Abstract: The present invention makes available an optimal concentration of a hedgehog polypeptide for modulating growth and/or cartilage production by chondrocytes. The present invention allows for improvements in the culturing of chondrocytes to develop cartilaginous tissue ex vivo suitable for implantation to replace damaged or deteriorated cartilage in a patient.

Abstract: A conjugate consisting of an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) variant and one or two poly(ethylene glycol) group(s), characterized in that said IGF-I variant has an amino acid alteration at up to three amino acid positions 27, 37, 65, 68 of the wild-type IGF-I amino acid sequence so that one or two of said amino acids is/are lysine and amino acid 27 is a polar amino acid but not lysine, is conjugated via the primary amino group(s) of said lysine(s) and said poly(ethylene glycol) group(s) have an overall molecular weight of from 20 to 100 kDa is disclosed. This conjugate is useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition of a hydrophobically modified hedgehog protein containing a biocompatible carrier, wherein the carrier binds the hedgehog protein as an active folded structure and can release it locally in vivo in an active form in a delayed manner. Such formulations are particularly suitable for the repair of bone and cartilage defects and can also be used to repair neuronal defects or for a systemic delivery. The object is achieved by a pharmaceutical composition of a hydrophobically modified hedgehog protein which is characterised in that this composition contains hydrophobically modified hedgehog proteins and a biodegrable protein or a proteolytic degradation product thereof as a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention makes available an optimal concentration of a hedgehog polypeptide for modulating growth and/or cartilage production by chondrocytes. The present invention allows for improvements in the culturing of chondrocytes to develop cartilaginous tissue ex vivo suitable for implantation to replace damaged or deteriorated cartilage in a patient.

Abstract: A conjugate consisting of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4) and one or two polyethylene glycol) group(s), said polyethylene glycol) group(s) having an overall molecular weight of from about 30 to about 40 kDa is disclosed. This conjugate is useful for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated highly active hedgehog proteins esterified with a fatty acid having from 14 to 20 carbon atoms at the N-terminal domain of the protein. The highly active hh proteins are particularly useful therapeutic agents for treating bone disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods for obtaining the highly active modified hedgehog proteins are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated highly active hedgehog proteins esterified with a fatty acid having from 14 to 20 carbon atoms at the N-terminal domain of the protein. The highly active hh proteins are particularly useful therapeutic agents for treating bone disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Methods for obtaining the highly active modified hedgehog proteins are also provided.

Abstract: A hedgehog conjugate which is characterized in that it contains: a) a polypeptide composed of 10 to 30 hydrophobic amino acids and/or amino acids which form transmembrane helices and are positively charged, b) 1 to 4 aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues with a chain length of 10 to 24 C atoms and with a hydrophobic action or c) a hydrophobic thio compound covalently bound to a hedgehog protein and which has a several-fold increased activity and is suitable as a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a crystal suitable for X-ray diffraction, comprising a complex of insulin-like growth factor I or II (IGF) and a polypeptide consisting of the amino acids 39-91 of IGFBP-1, the amino acids 55-107 of IGFBP-2, the amino acids 47-99 of IGFBP-3, the amino acids 39-91 of IGFBP-4, the amino acids 40-92 of IGFBP-5, or the amino acids 40-92 of IGFBP-6 or a fragment thereof consisting at least of the 9th to 12th cysteine of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-4, or IGFBP-5 or at least of the 7th to 10th cysteine of IGFBP-6; methods for the determination of the atomic coordinates of such a crystal; IGFBP mutants with enhanced binding affinity for IGF-I and/or IGF-II, and methods to identify and optimize small molecules which displace IGFs from their binding proteins.

