Abstract: A method of treating biologic material with a composition containing at least one fatty acid derivative and/or at least one fatty alcohol, a buffer, and a salt to result in protein partitioning into an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The protein may be a membrane protein. The cells may be plant cells and/or animal cells. The proteins can be thereafter be used for downstream applications.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide polynucleotides encoding insect desiccation resistance proteins, and uses thereof. cDNA libraries were produced from Polypedilum vanderplanki larvae in a desiccated state, a P. vanderplanki EST database was constructed, and genes encoding LEA proteins were isolated. This resulted in the successful isolation of three types of novel gene encoding LEA-like proteins. When secondary structure predictions and motif searches were performed on the proteins deduced from each of the genes, all three proteins had ?-helix-rich structures and LEA_4 motifs, which are characteristic of LEA proteins. Moreover, the recombinant proteins synthesized from these genes were heat soluble even when boiling, so that these proteins have hydrophilic properties as high as plant LEA proteins. Therefore, the three isolated genes were found to be novel P. vanderplanki-derived LEA genes.

Abstract: A reporter system reflecting the transport process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall was constructed and compounds inhibiting this process were discovered. Further, fungal genes conferring resistance to the above compounds were identified and methods of screening for compounds that inhibit the activity of the proteins encoded by these genes were developed. These genes encode proteins participating in fungal cell wall synthesis. Therefore, through the novel compounds, the present invention showed that antifungal agents having a novel mechanism, i.e. inhibiting the process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall, could be achieved.

Abstract: Cell lines having genetically modified glycosylation pathways that allow them to carry out a sequence of enzymatic reactions, which mimic the processing of glycoproteins in humans, have been developed. The lower eukaryotes, which ordinarily produce high-mannose containing N-glycans, including unicellular and multicellular fungi are modified to produce N-glycans such as Man5GlcNAc2 or other structures along human glycosylation pathways. This is achieved using a combination of engineering and/or selection of strains which: do not express certain enzymes which create the undesirable complex structures characteristic of the fungal glycoproteins, which express exogenous enzymes selected either to have optimal activity under the conditions present in the fungi where activity is desired, or which are targeted to an organelle where optimal activity is achieved, and combinations thereof wherein the genetically engineered eukaryote expresses multiple exogenous enzymes required to produce “human-like” glycoproteins.

Abstract: Novel bacterial insecticidal proteins and equivalents thereof were isolated. These proteins and the DNA sequences encoding them are useful to make insecticidal compositions or transgenic plants to protect plants from damage by insects, particularly coleopteran insects.

Abstract: Disclosed are sequences encoding monomeric variants of DsRed fluorescent proteins and methods of use.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated DNA encoding a GWT1 protein having activity to confer resistance of a fungus against a compound of formula Ia, and wherein a defect of a function of the GWT1 protein leads to a decrease in the amount of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein in the cell wall of a fungus.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, and more specifically to monomeric and dimeric forms of Anthozoan fluorescent proteins. In one aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, where the variants have a reduced propensity to tetramerize, and form dimeric or monomeric structures. In a further aspect, the present invention provides variants of fluorescent proteins, the variants being characterized by more efficient maturation than corresponding fluorescent proteins from which they are derived. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such fluorescent proteins and fluorescent protein variants, including fluorescent protein monomers and dimers.

Abstract: A multimeric peptidomimetic that comprises two or more monomers is disclosed. The monomers comprise an exocyclic peptide comprising a ring structure, a flexible linker sequence and a multimeric motif. Use of the monomers, a nucleic acid molecule encoding monomers, recombinant expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecule and host cells comprising a recombinant expression vector are disclosed. Methods of delivering a drug, a toxin, a nucleic acid molecule, a radionuclide or a detectable compound to a cell are disclosed.

Abstract: Novel formulations containing exendins, exendin agonists and/or exendin analogs are provided.

