Abstract: A plant promoter that is a nucleic acid region located upstream of the 5' end of a plant DNA structural coding sequence that is transcribed at high levels in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells. This promoter region is capable of conferring high levels of transcription in meristematic tissue and/or rapidly dividing cells when used as a promoter for a heterologous coding sequence in a chimetic gene. The promoter and any chimeric gene in which it may be used can be used to obtain transformed plants or plant cells. A DNA coding sequence that codes for a gene that is highly transcribed in meristematic tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana is also disclosed. This coding sequence can be used to obtain a cDNA probe useful in obtaining analogous promoters from a homologous coding sequence in other plant species. Chimeric genes including the isolated promoter region, transformed plants containing the isolated promoter region, transformed plant cells and seeds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of conveying liquid materials in closed systems without mutual contamination, comprising flushing the conduit with an inert gas between introduction of the materials into said conduit and using a peristaltic pump for introducing said materials, in which after each flushing operation for a moment said pump is made to rotate in the reverse direction.The invention further relates to a method for the automated elution of a radionuclide generator and delivery of a radiopharmaceutical liquid, in particular a Tc99m-pertechnetate solution, whereas said above method is used, and to a device for performing said method for elution and delivery of a radiopharmaceutical liquid.

Abstract: The present invention provides radiation synovectomy compositions for treating inflamed synovium containing a radionuclide complex bound to a hydroxyapatite-like matrix as the radiolabelled synovectomy agent in a sufficient amount to provide satisfactory synovectomy of the inflamed synovium together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, the radionuclide being a beta emitter that will substantially ablate the inflamed synovium, but not significantly damage underlying articular cartilage, the radionuclide complex being substantially kinetically stable, and if said radionuclide or radionuclide complex leaks from said joint it will be excreted from the body, the agent having a particle size such that there is essentially little or no leakage of the radionuclide complex from the joint after administration.

Abstract: Methods for packaging a pressure or vacuum sensitive product, such as an ultrasound contrast media comprised of a gas-filled microshpere or microbubble, or sealing such a product in a single-compartment syringe, in a manner that does not utilize pressure or vacuum in the process, are provided.

Abstract: Ligands that are capable of forming metal complexes are incorporated directly into peptides at nonbiologically active locations. The metal complex serves as a bifunctional agent and as a spacer molecule. In one aspect of the invention, the ligands are prepared by replacing a nonbiologically active peptide spacer sequence with either Cys-Gly-Gly-Glu(.gamma.-)CO- (SEQ ID NO:1) or Cys-Gly-Gly-Lys(.epsilon.-)NH-CO(CH.sub.2).sub.2 -CO- (SEQ ID NO:2). In these examples, unnatural peptide bonds are used to attach the ligand to the terminal end of the peptide. Peptides incorporating such ligands are also disclosed.Other spacer ligands which may be incorporated into peptides include the following natural peptide sequences: -Cys-Gly-His-, -Asp-Gly-Cys-, -Glu-Gly-Cys-, -Gly-Asp-Cys-, and -Gly-Glu-Cys-. Unnatural tripeptides which function as spacer ligands include: -Cys-Gly-(imidazolyl glycyl)-, -isoCys-Gly-(imidazolyl glycyl)-, and -isoCys-Gly-His-.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel technetium-99m complexes and to methods of preparing the complexes. The present invention further relates to a radiopharmaceutical compositions comprising the complexes, to the use of the compositions for examining the renal function, and to a kit for preparing such compositions.

Abstract: Five subdomains of the CaMV35S promoter are provided that cause tissue specific and/or developmentally regulated expression of chimeric genes in plants. These subdomains act as promoters for use in transformed plant cells, seeds and transgenic plants. Some of the subdomains require fusion to domain A for expression. Subdomains B2, B3, B4, and B5 exhibit expression when fused to the minimal promoter sequence in mature plants whereas only B2 and B3 confer expression in seeds and only B2, B3 and B4 confer expression at the seedling stage of development. The combination of subdomains B4 and B5 confers expression at all stages of development as does the B1+TGACG motif combination when each combination is fused with the minimal promoter sequence. The nucleotide sequence and DNA molecule that function as the enhancers are provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to chimeric genes which are capable of being expressed in plant cells. Such genes contain (a) a promoter region derived in a gene which is expressed in plant cells, such as the nopaline synthase gene; (b) a coding or structural sequence which is heterologous with respect to the promoter region; and (c) an appropriate 3' non-translated region. Such genes have been used to create antibiotic-resistant plant cells; they are also useful for creating herbicide-resistant plants, and plants which contain mammalian polypeptides.

Abstract: Detection of a cellular factor from pea and tobacco which binds to a repeated pentameric motif of TGACG present in the -90 to -60 region of the CaMV 35S promoter is disclosed. Also disclosed is a 21 bp promoter element which is capable of imparting root expression capability to a rbcS-3A promoter, normally a green tissue specific promoter.

Abstract: A transacting DNA binding factor is disclosed. The ASF-1 protein factor specifically binds to the sequence motif TGACG found upstream of the promoter in many plant genes. Co-expression of this protein factor augments the level of expression of the up-regulated promoter containing the TGACG motif.

Abstract: Glyphosate-tolerant 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphosikimate (EPSP) synthases, DNA encoding glyhphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases, plant genes encoding the glyphosate-tolerant enzymes, plant transformation vectors containing the genes, transformed plant cells and differentiated transformed plants containing the plant genes are disclosed. The glyphosate-tolerant EPSP synthases are prepared by substituting an alanine residue for a glycine residue in a conserved sequence found between positions 80 and 120 in the mature wild-type EPSP synthase.

Abstract: Transgenic plants are disclosed which are resistant to virus infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y. Plant genes and transformation vectors are also disclosed. Potato plants, for example, Russet Burbank variety, are made resistant to dual infection by Potato Virus X and Potato Virus Y by transforming the plant to express the coat proteins of the two viruses.