Abstract: The present invention provides a novel family of apoptosis-modulating proteins. Nucleotide and amino acid residue sequences and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo ACP synthase.

Abstract: Polynucleotide sequences are provided for the diagnosis of the presence of retroviral infection in a human host associated with lymphadenopathy syndrome and/or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, for expression of polypeptides and use of the polypeptides to prepare antibodies, where both the polypeptides and antibodies may be employed as diagnostic reagents or in therapy, e.g., vaccines and passive immunization. The sequences provide detection of the viral infectious agents associated with the indicated syndromes and can be used for expression of antigenic polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotide sequences (bbp) encoding a Bak Binding Protein (BBP) and fragments thereof that bind to Bak. The invention also provides a BBP which binds to Bak. The invention also provides recombinant host cells containing polynucleotides encoding BBP. The invention further provides antibodies that specifically bind to BBP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BBP with a Bak protein. The invention neither provides methods for detecting the presence of bbp or BBP in a biological sample, and further provides methods for modulating the levels of BBP in a cell. This invention additionally encompasses novel peptides, designated the “BBP Binding Domains” and the respective nucleotides, designated “bbpbd-1” and “bbpbd-2” which arc involved in the interaction between Bak and BBP.

Abstract: The present invention is to methods of obtaining plant-derived compositions that inhibit apoptosis, the compositions obtained thereby, compositions comprising the composition, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of matter comprising a polypeptide expressed from insect cells harboring a baculovirus vector the encodes the polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide comprises amino acid sequences derived from the p42 fragment of the Plasmodium falciparum gp 195 protein or derivatives thereof. Such compositions of matter find use for example for inducing the production of anti-p42 antibodies both in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract: The present invention is to methods of obtaining plant-derived compositions that inhibit apoptosis, the compositions obtained thereby, compositions comprising the composition, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for endopeptidases and their production, and for enhanced efficiencies of processing heterologous precursor polypeptides to mature polypeptides. These compositions and methods utilize recombinant PACE 4 and 4.1, mammalian endopeptidases that are specific for dibasic amino acid sites. Therapeutic compositions and methods employing PACE 4 or 4.1 or their inhibitors are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a nucleotide sequence encoding an Arg-specific gingipain, said Arg-gingipain characterized as having an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa as estimated by gel filtration chromatography, said gingipain-1 having amidolytic and proteolytic activity for cleavage after arginine residues and having no amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity for cleavage after lysine residues, wherein the amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity is inhibited by cysteine protease group-specific inhibitors including iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, leupeptin, antipain, trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane, TLCK, TPCK, p-aminobenzamidine, N-chlorosuccinamide, and chelating agents including EDTA and EGTA, wherein the amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity of said gingipain-1 is not sensitive to inhibition by human cystatin C, &agr;2-macroglobulin, &agr;1-proteinase inhibitor,

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases (PKSs) and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase.

Abstract: A new receptor for fibroblast growth factor has been cloned and expressed. The recombinant receptor is useful for inhibiting FGF activity, and for screening compounds for binding activity similar to that of FGF. A soluble, truncated recombinant receptor is also prepared, and is capable of binding FGF.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved ubiquitin fusion system for gene expression in yeast systems which allows for the regulatable high level production of heterologous proteins having destabilizing amino terminal residues. The ubiquitin fusion proteins expressed in yeast are cleaved precisely in vivo by an endogenous ubiquitin-specific hydrolase to yield heterologous proteins such as human alpha-1-antitrypsin, human gamma-interferon and human immunodeficiency virus integrase protein, all of which initiate with destabilizing residues. An expression vector containing a synthetic gene for monomeric yeast ubiquitin was constructed and expressed under the control of a glucose regulatable yeast promoter. Inclusion of unique restriction sites at the 3'-end of the synthetic ubiquitin gene allows for precise in-frame insertion of heterologous genes. The system can be used to increase expression of poorly expressed proteins and to produce proteins having selective amino-terminal destabilizing residues.

Abstract: Hybrid and novel polyketide synthases and polyketides are produced by use of a multiple vector system. The combinatorial possibilities offered by placing the various catalytic activities of PKS systems on separate vectors permits the construction of improved libraries of PKS and polyketides. In addition, polyketides can be produced in hosts that ordinarily do not produce polyketides by supplying, along with an expression system for the desired PKS, an expression system for holo ACP synthase.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel family of apoptosis-modulating proteins. Nucleotide and amino acid residue sequences and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that inhibit apoptosis, methods for making the compositions, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for screening potential anti-viral therapeutic agents by monitoring their ability to disrupt the interaction between the BAK protein and a viral protein.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for endopeptidases and their production, and for enhanced efficiencies of processing heterologous precursor polypeptides to mature polypeptides. These compositions and methods utilize recombinant PACE 4 and 4.1, mammalian endopeptidases that are specific for dibasic amino acid sites. Therapeutic compositions and methods employing PACE 4 or 4.1 or their inhibitors are also provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for endopeptidase production and for enhanced efficiencies of processing heterologous precursor polypeptides to mature polypeptides, including proteins requiring gamma-carboxylation for biological activity. These compositions and methods utilize recombinant PACE, a mammalian endopeptidase that is specific for dibasic amino acid sites.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for endopeptidase production and for enhanced efficiencies of processing heterologous precursor polypeptides to mature polypeptides, including proteins requiring gamma-carboxylation for biological activity. These compositions and methods utilize recombinant PACE, a mammalian endopeptidase that is specific for dibasic amino acid sites.

Abstract: Novel immunogenic compositions are provided involving viral particles composed at least in part of hybrid proteins of at least a portion of a particle forming protein and one or more polypeptides having at least one epitope of interest. Nucleic acid sequences are employed coding for the hybrid protein which are introduced into a host cell for expression, either by themselves or in combination with other DNA sequences coding for particle forming proteins. Expression of the DNA sequences results in formation of particles which may be isolated and used as immunogens for production of antibodies for diagnostics purposes, passive immunization, vaccination, or other uses.Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, 2150-2-3 (pDC103), was deposited on Sep. 7, 1984, at the ATCC and given ATCC Accession No. 20726. Also, Saccharomyces cerevisiae PO17 (pCl/l-MCS29) was deposited at the ATCC on Sep. 5, 1985, and given ATCC Accession No. 20770.