Abstract: The present invention provides unstructured recombinant polymers (URPs) and proteins containing one or more of the URPs. The present invention also provides microproteins, toxins and other related proteinaceous entities, as well as genetic packages displaying these entities. The present invention also provides recombinant polypeptides including vectors encoding the subject proteinaceous entities, as well as host cells comprising the vectors. The subject compositions have a variety of utilities including a range of pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: Methods for isolating and using multi-protein complexes that are biologically active are provided. The complexes contain one or more proteins of interest (e.g. a receptor, ion channel, etc.) and associates scaffolding proteins such as phosphatases, kinases and post synaptic density components. Buffers that do not contain denaturing agents and which may be used to isolate the multi-protein complexes are also provided, as are protein arrays containing the biologically active multi-protein complexes. The protein arrays may be used, for example, for high throughput screening assays.

Abstract: A method for high throughput screening of probes is described. These probes are useful for characterization and measurement of unbound metabolites in a fluid sample, particularly characterization and measurement of levels of unbound free fatty acids. By practice of the disclosed invention, a profile of unbound metabolites can be determined for an individual which can be used to determine the individual's relative risk for disease such as stroke, cardiac disease and cancer.

Abstract: Phage display libraries are taught in which the recombinant phage population displays a plurality of potential binding fragments having preferred characteristics of solubility and/or intermolecular interaction. Also taught are methods of biasing display libraries to produce variants which more closely approximate the preferred characteristics of the parental binding fragment.

Abstract: The present invention is based, at least in part, on the identification of molecules involved in the differentiation and/or activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of identifying modulators of bone formation, mineralization, and/or osteoclastogenesis and methods for treating disorders that would benefit from modulation of bone formation, mineralization, and/or osteoclastogenesis using agents identified as described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to in vivo and in vitro methods, agents and compound screening assays for inducing differentiation of undifferentiated mammalian cells into osteoblasts, including bone formation enhancing pharmaceutical compositions, and the use thereof in treating and/or preventing a disease involving a systemic or local decrease in mean bone density in a subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel methods of detecting alterations in cell cycle regulation in a cell or a cell population and screening for agents capable of modulating cell cycle regulation through the use of multiparameter assays and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) machine.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for the treatment of an anorectal disorder and for controlling the pain associated therewith. The method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment therapeutically effective amounts of a calcium channel blocker either alone or together with a nitric oxide donor. Amlodipine, anipamil, barnidipine, benidipine, bepridil, darodipine, diltiazem, efonidipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, lidoflazine, manidipine, mepirodipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, niludipine, nilvadipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, perhexiline, tiapamil, verapamil and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are suitable calcium channel blockers.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substrate having thereon sites reactive with the reactive groups of a molecular probe, the process comprising the steps of applying to the substrate surface a material comprising one or more reactive sites having an activated ethylenically unsaturated double bond of the formula I: wherein the substituents are defined in the specification and, in a further step, covalently binding the reactive group of the molecular probe to the activated ethylenically unsaturated double bond of the reactive sites having formula I.

Abstract: The present invention describes extremely rapid and efficient methods for the attachment of chemical moieties to matrices by the use of microwave technology. The methods of the invention can be applied in a variety of ways for the preparation of different types of matrices for a variety of applications including but not limited to the functionalization of various solid supports, and matrices in the form of powder, beads, sheets, and other suitable surfaces for use in applications including but not limited to oligonucleotide synthesis, peptide synthesis, environmental clean up (removal of toxic materials), immunoassays, affinity chromatography, combinatorial chemistry, microarrays, proteomics and medical diagnostics.

