Abstract: A method for preparing 2-amino-.beta.-lactams which are substituted by readily-removed protecting groups is provided. According to this invention, an acyl-2-amino-.beta.-lactam is further acylated with a different acyl group and is subsequently treated with base to provide a protected 2-amino .beta.-lactam with a more desirable protecting group.

Abstract: The current invention provides methods and pharmaceutical formulations that are useful for inhibiting the loss of bone. These methods and formulations can be used without the associated adverse effects of estrogen therapy, and thus serve as an effective and acceptable treatment for osteoporosis.

Abstract: A method for preparing a new class of protected amino intermediates is provided which utilizes reaction of an imido protected primary amine with a secondary amine. The intermediates thus provided are suitably protected for nucleophilic functionalization on the residue of the primary amine. The desired imido protected amine thus derivatized may be regenerated using acid. Further provided are methods for resolving racemic primary amines. Also provided are .beta.-lactam intermediates protected with the new amino protecting group which are useful in the preparation of .beta.-lactam antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for increasing expression of low molecular weight polypeptides which are produced by recombinant DNA tranformation of prokaryotic host cells. This invention allows the direct expression of these polypeptides without fusion to an otherwise expressible protein and requires only the addition of a single amino acid to the sequence of the polypeptide product of interest.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to new compounds and to a process for the controlled conversion of such compounds to produce a Protein that comprises an amino acid sequence which is useful as a precursor to human insulin or to a modified human insulin, the amino terminus portion of which sequence does not define a cathepsin C dipeptide removal stop point. The compounds have the formula Met-Y-Protein in which Y is Tyr or Arg.

Abstract: Newly discovered lipoglycopeptide antibiotic A84575 complex, comprising factors A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H, is produced by submerged aerobic fermentation of a culture selected from Streptosporangeum carneum NRRL 18437, Streptosporangeum carneum NRRL 18505 or an A84575-producing mutant thereof. The antibiotics are active against Gram-positive bacteria.

Abstract: An assay method for the rapid determination of hydrolytic enzyme activity in large numbers of samples is provided which comprises bonding a resin-binding compound, such as biotin, to one side of the scissile bond of the substrate and a reporter molecule, such as a fluorescence marker, to the opposite side of the scissile bond, incubating the modified substrate and the enzyme in multiple well plates, e.g. 96-well plates, optionally in the presence if a test inhibitor or activator compound transferring the incubation solutions to a second multiple well plate having upper and lower chambers separated by a porous membrane the upper chamber of which contains resin beads capable of binding with the resin-binding compound, filtering and washing the wells of the second plate and reading the emission from the plates. The invention also provides protease substrates for HIV-1 protease, vertebrate stromelysin and derivatives thereof which are useful in the assay method.