Abstract: Provided are mutants of human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) designed for specific chemical conjugation, and chemical conjugates thereof for use as an adjuvant in the treatment of cancer. The present invention provides a mutant of a G-CSF in which a threonine (Thr) residue at position 133 of G-CSF comprising the amino acid sequence identified in SEQ ID NO: 1 is substituted with a cysteine (Cys) residue. In addition, the invention provides a mutant of a G-CSF in which a cysteine (Cys) residue is inserted between a glycine (Gly) residue at position 135 and an alanine (Ala) residue at position 136 of G-CSF.

Abstract: The inventive composite having a nanoscale particle size can specifically deliver therapeutic nucleic acids or drugs to the liver and selectively release them into hepatic cells to manifest potent therapeutic effects without inducing any enzymatic abnormalities or pathological damage to the normal liver function, when administered together with the therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to RNA interference mediated inhibition of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) by short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Specially, siRNAs of the present invention which are double-stranded RNAs concern directing the sequence-specific degradation of viral RNA in mammalian cells. Disclosed is a DNA vector encoding the RNA molecules and synthesized siRNA molecules as well as method of therapeutic treatment for inhibition of HBV gene expression and viral replication by the administration of RNA molecules of the present invention.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of reducing tumor growth that includes contacting the tumor with a tumor growth reducing effective amount of a composition comprising LK8 or LK68 protein or a functionally equivalent amino acid variant thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereof to a subject having tumor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel angiogenesis inhibitor, LK68 whose amino acid sequence is identical with the human apolipoprotein (a) kringle domains IV36, IV37 and V38, a cDNA sequence encoding the LK68, a recombinant expression vector comprising the cDNA, a recombinant microorganism transformed with the recombinant expression vector and a novel use of the LK68 as an anticancer agent and a method for treating angiogenesis-mediated disease. LK68, LK6, LK7 and LK8 exhibit inhibitory activities on the cultured endothelial cell proliferation as well as on the endothelial cell migration. LK68 and its single kringles also inhibit the normal development of capillaries in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). It was also showed that systemic administration of LK68 causes the inhibition of primary tumor growth, which is correlated with a suppression of tumor-induced angiogenesis.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method of reducing tumor growth that includes contacting the tumor with a tumor growth reducing effective amount of a composition comprising LK8 or LK68 protein or a functionally equivalent amino acid variant thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereof to a subject having tumor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel angiogenesis inhibitor, LK68 whose amino acid sequence is identical with the human apolipoprotein (a) kringle domains IV36, IV37 and V38, a cDNA sequence encoding the LK68, a recombinant expression vector comprising the cDNA, a recombinant microorganism transformed with the recombinant expression vector and a novel use of the LK68 as an anticancer agent and a method for treating angiogenesis-mediated disease. LK68, LK6, LK7 and LK8 exhibit inhibitory activities on the cultured endothelial cell proliferation as well as on the endothelial cell migration. LK68 and its single kringles also inhibit the normal development of capillaries in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). It was also showed that systemic administration of LK68 causes the inhibition of primary tumor growth, which is correlated with a suppression of tumor-induced angiogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variant of Lkn-1(shLkn-1) with enhanced biological activity, which is a truncated form of Lkn-1, a process for preparing a recombinant shLkn-1 by employing expression vector therefor and pharmaceutical application of the said protein. shLkn-1 is generated by missing 26 amino acid residues from the amino terminus of Lkn-1 to contain 66 amino acids. Recombinant shLkn-1 inhibits colony formation and cell proliferation in vivo, which suggests that it can be used as a potential drug for the antibody production, the treatment during HIV-1 infection, the protection of bone marrow stem cells during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the inhibition of leukemia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molecular sustained controlled release system constructed by the conjugation of molecules to be released with biodegradable polyester polymer via covalent bond and method for preparation thereof. In accordance with the present invention, the system may be formulated into microspheres, nanoparticles, or films. The molecular release rate from the above system can be regulated to be proportional to the chemical degradation rate of the biodegradable polyester polymers, resulting in near zero order kinetics profile of release without showing a burst effect, Moreover, a high loading efficiency of hydrophilic drugs can be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant expression vector which is prepared by inserting a human parathyroid hormone gene containing a urokinase-specific cleavage site into an L-arabinose inducible vector containing a phosphoribulokinase gene fragment of Rhodabacter sphaeroides or its mutated gene as a fusion partner, or its mutate gene as a fusion partner, a recombinant microorganism transformed with the said expression vector, and a process for preparing human parathyroid hormone on a large scale by cultivating the said microorganism in a medium containing L-arabinose. In