided. One method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid into a protein and attaching one or more saccharide moieties to the unnatural amino acid. Another method involves incorporating an unnatural amino acid that includes a saccharide moiety into a protein. Proteins made by both methods can be further modified with additional sugars.

Abstract: Novel fetal genes (fls353 and fls485) have been successfully isolated from human fetal liver-derived cDNAs. These genes were specifically expressed in tissues including fetal tissues which are thought to contain a large number of undifferentiated cells and actively differentiating/proliferating cells. High levels of expression of these genes were observed also in a variety of cancer cells. The proteins and genes encoding the proteins can be used as the tool for developing drugs for the treatment of tumors.

Abstract: The administration of cytotoxic agents followed by the administration of heat shock protein 90 inhibitors, such as ansamycins, has a synergistic effect on the growth inhibition of cells. This synergy occurs at doses of each cytotoxic agent that normally only causes minimal growth inhibition of cells. Such combination therapy thus allows one to use lower doses of cytotoxic agents to avoid or reduce their respective toxicity to patients without compromising their growth inhibitory effects. Thus, these combinations can be used for the treatment of an animal, preferably a mammal, that has a cell proliferative disorder, whether the cells have wild-type Rb or are Rb deficient or Rb negative. One such method, directed to treating cell proliferative disorders includes the step of administering a therapeutic effective amount of a cytotoxic agent followed by administering a therapeutic effective amount of a heat shock protein 90 inhibitor.

Abstract: An Escherichia coli mutant strain deficient in dihydrodipicolinate synthase or dihydrodipicolinate reductase is transformed with a chromosomal gene library of Bacillus methanolicus, and a transformant strain which can grow on a minimal medium is selected. Recombinant DNA which codes for dihydrodipicolinate synthase or dihydrodipicolinate reductase (named dapB) is obtained from the transformant.

Abstract: We claim a method of treating a patient to stimulate chondrocyte proliferation comprising administering to said patient an adrenomedullin analog that is adrenomedullin-(27–52) wherein said patient is suffering from cartilage disorders, and a method of stimulating chondrocyte proliferation comprising administering to chondrocyte cells adrenomedullin-(27–52).

Abstract: The present invention relates ti methods and compositions utilizing inteins to generated libraries of cyclic peptides in vivo.

Abstract: We claim a flea ultraspiracle nucleic acid molecule encoding an ultraspiracle protein, and a composition comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule. Also, we claim a method of recombinantly producing the ultraspiracle protein thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein having ?1,3-galactosyltransferase activity, a DNA encoding the protein, a transformant comprising the DNA, a process for producing the protein using the transformant, and a process for producing a galactose-containing complex carbohydrate using the transformant.

Abstract: The invention generally provides a novel approach to identifying Enterococcal virulence factors and for identifying compounds for treating bacterial pathogenesis. The invention further provides Enterococcal virulence factors, which serve as targets for drug discovery.

Abstract: This work describes a new class of short polypeptides that can self-assemble to form regular nanotubes with an average diameters of about 50 nm. These peptides (7 to 8 amino acids) have a structure very similar to those observed in surfactant molecules with a defined hydrophilic head group constituting of charged amino acids and a lipophilic tail made out of hydrophobic amino acids such as alanine, valine or leucine. Cryo-TEM micrographs show numerous three-fold junctions connecting the self-assembling nanostructures and thus leading to the formation of a rather dense network of entangled nanotubes. Additionally, the observation of clear openings at the end of the supramolecular structures confirms the presence of tubular organization.