Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to an I?B kinase, IKK-?, and related nucleic acids. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed IKK-? encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. The invention provides isolated IKK-? hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed IKK-? genes, IKK-?-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing apoptosis of pathogenic cells. The general method comprises the of contacting the cells with an effective amount of an AV peptoid, wherein the AV peptoid is a peptide comprising AX1, wherein X1 is V, I or L, or a peptide mimetic thereof, which interacts with an Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein (IAP) as measured by IAP binding, procaspase-3 activation or promotion of apoptosis, wherein apoptosis of the pathogenic cells is enhanced. The subject compositions encompass pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a subject AV peptoid in dosage form and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the AV peptoid is a peptide comprising AX1, wherein X1 is V, I or L, or a peptide mimetic thereof, which inhibits the activity of an Inhibitor of Apoptosis protein (IAP) as measured by IAP binding, procaspase-3 activation or promotion of apoptosis.

Abstract: Two genes which encode polypeptides that mediate post-prenylation processing steps in CAAX polypeptides such as Ras are provided. The two genes (AFC1 and RCE1) encode polypeptides that mediate the removal of the AAX tripeptide from the CAAX polypeptide following prenylation. The genes and encoded polypeptides provide assays for testing compounds for an effect on post-prenylation processing steps. A heat shock assay for assessing Ras activity is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a human Receptor Interacting Protein (hRIP), nucleic acids which encode hRIP and methods of using the subject compositions; in particular, methods such as hRIP-based in vitro binding assays and phosphorylation assays for screening chemical libraries for lead compounds for pharmacological agents.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical nitrone comprise condensates of an N-hydroxylamine and a physiological aldehyde, providing improved delivery and absorption, enhanced stability and reduced toxicity. Preferred physiological aldehydes are subject to endogenous cellular uptake transport, and include pyridoxal, pyridoxal phosphate, and heme-A. Essentially any physiologically compatible and pharmaceutically active hydroxylamine moiety may be incorporated, such as hydroxylamine moieties of prior pharmaceutical nitrones, and known pharmaceutically active hydroxylamines.

Abstract: The application discloses novel synthetic compounds, modeled after unique toxins extracted from the marine invertebrate Diazona angulata useful in the treatment abnormal cell mitosis. The application also discloses novel methods for synthesis of these compounds and methods of using these compounds.

Abstract: Reduced degeneration of an axon predetermined to be subject to degenerative neuropathy in a term patient is effected by contacting the axon in situ with an effective amount of a ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) inhibitor sufficient to reduce degeneration of the axon; and detecting a resultant reduction in the degeneration of the axon in situ.

Abstract: The amount of active Robo expressed on a cell is modified by modulating the effective amount of a Comm polypeptide in contact with the cell, whereby the amount of expressed active Robo is modulated inversely with the modulation of the effective amount of the Comm polypeptide in contact with the cell. In a particular embodiment, the Comm polypeptide is provided to the cell by exogenously in a pharmaceutically acceptable composition. In another aspect, the invention provides methods of screening for agents which modulate Robo-Comm interactions. These methods generally involve forming a mixture of a Robo-expressing cell, a Comm polypeptide and a candidate agent, and determining the effect of the agent on the amount of Robo expressed by the cell.