accordance with the invention, a recombinant human PTH having the same activity of the native human PTH can be prepared in a high yield through the precise control of induction by a manufacturing process which comprises a step of inducing expression of fusion protein in the microorganism transformed with the recombinant expression vector by L-arabinose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomes comprising novel peptide antigens which play a role in regulating human immunity against hepatitis B virus, more specifically, to peptide groups corresponding to epitopes of antigens derived from X protein of HBV which induce cycotoxic T lymphocytes against the virus or immunological tolerance to the virus, and pH-sensitive liposomes comprising said peptide groups to induce cellular immunity so that CTLs specific to the virus can be produced. Since peptide antigens derived from X protein such as X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 activate CTL which can recognize HBV antigens present in human body, and can also be recognized by the CTL, the said liposomes can be used for the development of proposed therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of HBV-associated diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liposomes comprising novel peptide antigens which play a role in regulating human immunity against hepatitis B virus, more specifically, to peptide groups corresponding to epitopes of antigens derived from X protein of HBV which induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the virus or immunological tolerance to the virus, and pH-sensitive liposomes comprising said peptide groups to induce cellular immunity so that CTLs specific to the virus can be produced. Since peptide antigens derived from X protein such as X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 activate CTL which can recognize HBV antigens present in human body, and can also be recognized by the CTL, the liposomes can be used for the development of proposed therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of HBV-associated diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of rosmarinic acid and/or derivatives thereof as immunosuppressive agents and/or as inhibitor of SH2 domain function. Disclosed in the present invention is that rosmarinic acid and derivatives thereof specifically inhibit the binding of ligand peptides to Lck SH2 domain, disturb the Lck-mediated signal transduction in T cells, also inhibit cytoline gene expression, and suppress immune responses in the transplanted tissue. These activities of rosmarinic acid and derivatives thereof support their applicability to treatment, prevention and/or diagnosis of graft rejection, GVHD, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins employing Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transformed with recombinant expression vectors containing the hepatitis C virus genome. The present invention provides CHO cells cotransfected with DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) minigene pDCHIP and recombinant expression vectors containing cDNAs of HCV E1 and E2/NS1 ligated with tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence. HCV E1 and E2/NS1 envelope glycoproteins are produced in a massive manner from the transformed CHO cells adapted in methotrexate. The HCV envelope glycoproteins produced by the present invention can be applied to the development of a diagnostic reagent and a potential preventive HCV vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antibiotic peptides which possess antibacterial and/or antifungal activities causing no cytotoxicity, and to antibacterial and/or antifungal agents containing said peptides as active ingredients. In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that a number of chemically-synthesized peptides which are derived from Tenecin, show superior antibacterial and/or antifungal activities, while causing no untoward effects, and they can be applied for the development of antibacterial and/or antifungal agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacture of proinsulin with high export yield, by modifying the connecting peptide region of the proinsulin. According to the method of the present invention, the highest export yield of proinsulin can be obtained, when its connecting peptide region is similar in size to that of human insulin-like growth factor I(hIGFI) or when most of the connecting peptide region of the proinsulin is deleted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel cDNA of direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease ("Salmonase") which is prepared from a Korean viper, Salmosa(Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus), and a direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease deduced therefrom. The cDNA of direct-acting fibrinolytic serine protease contains 699 nucleotides coding for 233 amino acids, and the Salmonase translated therefrom consists of two subunits of 77 and 156 amino acids, respectively. Salmonase cDNA of the invention may be expressed in the proper systems established in the recombinant E. coli, yeast, baculovirus/insect cells and other animal cells, and the recombinant Salmonase prepared therefrom can be practically applied as an active ingredient of thrombolytic and hemostatic agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel use of a biologically active protein, p53 as an inhibitor of hepatitis B virus(HBV) replication. The inhibitory role of p53 on HBV replication was assessed by the reduced levels of three different markers, i.e., HBsAg and HBc/eAg secreted into the medium, HBV DNA, and RNAs. Based on the above results, it was concluded that wild-type p53 specifically represses the activity of pregenomic/core promoter of HBV and inhibits the replication of HBV by down-regulation of the pregenomic/core promoter. Therefore, the present invention provides a novel use of protein p53 as a HBV replication inhibitor which can be developed into an agent for the treatment of acute/chronic hapatitis and prevention of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) caused by HBV.