Abstract: Catalytic antibodies are disclosed. The catalytic antibodies are specific for prodrug compounds. The catalytic antibodies enhance cleavage of an active drug moiety from a prodrug residue, thereby activating the drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a creatine amidinohydrolase having the following physicochemical properties: (a) hydrolyzing 1 mole of creatine to generate 1 mole of sarcosine and 1 mole of urea, (b) having a substrate specificity to creatine, (c) having an optimum pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0, particularly a pH of about 6.5, (d) having a stable pH ranging from 4.0 to 11.0, (e) having an optimum temperature ranging from 50 to 55° C., and (f) having a molecular weight of approximately 92,000 daltons (as measured by gel filtration); and to a method for producing a creatine amidinohydrolase, which comprises, culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce the creatine amidinohydrolase, and recovering the creatine amidinohydrolase from the obtained culture. The creatine amidinohydrolase of the invention is characterized by being insusceptible to bilirubin when measuring creatinine, since its optimum pH is in the weakly acidic range.

Abstract: Provided is the active site of human gamma glutamyl hydrolase. The active site resides in amino acid residues 110, 171, 220 and 222 of SEQ ID NO:1. Thus provided is an inactive gamma glutamyl hydrolase protein, as well as a fragment thereof. A method of inactivating a gamma glutamyl hydrolase protein is also provided, as is a molecule capable of binding to one or more of amino acid residues 110, 171, 220 or 222 of SEQ ID NO:1 which can be used in such a method. A method for identifying a molecule that inactivates gamma glutamyl hydrolase is provided, as is a nucleic acid molecule encoding the inactive gamma glutamyl hydrolase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to skin aging inhibitors and/or skin quality-improving agents comprising hydroxyproline, its N-acyl derivatives or salts thereof, and cosmetic compositions for inhibiting skin aging and/or improving skin quality comprising said skin aging inhibitors and/or skin quality-improving agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides corresponding to the nadC gene and which encode the nicotinate nucleotide pyrophosphorylase protein, methods of producing nicotinic acid or nicotinic acid derivatives, and methods of screening for polynucleotides which encode proteins having nicotinate nucleotide pyrophosphorylase activity.

Abstract: The gene encoding a 4-hydroxybutyryl-Co A transferase has been isolated from bacteria and integrated into the genome of bacteria also expressing a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase, to yield an improved production process for 4HB-containing polyhydroxyalkanoates using transgenic organisms, including both bacteria and plants. The new pathways provide means for producing 4HB containing PHAs from cheap carbon sources such as sugars and fatty acids, in high yields, which are stable. Useful strains are obtaining by screening strains having integrated into their genomes a gene encoding a 4HB-CoA transferase and/or PHA synthase, for polymer production. Processes for polymer production use recombinant systems that can utilize cheap substrates. Systems are provided which can utilize amino acid degradation pathways, &agr;-ketoglutarate, or succinate as substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a method of producing L-amino acids comprising culturing altered bacterial cells having increased amounts of NADPH as compared to unaltered bacterial cells whereby L-amino acids yields from said altered bacterial cells are greater than yields from unaltered bacterial cells. The invention also relates to a gene encoding phosphoglucoisomerase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a double-stranded region in a nucleic acid by (1) providing two separate, adjacent pools of a medium and a interface between the two pools, the interface having a channel so dimensioned as to allow sequential monomer-by-monomer passage of a single-stranded nucleic acid, but not of a double-stranded nucleic acid, from one pool to the other pool; (2) placing a nucleic acid polymer in one of the two pools; and (3) taking measurements as each of the nucleotide monomers of the single-stranded nucleic acid polymer passes through the channel so as to differentiate between nucleotide monomers that are hybridized to another nucleotide monomer before entering the channel and nucleotide monomers that are not hybridized to another nucleotide monomer before entering the channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant DNA coding for the MspA1I restriction endonuclease as well as MspA1I methylase, expression of MspA1I restriction endonuclease and MspA1I methylase in E. coli cells containing the recombinant DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of using a microbe containing a polypeptide that degrades, preferably detoxifies, a compound that is present in the environment. Preferably, the polypeptide is a hydrolase and the compound is at least one s-triazine. The present invention also provides a microbe containing a polypeptide that degrades, preferably detoxifies, a compound that is present in the environment.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding protein disulfide isomerase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the protein disulfide isomerase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the protein disulfide isomerase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides highly phosphorylated lysosomal hydrolases, methods of modifying lysosomal hydrolases with the lysosomal targeting pathway enzymes GlcNAc-phosphotransferase and/or phosphodiester &agr;-GlcNAcase.

