Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of bone tropic peptides identified through the use of a phage display library. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions comprising the bone tropic peptides and methods for using such compositions to regulate osteogenesis, cell adhesion and angiogenesis, and diseases and disorders thereof, and to inhibit cancer cell metastasis and growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of concentrating low molecular weight peptides in the supernatant of serum-free cultured cells, said method comprising allowing the peptides to bind to a strong cation exchanger under an acid condition, and eluting them under an alkali condition to concentrate the peptide. Furthermore, peptides having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, and a method of screening cancer markers using antibody to these peptides, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of concentrating low molecular weight peptides in the supernatant of serum-free cultured cells, said method comprising allowing the peptides to bind to a strong cation exchanger under an acid condition, and eluting them under an alkali condition to concentrate the peptide. Furthermore, peptides having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, and a method of screening cancer markers using antibody to these peptides, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides derivatives of lipopeptide antibiotics that display antimicrobial activity against microorganisms, methods and compounds for synthesizing such antimicrobial derivatives and analogues, and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of microbial infections.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fusion protein comprising enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase and a short peptide consisting of 4-15 acidic amino acids attached to the enzyme on its N-terminal side, a pharmaceutical composition containing the fusion protein, and a method for treatment of type A Morquio disease using the fusion protein. Compared with the native enzyme protein, the fusion protein exhibits higher transferability to bone tissues and improved, higher stability in the blood.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising amiloride amino acid and peptide conjugates. Efficient methods are also provided for administering the amiloride conjugates of the present invention for treating cancer or a central nervous system disease or disorder or for preventing or reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. Further, kits are provided for the treatment of a central nervous system disease or disorder or for the prevention or reduction of ischemia-reperfusion injury using the amiloride conjugates of the present invention.

Abstract: CRF peptide analogs that bind to CRFR1 with an affinity far greater than they bind to CRFR2. Some of these analogs exhibit CRF agonist activity. One exemplary analog that may be made by solid-phase synthesis is: (cyclo 31-34)[Ac-Pro4,D-Phe12,Nle18,21,Glu31,Lys34]-sucker urotensin(4-41).

Abstract: This invention provides a novel method for purifying synthetic oligomers comprising capping, polymerizing and separating any failure sequences produced during oligomer synthesis. Either the failure sequence or the full-length oligomer may be polymerized. Optionally, small molecule impurities may also be incorporated into the polymerized material. The invention provides novel capping agents having a polymerizable functional group. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.

Abstract: This procedure consists in the first stage, of the administration of enough quantity of bisphosphonate preparation during the necessary period of time to acquire a degree of volumetric mineral density of the cortical tissue of application, within the normal range (average.+?.1 DS). Then the administration of the bisphosphonate preparation is interrupted in order to enable the development of the sectional momentum of inertia. The length of the second stage can be determined by means of a tomography. That is to say, that the periods of administration or non-administration of the mineralizing agent are defined or controlled by precise osteologic variables and therefore are not fixed. If during the second stage the cortical mineral density drops by 6-10% of the maximum value previously obtained, administration of bisphosphonate preparation should be resumed until the corresponding maximum adjusted value is reached again.

Abstract: Monodisperse macromolecular conjugate compositions of a peptidic carrier irreversibly or reversibly conjugated with one or more effectors and one or more therapeutic agents, wherein at least one effector or therapeutic agent is attached to a pendant reactive group on said peptidic carrier via a water-soluble polymer. Monodispersity is obtained through the use of orthogonal and separate conjugation reactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescent amino acid derivative which can be synthesized by simple steps, can be excited particularly by a blue laser ray region of visible light, and has an improved light stability. These objects can be achieved by a fluorescent amino acid derivative which is an acridone derivative substituted with an amino acid to comprise an electrophilic substituent group between the amino acid and the acridone derivative. Instead of a conventional strategy that aminophenylalanine is used as a starting material to form a fluorescent group through a coupling reaction and an intramolecular cyclization reaction, a fluorescent acridone derivative is used as a starting material to furnish the material to a reactive group by a position-specific electrophilic substitution reaction, and then the acridone derivative having the reactive group is allowed to couple with an amino acid derivative.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns compositions and methods for blocking cancer cell growth or proliferation and/or inducing cancer cell death. Compositions of the present invention are peptidomimetics that inhibit STAT function. Peptidomimetics of the invention include compounds of the formula RY*L (where Y* represents phosphotyrosine), with the R group at the Y-1 position. Peptidomimetics of the invention disrupt Stat3 activation and function. Peptidomimetics of the invention significantly inhibit tumor cell growth and induce tumor cell death.

