Abstract: The present invention discloses a heat-resistant geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase originating in Thermus thermophilus, along with its production process and its method of use.

Abstract: The catalytic active site of Factor VII is modified to produce a compound which effectively interrupts the blood coagulation cascade. The modifications render Factor VIIa substantially unable to activate plasma Factors X or IX. Pharmaceutical compositions of the modified Factor VII are used to treat a variety of coagulation-related disorders.

Abstract: A glycoprotein, PECAM-1, and variants thereof can be obtained by expression in a transformed host cell of a polynucleotide coding for the glycoprotein or a variant polypeptide. PECAM-1 can also be isolated from cellular sources. An antibody specific for PECAM-1 or a PECAM variant can be produced via recombinant techniques, or can be obtained from a hybridoma.

Abstract: Hydrophillic compositions and methods of use are provided for debriding and wound healing applications. The compositions contain certain proteases produced by microorganisms of the genus Vibrio.

Abstract: The catalytic active site of Factor VII is modified to produce a compound which effectively interrupts the blood coagulation cascade. The modifications render Factor VIIa substantially unable to activate plasma Factors X or IX. The invention relates to novel methods of treatment and uses of modified Factor VII for preventing or treating myocardial injury associated with post-ischemic reperfusion, for improving regional myocardial blood flow during reperfusion, and maintaining or improving vascular patency in a patient, as well as topical application of modified Factor VII at vascular sites susceptible to thrombus formation.

Abstract: Neurotransmission by excitatory amino acids (EAAs) such as glutamate is mediated via membrane-bound surface receptors. DNA coding for one family of these receptors, of the kainate binding type of EAA receptors, has now been isolated and the receptor protein characterized. Herein described are recombinant cell lines which produce the EAA receptor as a heterologous membrane-bound product. Also described are related aspects of the invention, which are of commercial significance. Included is use of the cell lines as a tool for discovery of compounds which modulate EAA receptor simulation.

Abstract: Novel polypeptide compositions based on the amino acid sequence of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are provided having improved properties over natural tissue plasminogen activator. Particularly, enhanced specific activity, reduced response to inhibition by plasminogen activator inhibitor, fibrin stimulation of plasminogenolytic activity and/or enhanced affinity to fibrin surfaces are provided by modifying one or more loci by deletions or substitutions. One or both of the N- or C-termini may be modified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of human tryptase, to their isolation from leeches, to nucleotide sequences encoding the novel inhibtor molecules or fragments thereof, to vectors containing the coding sequence thereof, to host cells transformed with such vectors, to the recombinant production of the inibitors, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the novel inhibitor molecules, and to their use in diagnosis and therapy.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of an analyte which is a specific binding pair member in a sample suspected of containing the analyte is described. The method involves: bringing together in an aqueous medium, the sample, an enzyme bound to a first specific binding pair member and an inhibitor for the enzyme bound to a second specific binding pair member wherein each specific binding pair member is capable of binding to the analyte or to a specific binding pair member complementary to the analyte; analyzing the medium for the activity of said enzyme; and relating the activity to the amount of analyte present in the medium. Compositions of matter and kits are also described.

Abstract: Recombinant Factor VIII expression in a mammalian cell culture can be increased by including a novel liposome-like substance in the culture medium. The liposome-like substance comprises at least two (preferably at least three) different lipids in defined molar ratios. In a preferred embodiment, the addition of a liposome-like substance comprised of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine in a molar ratio of 4:1:1 to the culture medium of GS-MDR cells resulted in an increase in FVIII production by a factor greater than five.

Abstract: A method for screening compounds for antimicrobial activity is described that utilizes bacterial protein-protein binding in vitro. The method may be performed using immobilized elements and the immobilization may be carried out using a variety of immobilization means (e.g., columns, beads, adsorbents, nitrocellulose paper, etc.) in order to screen large libraries of compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptide of the amino acid sequence of formula (I):82 85 90 Glu Thr His Lys Asp Asp Gln Leu Ile 95 100 Cys Val Asn Glu Asn Gly Gly Cys Glu Gln 105 110 Tyr Cys Ser Asp His Thr Gly Thr Lys Arg 115 120 Ser Cys Arg Cys His Glu Gly Tyr Ser Leu 125 128 Leu Ala Asp Gly Val Ser Cys Thr (SEQ ID NO. 1)and functional equivalents thereof in which amino acids in the above stated sequence are modified or absent and wherein at least one of the cysteine residues may be blocked or replaced and wherein any cysteine residues which remain unblocked or unreplaced may be present in a disulphide bonded state. The invention also includes slats and derivatives of said peptides. The peptides and their salts and derivatives are useful in the treatment of blood clotting disorders.

Abstract: An isolated nucleic acid constructs encoding cellulytic enzymes derived from a strain of Bacillus agaradherens, recombinant vectors and host cells comprising such constructs, and methods for obtaining cellulytic enzymes.

Abstract: Fragments of an endothelial cell proliferation inhibitor and method of use therefor are provided. The endothelial proliferation inhibitor is a protein derived from plasminogen, or more specifically is an angiostatin fragment. The angiostatin fragments generally correspond to kringle structures occurring within the endothelial cell proliferation inhibitor. The endothelial cell inhibiting activity of these fragments provides a means for inhibiting angiogenesis of tumors and for treating angiogenic-mediated disease.

Abstract: Trypsin (trypsinogen) may be produced in a filamentous fungus by transforming a filamentous fungus with a vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding protrypsin or a derivative thereof N-terminally fused to a DNA sequence encoding a signal peptide, culturing the transformed filamentous fungus in a suitable culture medium to produce trypsinogen and recovering trypsinogen and/or trypsin from the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates xylose isomerases obtainable from strains of Thermotoga. More specifically the invention provides DNA sequences encoding xylose isomerases, expression vectors and host cells comprising the DNA sequences of the invention, and methods of producing xylose isomerases. The invention also provides isolated xylose isomerases free from homologous impurities and obtained by the method of the invention.

Abstract: Biotinylation peptides can be fused to other peptides or proteins of interest using recombinant DNA techniques to provide efficient methods for biotinylating the resulting fusion proteins in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: Plasmin precursors are modified so that they exhibit resistance to inhibitors of plasmin. These modified plasmin precursors have fibrinolytic, thrombolytic or antithrombotic properties, which are useful in the treatment of blood clotting diseases or conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel human PDE8 polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, expression constructs comprising the polynucleotides, host cells transformed with the expression constructs; methods for producing PDE8 polypeptides; antisense polynucleotides; and antibodies specifically immunoreactive with the PDE8 polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides signal peptide-containing proteins collectively designated SP, and polynucleotides which identify and encode these molecules. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention further provides methods for diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders associated with expression of signal peptide-containing proteins.