Abstract: By this invention, compositions and methods of use of plant desaturase enzymes, especially ?-9 desaturases, are provided. Of special interest are methods and compositions of amino acids and nucleic acid sequences related to biologically active plant desaturases as well as sequences, especially nucleic acid sequences, which are to be used as probes, vectors for transformation or cloning intermediates. Biologically active sequences may be found in a sense or anti-sense orientation as to transcriptional regulatory regions found in various constructs.

Abstract: The invention provides methods to activate tumor suppressors. The invention further provides antisense oligonucleotides complementary to a portion of the MDM2-encoding RNA and methods for using such antisense oligonucleotides as analytical and diagnostic tools, as potentiators of transgenic animal studies and for gene therapy approaches, and as potential therapeutic agents. The invention also provides methods to augment and synergistically activate a tumor suppressor in conjunction with the use of a DNA-damage inducing agent. The invention further provides in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a recently identified anti-human-MDM2 antisense oligonucleotide in the treatment of human colorectal cancers.

Abstract: Transgenic mice which constitutively express an antibody-type molecule encoded by the transgene and which has an IgE heavy chain constant region and is specific for a pre-defined antigen, provide an allergic reaction to that antigen without prior sensitization and are useful as allergy models.

Abstract: Methods for treating symptoms of respiratory distress not associated with aberrant mucous accumulation in a patient, are presented. Methods comprise administering an effective amount of DNA to a subject in a manner so as not to effect gene transfer.

Abstract: Method for one-pot deprotection of RNA molecules.

Abstract: A method to inhibit translation of an mRNA, which is intitiated at an internal ribosome entry site of the mRNA and requires binding of a protein factor to that site, is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing, in an in vitro, or in vivo system that is capable of translating the mNRA, an inhibitory effective amount of a molecule that selectively binds to the protein factor, thereby preventing that factor from binding to the mNRA. The inhibitor molecule is an RNA oligonucleotide consisting of less than 35 nucleotides or a structural mimic of such an RNA oligonucleotide.

Abstract: This invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that target mRNAs in cells as substrates for the cellular enzyme RNase H and thereby cause specific degradation of the targeted mRNA. The oligonucleotides have three components: a RNase H activating region, a complementarity region and 3' and 5' ends. The invention optimizes each of the components to resist intracellular nucleases, to increase hybridization to target mRNA, to specifically inactivate target mRNA in cells, and to decrease cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of integrin .alpha.4. Antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding integrin .alpha.4 are preferred. Methods of using these compounds for modulating integrin .alpha.4 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of integrin .alpha.4 are also provided.

Abstract: The invention includes mammalian multipotent neural stem cells and their progeny and methods for the isolation and clonal propagation of such cells. At the clonal level the stem cells are capable of self regeneration and asymmetrical division. Lineage restriction is demonstrated within developing clones which are sensitive to the local environment. The invention also includes such cells which are transfected with foreign nucleic acid, e.g., to produce an immortalized neural stem cell. The invention further includes transplantation assays which allow for the identification of mammalian multipotent neural stem cells from various tissues and methods for transplanting mammalian neural stem cells and/or neural or glial progenitors into mammals. A novel method for detecting antibodies to neural cell surface markers is disclosed as well as a monoclonal antibody to mouse LNGFR.

Abstract: A synthetic antifreeze peptide and a synthetic gene coding for the antifreeze peptide have been produced. The antifreeze peptide has a greater number of repeating amino acid sequences than is present in the native antifreeze peptides from winter flounder upon which the synthetic antifreeze peptide was modeled. Each repeating amino acid sequence has two polar amino acid residues which are spaced a controlled distance apart so that the antifreeze peptide may inhibit ice formation. The synthetic gene has been expressed in E. coli. A synthetic insert fragment has been prepared which can be readily inserted into the synthetic gene to alter the number of repeating units and/or amino acid composition in the antifreeze peptide produced.

Abstract: Oligonucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequence US-3 ?GGT GCT CAC TGC GGC (SEQ ID NO:2)! or UT-1 ?TGC GGC TCC GGC CCC (SEQ ID NO:5)!. The oligonucleotides are useful as antisense oligonucleotides for inhibiting the expression of the ERBB2 tyrosine kinase receptor in a cell, in vitro or in vivo.

