Acting On Beta-1, 4 Link Between N-acetylmuramic Acid And 2-acetylamino 2 Deoxy-d-glucose (e.g., Lysozyme, Etc.) Patents (Class 435/206)
  • Publication number: 20020150981
    Abstract: The present invention provides highly phosphorylated lysosomal hydrolases, methods of modifying lysosomal hydrolases with the lysosomal targeting pathway enzymes GlcNAc-phosphotransferase and/or phosphodiester &agr;-GlcNAcase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: NOVAZYME PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventor: William M. Canfield
  • Publication number: 20020137125
    Abstract: Methods to introduce highly phosphorylated mannopyranosyl oligosaccharide derivatives containing mannose 6-phosphate (M6P), or other oligosacharides bearing other terminal hexoses, to carbonyl groups on oxidized glycans of glycoproteins while retaining their biological activity are described. The methods are useful for modifying glycoproteins, including those produced by recombinant protein expression systems, to increase uptake by cell surface receptor-mediated mechanisms, thus improving their therapeutic efficacy in a variety of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Yunxiang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20020127635
    Abstract: A method for complexing a protein in a dispersed medium, includes: a) providing a protein, b) altering the conformational state of the protein to expose hydrophobic domains therein, c) binding a stabilizer to the exposed hydrophobic domains, and d) at least partially reversing the alteration to associate at least a portion of the protein with the stabilizer. A pharmaceutically effective stabilized protein dosage wherein from less than about 1% to greater than about 90% of the protein is associated by a stabilizer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Sathyamangalam V. Balasubramanian, Robert M. Straubinger
  • Publication number: 20020127219
    Abstract: A polypeptide selected from the group of lysosomal enzymes and lysosomal enzyme activators, comprising at least one introduced glycosylation site as compared to a corresponding parent enzyme or activator. By introducing additional glycosylation sites the resulting glycosylated lysosomal enzyme or activator obtains improved in vivo activity and thereby provides for improved treatment of lysosomal storage diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Jens Sigurd Okkels, Anne Dam Jensen, Torben Halkier, Rikke Bolding Jensen, Hans Thalsgard Schambye
  • Patent number: 6436688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel member LYC2 of lysozyme gene family. The invention provides the cDNA sequence encoding for the novel lysozyme, the polypeptide encoded by the sequence, as well as the method for producing said novel human lysozyme utilizing recombinant technology. The invention also provides the use of the novel human lysozyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Institute of Genetics
    Inventors: Long Yu, Qiang Fu, Yong Zhao, Honglai Zhang, Anding Bi
  • Publication number: 20020102560
    Abstract: A polynucleotide (hpa) encoding a polypeptide having heparanase activity, vectors including same, genetically modified cells expressing heparanase, a recombinant protein having heparanase activity and antisense oligonucleotides and constructs for modulating heparanase expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Insight Strategy and Marketing Ltd.
    Inventors: Iris Pecker, Israel Vlodavsky, Elena Feinstein
  • Patent number: 6426208
    Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and mutants thereof, methods to produce and purify this enzyme as well as methods to treat certain genetic disorders including- &agr;-L-iduronidase deficiency and mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute
    Inventors: Emil D. Kakkis, Becky Tanamachi
  • Publication number: 20020098567
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel thermoprecipitating polymers of formula 1 containing novel enzyme sensitive ligands of the formula 4, processes for the preparation thereof respectively, and to the use thereof for the separation of enzymes. In formula 1 R is hydrogen or methyl, 1 is an integer in the range of from 1 to 10, m and n are either 0 or 1, x and y are integers greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
    Inventors: Alankar Arun Vaidya, Bhalchandra Shripad Lele, Mohan Gopalkrishna Kulkarni, Raghunath Anant Mashelkar
  • Patent number: 6416754
    Abstract: A genetically-engineered anaerobic organism is provided which, under anaerobic conditions present in a solid tumor, produces an enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of a prodrug to its highly cytotoxic product in situ and methods of treating tumors using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Microbiological Research Authority (MRA) acting through the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR)
    Inventors: John Martin Brown, Nigel P. Minton, Amato Giaccia
  • Publication number: 20020081701
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zsig63, a novel secreted salivary protein. The polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding them, may exhibit anti-microbial activity and may be used in the study or treatment of microbial infections. The polynucleotides encoding zsig63, are located on chromosome 4, and can be used to identify a region of the genome associated with human disease states. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zsig63 polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: David A. Adler, Paul O. Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20020076791
