Abstract: The protein having factor VIII:C procoagulant activity has been produced by culturing a cell transformed with a recombinant expression vector encoding the gene for that activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for enhancing the degradation of the side chain of sterols possessing branched chains at C-24 utilizing microbiological means by including an exogenous source of bicarbonate ion (HCO.sub.3 --) in the medium in which the degradation is being carried out.

Abstract: The production of mature hGH In E. coli and Pseudomonas strains transformed by a plasmid which encodes pre hGH (comprising the signal polypeptide and the hormone itself) is described. These prokaryotes process the pre-hGH to cleave the signal sequence and, thereby, produce mature hGH.

Abstract: A biologically active reference therapeutic protein is protected against oxidation by a method involving substituting a conservative amino acid for each methionyl residue susceptible to chloramine T or peroxide oxidation, wherein additional, non-susceptible methionyl residues are not so substituted. The oxidation-resistant mutein so produced is preferably a human mutein of interleukin-2 or interferon-.beta., and the conservative amino acid is most preferably alanine.

Abstract: A method for producing a protein antigen which is reactive with an autoantibody associated with an autoimmune disease in a host, which comprises introducing genetic information from a cross-reactive donor gene library, into plural cells thereby producing transformed cells; selecting a producer cell which expresses said antigen by detecting a binding reaction between said autoantibody obtained from said host and a protein antigen expressed by a producer cell of said transformed cells which contains a gene coding for said protein antigen, thereby identifying a cloned DNA segment from said donor which can be utilized in the production of said protein, is disclosed along with biochemical reagents and products associated with this invention.

Abstract: A process for converting 1,2-saturated 3-keto steroids to 1,2-dehydro steroids which are useful steroid intermediates. The process involves exposing the substrate to steroid-1-dehydrogenase activity in the presence of an added electron carrier and one or more added scavengers of a toxic oxygen species.

Abstract: A DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially corresponding to all or a portion of foot and mouth disease virus RNA and in particular coding for at least one protein of foot and mouth disease virus. The DNA molecule can be inserted into a DNA cloning vehicle capable of expressing the DNA molecule, after a suitable host cell has been transformed by the cloning vehicle. The expression product can be incorporated into a vaccine for stimulating antibodies against FMDV. Methods for producing the DNA molecule, recombinant cloning vehicle and transformed host cell are described.

Abstract: Method and compositions are provided for replication and expression of exogenous genes in microorganisms. Plasmids or virus DNA are cleaved to provide linear DNA having ligatable termini, which are bound to a gene having complementary termini, to provide a biologically functional replicon with a desired phenotypical property. The replicon is inserted into a microorganism cell by transformation. Isolation of the transformants provides cells for replication and expression of the DNA molecules present in the modified plasmid. The method provides a convenient and efficient way to introduce genetic capability into microorganisms for the production of nucleic acids and proteins, such as medically or commercially useful enzymes, which may have direct usefulness, or may find expression in the production of drugs, such as hormones, antibiotics, or the like, fixation of nitrogen, fermentation, utilization of specific feedstocks, or the like.

Abstract: A transgenic non-human eukaryotic animal whose germ cells and somatic cells contain an activated oncogene sequence introduced into the animal, or an ancestor of the animal, at an embryonic stage.

Abstract: A disposable test strip device for detecting and measuring ethanol in aqueous solutions is disclosed. The test strip includes an inert support pad that contains a stabilized dry form of the enzyme alcohol oxidase, a material having peroxidative activity and an oxygen acceptor that reacts with hydrogen peroxide to give a compound of changed color. The use of this strip to determine ethanol levels colorimetrically is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is recombinant plasmid pLS101, consisting essentially of a 2.0 Kb malM gene fragment ligated to a 4.4 Kb T.sub.c r DNA fragment, which is particularly useful for transforming Gram-positive bacteria. This plasmid contains at least four restriction sites suitable for inserting exogeneous gene sequences. Also disclosed is a method for plasmid isolation by penicillin selection, as well as processes for enrichment of recombinant plasmids in Gram-positive bacterial systems.

