Abstract: A method of treating ras-transformed and ras-related cancer, including: administering to a plurality cells, including ras-transformed cancer cells and normal cells, a peptide material having a membrane resident peptide and a ras-p21 component, the membrane resident peptide attached to the carboxyl or amino terminal end of the ras-p21 component.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides corresponding to all or a portion of amino acid residues 12-26 of human p53 protein, which peptides are lethal to malignant or transformed cells when fused to a membrane-penetrating leader sequence. The subject peptides are thus useful in treating neoplastic disease in an animal, preferably a human. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the subject peptides admixed with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. Methods of treating neoplastic disease in a patient by administering a subject peptide fused at its carboxy terminal end to a membrane-penetrating leader sequence are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides corresponding to all or a portion of amino acid residues 12-26 of human p53 protein, which peptides are lethal to malignant or transformed cells when fused to a membrane-penetrating leader sequence. The subject peptides are thus useful in treating neoplastic disease in an animal, preferably a human. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the subject peptides admixed with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. Methods of treating neoplastic disease in a patient by administering a subject peptide fused at its carboxy terminal end to a membrane penetrating leader sequence are also provided. The present invention also provides replication incompetent Adenovirus (AdV) vectors comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a subject peptide. Methods of selectively killing cancer cells in a subject by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a subject AdV vector are also provided by the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides corresponding to all or a portion of amino acid residues 12-26 of human p53 protein, which peptides are lethal to malignant or transformed cells when fused to a membrane-penetrating leader sequence. The subject peptides are thus useful in treating neoplastic disease in an animal, preferably a human. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the subject peptides admixed with a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. Methods of treating neoplastic disease in a patient by administering a subject peptide fused at its carboxy terminal end to a membrane-penetrating leader sequence are also provided.

Abstract: This invention provides peptidomimetics which bind to T4 or CD4 cell receptors and are useful in inhibiting viral infectivity by viruses which bind to T4 cell receptors. More specifically, peptidomimetics of this invention can alleviate symptoms of AIDS by inhibiting binding of HIV, the virus associated with AIDS, to receptor sites in human cells susceptible to HIV infection. These peptidomimetics, in particular, inhibit binding of HIV to cells of brain membrane and the immune system. They also display substantially longer half-lives in vivo than peptide T. The compounds of this invention which bind to T4 or CD4 receptors and thereby inhibit binding of HIV, alone or in combination with one another, can be used to alleviate AIDS symptoms and ameliorate symptoms of HIV infection, especially neuronal dementias and Kaposi's sarcoma. The compounds of this invention, alone or in combination, can further be used to prevent development of AIDS in persons who might become exposed to HIV.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides, cyclized peptides and peptidomimetics which inhibit the oncogenic and/or transforming activity of the p21 ras protein, pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of the ras-inhibiting peptides, cyclized peptides and peptidomimetics, and methods for inhibiting the ras-mediated oncogenic and/or transformation process in mammalian cells or tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and cyclized peptides which inhibit the oncogenic and/or transforming activity of the p21 ras protein, pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of the ras-inhibiting peptides, cyclized peptides and peptidomimetics, and methods for inhibiting the ras-mediated oncogenic and/or transformation process in mammalian cells or tissues.

Abstract: The subject invention provides purified polypeptides encoded by naturally-occurring wild-type platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha having a mutation which renders the polypeptide more reactive with yon Willebrand factor. Preferably, the mutation is in the hinge region of GP Ib.alpha., such as the substitution of valine for glycine at residue 233. These mutations alter the three-dimensional structure of the mutant polypeptide from a beta bend conformation to an alpha helix formation, and also create an amphipathic region within the mutant polypeptide. DNA encoding the mutant polypeptides, as well as expression systems for the production of the mutant polypeptides, are also provided. Methods and compositions using the mutant polypeptides and DNA oligomers complementary to the mutant polypeptides are further provided.

Abstract: The subject invention provides purified polypeptides encoded by naturally-occurring wild-type platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha having a mutation which renders the polypeptide more reactive with von Willebrand factor. Preferably, the mutation is in the hinge region of GP Ib.alpha., such as the substitution of valine for glycine at residue 233. These mutations alter the three-dimensional structure of the mutant polypeptide from a beta bend conformation to an alpha helix formation, and also create an amphipathic region within the mutant polypeptide. DNA encoding the mutant polypeptides, as well as expression systems for the production of the mutant polypeptides, are also provided. Methods and compositions using the mutant polypeptides and DNA oligomers complementary to the mutant polypeptides are further provided.

Abstract: A spectrophotometric assay for quantitative determination of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in fluid samples. 3-methyl-2-benzthiazolone hydrazone is oxidized with sodium periodate to the corresponding diazonium salt. The resulting diazonium salt adds electrophilically to activated positions on indole ring of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid to yield azo dyes which absorb light at 510 nm.