    Abstract: A recombinant cell line has a constitutive sialidase whose functional expression is disrupted, for example by homologous recombination or using antisense RNA. Sialidase is purified from cell culture fluid of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Nucleic acid encoding sialidase is obtained using an oligonucleotide probe designed using amino acid sequence data on the sialidase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: THOMAS G. WARNER, MARY B. SLIWKOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20020072104
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided substantially pure glycosidases obtainable from the genus Chryseobacterium. In particular, there is provided a substantially pure exo &agr;-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase from Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. A method of cloning this enzyme and producing a recombinant form of the enzyme is also provided by the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventor: David Landry
  • Patent number: 6391549
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a parameter of a host cell, a cell culture or medium is provided. A host cell is transfected with an expressible DNA sequence which is under expression control of an inducible promoter sequence. The promoter sequence is inducible in correlation with the parameter, the expressible sequence encoding an enzymatically active product which can catalyze a reaction giving rise to an electrical signal which is detectable in an electrochemical measurement. An electrical signal determined in an electrochemical system then serves as an indication for the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Ramont University Authority for Applied Research & Industrial Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliora Z. Ron, Judith Rishpon, Israel Biran, Reuven Babai
  • Publication number: 20020038010
    Abstract: Novel human polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences are disclosed that can be used in therapeutic, diagnostic, and pharmacogenomic applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Yi Hu, Boris Nepomnichy, C. Alexander Turner
  • Patent number: 6329185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an enzyme with galactanase activity, a DNA construct encoding the enzyme, a method of producing the enzyme, an enzyme composition comprising the enzyme, and the use of the enzyme and enzyme composition for a number of industrial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Lene Venke Kofod, Markus Sakari Kauppinen, Lene Nonboe Andersen, Ib Groth Clausen
  • Patent number: 6319498
    Abstract: Compounds that modulate the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides are disclosed. The modulators of the invention can promote amyloid aggregation or, more preferably, can inhibit natural amyloid aggregation. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds modulate the aggregation of natural &bgr; amyloid peptides (&bgr;-AP). In a preferred embodiment, the &bgr; amyloid modulator compounds of the invention are comprised of an A&bgr; aggregation core domain and a modifying group coupled thereto such that the compound alters the aggregation or inhibits the neurotoxicity of natural &bgr; amyloid peptides when contacted with the peptides. Furthermore, the modulators are capable of altering natural &bgr;-AP aggregation when the natural &bgr;-APs are in a molar excess amount relative to the modulators. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention, and diagnostic and treatment methods for amyloidogenic diseases using the compounds of the invention, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Praecis Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Findeis, Howard Benjamin, Marc B. Garnick, Malcolm L. Gefter, Arvind Hundal, Laura Kasman, Gary Musso, Ethan R. Signer, James Wakefield, Michael J. Reed
  • Patent number: 6316236
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a highly purified lysozyme dimer product which comprises dimerizing the lysozyme monomer with a suberimidate coupling reagent in a buffer solution adjusted to pH 10, stopping the dimerization at a given point by lowering the pH to 7 via addition of HCl or other suitable acid solution, and purifying the dimeric lysozyme by a series of elution steps carried out using ion exchange resin column chromatography. Monomeric lysozyme remaining undimerized by the initial dimerization step is recycled into the process in order to increase yield. The present system is advantageous in that large amounts of purified lysozyme dimer can be prepared efficiently and relatively inexpensively, and the lysozyme dimer so produced is useful in treating viral and/or bacterial diseases without causing the cytotoxic effects associated with the lysozyme monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Nika Health Products Limited
    Inventors: Peter Herrmann, Peter Klein
  • Publication number: 20010021768
