Abstract: Disclosed are methods for altering cellular characteristics that pertain to cancer and for slowing, halting, or reversing the transformation of cells to cancerous phenotypes in general or the transformation of cells from more benign forms to less benign forms of cancer, and in particular, breast cancer.

Abstract: A novel heparin-binding growth factor of 18.9 kDa mol. wt. is disclosed which is purified from bovine uterus and human placenta and has a unique 25 N-terminal amino acid sequence as follows: Gly-Lys-Lys-Glu-Lys-Pro-Glu-Lys-Lys-Val-Lys-Lys-Ser-Asp-Cys-Gly-Glu-Trp-Gln-Trp-Ser-Val-Cys-Val-Pro.

Abstract: A human ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, designated hUBC-9, its full amino acid sequence, and nucleic acid polymers which encode hUBC-9 are disclosed. In addition to having functional ubiquitin conjugating activity, this enzyme has transcriptional repressor activity which is independent of the conjugating activity. The conjugating activity of hUBC-9 enhances transcription through degradation of transcription suppressor proteins such as WT1, and possibly, of hUBC-9 itself. The repressor activity of hUBC-9 suppress gene transcription, probably by disrupting the transcriptional initiation complex through specific interactions with the DNA binding region of the TATA binding protein (TBP). In use, hUBC-9, yUBC-9 and other ubiquitin conjugating enzymes having repressor activity can be fused to proteins having a DNA binding domain, such as Gal4, or used in conjunction with reppressors such as Wilm's tumor suppressor gene product, WT1.

Abstract: A prostate-derived growth factor is disclosed which has a mol. wt. of about 28 kDa, an NH.sub.2 -terminal sequence substantially identical to the NH.sub.2 -terminal sequence of the 6 kDa mature rat EGF, potent mitogenic activity against NRK cells without additional carboxy terminal processing to the mature 6 kDa EGF molecular species, cross-reacts with antisera against rat EGF and its mitogenic activity is blocked by anti-EGF receptor antisera.

Abstract: A novel phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase isolated from bovine uterus having the following characteristics:(a) molecular weight of about 55 kDa as determined by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis;(b) K.sub.m of about 18 .mu.M for ATP;(c) K.sub.m of about 22 .mu.g/ml for phosphatidylinositol;(d) pH optimum of about 6.0 to 7.0;(e) activated by Mg.sup.2+ ;(f) inhibited by Ca.sup.2+ ;(g) utilizes ATP and 2'-dioxy-ATP as phosphoryl donors and specifically phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol on the 4-position; and(h) essentially free of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase activity determined by treatment with phorphoryl donors ADP, GTP, ITP or CTP.