Abstract: A gene encoding mammalian brain enriched hyaluronan binding (BEHAB) protein is isolated and characterized from brain tissue and found to have a high degree of sequence homology to members of the proteoglycan tandem repeat family of hyaluronan binding proteins. Unlike other members of the family, however, the expression of the gene is restricted to the central nervous system. BEHAB is expressed in markedly increased levels in human glioma tissue, so that the polypeptide can be used as a marker for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: Purified mammalian erythropoietin binding-protein is disclosed, and its isolation, identification, characterization, purification, and immunoassay are described. The erythropoietin binding protein can be used for regulation of erythropoiesis by regulating levels and half-life of erythropoietin. A diagnostic kit for determination of level of erythropoietin binding protein is also described.

Abstract: Human calcitonin receptors have been cloned, sequenced and expressed by recombinant means. The receptors and antibodies thereto may be used in screening systems to identify agonists and antagonists of human calcitonin receptors, thereby providing means for treating and preventing abnormal bone resorption, as well as in methods of diagnosis.

Abstract: [DNAs] DNA molecules encoding mammalian calcium channel a.sub.1 and a.sub.2 subunits are provided. The [DNAs] DNA molecules are used to transform host cells which may also contain a reporter gene, the transcription of which is responsive to an ion or molecule capable of entering the cell through a calcium channel.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions comprising active, highly purified, and concentrated Factor IX proteins are provided. The Factor IX proteins are recovered from plasma or recombinant cell culture sources by a process involving immunoaffinity chromatography conducted in the presence of a chelating agent and in the absence of an exogenous non-chelating protease inhibitor.

Abstract: DNA encoding modified, secretable erythropoietin proteins whose ability to regulate the growth and differentiation of red blood cell progenitors are different from the wildtype recombinant erythropoietin and to methods of modifying or altering the regulating activity of a secretable erythropoietin and using modified secretable erythropoietin proteins.

Abstract: A process for recovering microbially produced IL-2 in a highly pure form from the cellular material of the microorganisms that produced it comprising: disrupting the-cell membranes of the microorganisms; extracting the disruptate with a chaotropic agent, such as urea, that selectively extracts microbial proteins from the cellular material; solubilizing the IL-2 in the solid phase of the extraction mixture with an aqueous solution of a solubilizing agent, such as SDS, containing a reducing agent; and separating the IL-2 from the resulting solution by an optional extraction with 2-butanol or 2-methyl-2-butanol followed by gel filtration chromatography, oxidizing the IL-2 and purifying the oxidized IL-2 by RP-HPLC.

Abstract: A cytokine that is a specific antagonist of induction by interferon-gamma of the expression of class II histocompatibility antigens at the cell surface is disclosed. The cytokine is naturally secreted by cells or is the expression product of an exogenous DNA sequence in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Also disclosed is a DNA sequence that codes, on expression in a host cell, for a cytokine having a biological activity that is a specific antagonist of induction by interferon-gamma of the expression of class II histocompatibility antigens at the cell surface. A method for preparing the cytokine is further disclosed. Finally, a therapeutic composition containing the cytokine is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of treating a mammal suffering from an autoimmune disease state is provided. The method comprises administering to the mammal a cytotoxin-conjugated IL-2 receptor-specific substance during a proliferative burst of IL-2 receptor-bearing lymphocytes associated with the disease state, whereby the lymphocytes undergoing the proliferative burst are selectively killed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing recombinant horse and dog interferons and the interferons themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant human interleukin-3 (hIL-3) variant or mutant proteins (muteins). These hIL-3 muteins contain amino acid substitutions and may also have amino acid deletions at both the N- and C- termini. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the hIL-3 muteins and methods for using them. Additionally, the present invention relates to recombinant expression vectors comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the hIL-3 muteins, related microbial expression systems, and processes for making the hIL-3 muteins using the microbial expression systems. Included in the present invention are deletion mutants of hIL-3 in which from 1 to 14 amino acids have been deleted from the N-terminus, and from 1 to 15 amino acids 119 to 133 have been deleted from the C-terminus, and which also contain amino acid substitutions in the polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing horse interferon-gamma (equine interferon gamma, EqIFN-.gamma., DNA sequences which encode this polypeptide, suitable vectors and host organisms containing these DNA sequences and the EqIFN-.gamma. itself. The invention further relates to partial DNA sequences which encode polypeptides which differ structurally from the natural EqIFN-.gamma. polypeptide. The use of the proteins is also described.

Abstract: A novel retinoic acid receptor is disclosed. The novel receptor is encoded for by cDNA carried on plasmid phRAR1, which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection for patent purposes. Chimeric receptor proteins are also disclosed. The chimera are constructed by exchanging functional domains between the glucocorticoid, the mineralocorticoid, the estrogen-related, the thyroid and the retinoic acid receptors. In addition, a novel method for identifying functional ligands for receptor proteins is disclosed. The method, which takes advantage of the modular structure of the hormone receptors and the idea that the functional domains may be interchangeable, replaces the DNA-binding domain of a putative novel receptor with the DNA-binding domain of a known receptor such as the glucocorticoid receptor. The resulting chimeric construction, when expressed in cells, produces a hybrid receptor whose activation of a ligand-(e.g.

Abstract: A polypeptide isolated from the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider blocks calcium channels in cells of various organisms and is useful in blocking such calcium channels in cells per se, in the treatment of calcium channel-mediated diseases and conditions, and in the control of invertebrate pests.

Abstract: Provided are methods for the production of mixtures of interferon (IFN)-.gamma. polypeptides. The methods employ a single species of IFN-.sub..gamma. DNA having codons for Met-Gln and for residues 2-143 of the mature human IFN-.sub..gamma. amino acid sequence. Expression of such DNA in a suitable recombinant host cell affords a mixture of polypeptides having N-terminal Met-Gln, H-Gln, or H-pyroglutamate residues and C-termini at Arg.sup.139, Ser.sup.142, or Gln.sup.143 of the mature IFN-.sub..gamma. sequence. The polypeptides so produced exhibit the antiviral and antiproliferative activities as well as the acid lability characteristic of native human IFN-.sub..gamma..

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) a human angiotensin II type 1 receptor protein, a recombinant DNA containing a gene which codes for said protein, a transformant carrying said DNA, production of said protein, and anti-angiotensin II substance screening methods using transformants containing said protein.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the isolation of genomic fragments from Drosophila melanogaster encoding tipE protein, which protein is required for expression of functional voltage dependent cation channels. A positional cloning coupled with transformation strategy was used to identify and isolate the tipE gene. A cDNA corresponding to the gene encoding tipE is also provided and characterized. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a functional voltage dependent cation channel. Methods for making and using the cation channel are also provided.

Abstract: An intact human immune interferon protein and a method for the extraction and purification of intact recombinant human immune interferon is disclosed. This method permits the purification to homogeneity of intact recombinant human immune interferon.

Abstract: This invention relates to human IL-3 variants. The human IL-3 variants are used in pharmaceutical compositions, in methods for modulating proliferation, differentiation or functional activation of cells expressing the IL-3 receptor, and in methods of treatment.