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protein defined in the following (A) or (B), and DNA coding for the same:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Taeko Miyagi, Tadashi Wada, Yuko Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6274565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inhibitor of an activation of &bgr;-glucan recognition protein in a body fluid of an insect comprising a sugar compound comprising plural member of sugar residues, at least one of which have a substituent at the 6-position, the sugar residues being bonded mainly through &bgr; 1→3 linkage with one another, a process for inhibiting the activation; an agent for treating the body fluid of an insect, a process for the treatment; a novel agent for measuring peptidoglycan simply and effectively, and a process for the measurement. The present invention is markedly effective in that a reagent, which are obtained form a body fluid of an insect, can easily be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Katsumi
  • Patent number: 6270827
    Abstract: Compositions containing human milk proteins, including the so-called host resistance factors of human milk, prepared by chemically synthesizing the human milk proteins or by genetic engineering techniques for producing recombinant human milk proteins, are useful for supplementing or enhancing the diet of infants, particularly very-low-birth-weight infants. The human milk proteins include the host resistance factors (HRF) found in human milk, such as lactoferrin (LF), lactoperoxidase (LP), lysozyme (LZ), immunoglobulin-A (IgA), alpha-lactalbumin, alpha, beta, kappa-caseins, and others. The compositions may also include components other than the human milk proteins useful for improved infant nutrition. In the utilization of the compositions of this invention, the compositions would be administered to an infant in at least an amount that the infant would receive if fed substantially only fresh human milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventors: Gerald E. Gaull, by Florence McSherry Gaull
  • Patent number: 6255096
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to mammalian &agr;-N-acetyglucosaminidase and to genetic sequences encoding same and to their use in the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of subjects suspected of or suffering from &agr;-N-acetylglucosaminidase deficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Women's and Children's Hospital
    Inventors: John Joseph Hopwood, Hamish Steele Scott, Birgit Weber, Lianne Blanch, Donald Stewart Anson
  • Patent number: 6194201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an expression system for anaerobic gene expression in higher plants. The expression system comprises the promoter GapC4 or a fragment or variant and a gene to be expressed. A concrete field of application of the present invention is agriculture, particularly resistance cultivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: MPG Cologne GmbH Molecular Plant & Protein Biotechnology
    Inventors: Rüdiger Cerff, Klaus Düring, Reinhard Hehl, Uwe Köhler
  • Patent number: 6159719
    Abstract: Murein binding polypeptide and antibiotic diagnostic reagents, methods and kits for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignees: Anomeri, Inc., Board of Supervisors Louisiana State University
    Inventors: Roger A. Laine, Wai Chun Jennifer Lo
  • Patent number: 6156553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cloned DNA sequence encoding an enzyme with dextranase activity, a recombinant expression vector comprising said DNA sequence, a filamentous fungus host cell, a method for producing said recombinant dextranase, and the isolated and purified enzyme.The invention also relates to compositions comprising the recombinant enzyme, oral care compositions and products and the use for removing of dental plaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Tove Christensen, Claus Crone Fuglsang, Torben Halkier, Charlotte Johansen
  • Patent number: 6133010
    Abstract: This invention relates to the novel antibacterial protein Chlamysin B, a novel protein gene encoding the Chlamysin B protein and an expression system using such gene in E. Coli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Biotec ASA
    Inventors: Bjornar Myrnes, Inge Waller Nilsen, Kersti Overbo, Erling Sandsdalen
  • Patent number: 6090573
    Abstract: A method is presented for detecting eubacteria and fungus in biological samples, and, if present, determining their antibiotic sensitivity, where the presence and amount of eubacteria or fungus is measured by means of catalytically inactive murein binding enzymes in both parts of the method. The sensitivity of eubacteria or fungus to a test antibiotic is obtained by comparing the amount of eubacteria or fungus in the sample after culturing the sample in the presence and absence of the test antibiotic. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventors: Roger A. Laine, Wai Chun Jennifer Lo
  • Patent number: 6083700
    Abstract: The invention provides a human goose-type lysozyme (GOLY) and polynucleotides which identify and encode GOLY. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of GOLY.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Incyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Preeti Lal, Karl J. Guegler, Neil C. Corley, Chandra Patterson
  • Patent number: 6043075
    Abstract: An endoglucanase obtainable from Dictyoglomus exhibiting optimum activity at a temperature above 85.degree. C. is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Mads Eskelund Bjornvad, Martin Schulein, Iben Angelica Norrevang
