Abstract: Novel human and mouse NF2 transcript isoforms and proteins encoded thereby, are disclosed. The isoforms are found in a variety of tissue and tumor types and represent differential processing of genomic DNA sequences, at the level of transcription, resulting in variant proteins. The isoforms provide useful tools for the analysis of the normal function of tumor suppressor factors, such as the merlin protein, and also provide useful markers for the detection of NF2 disease.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid compounds encoding a glycosyltransferase enzyme of Amycolatopsis orientalis. Also provided are vectors carrying genes that encode said enzyme, transformed heterologous host cells for expressing said enzyme, and methods for producing glycopeptide compounds using the cloned genes that encode said enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to serine protease mutants of the chymotrypsin superfamily that are resistant to inhibition by their cognate inhibitors, and genes that encode the same. The present invention also relates to serine protease inhibitor mutants that inhibit the serine protease mutants of the present invention, and genes that encode the same. The serine protease, mutants and serine protease inhibitor mutants are useful as, e.g., pharmacological agents.

Abstract: Producing a xylanase enzyme of superior performance in the bleaching of pulp. More specifically, a modified xylanase of Family 11 that shows improved thermophilicity, alkalophilicity, and thermostability as compared to the natural xylanase. The modified xylanases contain any of three types of modifications: (1) changing amino acids 10, 27, and 29 of Trichoderma reesei xylanase II or the corresponding amino acids of another Family 11 xylanase, where these amino acids are changed to histidine, methionine, and leucine, respectively; (2) substitution of amino acids in the N-terminal region with amino acids from another xylanase enzyme. In a preferred embodiment, substitution of the natural Bacillus circulans or Trichoderma reesei xylanase with a short sequence of amino acids from Thermomonospora fusca xylanase yielded chimeric xylanases with higher thermophilicity and alkalophilicity; (3) an extension upstream of the N-terminus of up to 10 amino acids.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for the biosynthetic production of indigo, the improvement comprising removing unwanted by-products such as isatin or indirubin from the broth in which such indigo is produced. Isatin can be removed by enzymatic activity using an isatin-removing enzyme such as an isatin hydrolase, or by other techniques such as process parameters (elevated temperature, pH), or by contacting the broth containing the isatin with appropriate adsorption compounds/compositions such as carbon or appropriate resins. Since isatin is the precursor of indirubin, the indirubin levels are decreased as a result of isatin removal.

Abstract: A recombinant protein capable of constituting a recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase or a variant thereof, a recombinant oligomeric enzyme, preferably tetrameric enzyme, consisting of the recombinant protein, a DNA molecule encoding the same, an expression vector containing the DNA molecule, a host cell harboring the expression vector, a method of preparing the recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase, and anti-tumor agent comprising the recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase or a variant thereof are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the single-chain thrombomodulin ("TM") and analogs thereof that are not susceptible to cleavage by proteases and retain the biological activity of thrombomodulin, as well as methods of use in, for example, antithrombotic therapy. Novel proteins, nucleic acid gene sequences, pharmaceuticals and methods of inhibiting thrombotic activity are disclosed.

Abstract: A recombinant protein capable of constituting a recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase or a variant thereof, a recombinant oligomeric enzyme, preferably tetrameric enzyme, consisting of the recombinant protein, a DNA molecule encoding the same, an expression vector containing the DNA molecule, a host cell harboring the expression vector, a method of preparing the recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase, and anti-tumor agent comprising the recombinant L-methionine .gamma.-lyase or a variant thereof are provided.

Abstract: An .alpha.-amylase characterized by having a specific activity at least 25% higher than the specific activity of Termamyl.RTM. at a temperature in the range of 25.degree. C. to 55.degree. C. and at a pH value in the range of pH 8 to pH 10.

