Abstract: Recombinantly produced serum albumin is purified in a series of steps, optionally by incubation with an anion-exchange adsorbent, followed by affinity chromatography employing a hydrophobic solid phase and using a water-soluble lipid anion as desorbens in the aqueous phase. Said immobile phase comprises a carrier coupled to a 2-mercapto or 2-hydroxy alkanoic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation, purification, characterization and use of a mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK) gene (SEQ ID NO:1) (pYA5; ATCC No 209562) from the Brassicaceae (specifically Arabidopsis thaliana). The invention includes isolated and purified DNA of the stated sequence and relates to methods of regulating fatty acid synthesis, seed oil content, seed size/weight, flowering time, vegetative growth, respiration rate and generation time using the gene and to tissues and plants transformed with the gene. The invention also relates to transgenic plants, plant tissues and plant seeds having a genome containing an introduced DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a part of SEQ ID NO:1 characterized in that said sequence has been introduced in an anti-sense or sense orientation, and a method of producing such plants and plant seeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for identifying clones having a specified activity of interest, which process comprises (i) generating one or more expression libraries derived from nucleic acid directly isolated from the environment; and (ii) screening said libraries utilizing a fluorescence activated cell sorter to identify said clones. More particularly, this is a process for identifying clones having a specified activity of interest by (i) generating one or more expression libraries derived from nucleic acid directly or indirectly isolated from the environment; (ii) exposing said libraries to a particular substrate or substrates of interest; and (iii) screening said exposed libraries utilizing a fluorescence activated cell sorter to identify clones which react with the substrate or substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonchromatographic-based process for the isolation of clinical grade plasmid DNA from bacterial cells. The exemplified methods described herein outline a scaleable, economically favorable protocol for the purification of clinical grade plasmid DNA from E. coli which includes CTAB-based precipitation of DNA in combination with adsorption of impurities to calcium silicate.

Abstract: The present invention provides Synaptotagmin-binding and yet RNA-binding proteins and genes encoding the proteins. The invention relates to a recombinant protein selected from the group consisting of the following (a) and (b), as well as a gene encoding the protein: (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 (b) a protein which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 having delection, substitution or addition of one or several amino acids and which has RNA binding activity.

Abstract: This invention utilizes a two-hybrid system to screen for agents that modulate the ability of a cell to degrade or to accumulate a metabolic product or to selective kill a cell or to selectively express a gene or cDNA in a cell that has a defect in its ability to degrade or to accumulate a metabolic product. One embodiment provides a mammalian cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a peptide binding domain and an effector gene; a first chimeric protein comprising a nucleic acid binding domain that binds the peptide binding domain attached to the metabolic product or to a ligand that binds to the metabolic product; and a second chimeric protein comprising an expression control protein attached to the metabolic product or to the ligand that binds to the metabolic product such that when the first chimeric protein comprises the metabolic product, the second chimeric protein comprises the ligand and when the first chimeric protein comprises the ligand, the second chimeric protein comprises the metabolic product.

Abstract: The promoter of the ribosomal protein gene L25 is operably linked to a structural gene. This chimeric gene is placed in an expression vector. The expression vector containing the chimeric gene is used to transform plants cells and plants. Seeds are obtained from the transformed plants. A product, such as a protein, encoded by the structural gene is isolated from the transformed plant cells and plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single-chain monellin-like protein which is stable and which is at least 100-fold sweet as compared to sucrose on the weight basis. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid encoding said monellin-like protein. Preferably, the nucleic acid further comprises a promoter and a signal sequence for directing expression and secretion of the encoded monellin-like protein in the methylothrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The present invention further relates to a recombinant Pichia pastoris cell containing the nucleic acid encoding the monellin-like protein, a process for producing the monellin-like protein from the recombinant Pichia pastoris and product of the process.

Abstract: Hybridization probes and accessory oligonucleotides useful for detecting ribosomal nucleic acids from Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida dubliniensis, Candida viswanathii and Candida parapsilosis with high specificity.