Abstract: Th preparation of a double-stranded polydeoxy ribonucleotide having cohesive termini each comprising one strand of a double-strand restriction endonuclease recognition site and, between the termini, a structural gene coating for the expression of recombinant growth hormone releasing factor, at least a majority of the codons and the coding strand of said gene being codons preferred for the expression of microbial genomes; a method of producing such DNA a recombinant microbial cloning vehicle comprising such DNA and the novel methods of producing said peptide are described.

Abstract: An enhancer DNA segment having an excellent action of enhancing the transcriptional efficiency of an incorporated gene in a cell, said segment being derived from a human papovavirus BK mutant designated as pm411, pm522 or pm525.The enhancer DNA segment is useful for enhancing the expression of a gene encoding a biologically active substance in host eukaryotic cells.

Abstract: DNA sequences encoding a protein having angiogenic activity are disclosed. Expression vectors containing these sequences are introduced into host cells and direct the production of the angiogenic protein. Proteins produced according to the invention are useful in the diagnosis of malignancies, for promoting wound healing, and for other diagnositic and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A DNA fragment from Streptomyces sp. which contains a gene which can code for an excretable protein is isolated, inserted into a plamid vector and used to transform other Streptomycetes.

Abstract: A promoter comprises a DNA having the same base sequence as that of a DNA fraction having a size of about 1.1 kbp, which is obtained by cleavage by restriction enzyme Bam HI of a DNA fraction comprising all of a 16SrRNA gene and a part of a 23SrRNA gene, said DNA fraction being obtained by cleavage by restriction enzyme Eco RI of chloroplast DNA of Marchantia polymorpha L. The promoter is integrated with a DNA having the same sequence as that of DNA derived from a procaryote into a vector.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel circular DNA plasmids useful as vectors in recombinant methods to secure high levels of E.coli expression of exogenous genes. Plasmids of the invention comprise discrete DNA sequences operative to: (1) confer upon the plasmid the capacity for autonomous replication in a host cell; (2) control autonomous plasmid replication in relation to the temperature at which host cell cultures are maintained; (3) stabilize maintenance of the plasmid in host cell populations; (4) direct synthesis of a protein product indicative of plasmid maintenance in a host cell population; (5) provide, in series, a plurality of restriction endonuclease recognition sites, unique to the plasmid and facilitative of exogenous gene DNA sequence insertion; and (6) terminate mRNA transcription of adjacent DNA sequences and situated so as to terminate transcription of exogenous gene sequences inserted within the plasmid at said unique restriction endonuclease restriction sites.

Abstract: Recombinant DNA molecules and hosts transformed with them which produce polypeptides displaying HBV antigenicity and genes coding therefor and methods of making and using these molecules, hosts, genes and polypeptides. The recombinant DNA molecules of this invention are characterized by structural genes that code for at least one polypeptide displaying HBV antigenicity. In appropriate hosts these recombinant DNA molecules permit the production and identification of genes and polypeptides characteristic of HBV antigenicity and their use in compositions and methods for detecting HBV virus infections in humans and stimulating the production of antibodies against this infection.

Abstract: Disclosed are recombinant plasmid vectors constructed of a plasmid autonomously replicable in cells of microorganisms belonging to the genus Corynebacterium or Brevibacterium and a DNA fragment containing a gene expressible by said microorganisms. The recombinant vector plasmids are autonomously replicable in glutamic acid--producing microorganisms and are useful to clone desired DNA fragments in such microorganisms.

Abstract: The Specification discloses:1. Recombinant microbial cloning vehicles comprising heterologous DNA coding for the expression of mammalian hormone (e.g., somatostatin) and other polypeptides, including plasmids suited for the transformation of bacterial hosts. The latter incorporate a regulon homologous to the host in its untransformed state, in reading phase with the structural gene for the heterologous DNA;2. Cloning vehicles coding for the microbial expression of a protein variously comprising (a) a polypeptide hapten and additional protein sufficient in size to confer immunogenicity on the product of expression, which may find use in raising antibodies to the hapten for assay use or in the manufacture of vaccines; and (b) a desired polypeptide product and additional protein from which the desired product may be cleaved; and3. Methods of preparing synthetic structural genes coding for the expression of mammalian polypeptides in microbial cloning systems.