Abstract: Multifunctional proteins having M-CSF activity and at least one other bioactivity not found together in a single naturally occuring molecule are described. These multifunctional M-CSF proteins can be produced by the expression of fused genes which are also described. These multifunctional M-CSF proteins have increased therapeutic potential.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated receptor-type tyrosine kinase. The receptor-type tyrosine, in its naturally occurring form, is characterized by being reactive to monoclonal antibody III.A4, having an apparent molecular weight of approximately 120-150 kD in its glycosylated form, and having the N-terminal amino acid sequence E L I P Q P.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the finding and construction of fish insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) cDNAs which can be cloned and expressed in cells. This invention also relates to the production of biologically active fish IGF-II polypeptides by a gene expression system using fish IGF-II cDNAs. The fish IGF-II cDNAs have 1977 bp which transcribe into a prepeptide (signal peptide), and B, C, A, D, E domain peptides. The fish mature IGF-II is a single polypeptide containing the NH.sub.2 -B-C-A-D-COOH domains. The mature IGF-II polypeptide is 7 kDa in weight and has 70 amino acids. The fish recombinant IGF-II CDNA can be cloned and expressed in E. coli, yeast, baculovirus, and fish cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to physiologically-active derivatized natural and recombinant mammalian and human proteins and polypeptides. The invention provides chemical methods for derivatizing natural and recombinantly-derived proteins or polypeptides containing cysteine residues, either naturally or through site specific mutageneses. The pharmaceutical compositions containing said derivatized proteins and/or polypeptides are formulated to provide stable, long-acting compositions of such proteins and/or polypeptides, previously difficult to achieve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protracted human insulin derivatives in which the A21 and the B3 amino acid residues are, independently, any amino acid residue which can be coded for by the genetic code except Lys, Arg and Cys; Phe.sup.B1 may be deleted; the B30 amino acid residue is (a) a non-codable, lipophilic amino acid having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, in which case an acyl group of a carboxylic acid with up to 5 carbon atoms is bound to the .epsilon.-amino group of Lys.sup.B29 ; or (b) the B30 amino acid residue is deleted or is any amino acid residue which can be coded for by the genetic code except Lys, Arg and Cys, in any of which cases the .epsilon.-amino group of Lys.sup.B29 has a lipophilic substituent; and any Zn.sup.2+ complexes thereof with the proviso that when B30 is Thr or Ala and A21 and B3 are both Asn, and Phe.sup.B1 is present, then the insulin derivative is always present as a Zn.sup.2+ complex.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the purification of keratinocyte growth factors.

Abstract: Human growth hormone variants are disclosed having enhanced affinity for the growth hormone receptor. Also disclosed are human growth hormone variants conjugated to one or more chemical groups, such as poly(ethylene glycol), which is believed to prolong the in vivo half-life of the variants.

Abstract: The present invention discloses Growth Factor HTTER36 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and therapeutic uses of the polypeptides which include stimulating cellular growth and differentiation, bone formation and wound healing. Also disclosed are antagonists against such polypeptide and their use as a therapeutic to treat neoplasia and to prevent the formation of extracellular matrix molecules in the liver and lung. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention and mutations in the nucleic acid sequences which encode the polypeptides of the present invention.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described which are useful in vectors, transformed or transfected host cells, and methods for the recombinant expression of hepatocyte growth-specific polypeptide members of the FGF family.

Abstract: The present invention relates to human Corpuscles of Stannius polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and antagonists against such polypeptides. Also provided are methods of using the polypeptide therapeutically for treating renal, bone and heart diseases and for using the antagonists for treating hypocalcemia and osteoporosis. Also provided is a diagnostic assay to detect mutations in the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and for altered concentrations of the polypeptide in a sample derived from a host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding human PGF polypeptides, variant polynucleotides encoding analog polypeptides, and variant polynucleotides useful as probes for polynucleotides encoding human PGF polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques.

Abstract: A human stanniocalcin-alpha 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 electrolyte disorders which lead to renal, bone and heart diseases and osteoporosis and Paget's Disease. Antagonists against such polypeptides and their use therapeutically to treat hypocalcemia and osteoporosis are also disclosed. Use of the stanniocalcin-alpha sequence as a diagnostic to detect diseases or the susceptibility to diseases related to a mutated form of stanniocalcin-alpha seqeunces is also disclosed.

