Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-endogenous, constitutively activated forms of the human 5-HT2A and human 5-HT2C receptors and uses of such receptors to screen candidate compounds. Further disclosed herein are candidate compounds identified by the screening method which act at the 5HT2A receptors. Yet further disclosed is a new class of compounds which act at the 5HT2A receptors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns genes involved in inflammatory and/or immune diseases and some cancers, in particular intestinal cryptogenic inflammatory diseases, and proteins coded by said genes. The invention also concerns methods for diagnosing inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the gene, and mutations thereto, that are responsible for the disease hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). More particularly, the invention relates to the identification, isolation, and cloning of the DNA sequence corresponding to the normal and mutant HH genes, as well as the characterization of their transcripts and gene products. The invention also related to methods and the like for screening for HH homozygotes and further relates to HH diagnosis, prenatal screening and diagnosis, and therapies of HH disease, including gene therapeutics, protein and antibody based therapeutics, and small molecule therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening for a molecule that antagonizes or agonizes RANK activity. One aspect of the invention involves the growth of RANK responsive cells in semi-solid medium, wherein exposure to a RANK antagonist promotes colony formation. Other aspects of the invention rely on promoter/reporter constructs using RANK responsive promoters derived from the MMP-9 and TRAP genes. Additional aspects of the invention exploit the ability of RANK to activate c-src activity, F-actin ring formation and CaPO4 resorption.

Abstract: The present invetion relates to a novel isolated leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also realtes to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene eypression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate leafhopper ecdysone receptor activity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved method for producing by recombinant methods proteins that occur in nature in two or more subunits; more specifically applicable to proteins that comprise the alpha and beta subunit of FSH.

Abstract: The present invention is related to the detection of GPCR ligands in a test sample by using a single cell biosensor expressing a GPCR. Preferably, the test sample is derived from a biological or environmental sample. This invention may be used to detect the presence of a disease or to detect the presence of a harmful agent in the environment. Included in the present invention is an array of biosensors that detect ligands of various GPCRs.

Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to the use of neuregulin-? as a target in a screening method for active compounds, in particular for exerting an influence on changes in calcium concentration which are mediated by glutamate receptors. The invention furthermore relates to the use of neuregulins, preferably a neuregulin isoform having an isoelectric point in the range from pH 4.3 to 5.0, as a target for detecting and/or exerting an influence on neuronal processes, in particular for exerting an influence on long-term memory. Neuregulins, in particular neuregulin-? and also substances which exert an influence on the status, i.e. the expression and/or post-translational modification, of neuregulin-?, can therefore be used as agents for controlling the course of, treating and/or alleviating neuronal diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to small and intermediate conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel proteins. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions and methods for making and detecting calcium-activated potassium channel proteins and the nucleic acids encoding calcium-activated potassium channel proteins. The invention also provides methods and compositions for assaying compounds which increase or decrease potassium ion flux through a calcium-activated potassium channel.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: LAT1 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the LAT1 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.

Abstract: MCT1 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the MCT1 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by administering an interferon-? inhibitor. The invention further concerns pharmaceutical compositions and bispecific molecules useful in such method.

Abstract: Polypeptides capable of binding human IL-13 and/or of binding human IL-4 in the presence of IL-4 R? can be used in medicine, in diagnosis and in screening for agonists/antagonist of IL-13/IL-4. One such polypeptide is shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: This application provides a human protein AMSH having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 1 which is a novel signal transduction molecule interacting with the SH3 domain of cytokine based signal transduction molecule STAM; a gene encoding the above AMSH; a cDNA having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID No. 2; and antibody against AMSH.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are constitutively activated, non-endogenous versions of endogenous human G protein-coupled receptors comprising (a) the following amino acid sequence region (C-terminus to N-terminus orientation) and/or (b) the following nucleic acid sequence region (3? to 5? orientation) transversing the transmembrane-6 (TM6) and intracellular loop-3 (IC3) regions of the GPCR: (a) P1 AA15X and/or (b) pcodon (AA-codon)15 Xcodon, respectively. In a most preferred embodiment, P1 and Pcodon are endogenous proline and an endogenous nucleic acid encoding region encoding proline, respectively, located within TM6 of the non-endogenous GPCR; AA15 and (AA-codon)15 are 15 endogenous amino acid residues and 15 codons encoding endogenous amino acid residues, respectively; and X and Xcodon are non-endogenous lysine and a non-endogenous nucleic acid encoding region encoding lysine, respectively, located within IC3 of the non-endogenous GPCR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of cold sensation and pain. More particularly, the present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding a member of the transient regulatory protein family, CMR1, which is involved in modulation of the perception of cold sensations and pain. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents that modulate cold responses and pain responses stimulated by cold via modulation of CMR1 and CMR1-related signal transduction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host ceolls comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.