Abstract: The N-degron is an intracellular degradation signal whose essential determinant is a specific, destabilizing, N-terminal amino acid residue. A set of N-degrons containing different destabilizing residues is manifested as the N-end rule, which relates the in vivo half-life of a protein to the identity of its N-terminal amino acid residue. Disclosed herein is a heat-inducible N-degron module. A heat-inducible N-degron module is a protein or peptide bearing a destabilizing N-terminal amino acid residue which becomes a substrate of the N-end rule pathway only at a temperature high enough to result in at least partial unfolding of the protein. At this elevated (nonpermissive) temperature, the heat-inducible N-degron module (and any protein or peptide attached at its C-terminus) is rapidly degraded in a cell in which the N-end rule pathway is operative.

Abstract: The gene encoding Acidothermus cellulolyticus E1 endoglucanase is cloned and expressed in heterologous microorganisms. A new modified E1 endoglucanase enzyme is produced along with variants of the gene and enzyme. The E1 endoglucanase is useful for hydrolyzing cellulose to sugars for simultaneous or later fermentation into alcohol.

Abstract: Isolated CHF, isolated DNA encoding CHF, and recombinant or synthetic methods of preparing CHF are disclosed. These CHF molecules are shown to influence hypertrophic activity and neurological activity. Accordingly, these compounds or their antagonists may be used for treatment of heart failure, arrhythmic disorders, inotropic disorders, and neurological disorders.

Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding the novel G protein-coupled receptor kinase designated GRK6. Also provided by the invention are methods and materials for the recombinant production of GRK6 enzyme and methods for identifying compounds which modulate the protein kinase activity of GRK6.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant DNA technology for the production of an enzyme having sulfhydryl oxidase ("SOX") activity. This SOX-enzyme can be used where the oxidation of free sulfhydryl groups (thio compounds) to the corresponding disulfides is desirable. SOX enzyme may be used for treatment of bakery products or for removal of off-flavour from milk or beer.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing thrombin. The protein is produced from host cells transformed or transfected with DNA construct(s) containing information necessary to direct the expression of thrombin precursors. The DNA constructs generally include the following operably linked elements: a transcriptional promoter, DNA sequence encoding a gla-domainless prothrombin, and a transcriptional terminator. Thrombin precursors produced from transformed or transfected host cells are activated either in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: Provide herein is a substantially pure gingipain-1 preparation, gingipain-1 being characterized as having an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa as estimated by gel filtration chromatography, said gingipain-1 having amidolytic and proteolytic activity for cleavage after arginine residues and having no amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity for cleavage after lysine residues, wherein the amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity is inhibited by cysteine protease group-specific inhibitors including iodoacetamide, iodoacetic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, leupeptin, antipain, trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane, TLCK, TPCK, p-aminobenzamidine, N-chlorosuccinamide, and chelating agents including EDTA and EGTA, wherein the amidolytic and/or proteolytic activity of said gingipain-1 is not sensitive to inhibition by human cystatin C, .alpha.2-macroglobulin, .alpha.

Abstract: A microbial food additive for human consumption or as animal feed comprises at least one isolated strain of Sporolactobacillus selected from the group consisting of Sporolactobacillus inulinus and Sporolactobacillus P44. An isolated strain of Sporolactobacillus having Collection Nationale de Culture de Microorganisms of Institute Pasteur Deposit No. I-1089 is described. Supplemented foodstuffs, both animal feed and for human consumption, contain these microbial food additives.

Abstract: Novel plant proteins (SAFPs) which synergize the activity of antifungal antibiotics are identified. SAFPs are demonstrated to synergize antifungal antibiotics, such as nikkomycins, polyoxins and amphotericins. SAFPs alone also display antifungal activity against several species of fungi, including strains of Candida, Trichoderma, Neurospora and strains of the plant pathogens Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Chaetomium. Synergistic antifungal compositions containing SAFP and antifungal antibiotics are provided. In particular, synergistic compositions of corn-SAFP (zeamatin), sorghum-SAFP (sormatin) or oat-SAFP (avematin) and nikkomycin are found to be effective as antifungal compositions, especially against the opportunistic human pathogen Candida albicans. Method for employing SAFPs and synergistic compositions containing them for the inhibition of fungi are provided. In addition, a method for purifying SAFP from grain meal is provided.