Abstract: A human Vascular IBP-like growth factor polypeptide (VIGF) 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 wound healing or tissue regeneration, stimulating implant fixation and angiogenesis. Antagonists against such polypeptides and their use as a therapeutic to treat atherosclerosis, tumors and scarring are also disclosed. Diagnostic assays for identifying mutations in VIGF nucleic acid sequences and altered levels of the VIGF polypeptide are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for breaking an emulsion comprising water and oil, comprising the steps of mixing an emulsion consisting of water and oil with a culture, bacterial cells or a culture supernatant of a bacterium belonging to the genus Alteromonas or the genus Rhodococcus capable of breaking an emulsion comprising water and oil; and consequently separating said emulsion into an aqueous layer and oil layer; and, a process for breaking an emulsion comprising water and oil, comprising the steps of mixing an emulsion comprising water and oil with bacterial cells of a bacterium belonging to the genus Aeromonas capable of breaking an emulsion comprising water and oil so as to form an aqueous layer and an aggregated layer consisting of bacterial cells and oil, and then separating these layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zFGF-5 a novel member of the FGF family. The polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding them, are proliferative for muscle cells and may be used for remodelling cardiac tissue and improving cardiac function. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zFGF-5 polypeptides.

Abstract: Described are new glycoprotein hormones capable of competing with natural hormones for the normal receptor binding sites but substantially incapable of effecting post receptor activities. The glycoprotein hormones of the present invention have had specific (rather than all) oligosaccharide chains removed so as to effectively diminish biologic activity while not significantly reducing plasma half-life, thus improving the molecules effectiveness as an antagonist compared with conventionally-produced molecules. The preferred glycoprotein hormones are ideally obtained by site-directed mutagenesis to selectively deglycosylate the protein. Also described are therapeutic treatments comprising the administration of the recombinant glycoprotein hormones of the present invention as hormone antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel human interferon-inducible protein (HIFI) and the polynucleotides which identify and encode HIFI. The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding HIFI and for a method for producing the protein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing HIFI and the use of such compositions for the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HIFI. Additionally, the invention provides antisense molecules to HIFI and their use in the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HIFI. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize polynucleotides which hybridize with naturally occurring sequences encoding HIFI and antibodies which specifically bind to the protein.

Abstract: A process for preparing human insulin, which comprises the steps of: preparing a DNA encoding a human proinsulin derivative having the following formula (I); inserting the DNA into a vector to construct an expression vector for the expression of the human proinsulin derivative; transforming a host cell with the expression vector; culturing the resulting transformant under a condition that allows the expression of the human proinsulin derivative; purifying human proinsulin derivative from the culture; and preparing human insulin from the human proinsulin derivative by an enzymatic hydrolysis:B chain-Z-A chain (I)Wherein,said A and B chains are respectively human insulin chains;Z is a peptide of formula U-U-X-P-J-(X')n-U-U;U is an arginine or lysin residue;X and X' are independently any amino acid residue;P is a proline residue;J is a glycine, arginine or lysine residue; andn is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the different roles inorganic ion receptors have in cellular and body processes. The present invention features: (1) molecules which can modulate one or more inorganic ion receptor activities, preferably the molecule can mimic or block an effect of an extracellular ion on a cell having an inorganic ion receptor, more preferably the extracellular ion is Ca.sup.2+ and the effect is on a cell having a calcium receptor; (2) inorganic ion receptor proteins and fragments thereof, preferably calcium receptor proteins and fragments thereof; (3) nucleic acids encoding inorganic ion receptor proteins and fragments thereof, preferably calcium receptor proteins and fragments thereof; (4) antibodies and fragments thereof, targeted to inorganic ion receptor proteins, preferably calcium receptor protein; and (5) uses of such molecules, proteins, nucleic acids and antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preventing, suppressing or treating a CNS pathology characterized by a deleterious accumulation of extracellular matrix in a tissue by contacting the tissue with an agent that inhibits the extracellular matrix producing activity of TGF-.beta.. The methods can be used to prevent, suppress or treat scar formation in the CNS. Agents that are useful in the present methods include neutralizing anti-TGF-.beta. antibodies, Arg-Gly-Asp-containing peptides, decorin and its functional equivalents such as biglycan, and TGF-.beta. antagonists. The present invention further provides methods for preventing, suppressing or treating a CNS pathology characterized by the insufficient accumulation of extracellular matrix. Agents that enhance the production of extracellular matrix, such as TGF-.beta., can be used in such methods.