Abstract: A method for racemizing with N-acylamino acid racemase (NAAR) derived from Sebekia benihana and a method for producing optically active amino acids using the racemaization method are provided. The racemase of the present invention can efficiently catalyze the racemization of acylamino acid substrates including N-acylalanine, N-acylaspartic acid, N-acylleucine, and N-acylvaline. Furthermore, this method can be applied to efficient production of optically active amino acids, which are useful, for example, as medicinal raw materials.

Abstract: Human choline acetyltransferase polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide for the treatment of cognitive and neurological deficiencies or mental disturbances such as degenerative nervous system disorders, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS and other cholinergic defects, and antagonists for treating Parkinson's Disease and other disorders relating to an over-expression of acetylcholine. Also disclosed are diagnostic methods for detecting a mutation in the human Choline Acetyltransferase nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: The invention provides recombinant procollagen chains having a natural collagen chain separated from one or two propeptides by one or two non-natural site-specific proteolytic agent (e.g., protease) recognition sites. A wide variety of propeptides and site-specific proteolytic agent recognition sites may be used: the selection of particular site-specific proteolytic agent/recognition site pairs is based on the conformation of the resulting procollagen, the availability of the site-specific proteolytic agent, the compatibility of the proteolysis with production of mature collagen, among other factors. Recombinant collagens chains are produced by contacting the subject recombinant procollagen chains with the appropriate site-specific proteolytic agents. Nucleic acids encoding the subject procollagen chains operably linked to transcription regulatory elements are used in vectors and cells for the production of recombinant collagen.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel acid DNase (DLAD) which is an endonuclease capable of cleaving DNA independently from divalent cations, under acidic conditions, which retains its activity in acidic to even neutral pH range, and which is not inhibited by G-actin. This invention also provides a DNA encoding the enzyme, an expression vector containing the DNA, and a host cell transformed with the expression vector. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical composition containing DLAD, DLAD expression vector or a host cell transformed with the expression vector as an active ingredient is provided. The pharmaceutical composition is useful as a therapeutic agent replacing DNase I for cystic fibrosis, and can provide a new approach for the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment of conditions associated with cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell survival. In particular, the dual-specificity phosphatase DSP-5, and polypeptide variants thereof that stimulate dephosphorylation of DSP-5 substrates, are provided. The polypeptides may be used, for example, to identify antibodies and other agents that inhibit DSP-5 activity. The polypeptides and agents may be used to modulate cell proliferation, differentiation and survival.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acids isolated from Tetrahymena which code for a ciliate-specific triterpenoid cyclase. The inventive nucleotide sequences and the polypeptide sequences derived therefrom demonstrate a surprisingly minimal sequence identity to known isoprenoid cyclases. The invention also relates to the use of nucleic acids for the regulation of triterpenoid cyclase expression in a host organism, as well as the targeted knockout or repriming of the triterpenoid cyclase gene. As a result of the altered expression of the triterpenoid cyclase, it is possible to modify and enrich the levels of multiple unsaturated fatty acids in the host organism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a secretable polypeptide in a host cell. In the method, a peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase is overexpressed in a host cell, thereby increasing the yield of the secreted polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel enzymes designed for direct detection, characterization and quantitation of nucleic acids, particularly RNA. The present invention provides enzymes that recognize specific nucleic acid cleavage structures formed on a target RNA sequence and that cleave the nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific manner to produce non-target cleavage products. The present invention provides enzymes having an improved ability to specifically cleave a DNA member of a complex comprising DNA and RNA nucleic acid strands.