Abstract: Described are methods for producing libraries of cells expressing at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins, in which the binding proteins have different target epitopes. Such libraries are made by integration of the nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide chains into the genome of the host cell, and selecting for cells that have successfully integrated these nucleic acids. The selected cells are preferably subjected to a cloning step. Mixtures of binding proteins are produced without having to individually produce each of the components of the mixture. A library of cells wherein essentially each cell encodes at least two single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes is also herewith provided, as well as methods for producing a composition comprising at least two separate single polypeptide chain binding proteins having different target epitopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fibronectin type III (Fn3) molecule, wherein the Fn3 contains a stabilizing mutation. The present invention also provides Fn3 polypeptide monobodies, nucleic acid molecules encoding monobodies, and variegated nucleic acid libraries encoding such monobodies. Also provided are methods of preparing a Fn3 polypeptide monobody, and kits to perform the methods.

Abstract: Described herein are RNA-protein fusion production methods which involve a high salt post-translational incubation step.

Abstract: A biocidal composition is disclosed comprising composite particles, each of said composite particles containing a shell and a core, said core comprising a metal or a metal-containing compound wherein the metal is a moiety selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, bismuth, silver, zirconium, and combinations thereof said shell comprising a pyrithione adduct comprising the reaction product of pyrithione with a portion of said core metal or metal compound. In one aspect, an anti-fouling composition is disclosed comprising (a) an anti-soft-fouling effective amount of copper pyrithione; and (b) an anti-hard-fouling effective amount of a copper-containing salt, or oxide or hydroxide thereof. The present invention also relates to a method of making an anti-fouling composition comprising particles of copper pyrithione and a copper-containing salt that is effective against hard-fouling and soft-fouling organisms.

Abstract: A method for determining protein binding specificity using a screen of a peptide library is provided. The method can be used to determine binding specificity for human NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1, and to identify the most efficiently deacetylated peptide sequences. The method can be also used to screen a combinatorial H4 histone N-terminal tail peptide library to examine the binding preferences of a ?-phos (S1) H4 antibody toward all known possible H4 histone modification states.

Abstract: An optimum solubility screen in which a panel of buffers and many additives are provided in order to obtain the most homogeneous and monodisperse protein condition for protein crystallization. The present methods are useful for proteins that aggregate and cannot be concentrated prior to setting up crystallization screens. A high-throughput method using the hanging-drop method and vapor diffusion equilibrium and a panel of twenty-four buffers is further provided. Using the present methods, 14 poorly behaving proteins have been screened, resulting in 11 of the proteins having highly improved dynamic light scattering results allowing concentration of the proteins, and 9 were crystallized.

Abstract: A method for screening peptides with an aptamer library for determining inhibitors of any one of the proteins from the Rho-GEFs family.

Abstract: Bethanechol, diltiazem, or a combination thereof is administered locally to the anus for the treatment of benign anal disorders, in particular anal fissures and hemorrhoids. The agents induce a reduction in the mean and resting pressure, thereby assisting in the healing of the anal fissures and hemorrhoids.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel polypeptides having the scaffold structure of a C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) and a randomized loop region for specifically binding a variety of target compounds and also provides nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides. The present invention further provides combinatorial CTLD libraries, methods for constructing the libraries, and methods for screening the libraries to identify and isolate the novel CTLD polypeptides. Specifically, the invention provides libraries of nucleic acids encoding polypeptides having a scaffold CTLD with a randomized loop region, as well as nucleic acid sequences, vectors, and methods for preparing and expressing the libraries. Exemplary nucleic acids useful in the combinatorial libraries are derived from tetranectin and other proteins having a CTLD.

Abstract: The present invention provides a denatured albumin lamina, useful for repairing lesions on solid visceral organs. The lamina comprises human serum albumin, formed into a thin, pliant sheet and denatured. The denatured lamina can be sterilized and stored until used. As well, it can be impregnated with a variety of bioagents. A method for repairing a lesion on a solid visceral organ includes applying an energy-absorbing proteinaceous material to a lesion site on the solid visceral organ lesion; irradiating the proteinaceous material with energy sufficient to fuse the energy-absorbing material at least partially to the lesion site; applying a biocompatible denatured albumin lamina onto the proteinaceous material on the lesion site; and irradiating the biocompatible albumin lamina and the proteinaceous material with energy sufficient to fuse the biocompatible albumin lamina to the proteinaceous material and/or the lesion site.