Abstract: A collagen material having a form of thin fibrils generally free of fibril-bundling proteogylcan interactions, and a method for providing the thin fibril collagen material from native collagen fibers. The method uses proteoglycan antibodies to disassociate the proteoglycan interactions in bundled collagen fibrils to provide the constituent fibrils. The process can be used as a model for arthritis and the resulting fibrils can be used to form new extracellular matrix biomaterials and new tissues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crystallized forms of a voltage dependent calcium channel ? subunit functional core, methods of producing and methods of utilizing the same.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds including heteroatom-containing, three-membered rings efficiently and selectively inhibit specific activities of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases. The activities of those Ntn having multiple activities can be differentially inhibited by the compounds described. For example, the chymotrypsin-like and PGPH activities of the 20S proteasome can be selectively inhibited with the inventive compounds. The peptide-based compounds include an electron withdrawing group adjacent to the ring functionality, and the peptide include at least three peptide units. Among other therapeutic utilities, the peptide-based compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and inhibition of cell proliferation, involving therapeutic applications for these compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to the crystal structure of a plant peptide deformylase polypeptide and methods of using the structure to design compounds that modulate the activity of the polypeptide.

Abstract: Crystalline IGF-1 is provided along with a method for production thereof. Crystallizing IGF-1 comprises the steps of mixing an aqueous solution comprising IGF-1 with a reservoir solution comprising a precipitant to form a mixture; and crystallizing the mixture, optionally also recrystallizing and isolating the crystalline IGF-1. In addition, a method for identifying IGF-1 indirect agonists is provided using a detergent as a standard for the level of inhibition of binding of IGFBP-1 or IGFBP-3 to IGF-1 and/or using the coordinates of the binding pockets of IGF-1 to which a candidate indirect agonist binds for structure-based drug design.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel micro-organism, Penicillium funiculosum, to new enzymes mixture obtained from it and nucleic acid sequences thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to production of lysine, and provides several isolated polynucleotide molecules useful for the production of L-lysine. One such polynucleotide encodes an aspartate kinase (ask), an aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (asd) and a dihydrodipicolinate reductase. Other polypeptides encode ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, and a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase (ddh); ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, ddh, and an ORF2 polypeptide; and ask, asd, dihydrodipicolinate reductase, ddh, ORF2 and a diaminopimelate decarboxylase. The invention further provides methods of making and using the polynucleotides, and methods to increase the production of L-lysine. The invention further provides use of isolated polynucleotide molecules encoded by genes native to bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium. The invention further provides host cells bearing the isolated polynucleotide molecules of the invention.

Abstract: Provided are crystals relating to human mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase2 (MAPKK2), also known as MAPK/ERK Kinase2 (MEK2) and its various uses.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for crystallographic structure determination employing hydrogen exchange analysis. Hydrogen exchange analysis is used to identify unstructured regions of a protein, and then hydrogen exchange analysis repeated after the protein is admixed with candidate agents and/or conditions that may induce structure in said identified unstructured regions. Agents that induce desired structure in the protein are then employed, admixed with the protein, in co-crystallization studies for structure determination. Hydrogen exchange analysis is performed by determining the quantity of isotope and/or rate of exchange of peptide amide hydrogen(s) with isotope on a labeled protein. Proteins with agent-induced decreases in unstructured regions, and thus improved hydrogen exchange structural maps, are optimal for high quality crystallization and structure determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides crystalline molecules or molecular complexes which comprise binding pockets of Aurora-2 or its homologues. The invention also provides crystals comprising Aurora-2. The present invention also relates to a computer comprising a data storage medium encoded with the structural coordinates of Aurora-2 binding pockets and methods of using a computer to evaluate the ability of a compound to bind to the molecule or molecular complex. This invention also provides methods of using the structure coordinates to solve the structure of homologous proteins or protein complexes. In addition, this invention provides methods of using the structure coordinates to screen for and design compounds, including inhibitory compounds, that bind to Aurora-2 or homologues thereof.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel human protein kinase related to citron kinase, and its encoding polynucleotide. Also described are expression vectors, host cells, antisense molecules, and antibodies associated with the protein kinase polynucleotide and/or polypeptide of this invention. In addition, methods for treating, diagnosing, preventing, and screening for disorders or diseases associated with abnormal biological activity of the protein kinase are described, as are methods for screening for modulators, e.g., agonists or antagonists, of the protein kinase activity and/or function.

