Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively applying a print material onto a substrate for the synthesis of an array of oligonucleotides at selected regions of a substrate. The print material includes a barrier material, a monomer sequence, a nucleoside, a deprotection agent, a carrier material, among other materials. The method and apparatus also relies upon standard DMT based chemistry, and a vapor phase deprotection agent such as solid TCA and the like.

Abstract: The invention features duplicated enhancer domains and enhancer cassettes. The invention also features expression constructs having one or more duplicated enhancer domains and a promoter under the regulation of the duplicated enhancer domains. The expression construct is useful for increasing the expression of any nucleic acid molecule that is operably linked to the expression construct. Accordingly, the invention also features a method for expressing a nucleic acid molecule through the use of an expression construct of the present invention.

Abstract: Unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that incorporate an aza-benzazolium ring moiety are described, including cyanine dyes substituted by a cationic side chain, monomeric and dimeric cyanine dyes, chemically reactive cyanine dyes, and conjugates of cyanine dyes. The subject dyes are virtually non-fluorescent when diluted in aqueous solution, but exhibit bright fluorescence when associated with nucleic acid polymers such as DNA or RNA, or when associated with detergent-complexed proteins. A variety of applications are described for detection and quantitation of nucleic acids and detergent-complexed proteins in a variety of samples, including solutions, electrophoretic gels, cells, and microorganisms.

Abstract: A new human polypeptide, a cDNA encoding the same and a pharmaceutical use of it. The polypeptides of the present invention possess hematopoiesis regulating activity, tissue generation/regeneration activity, activin/inhibin activity, chemotactic/chemokinetic activity, hemostatic and thrombolytic activity, and receptor/ligand activity, therefore, they are expected to be useful for prevention and/or treatment of various diseases.

Abstract: Method and device for cell lysis in which a liquid mixture of bateria or eukaryoptic cells and of a lysing agent is produced continuously, and this mixture is caused to flow immediately in a steady stream inside a tubing (7), the flow rate of this stream being adjusted as a function of the diameter and of the length of the tubing (7) so as to obtain a substantially homegenous cell lysate at the outlet (8) of the said tubing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of diagnosing sepsis in a mammal by contacting a bodily fluid from the mammal with a ligand which binds to an inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor (ITI) polypeptide under conditions sufficient to form an ITI-ligand complex and detecting the complex.

Abstract: The invention includes modified dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) nucleic acids encoding the modified DFR that has altered amino acid sequences at the substrate specificity determining region. The property of the modified DFR is characterized by its ability to reduce dihydrokaempferol (DHK) preferentially over dihydroquercetin (DHQ), and dihydromyricetin (DHM). The invention also includes plants having at least one cell expressing the modified DFR. Such plants are characterized by the increased content of pelargonidin-based pigments. The invention also includes vectors comprising at least a portion of the modified DFR nucleic acids. The invention also includes methods using such vectors for producing plants having the increased content of pelargonidin-based pigments.

Abstract: Disclosed is substantially pure DNA encoding mammalian IAP polypeptides; substantially pure polypeptides; and methods of using such DNA to express the IAP polypeptides in cells and animals to inhibit apoptosis. Also disclosed are conserved regions characteristic of the IAP family and primers and probes for the identification and isolation of additional IAP genes. In addition, methods for treating diseases and disorders involving apoptosis are provided.

Abstract: A rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase is disclosed. Nucleotide sequences of a rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase, amino acid sequences of its encoded protein (including peptide or polypeptide), and derivatives thereof are described. Also described are fragments (and derivatives and analogs thereof) which comprise a domain of rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase with catalytic activity. Methods of production of rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase and derivatives and analogs thereof (e.g. by recombinant means) are provided. Methods of inhibiting the function of rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase (e.g. by means of antisense RNA) are provided. Methods of commercial scale use of the rat ganglioside GM1-specific &agr;1→2fucosyltransferase in the production of fucosyl-saccharide compositions are described. Applications of these compositions, e.g.

Abstract: The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes on bacterial and viral proteins, as well as the use of said peptides in diagnostic or immunogenic compositions. The invention relates to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies, wherein the peptides used are biotinylated, particularly in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated peptides or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for islet cell expansion, which comprises the steps of: a) preparing dedifferentiated cells derived from cells in or associated with post-natal islets of Langerhans; b) expanding the dedifferentiated cells; and c) inducing islet cell differentiation the expanded cells of step b) to become insulin-producing cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly efficient, high-throughput method for the identification and elimination of redundancy in a population of nucleic acid molecules using microarrays. This method involves a reiterative subtraction protocol that creates a library that becomes more biased toward unknown genes with each successive round. The removal of repetitive and previously characterized nucleic acids from the library allows the identification of low-abundance mRNA from sources of interest and enhances the rate of novel gene discovery. The present invention is also useful for the removal of contaminating nucleic acids from cloning libraries.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of isolation of related polynucleotides harboring nucleic acid difference within a polynucleotide sample. The method will be useful in detecting and identifying alternative splicing events and corresponding splicing isoforms and to detect genomic DNA differences between genomes. The method according to the present invention is based on the use of a single-stranded trap. The single-stranded trap preferably involves the use of single-strand binding protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic mammals characterized by 5-HT3 receptor over-expression in the central nervous system (CNS). The mammals have particular utility as models for studying the role of 5-HT3 receptors in the CNS, especially for the study of reward pathways for alcohol and other substances of abuse.

Abstract: Gene therapy can treat obesity in mammals. An obesity regulating gene is delivered to a mammal. Preferably, the gene encodes leptin or a leptin receptor. The protein which is delivered and expressed in vivo is more effective than protein which is injected into the animal.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetic sequences encoding polyphenol oxidase enzymes of lettuce, banana, tobacco and pineapple plants, and recombinant vectors comprising same, and methods of identifying related sequences using said nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides methods of modifying PPO expression in plants using the inventive nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and kits for the simultaneous detection of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus in biological samples from human subjects.

Abstract: A method for efficiently searching novel physiologically active substances under a certain predictability. This searching method comprises, among receptors of cells producing an antagonist to a substance in vivo or receptors of cells producing an antagonist to the cells per se, finding a receptor having amino acid sequences of two or more sizes by comparing the cDNA sequences of the receptor, and then examining which region in the longer receptor is missed in the shorter receptor by comparing the above cDNA sequences. By using this method, remedies for diabetes comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 or 5, insulin production regulators comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:2, and gastric secretion inhibitors comprising a peptide having the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 or 4 are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cloned genes which code for uncoupling proteins controlling thermogenesis in human skeletal muscle and heart. A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the said genes for correcting dysfunctions of thermogenesis in human skeletal muscle and heart. The present invention makes it possible to exploit novel therapeutic (or preventive) methods for disorders such as obesity or cachexia. As a result of the identification and isolation of the genes coding for UCP3L and UCP3S, it is, in effect, possible to develop medicaments which act on the basis of a correction, by gene therapy or by antisense oligonucleotides relating to the sequence of the gene in question or to one of its fragments, of a lack or an excess of UCP3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of monitoring, via polymerase chain reaction, the clinical progression of human immunodeficiency virus infection and its response to antiretroviral therapy. According to the invention, polymerase chain reaction assays may be used to predict immunological decline and to identify, at an early stage, patients whose infection has become resistant to a particular antiretroviral drug regimen.