Abstract: A hedgehog conjugate which is characterized in that it contains: a) a polypeptide composed of 10 to 30 hydrophobic amino acids and/or amino acids which form transmembrane helices and are positively charged, b) 1 to 4 aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues with a chain length of 10 to 24 C atoms and with a hydrophobic action or c) a hydrophobic thio compound covalently bound to a hedgehog protein and which has a several-fold increased activity and is suitable as a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A post-translationally processed hedgehog protein mutant which

Abstract: A hedgehog conjugate which is characterized in that it contains: a) a polypeptide composed of 10 to 30 hydrophobic amino acids and/or amino acids which form transmembrane helices and are positively charged, b) 1 to 4 aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues with a chain length of 10 to 24 C atoms and with a hydrophobic action or c) a hydrophobic thio compound covalently bound to a hedgehog protein and which has a several-fold increased activity and is suitable as a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A nucleic acid which can be used to express a polypeptide with interleukin-16 activity in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell wherein the nucleic acid codes for a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2 or a SEQ ID NO:2 elongated N-terminally by an aspartic acid residue or a form shortened at the C-terminus by up to 8 amino acids, and is suitable for the production of an active IL-16 polypeptide.

Abstract: A hedgehog conjugate which is characterized in that it contains: a) a polypeptide composed of 10 to 30 hydrophobic amino acids and/or amino acids which form transmembrane helices and are positively charged, b) 1 to 4 aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residues with a chain length of 10 to 24 C atoms and with a hydrophobic action or c) a hydrophobic thio compound covalently bound to a hedgehog protein and which has a several-fold increased activity and is suitable as a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: The present invention makes available an optimal concentration of a hedgehog polypeptide for modulating growth and/or cartilage production by chondrocytes. The present invention allows for improvements in the culturing of chondrocytes to develop cartilaginous tissue ex vivo suitable for implantation to replace damaged or deteriorated cartilage in a patient.

Abstract: Downstream of a drafting unit of a spinning machine, a condensing zone is provided, in which a drafted fiber strand still in an untwisted state is condensed by bundling. The condensing zone comprises a stationary suction slit, over which the fiber strand to be condensed is transported by an air-permeable transporting element. The suction slit defines the direction of a suction air stream by a guiding edge, which extends diagonally to the direction of motion of the transport element. The air stream positions the fibers of the fiber strand diagonally to the direction of motion of the transport element and so condenses the fiber strand. The suction slit begins with a starting width, which seizes the fiber strand to be condensed in its entire width. Directly downstream thereof the suction slit graduates in the form of a delta into a narrower effective width. The guiding edge continues an edge of the delta without deformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fine-toothed combing structure of an opening roller for an open-end spining machine. The teeth of the fine-toothed combing structure have a spacing which measures at least three times the height of the teeth. The front angle should not measure more than 10°. This fine-toothed combing structure is preferably used for synthetic fibers.

Abstract: A yarn withdrawal nozzle for an open-end rotor spinning apparatus comprises a short, funnel-shaped yarn deflecting surface, which begins at a plane front surface and graduates into a yarn withdrawal channel. The radius of curvature of the yarn deflecting surface measures a maximum of 3 mm. The front surface is formed as a tangential surface to the yarn deflecting surface, The small radius of curvature facilitates in particular the spinning of polyester yarns at a high rotor speed.

Abstract: A nucleic acid which can be used to express a polypeptide with interleukin-16 activity in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell, wherein in the region coding for the said polypeptide the said nucleic acid a)corresponds to the DNA sequence of nucleotides 54-1175 from SEQ ID NO:1 or to its complementary strand, b) hybridizes with the DNA of nucleotide sequence 54-785 from SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions, c) hybridizes with the DNA of nucleotide sequence 786-1175 from SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions and at the 5′ end begins with nucleotides 756-785 from SEQ ID NO:1 or a part thereof which codes for part of the sequence of amino acids 235-244 from SEQ ID NO:1 or d) it is a nucleic acid sequence which would hybridize under stringent conditions with the nucleic acid sequences defined by a) or b) without the degeneracy of the genetic code, codes for proteins with improved interleukin-16 activity.

Abstract: A draft free condensing zone for condensing a drafted fiber strand is provided between a front roller pair of a drafting unit of a ring spinning machine and a delivery roller pair arranged downstream thereof. The apparatus for condensing comprises an air-permeable und suctioned sliding surface which is in contact with the fiber strand, under which sliding surface is located a suction slit which is stationarily arranged and extends essentially in transport direction of the fiber strand. The sliding surface is the front surface of a rotating disc, whose rotational axle extends essentially perpendicular to the transport direction of the fiber strand.