Abstract: Provided are crystals relating to human Ephrin Receptor A2 and its various uses.

Abstract: The invention relates to bacterial genes and proteins that are implicated in the process of DNA replication and also to bacteriophage genes and their protein products that interact with bacterial proteins involved in DNA replication. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods involving an essential Staphylococcus aureus gene and its encoded protein STAAU_R9. In addition, the invention relates to screening assays to identify compounds which modulate the level and/or activity of STAAU_R9 and to such compounds.

Abstract: Methods of modifying polypeptide drugs in order to enhance their transdermal electrotransport flux are provided. The polypeptide is modified by substituting a histidine residue (His) for one or more glutamine (Gln), threonine (Thr) and/or asparagine (Asn) residue(s). The His for Gln substitution is particularly preferred from the standpoint of retaining biological activity of the parent polypeptide. Compositions containing the modified polypeptide, which are useful for transdermal electrotransport delivery, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crystal structure of G-quadruplexes and its use. The invention provides a crystal of an intramolecular G-quadruplex structure having a hexagonal space group P6, and unit cell dimensions a=b=56.7 and c=42.1; ?=?=90°, ?=120° and a crystal of G-quadruplex having the three dimensional atomic coordinates of Table 1 or Table 2. These structures may be used in a computer-based method for the analysis of the interaction of a molecular structure with a G-quadruplex.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to sialytransferases, such as SiaA sialytransferases isolated from Haemophilus influenzae. Further provided herein are methods for producing sialylated lipooligosaccharides, vaccines, and host cells and systems for the production of sialylated lipooligosaccharides.

Abstract: Nucleoside diphosphates (NDPs) are detected or measured by following the dephosphorylation of the phosphoenzyme form of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK), and nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) are detected or measured by following the phosphorylation of NDPK to its phosphoenozyme form. A typical process involves (a) causing NDP in sample to bind to NDPK phosphoenzyme, or causing NTP in sample to phosphorylate NDPK and (b) detecting a change in a characteristic of the enzyme which differs between its phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms. This may be aided by labelling the enzyme. Quantitative data can be obtained. Both in vivo and in vitro measurements can be made.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation and characterization of an operon from the organism Xylella fastidiosa. This operon, referred to as the XfGUM operon, contains 9 genes, and is involved in the production of a compound with xanthan gum like properties. The expression products of the operon and genes are also a part of the invention, as are various uses of these.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme that synthesizes a cyclic depsipeptide, particularly the substance 1022, and a gene thereof. A cyclic depsipeptide synthetase according to the present invention comprises (a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or (b) a modified amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 that have one or more modifications selected from a substitution, a deletion, an addition and an insertion and has cyclic depsipeptide synthetase activity. A cyclic depsipeptide synthetase gene according to the present invention comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a cyclic depsipeptide synthetase. The present invention also provides a recombinant vector and a transformant for expressing the cyclic depsipeptide synthetase, and a mass production system for the cyclic depsipeptide. The present invention further provides a method for producing the cyclic depsipeptide synthetase.

Abstract: The present invention provides the structure of the enzyme 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methylerythritol (CDP-ME) synthase, a member of the cytidyltransferase family of enzymes from Escherichia coli. CDP-ME is a critical intermediate in the mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis in a number of prokaryotic organisms, in algae, in the plastids of plants, and in the malaria parasite. Since vertebrates synthesize isoprenoid precursors using a mevalonate pathway, CDP-ME synthase and other enzymes of the mevalonate-independent pathway for isoprenoid production represent attractive targets for the structure-based design of selective antibacterial, herbicidal, and antimalarial drugs. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for screening for compounds that inhibit enzymes of the mevalonate-independent pathway and pharmaceutical compositions and antibacterial formulations thereof.