  • Patent number: 6022722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the renaturation of denatured proteins in which they are treated with a renaturant which has on vicinal carbon atoms a hydroxyl group and at least one fluorine atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Huels Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frauke Lohr, Andreas Pawlik, Hubert Motschmann, Martina Bree, Euridice Vieira, Alexander Welle
  • Patent number: 6020015
    Abstract: Compositions containing human milk proteins, including the so-called host resistance factors of human milk, prepared by chemically synthesizing the human milk proteins or by genetic engineering techniques for producing recombinant human milk proteins, are useful for supplementing or enhancing the diet of infants, particularly very-low-birth-weight infants. The human milk proteins include the host resistance factors (HRF) found in human milk, such as lactoferrin (LF), lactoperoxidase (LP), lysozyme (LZ), immunoglobulin-A (IgA), alpha-lactalbumin, alpha, beta, kappa-caseins, and others. The compositions may also include components other than the human milk proteins useful for improved infant nutrition. In the utilization of the compositions of this invention, the compositions would be administered to an infant in at least an amount that the infant would receive if fed substantially only fresh human milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Gerald E. Gaull
  • Patent number: 6013502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding particular N-acetylmuramidases, which are cell wall lytic enzymes, of Streptomyces rutgersensis origin. The invention also relates to vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the N-acetylmuramidases, and also relates to host cells transformed with the vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignees: Director of National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bio-oriented Technology Research Advanced Institution
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Shimonishi, Satoshi Kaneko, Satoru Nirasawa, Kiyoshi Hayashi, Kazutomo Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 5993809
    Abstract: A method and composition for prophylaxis and/or treatment of bacterial infections, particularly bacterial respiratory infections. A fusion protein of lysozyme and the carboxyl terminal propeptide of surfactant protein-B (SP-B) with the preceding ten amino acids of the mature SP-B peptide is administered in a pharmaceutically acceptable medium to an individual. The fusion protein may be selected so as to deliver it to a target infection site, such as the lungs or gastrointestinal tract. The method and composition eliminates problems associated with conventional antibiotic treatments, such as inefficacy and promotion of antibiotic resistant bacterial strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Weaver, Henry Toyin Akinbi
  • Patent number: 5989880
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a highly purified lysozyme dimer product which comprises dimerizing the lysozyme monomer with a suberimidate coupling reagent in a buffer solution adjusted to pH 10, stopping the dimerization at a given point by lowering the pH to 7 via addition of HCl or other suitable acid solution, and purifying the dimeric lysozyme by a series of elution steps carried out using ion exchange resin column chromatography. Monomeric lysozyme remaining undimerized by the initial dimerization step is recycled into the process in order to increase yield. The present system is advantageous in that large amounts of purified lysozyme dimer can be prepared efficiently and relatively inexpensively, and the lysozyme dimer so produced is useful in treating viral and/or bacterial diseases without causing the cytotoxic effects associated with the lysozyme monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Nika Health Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Herrmann, Peter Klein
  • Patent number: 5942662
    Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Ryals, Christian T. Harms, Leslie B. Friedrich, James J. Beck, Scott J. Uknes, Eric R. Ward
  • Patent number: 5935804
    Abstract: A method for detecting eubacteria in biological samples with catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme is presented. The biological sample may be chemically treated with alkali to cleave peptide bonds in the sample before incubating the sample with the catalytically inactive murein binding enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventors: Roger A. Laine, Wai C. J. Lo
  • Patent number: 5935789
    Abstract: Autonomously replicating sequences(ARS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH) gene and GAPDH promoter derived from Hansenula polymorpha DL-1(ATCC 26012); a vector for H. polymorpha which contains the novel ARS and is capable of inserting tandem repeating multiple copies of a polynucleotide encoding a foreign protein to the chromosome of H. polymorpha; a process for the production of a foreign protein in H. polymorpha by employing said vector; and a method for the selection of transformed H. polymorpha having multiple copies of integrated foreign genes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sang-Ki Rhee, Eui-Sung Choi, Chul-Ho Kim, Jung-Hoon Sohn, Hyun-Ah Kang, Hwa-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 5929304