Abstract: Cytosolic extracts from a human lymphoblastoid B cell line, RPMI 8392, established from a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia, contain two major forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE): Ca.sup.2+ --calmodulin dependent PDE (PDE1) and cAMP specific PDE4 subtypes. In contrast, normal quiescent human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) are devoid of PDE1 activity. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the mRNA encoding the 63 kDa form of PDE1 (PDE1B1) is expressed in RPMI 8392 cells, but not in normal, resting HPBL. This mRNA is, however, induced in HPBL following mitogenic stimulation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Also using RT-PCR, the full open reading frame for human PDE1B1 cDNA was cloned from RPMI 8392 cells and it encodes a protein of 536 amino acids with 96% identity to bovine, rat and mouse species. RT-PCR also identifies the presence of PDE1B1 in other human lymphoblastoid and leukemic cell lines.

Abstract: A DNA sequence of high biotin operon-expression system usable for breeding a bacterium having excellent biotin productivity is provided.A DNA sequence of biotin operon characterized in the fact that at least one base pair of either a nucleotide sequence of the regulatory region of the biotin operon of Escherichia coli or a nucleotide sequence in the vicinity of the bioB initiating codon is mutated in comparison with that of the one in its wild type strain is provided. Escherichia coli transformed with a recombinant plasmid carrying such a DNA sequence has high biotin-productivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for increasing the level of preselected amino acids in seeds of plants, thereby enhancing the nutritional value of the seeds, by genetic modification. The present invention is particularly useful in increasing the methionine, lysine, and/or cysteine content in seeds of plants. Also provided, are isolated endogenous DNA molecules which encode soybean albumins. The present invention also provides an antibody which is capable of specifically binding to soybean albumins. The present invention further provides methods for isolating and purifying 2S albumins.

Abstract: The invention provides two new WD-40 proteins (WDPro) and polynucleotides which identify and encode WDPro. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of WDPro.

Abstract: An objective of this invention is to clarify the sequence of the 3'-end site of HCV genome and to provide a new process for detecting HCV.A new sequence with a highly conserved 3'-end site of the HCV genome has been found. Using the said sequences, new process for detecting HCV, a process for inhibiting proliferation of HCV, etc. have been provided.

Abstract: A preventive or therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease which comprises a substance exhibiting an inhibitory action to tau-protein kinase I as an effective component is provided. A pharmaceutical composition comprising said agent and a method of inhibiting neuronal cell death in the brain are also provided.

Abstract: A method evaluating the tumor promoter agonist or antagonist activity or the PKC activator or inhibitor activity of a compound. The method includes supplying a yeast cell expressing a PKC , contacting the yeast cell with a compound to be evaluated; and determining the value of a parameter related to tumor promoter agonist or antagonist or PKC activator or inhibitor activity in the cell, the effect of compound on the value of the parameter being indicative of the tumor promtoer or PKC activator or inhibitor activity of the compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA sequences that code for the amino acid sequence of the thrombin inhibitor hirudin, hybrid vectors containing such DNA sequences, host cells transformed with such hybrid vectors, novel polypeptides with thrombin-inhibiting activity produced from such transformed host cells, processes for the manufacture of these DNA sequences, hybrid vectors and transformed host cells, and processes for the manufacture of these thrombin-inhibitors using the transformed host cells. The hirudin compounds that can be produced according to the invention have valuable pharmacological properties.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a synthetic non-naturally occurring oligonucleotide compound which comprises nucleotides whose sequence defines a conserved catalytic region and nucleotides whose sequence is capable of hybridizing with a predetermined target sequence within a packaging sequence of an RNA virus. Preferably, the viral packaging sequence is a retrovirus packaging sequence or the HIV-1 Psi packaging sequence. The RNA virus may be HIV-1, Feline Leukemia Virus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or one of the viruses listed in Table I. The conserved catalytic region may be derived from a hammerhead ribozyme, a hairpin ribozyme, a hepatitis delta ribozyme, an RNAase P ribozyme, a group I intron, a group II intron.