Abstract: Methods of sterilizing dermal fillers and injectable collagen material have been developed which reduce the level of active biological contaminants or pathogens without adversely affecting the material, i.e., wherein the dermal fillers and injectable collagen material retain their same properties before and after its terminal sterilization. In one embodiment the method for sterilizing the dermal filler or injectable collagen material that is sensitive to radiation contains the steps of protecting the filler or material from radiation, and irradiating the filler or material with a suitable dose of radiation for a time and at a rate effective to sterilize the filler or injectable material. In a preferred embodiment the method for sterilizing the dermal filler or injectable collagen material that is sensitive to radiation includes the steps of a) freezing the filler or material at a temperature below its freezing temperature, which is generally below 0° C.

Abstract: A reporter system reflecting the transport process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall was constructed and compounds inhibiting this process were discovered. Further, genes conferring resistance to the above compounds were identified and methods of screening for compounds that inhibit the activity of the proteins encoded by these genes were developed. Therefore, through the novel compounds, the present invention showed that antifungal agents having a novel mechanism, i.e. inhibiting the process that transports GPI-anchored proteins to the cell wall, could be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of screening a compound or its salt that alters binding properties of a protein comprising the same or substantially the same amino acid sequence as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or a salt thereof, and a ligand capable of specifically binding to the protein or its salt, which comprises using (a) the protein, its partial peptide, or a salt thereof and (b) the ligand; a screening kit therefor, and so on. The screening method and kit of the present invention are useful for screening an agent for the prevention/treatment of, e.g., digestive tract disorders, cancer, immune disorders, type II diabetes mellitus or obesity, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating intermittent claudication comprising administering glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) molecules to subjects suffering therefrom.

Abstract: A method for DNA reassembly after random fragmentation, and its application to mutagenesis of nucleic acid sequences by in vitro or in vivo recombination is described. In particular, a method for the production of nucleic acid fragments or polynucleotides encoding mutant proteins is described. The present invention also relates to a method of repeated cycles of mutagenesis, shuffling and selection which allow for the directed molecular evolution in vitro or in vivo of proteins.

Abstract: Genes each encoding a novel transcriptional regulator having a bromodomain have been successfully isolated from a human testis cDNA library using primers prepared based on an EST sequence found using the bromodomain sequence of the transcriptional regulator. These genes are structurally analogous to each other.

Abstract: A method of suppressing the differentiation of an adipocite and/or lipid accumulation in an adipocyte, which comprises contacting the adipocyte with a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a salt thereof, or with a polynucleotide comprising a sense strand sequence encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: A hypoallergenic cleansing, cosmetic, conditioning or dermatological composition for treating skin or hair is provided which contains serum albumin in an amount effective to achieve cleansing, conditioning, wound debrisment, or other beneficial cosmetic or dermatological purpose for skin or hair, along with a suitable cleansing, conditioning, cosmetic, antibacterial or dermatological agent, vehicle, carrier or excipient. The compositions may be in any suitable form for treating skin or hair, such as a soap, shampoo, cream, oil, lotion, gel, gel-based ointment, and the like. The serum albumin compositions are preferably prepared using human serum albumin produced by recombinant means, and such compositions are useful in that they allow the albumin to be absorbed in the surface of skin or hair so as to replenish the structure of these tissues when utilized as a cleansing, cosmetic or dermatological agent.

Abstract: Methods for producing membrane-spanning polypeptides in high yields, with native conformation, and/or in soluble form include solubilizing in non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents, as well as use of promoters and expression vectors for expressing high yields of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cells. Mutated promoters provide tight control of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cell hosts.

Abstract: A composite tissue formed in situ is provided. The composite tissue includes a synovial joint tissue; and a barrier material adhered thereto for sealing the synovial joint tissue against synovial fluid. Also provided is a method for regenerating synovial joint tissue in situ by excluding synovial fluid therefrom. The method includes providing a synovial joint tissue having a defect; and placing a barrier material in intimate contact with the defect for sealing the defect against synovial fluid. The barrier material includes a curable protein copolymer. The method further includes curing the protein copolymer in situ. The barrier material can include a crosslinked network, or a self gelled network of repeating elastin-like and fibroin-like polymer chains.