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: Recombinational cloning is provided by the use of nucleic acids, vectors and methods, in vitro and in vivo, for moving or exchanging segments of DNA molecules using engineered recombination sites and recombination proteins to provide chimeric DNA molecules that have the desired characteristic(s) and/or DNA segment(s).

Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of CD44. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding CD44. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of CD44 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of CD44 are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compositions that show potent antiviral activity against both DNA and RNA viruses. In particular, the present invention provides oligo- and polyribonucleotides with potent antiviral activity against HIV and HCMV. These compositions are thought to operate in a novel fashion at an early stage of viral infection, meeting the need for alternatives or synergistic therapies to the toxic treatments currently available. The present invention also discloses methods for synthesizing oligo- and polyribonucleotides showing antiviral activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting and modulating levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) proteins, including human ICAM-1.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for synthesis, and therapeutic use of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and analogs. RNA oligonucleotides arc synthesized using a small, circular DNA template which lacks an RNA polymerase promoter sequence. The RNA synthesis is performed by combining a circular single-stranded oligonucleotide template with an effective RNA polymerase and at least two types of ribonucleotide triphosphate to form an RNA oligonucleotide multimer comprising multiple copies of the desired RNA oligonucleotide sequence. Preferably, the RNA oligonucleotide multimer is cleaved to produce RNA oligonucleotides having well-defined ends. Preferred RNA oligonucleotide multimers contain ribozymes capable of both cis (autolytic) and trans cleavage.

Abstract: A novel kinase has been identified which phosphorylates I.kappa.B. Reagents which inhibit this kinase can be used as therapeutic tools to inhibit inflammation. The kinase can also be used as a target for drug screening to identify anti-inflammatory compounds.

Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Ship-2. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Ship-2. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Ship-2 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Ship-2 are provided.

Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of microtubule-associated protein 4. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding microtubule-associated protein 4. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of microtubule-associated protein 4 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of microtubule-associated protein 4 are provided.

Abstract: A novel human GTPase polypeptide intracellular molecular switch is described. A full length cDNA which encodes the signal transduction polypeptide is disclosed as well as the interior structural region and the amino acid residue sequence of the human GTPase. Methods are provided to identify compounds that modulate the biological activity of the native signal switch biomolecule and hence regulate cellular and tissue physiology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating disease-associated cellular proliferation using oligonucleotides. In particular, it relates to the use of oligonulceotides which are substantially complementary to interleukin-6 receptor mRNA sequences. In the form of pharmaceutical compositions, these oligonucleotides are suitable for administration to human subjects for the treatment of abnormal cellular proliferation due to such diseases as cancer, autoimmune disorders and viral infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the extraction of recombinant periplasmic proteins wherein arginine is used as the extraction agent. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the extraction of a periplasmic protein of interest, which essentially consists in:(i) suspending the pellet of cells or of cell debris from cells, which cells originate from the culture of a prokaryotic microorganism transformed with an expression vector containing a gene coding for the said protein and means for its expression in the periplasm of the said microorganism, in a buffer solution containing arginine; and(ii) recovering the protein of interest in the supernatant of the bacterial suspension thereby obtained.

Abstract: Antisense constructs ditrected against viral cis-acting post-transcriptional regulatory sequences ("PREs") are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antisense construct is an expression plasmid encoding one or more antisense transcripts which hybridize under intracellular conditions to all or a portion of a viral PRE within a viral transcript, the PRE having the function of directing export of the viral transcript from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of a cell. The antisense constructs can be used to inhibit viral production, such as HBV production.

Abstract: Compositions for enhancing the production of toxic polypeptides in prokaryotic hosts comprise a coding nucleic acid and a bacteriophage nucleic acid. The coding nucleic acid encodes a promoter operably linked to a gene encoding a selected toxic protein. The bacteriophage nucleic acid contains at least one gene from the early region of a T7-like bacteriophage other than an RNA polymerase. When both the coding nucleic acid and the bacteriophage nucleic acid are used to transform or transfect a prokaryotic host, the production of the toxic polypeptide is greater than the level of production of the same toxic polypeptide when the same host is transformed only with the coding nucleic acid.

Abstract: The inhibition of proteins synthesis by an antisense RNA-tRNA complex which is capable of inhibiting translation is described. Under certain conditions, growth of organisms is inhibited by inhibition of non-specific translation by an antisense RNA construct to a tRNA target. In vitro, cell-free inhibition of viral protein translation is described. Transformed microorganisms are disclosed. The invention has applicability in the control of cell growth, such as viruses, bacteria, infected cells, or tumor cells. The invention is useful in animal and plant fields.

Abstract: An enveloped vector particle contains gag and pol proteins from a retrovirus, a nucleic acid sequence and an envelope that includes VSV G envelope glycoprotein. The vector particle can be used to introduce nucleic acids into cells.

Abstract: A novel cell cycle regulatory gene called 5'ALT is disclosed. Methods for determining mutations or polymorphisms in 5'ALT or 5'ALT regulated genes in tissues are also provided. Novel 5'ALT-p16 and 5'ALT-p15 transcripts and truncated expression products are also described.

Abstract: A novel expression system using the heat-inducible bovine hsp70A promoter and associated cis-acting elements is disclosed. The system provides for the continuous production of a highly pure, authentic protein, substantially free of infectious viral and cellular protein contaminants.

Abstract: This invention relates to delivery of biologically active cargo molecules, such as polypeptides and nucleic acids, into the cytoplasm and nuclei of cells in vitro and in vivo. Intracellular delivery of cargo molecules according to this invention is accomplished by the use of novel transport polypeptides which comprise HIV tat protein or one or more portions thereof, and which are covalently attached to cargo molecules. The transport polypeptides in preferred embodiments of this invention are characterized by the presence of the tat basic region (amino acids 49-57), the absence of the tat cysteine-rich region (amino acids 22-36) and the absence of the tat exon 2-encoded carboxy-terminal domain (amino acids 73-86) of the naturally-occurring tat protein. By virtue of the absence of the cysteine-rich region, the preferred transport polypeptides of this invention solve the potential problems of spurious trans-activation and disulfide aggregation.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding human plasma platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase. Also provided are materials and methods for the recombinant production of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase products which are expected to be useful in regulating pathological inflammatory events.