Abstract: A novel crop grain filling gene (GIF1) and the applications thereof are presented in the invention. The GIF1 gene can be applied to control grain filling, enhance crop yield or quality, or improve disease resistance or storage stability of crop grains. A method for improving crops is also presented in the invention. The GIF1 gene shows valuable potentials in controlling crop yield, quality, storage, and resistance to diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to sinomenine derivatives, methods for their synthesis and their applications. The sinomenine derivatives include oxidation derivatives, and C-10 substituted sinomenine derivatives. Based on the readily oxidizable phenol group on sinomenine structure, using oxidation, oxidative dearomatization, or conjugated addition aromatization, one can introduce C-10 substitutions to synthesize the sinomenine derivatives. The sinomenine derivatives of the invention have the following structures: Using in vitro TNF-? inhibition assay, the activities of the synthetic compounds are assessed. Results from these assays shown that most compounds have anti-inflammatory effects, and some compounds have better activities than that of sinomenine. These compounds may be used in treating immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Abstract: The invention discloses methods for screening a reagent for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathology. A method according to the invention includes the steps of: (a) activating a receptor and determining a first extent of endocytosis of the receptor, wherein the receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that associates with presenilin-1; (b) activating the receptor under the same conditions as in step (a), in the presence of a candidate reagent, and determining a second extent of endocytosis of the receptor; (c) determining a difference between the first extent of endocytosis and the second extent of endocytosis; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c), if the difference is less than a threshold.

Abstract: The invention has disclosed a new tumor suppressor protein HCRP1, the polynucleotide sequences encoding this polypeptides, and methods for production of the polypeptide using the recombinant technology. The tumor suppression protein, HCRP1, is obtained through the positional candidate cloning strategy. It locates in 8p22 region of human chromosome. The full length cDNA for HCRP1 is 1916 bp, which encodes a protein of 397 amino acids. When introduced into liver cancer cells, HCRP1 can inhibit the malignant transformation of liver cancer cells.

Abstract: A method for screening a reagent for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathology includes the steps of: (a) activating a receptor and determining a first extent of endocytosis of the receptor, wherein the receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that associates with presenilin-1; (b) activating the receptor under the same conditions as in step (a), in the presence of a candidate reagent, and determining a second extent of endocytosis of the receptor; (c) determining a difference between the first extent of endocytosis and the second extent of endocytosis; and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c), if the difference is less than a threshold. Uses of receptor antagonists for manufacturing medicaments for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease or related neurological pathology, wherein the receptor antagonists inhibit endocytosis of a G-protein coupled receptor that associates with presenilin-1 during endocytosis.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel human liver regeneration associated protein hLRTM4 and the polynucleotide which encodes the hLRTM4 protein. Furthermore, this invention provides a method of preparing and using hLRTM4 protein, and its polynucleotides. hLRTM4 protein can be used to treat liver injury, and its antagonists (e.g. antisense nucleic acids and antibodies) can be used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. This invention also provides the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel human liver regeneration associated protein hLRTM4 and the polynucleotide which encodes the hLRTM4 protein. Furthermore, this invention provides a method of preparing and using hLRTM4 protein and its polynucleotides. hLRTM4 protein can be used to treat liver injury, and its antagonists (e.g. antisense nucleic acids and antibodies) can be used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. This invention also provides the corresponding pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The method of diagnosing lesions of crystalline lens such as cataract is disclosed. It comprises detecting variation of crygs gene, transcript and/or protein of individuals compared with normalty. The individual suffers from cataract more possible than normalty when occurring the variation. The present invention also discloses the method and pharmaceutical composition of treating lesions of crystalline lens such as cataract.

Abstract: The present invention provides mammalian GPR39 gene, its coded products, and the uses in regulating appetite and pain sensitivity. A pharmaceutical composition and a health product comprising GPR39 protein are also provided. The health product and the pharmaceutical composition for suppressing appetite or decreasing pain sensitivity comprise a safe and efficient amount of antagonists of mammalian GPR39 protein (for example, 0.01-99%) and a bromatologically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a suitable amount (for example 1-99.99 wt %).

Abstract: The invention has disclosed a method for diagnosis of dentinogenesis imperfecta type II (DGI-II) and/or dentinogenesis imperfecta type II with deafness (DGI-II with deafness). Said method comprises the steps of detecting the DSPP gene, transcript and/or protein in said subject and comparing it with the normal DSPP gene, transcript and/or protein to determine whether there is any variation, wherein said variation indicates that the possibility of suffering DGI-II and/or DGI-II with deafness in said subject is higher than the normal population. The present invention also discloses the method and pharmaceutical composition for treating DGI-II and/or DGI-II with deafness.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed a kind of gutless adenovirus vector and the construction method thereof. Two structural independent but functional related cassettes, the trans-activator (TA) and anti-tumor cassette, are both carried by the gutless vector. hTERT promoter restricts the expression of TA only in tumor cells, and RU486, associated with TA, regulates the expression of interesting gene: when needed, add the RU486 and the gene expression is on, and when not needed, remove the RU486 and the gene expression is off. Tumor-specificity and small molecule regulation of the vector spare the toxicity to the normal tissue caused by the foreign gene product and endow the gene's long lifetime expression in vivo. The vector of the present invention shows many advantages over traditional adenovirus vectors in targeting, gene regulation and expression lifetime.