Abstract: The endogenous plasmid pUE30 from radioresistant bacterium D. radiopugnans strain ATCC19172 or a derivative thereof is used as a vector that can autonomously replicate in bacteria of the genus Deinococcus. It may be used to construct a shuttle vector that also contains a plasmid capable of autonomous replication in E. coli or a derivative thereof and which can replicate in both a bacterium of the genus Deinococcus and E. coli.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding protein, wherein the protein has transcriptional activator activity. Expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid molecules are also provided, as well as methods for increasing or decreasing the expression of the transcriptional activator protein in host cells. The invention further provides methods of screening a substance for the ability of the substance to modify, transcriptional activator protein function, and a method for isolating other transcriptional activator protein molecules.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of acetyl CoA synthetase (ACS), plastidic pyruvate dehydrogenase (pPDH), ATP citrate lyase (ACL), Arabidopsis pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC), and Arabidopsis aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), specifically ALDH-2 and ALDH-4. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding one of the aforementioned enzymes, an antisense sequence thereto or a ribozyme therefor, a cell transformed with such a vector, antibodies to the enzymes, a plant cell, a plant tissue, a plant organ or a plant in which the level of an enzyme has been altered, and a method of producing such a plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant. Desirably, alteration of the level of enzyme results in an alteration of the level of acetyl CoA in the plant cell, plant tissue, plant organ or plant.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of plasmids or other DNA from cells using a first filtration step to remove the cellular debris and other large cellular components and then an ultrafiltration step to capture the plasmids or other DNA on the surface of the ultrafiltration membrane where they may be recovered. An apparatus is also taught for enacting the process and comprises an upper microfiltration or coarse filtration membrane and a lower ultrafiltration membrane. The driving force may be the same for both filters or different and may be done sequentially or simultaneously.

Abstract: This invention provides a DNA fragment having a promoter function capable of expressing a structural gene which can be expressed in a plant, and discloses a DNA fragment having a promoter function in a plant which is originated from a gene encoding a rice metallothionein as shown by SEQ ID NO: 1, a vector comprising the DNA having the promoter function, a plant cell transformed by the vector; and a regenerated plant and seeds obtainable from the plant cells.

Abstract: In the present invention, viruses, plasmids or both are constructed which contain viral DNA, at least one head-to-head ITR junction, and optionally, recombinase recognition sites positioned such that site-specific recombination between recombinase recognition sites in separate plasmids results in generation of infectious viral DNA at high-efficiency in cotransfected host cells that have been engineered to express a site-specific recombinase. Because of the high-efficiency and specificity of the Cre enzyme, suitably engineered plasmids can be readily recombined to produce infectious virus at high-efficiency in cotransfected 293 cells, without, at the same time, producing wild-type adenovirus, with the attendant problems for removal thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for obtaining specific and stable integration of nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells. The invention makes use of site-specific recombination systems that use prokaryotic recombinase polypeptides, such as the &PHgr;C31 integrase, that can mediate recombination between the recombination sites, but not between hybrid recombination sites that are formed upon the recombination. Thus, the recombination is irreversible in the absence of additional factors. Eukaryotic cells that contain the recombinase polypeptides, or genes that encode the recombinases, are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying a restriction endonuclease that includes: screening a target DNA sequence for the presence of known methylase sequence motifs, identifying any open reading frames which lie close to the screened methylase sequence motif and assaying the protein products of the open reading frames for restriction endonuclease activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and method useful in screening a compound for its interaction and/or effect with a molecular target and/or cellular process.

Abstract: Methods are described for identifying an RNA target for an allele-specific RNA inhibitor by identifying a sequence variance in an RNA encoded by a gene of interest, and determining whether the secondary structure of the RNA comprising the variance differs from that of an otherwise identical RNA not comprising the variance.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to vascular smooth muscle proliferation and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting arterial and venous smooth muscle proliferation resulting, for example, from arterial injury or vein grafting. The invention also relates to an expression construct encoding a G&bgr;&ggr; inhibitor suitable for use in such a method.