Abstract: A recombinantly derived biopesticide active against Diptera includes cyanobacteria transformed with a plasmid containing a B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis dipteracidal protein translationally fused to a strong, highly active native cyanobacterial regulatory gene sequence.

Abstract: Genes coding for poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate were removed from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 and cloned into Escherichia coli. Some of the clones produced PHB to 90% of the cell weight.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing a protein which has substantially the same biological activity as human protein C or human activated protein C. The protein is produced by mammalian host cells transfected with a plasmid capable of integration in mammalian host cell DNA. The plasmid includes a promoter followed downstream by a nucleotide sequence which encodes a protein having substantially the same structure and/or activity as human protein C or human activated protein C the nucleotide sequence being followed downstream by a polyadenylation signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for converting a pathologic hyperproliferative human cell to its non-malignant phenotype. The method comprises introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity and growing the cell under conditions such that the polypeptide is produced. This invention also relates to a method of converting a population of pathologic hyperproliferative cells in a subject to a non-hyperproliferative state by expressing, in some but not all of the hyperproliferative cells, an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having adenovirus E1A activity. In a further aspect, the invention relates to promoting differentiation of pathologically hyperproliferative cells.

Abstract: A process is described for moving fragments that code for cellulase activity from the genome of A. cellulolyticus to several plasmid vectors and the subsequent expression of active cellulase acitivty in E. coli.

Abstract: Flavine nucleotides, which are useful as ingredients of nutrient compositions, raw materials for various pharmaceutical products, biochemical research reagents and so on, are produced from flavine nucleotide precursors and ATP by utilizing cells or a culture of a microorganism which belongs to the genus Escherichia, Enterobactor or Pseudomonas and harbors a recombinant DNA comprising a vector DNA and a DNA fragment carrying the genetic information relevant to the synthesis of FMN and/or FAD, or treated cells or a treated culture of the microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides chimeric proteins containing extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD4 and protein tyrosine kinases of the src family. Also provided are DNA molecules encoding the proteins of the present invention and cells containing such DNA molecules. The proteins and cells of the present invention may be employed in methods for identifying drugs that block T cell activation and for identifying low level self-antigens.

Abstract: There is disclosed a human macrophage inflammatory protein-3 (MIP-3) and a human macrophage inflammatory protein-4 (MIP-4) polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides. There is also provided a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and for producing antibodies against such polypeptides. In the invention there is also provided antagonist/inhibitors against such polypeptides which inhibit the functioning of such polypeptides. Another aspect of the invention provides a combination of the polypeptides of the present invention and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier for providing a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptides for the treatment of various associated diseases.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns novel peptides which have the property of interfering with the biosynthesis of the enzyme trypsin and the biosynthesis of the hormone ecdysone. This property enables the use of these peptides to, for example, inhibit the formation of progeny in blood-ingesting insects, e.g., Neobellieria, since trypsin is an essential enzyme for food digestion which provides the essential building blocks for egg development in such insects.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing thrombin. The protein is produced from host cells transformed or transfected with DNA construct(s) containing information necessary to direct the expression of thrombin precursors. The DNA constructs generally include the following operably linked elements: a transcriptional promoter, DNA sequence encoding a gla-domainless prothrombin, and a transcriptional terminator. Thrombin precursors produced from transformed or transfected host cells are activated either in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: This invention provides a bacterium having an S-layer modified such that the bacterium S-layer protein gene contains one or more in-frame sequences coding for one or more heterologous polypeptides and, the S-layer is a fusion product of the S-layer protein and the heterologous polypeptide. The bacterium is preferably a Caulobacter which may be cultured as a film in a bioreactor or may be used to present an antigenic epitope to the environment of the bacterium. This invention also provides a method of expressing and presenting to the environment of a Caulobacter, a polypeptide that is heterologous to the S-layer of Caulobacter which comprises cloning a coding sequence for the polypeptide in-frame into an S-layer protein gene of Caulobacter whereby the polypeptide is expressed and presented on the surface of the Caulobacter as a fusion product of the S-layer protein and the polypeptide in the S-layer of the Caulobacter.