Abstract: The invention provides a human protein phosphatase (PROPHO) and polynucleotides which identify and encode PROPHO. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of PROPHO.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated human and bovine TNF-.alpha. convertases, nucleic acids and recombinant vectors encoding the same, host cells comprising the nucleic acids and vectors, and methods for making the convertases using the host cells. This invention further provides antibodies and antigen binding fragments thereof which specifically bind to the convertases and are useful for treating medical conditions caused or mediated by TNF-.alpha.. Also provided are screening methods for identifying specific inhibitors of mammalian TNF-.alpha. convertases, and for identifying nucleic acids encoding such convertases.

Abstract: The use of various thrombolytically active proteins in therapy is disclosed. The proteins are markedly superior to wild type t-PA in their pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profiles.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that the rate of reaction of the desulfurization of fossil fuels is enhanced by the addition of an oxidoreductase to the biocatalyst. The invention is drawn to a method for enhancing the rate of desulfurizing a fossil fuel containing organic sulfur compounds, comprising the steps of:a) contacting the fossil fuel with an aqueous phase containing a biocatalyst capable of cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds and a rate-enhancing amount of an oxidoreductase, thereby forming a fossil fuel and aqueous phase mixture;b) maintaining the mixture of step (a) under conditions sufficient for cleavage of the carbon-sulfur bonds of the organic sulfur molecules by the biocatalyst, thereby resulting in a fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content; andc) separating the fossil fuel having a reduced organic sulfur content from the resulting aqueous phase.

Abstract: An amino acid sequence that can specifically introduce a mucin type sugar chain into a protein or peptide chain and a technique of introducing a mucin type sugar chain into protein or peptide by utilizing such a sequence are disclosed. GalNAc moiety of UDP-GalNAc (where UDP represents uridine 5'-diphosphate and GalNAc represents N-acetylgalactosamine) is introduced into the amino acid X(O) in the presence of UDP-GalNAc: polypeptide .alpha.1, O-GalNAc transferase (O-GalNAc T):X(-1)-X(0)-X(1)-X(2)-X(3) (I)where X(-1) and X(2) represent independently any amino acid, X(O) represents T or S and X(1) and X(3) represent independently any amino acid except that at least one of X(1) and X(3) represents P.

Abstract: Novel polypeptides derived from human fibronectin are described which bind to integrin receptors expressed by cells. The receptor binding site of human fibronectin begins at amino acid residue 1394 and ends at residue 1400 of fibronectin. The polypeptides facilitate attachment of cells to substrates either alone or in conjunction with RGD-containing peptides. Vectors, fusion proteins and antibodies are also described. Methods for promoting cell attachment and for inhibiting cell adhesion are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel product and method for isolating ectoparasite saliva proteins, and a novel product and method for detecting and/or treating allergic dermatitis in an animal. The present invention includes a saliva protein collection apparatus capable of collecting ectoparasite saliva proteins substantially free of contaminating material. The present invention also relates to ectoparasite saliva proteins, nucleic acid molecules having sequences that encode such proteins, and antibodies raised against such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins and to use such proteins to identify animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins and their use to treat animals susceptible to or having allergic dermatitis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to I.kappa.B regulating proteins, known as T2K proteins, and related nucleic acids. The proteins may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed T2K encoding nucleic acid or purified from human cells. The invention provides specific hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed T2K gene, T2K-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid compounds encoding the murD stem peptide biosynthetic gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Also provided are vectors and transformed heterologous host cells for expressing the MurD enzyme product and a method for identifying compounds that inhibit stem peptide biosynthesis.

Abstract: In an improved process for the preparation of D-.alpha.-amino acids by the stereoselective conversion of racemic mixtures of 5-substituted hydantoins with an enzymatic system produced by a microorganism, the improvement consists in the fact that a microorganism is used which is transformed with the plasmid pSM700 cultivated at a temperature of between 20.degree. C. and 28.degree. C. The use of this microorganism allows an improvement in the expression of the enzymatic system and an increase in the conversion rate of the racemic hydantoin to D-.alpha.-amino acid.

Abstract: A Pol-II type DNA polymerase wherein an alanine located at the nucleotide binding site is replaced with a hydroxy containing amino acid.