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of enzymatically active recombinant human and animal lysosomal enzymes involving construction and expression of recombinant expression constructs comprising coding sequences of human or animal lysosomal enzymes in a plant expression system. The plant expression system provides for post-translational modification and processing to produce a recombinant gene product exhibiting enzymatic activity. The invention is demonstrated by working examples in which transgenic tobacco plants having recombinant expression constructs comprising human hGC and IDUA nucleotide sequences produced enzymatically active modified human glucocerebrosidase and human .alpha.-L-iduronidase. The recombinant lysosomal enzymes produced in accordance with the invention may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to enzyme replacement therapy for the therapeutic treatment of human and animal lysosomal storage diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignees: Croptech Development Corporation, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Radin, Carole L. Cramer, Karen K. Oishi, Deborah L. Weissenborn
  • Patent number: 5861477
    Abstract: PEPZYMES.TM., chemically synthesized cyclic peptides, modeled on the active sites of naturally-occurring enzymes represented by chymotrypsin, trypsin, lysozyme, ribonuclease, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator and their analogs are disclosed. The conformational constraints imposed on the peptide residues cause the amino acids of the peptide to assume a three-dimensional spatial relationship relative to the substrate that is essentially equivalent to that of the corresponding active site amino acids of the natural enzyme in its catalytically active state. The new cyclic peptides catalyze the same reaction as the native enzyme being modeled, but have amino acid sequences that are substantially shorter than the naturally-occurring enzymes, and do not occur in the same linear relationship in the naturally-occurring enzymes. Methods of producing PEPZYMES.TM. are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: M. Zouhair Atassi
  • Patent number: 5861238
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for partitioning advanced glycosylation endproducts out of a biological sample using the unexpected discovery that certain antibacterial proteins, in particular lysozyme and particular fragments thereof, bind to advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs) with high affinity, and that this binding activity is substantially noncompetitive with binding of bacterial carbohydrates to the antibacterial proteins. Accordingly, the invention relates to therapeutic methods for treating diseases and disorders associated with increased levels of AGEs, by using compositions having associated therewith a molecule having a hydrophilic loop domain, which domain is associated with AGE-binding activity, and compositions comprising such a domain to remove AGEs from biological material. The invention further relates to compositions and devices for partitioning AGEs away from a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Picower Institute for Medical Research
    Inventors: Yong Ming Li, Helen Vlassara, Anthony Cerami
  • Patent number: 5850025
    Abstract: Transgenic plants that express properly processed ruminant or ruminant-like lysozymes and that are resistant to bacterial pathogens, including both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, are provided. A preferred embodiment provides transgenic tobacco plants that express a sufficient concentration of properly processed bovine lysozyme c2 to render the plants less susceptible to bacterial plant pathogens.Methods and compositions for treatment of plants, seeds and other plant tissues prior to or after exposure or infection with bacterial plant pathogens are also provided. In particular, compositions and methods of contacting plants with such compositions that contain a concentration of bovine lysozyme c2 or other ruminant or ruminant-like lysozyme are provided.A signal sequence that is effective for properly processing heterologous proteins that are expressed in transgenic plants is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Sibia Neurosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Erik Mirkov, Leona C. Fitzmaurice
  • Patent number: 5767377
    Abstract: The gene expression in plants is remarkably increased by utilization of human-derived lysozyme and the growth of various pests is effectively inhibited. Thus, there is disclosed an excellent method for enhancing the disease and pest resistance of plants. With the use of this method, the control of disease and pest with agricultural chemicals can be made unnecessary or reduced, and plant breeding can be performed with more saved labor for a shorter period of time, as compared with the conventional plant breeding mainly by crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakajima, Kenji Oheda, Toshiya Muranaka, Fumiharu Ishige
  • Patent number: 5759834
    Abstract: Pepzymes, chemically synthesized cyclic peptides, modeled on lysozyme and ribonuclease have been prepared which efficiently catalyze the same reaction as the native enzyme being modeled. The synthetic pepzymes have a sequence of amino acids which is substantially shorter than the naturally occurring enzymes. Methods of producing these pepzymes are described. Pepzymes may be useful catalysts under conditions where the native enzymes are inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: M. Zouhair Atassi
  • Patent number: 5654414