Abstract: Provided is a method of stimulating collagen synthesis and proteoglycan (lumican and keratocan) accumulation. Collagenase isolated keratocytes were cultured with or without insulin with or without ascorbate. Insulin stimulates the synthesis of collagen but does not affect the accumulation of lumican and keratocan. Insulin plus ascorbate, however, stimulates the synthesis of collagen and increased the accumulation of these proteoglycans. The accumulation of PGDS, a KSPG that does not interact with collagen, is not affected by ascorbate. Only the collagen made in the presence of ascorbate was pepsin resistant. EDB overrode the effects of ascorbate on pepsin resistance and proteoglycan accumulation.

Abstract: The present invention features HCV NS3 protease substrates containing a europium label and a quenching group. The europium label and quenching group are located on different sides of an ester HCV NS3 protease cleavage site. The substrate can be used in a time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) assay to measure HCV protease activity.

Abstract: Derivatives of Maurotoxin (MTX) in which the native disulfide bridge pattern (Cys3-Cys24, Cys9-Cys29, Cys19, Cys31-Cys34) has been disrupted are useful for the treatment of pathologies associated with dysfunctioning and/or activation of Ca2+-activated and/or voltage-gated K+ channel subtypes, such as IKCa1 or Kv1.2. In one group of derivatives, one or two of the amino acid residues of maurotoxin have been replaced by different amino acid residues resulting in the disulfide bridge pattern being changed to Cys3-Cys24, Cys9-Cys29, Cys13-Cys31, Cys19-Cys34. Exemplary substitutions include the Arg residue at position 14 and/or the Lys residue at position 15 replaced by a Gln residue and the Gly residue at position 33 replaced by an Ala residue. Pi1 and HsTx1 derivatives with disrupted native disulfide bridge patterns are similarly useful.

Abstract: Methods for the production of purified, catalytically active, recombinant memapsin 2 have been developed. The substrate and subsite specificity of the catalytically active enzyme have been determined. The substrate and subsite specificity information was used to design substrate analogs of the natural memapsin 2 substrate that can inhibit the function of memapsin 2. The substrate analogs are based on peptide sequences, shown to be related to the natural peptide substrates for memapsin 2. The substrate analogs contain at least one analog of an amide bond which is not capable of being cleaved by memapsin 2. Processes for the synthesis of two substrate analogues including isosteres at the sites of the critical amino acid residues were developed and the substrate analogues, OMR99-1 and OM99-2, were synthesized. OM99-2 is based on an octapeptide Glu-Val-Asn-Leu-Ala-Ala-Glu-Phe (SEQ ID NO:28) with the Leu-Ala peptide bond substituted by a transition-state isostere hydroxyethylene group (FIG. 1).

Abstract: Polypeptides for improving bone mineralization and/or phosphate update are provided. The peptides include a PHEX zinc binding domain and two ASARM binding domains.

Abstract: The present invention discloses novel compounds which have HCV protease inhibitory activity as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds as well as methods of using them to treat disorders associated with the HCV protease.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for intranasal administration containing calcitonin, chlorobutanol, a pH of about 3.5, and sodium chloride, and an intranasal spray and a pharmaceutical delivery device thereof.

Abstract: A TGF-? gene expression inhibitor containing a pyrrole-imidazole polyamide having N-methylimidazole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Py), N-methylimidazole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Im) and ?-aminobutyrate unit which can be holded into an U-shaped conformation at the ?-aminobutyrate unit in the minor groove in a double helix region (hereinafter referred to as the target region) containing a complementary chain corresponding to the sequence at the ?557 to ?536 in the base sequence of a human transforming growth factor ?1 (hereinafter also referred to as hTGF-?1) promoter, either as a whole or a part thereof: TAAAGGAGAGCAATTCT-TACAG (SEQ ID NO: 1) wherein a Py/Im pair corresponds to a C-G base pair, an Im/Py pair corresponds to a G-C base pair, and Py/Py pairs correspond respectively to an A-A base pair and a T-A base pair.