Abstract: An immune response is modulated by selectively inhibiting ERAAP (an acronym for ER aminopeptidase associated with antigen processing) and confirming a resultant immune response modulation. More particularly, the method comprises contacting a patient determined to be in need of immune response modulation with a physiologically acceptable dosage composition comprising an effective amount of an inhibitor of ERAAP activity; confirming a resultant inhibition of said ERAAP activity and confirming a resultant immune response modulation in the patient. A variety of selective inhibitors are shown to be effective, including amino thiols, such as leucine thiol, ERAAP-specific antibody complementarity-determining region, and an ERAAP-specific siRNA.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating ectodermal disorders, particularly ectodermal dysplasia syndromes such as Clouston syndrome, which are associated with misexpression of a TAJ gene. Methods detect the presence of or predisposition to an ectodermal disorder by (a) detecting the presence of a TAJ gene or gene product in a cell; and (b) correlating the presence of the TAJ gene or gene product with a presence of or predisposition to an ectodermal disorder. Other methods modulate the functional expression of a TAJ gene or gene product in a cell comprising the step(s) of contacting a cell with an agent which specifically binds and modulates the functional expression of a TAJ gene or gene product, wherein (a) the cell is an ectodermal cell; or (b) the cell is a germ cell which gives rise to progeny ectodermal cells and detecting the functional expression of the TAJ gene or gene product in the progeny cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for normalizing and amplifying RNA populations. The methods generally comprise the steps of copying message RNA (mRNA) to form first single-stranded (ss) cDNA; converting the first ss-cDNA to first double-stranded (ds) cDNA; linearly amplifying the first ds-cDNA to form first amplified RNA (aRNA); tagging the 3? end of the first aRNA with a known sequence to form 3?-tagged first aRNA; copying the 3?-tagged first aRNA to form second ss-cDNA; and normalizing the mRNA and/or the first aRNA.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for trace element, particularly heavy metal phytoremediation, including plants which are genetically engineered to overexpress a sulfate assimilation pathway enzyme gene and thereby provide enhanced trace element accumulation. In various embodiments, the plants comprise the gene operably linked to a heterologous promoter, the plant is a member of the Brassicaceae family. In general, the methods comprise the steps of growing such plants in a medium such as soil or water comprising a trace element, under conditions wherein the gene is overexpressed, whereby the plant provides enhanced accumulation of the trace element, whereby the trace element content of the medium is decreased.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to novel human cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (c-IAP1/2) comprising a series of defined structural domain repeats and/or a RING finger domain; in particular at least two of: a particular first domain repeat, a particular second domain repeat, and a particular third domain repeat, and/or a particular RING finger domain. The proteins provide a c-IAP specific function, with preferred proteins being capable of modulating the induction of apoptosis, for example, by binding a human tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF). The compositions include nucleic acids which encode the subject c-IAP and hybridization probes and primers capable of hybridizing with the disclosed c-IAP genes. The invention includes methods of using the subject compositions in therapy, in diagnosis and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions useful for making synthetic peptide conjugates. In one embodiment, the invention provides compositions comprising the structure: wherein R is selected from lower substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, O, NH and S and P is an amine protection group. In more particular embodiments, the compositions comprise ?-amine protected 4,5-dehydroleucine or ?-amine protected (2S)-aminolevulinic acid and/or P is F-moc. These compounds may be incorporated into peptides, for example, peptides comprising a substituted or unsubstituted (2S)-aminolevulinic acid residue, such as (2S)-aminolevulinic acid residue is substituted with an O- or N-linked glycoconjugate, or a detectable label.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to Kuz involvement in angiogenesis.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the production of interferons in animal cell culture are described. These methods rely on the manipulation of the cellular levels of certain inducers of interferon production, in particular cellular levels of double-stranded-RNA-dependent kinase (dsRNA-PKR, or PKR). In cell cultures that overproduce PKR, interferon synthesis is induced to high levels, and significant amounts of interferon can be recovered without conventional induction of interferon by virus.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to novel human cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (c-IAP1/2) comprising a series of defined structural domain repeats and/or a RING finger domain; in particular, at least two of: a particular first domain repeat, a particular second domain repeat, and a particular third domain repeat, and/or a particular RING finger domain. The proteins provide a c-IAP specific function, with preferred proteins being capable of modulating the induction of apoptosis; for example, by binding a human tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor (TRAF). The compositions include nucleic acids which encode the subject c-IAP and hybridization probes and primers capable of hybridizing with the disclosed c-IAP genes. The invention includes methods of using the subject compositions in therapy, in diagnosis and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: Development of colorectal neoplasia in a patient subject or predisposed to colorectal neoplasia is reduced by the steps of (a) determining a patient is subject or predisposed to colorectal neoplasia; and (b) enterically delivering into the gut of the person an effective amount of an aminoglycoside antibiotic having poor gut absorption, whereby the development of the colorectal neoplasia is reduced as compared with otherwise similar non-treated patients.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to Suppressor of Death Domain (SODD) proteins which regulate cellular signal transduction and transcriptional activation, and related nucleic acids. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed SODD encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. The invention provides isolated SODD hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed SODD genes, SODD-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: Neoplasia is treated by administering to a mammalian host a composition comprising ligands for the NKG2D receptor. In addition, other NKG2D ligands, proteins specific for the neoplastic cells and cytokines may be included to enhance the immune response. The composition may be cells comprising expression constructs for the ligands, liposomes or combinations of protein molecules.