    Abstract: The present invention provides chemically regulatable DNA sequences capable of regulating transcription of an associated DNA sequence in plants or plant tissues, chimeric constructions containing such sequences, vectors containing such sequences and chimeric constructions, and transgenic plants and plant tissues containing these chimeric constructions. In one aspect, the chemically regulatable DNA sequences of the invention are derived from the 5' region of genes encoding pathogenisis-related (PR) proteins. The present invention also provides anti-pathogenic sequences derived from novel cDNAs coding for PR proteins which can be genetically engineered and transformed into plants to confer enhanced resistance to disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Ryals, James J. Beck, Leslie B. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 5618712
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing human lysozyme and the human lysozyme protein itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Zentrale GmbH
    Inventors: Andrzej Sledziewski, Ewa Chlebowicz-Sledziewska, Peter Swetly, Gunther Adolf, Rudolf Hauptmann, Maria J. Castanon, Walter Spevak
  • Patent number: 5597945
    Abstract: Plant transformants having an expressible heterologous gene for an antimicrobial agent for disease resistance and/or a protein high in limiting essential amino acid content for enhanced nutritional quality. Monocots, dicots and gymnosperms are genetically enhanced for disease resistance to express a lytic peptide such as cecropin, attacin or lysozyme, or an antiviral antisense micRNA. The nutritional quality of plants cultivated for food is enhanced by a gene expressing a protein containing 25-60 weight percent of methionine, lysine, tryptophan, threonine and isoleucine. Methods for obtaining such transformants, novel expressing vectors, novel proteins high in essential amino acids, and novel lytic peptides are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Jesse M. Jaynes, Kenneth S. Derrick
  • Patent number: 5589626
    Abstract: A method for increasing the resistance of a plant to fungi and animal pests comprising introducing into the genome of the plant one or more lysozyme gene structures which express lysozyme, the lysozyme gene structure comprises a chimeric gene fusion of the TR promoter, the signal peptide sequence of barley alpha-amylase and one or more lysozyme genes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudiger Hain, Klaus Stenzel
  • Patent number: 5585248
    Abstract: A method for assaying an activity of a prophenoloxidase activating enzyme (PPAE), comprising assaying at least X-Arg or Y produced upon contact of the PPAE with a peptide chain of the formulaX-Arg-Ywherein X is an optionally labeled amino acid residue or peptide residue, having an optionally protected .alpha.-amino group or N-terminal, provided that the amino acid residue adjoining Arg is not Gly or Ala, and Y is an organic residue capable of binding to a carboxyl group of Arg by acid amide bonding or ester bonding, or an optionally labeled amino acid residue or peptide residue, having an optionally protected .alpha.-carboxyl group or C-terminal, the peptide chain capable of being hydrolyzed into X-Arg and Y by a PPAE derived from an insect. According to the present invention, PPAE activity can be quantitatively assayed with precision and a highly precise method for determining .beta.-1,3-glucan and/or peptidoglycan, wherein said PPAE activity is used as an index, can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ashida, Tomohisa Kawabata, Kazunari Hirayasu, Masakazu Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 5585257
    Abstract: Yeast cells whose DNA has been appropriately engineered to produce and to secrete lysozyme under control of a regulatable promoter are grown in the substantial absence of lysozyme synthesis and then are induced to produce and to secrete lysozyme under growth-limited conditions. This process is particularly suitable for the production of human lysozyme or mutants thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignees: Fina Research S.A., Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: Annie De Baetselier, Steven Rosenberg, Jacques D. V. Hanotier
  • Patent number: 5458876
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of inhibiting procaryotic microbial growth which method involves adding a synergistically effective combination of a lantibiotic and lysozyme to an environment in which such microbial growth is to be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Haarman & Reimer Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Monticello
  • Patent number: 5449615
    Abstract: A sialidase capable of cleaving a glycoconjugate to yield 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-2-nonulosonic acid (KDN) is isolated from hepatopancreas of mollusks. Preferably, the sialidase is isolated by processing crude oyster hepatopancreas to form a crude extract of the sialidase enzyme. The crude enzyme is further concentrated and refined utilizing sequential column chromatography fractogel EMD DEAE-650 (M), sephacryl S-200, and fractogel EMD SP 650 (M) chromatography, respectively. Using this procedure, the sialidase is purified over 155 fold with a 17% recovery. Ferric ion exerts a three fold stimulation in the activity of the sialidase, at a concentration of 3 mM. The sialidase cleaves 4-methylumbelliferyl-KDN, KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcCer, KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.6Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcCer, or KDN.alpha.2.fwdarw.6GalNAc-o1 to yield KDN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventors: Yuh-Teh Li, Su-Chen Li