Abstract: Small, buffer soluble polypeptides having amino acid structures corresponding to residues 234-486, 310-486, and 407-486, of thrombomodulin and functionally equivalent analogs thereof inhibiting the clotting activity of thrombin and increasing protein C activation. The polypeptides can be coated onto the surface of articles adapted for contacting mammalian blood to render the surface non-thrombogenic. In pharmaceutical compositions, the polypeptides act as a natural anticoagulant.

Abstract: Purified BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: The phosphorylated structural protein of molecular weight about 150 kd (pp 150) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is highly immunogenic and is reliably recognised by human antisera. This protein can, after assignment and sequencing of the gene, be prepared, in whole or in immunogenic sections, by gene manipulation. Proteins of this type are suitable as reagents, for example in an ELISA, and as constituents of vaccines.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for the treatment of HIV infections through the specific elimination of cells which express HIV env determinants such as gp120. The compositions of the invention include toxin conjugates composed of a CD4 derived gp120 binding ligand conjugated to a toxin A chain moiety such as ricin A chain or deglycosylated ricin A chain. Where a therapeutic composition is desired, the conjugates are formed by means of a cross linker which includes a disulfide bond. Disulfide linkages are not crucial where non-therapeutic uses, such as antibody generation, is intended. In preferred aspects of the invention, conjugates incorporating shorter CD4 peptides, such as those incorporating amino acids 41-57 or 41-84 of CD4, are disclosed.

Abstract: DNA encoding a novel human .beta..sub.2 integrin .alpha. subunit polypeptide, designated .alpha..sub.d, is disclosed along with methods and materials for production of the same by recombinant procedures. Fusion proteins are also disclosed which include extracellular .alpha..sub.d protein fragments, .alpha..sub.d I domain fragments or full length .alpha..sub.d polypeptides and human immunoglobulin constant regions. Binding molecules specific for .alpha..sub.d are also disclosed as useful for modulating the biological activities of .alpha..sub.d. DNA from other species which show homology to human .alpha..sub.d encoding sequences are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an isolated polypeptide and derivatives thereof having protease biological activity for human precursor IL-1.beta. and for a substrate comprising:R.sub.1 -Asp-R.sub.2 -R.sub.3wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 are independently any D or L isomer amino acid, R.sub.2 is Ala or Gly, and wherein the specific protease cleavage site is between Asp and R.sub.2. Inhibitor compounds, compositions and methods for inhibiting Interleukin 1.beta. protease activity are also disclosed. The inhibitor compounds comprise an amino acid sequence of from 1 to about 5 amino acids having an N-terminal blocking group and a C-terminal Asp residue connected to an electronegative leaving group, wherein the amino acid sequence corresponds to the sequence Ala-Tyr-Val-His-Asp.

Abstract: The present invention provides the sequence of the novel bone-related protein OSF-2 which can be obtained from mammalian bone tissues. The invention further provides a method of production of OSF-2 by recombinant techniques.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed the amino acid sequence and nucleotide sequence of the .alpha.- and .beta.-subunits of two types of nitrile hydratase derived from Rhodococcus rhodochrous J-1. The DNA fragment encoding nitrile hydratase is inserted into an expression vector and the recombinant vector is used for transformation. The transformant contains multiple copies of the gene and can produce much higher level of nitrile hydratase compared with conventionally used microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides fibronectin self-assembly sites. The invention provides a set of polypeptides derived from the first type III repeat of fibronectin which contain a fibronectin-fibronectin binding site. These polypeptides have been used to obtain a second set of polypeptides derived from the C-terminal type I repeats which contain a second fibronectin-fibronectin binding site which interacts with the first type III repeat of fibronectin. These polypeptides are capable of inhibiting fibronectin matrix assembly by interfering with fibronectin-fibronectin binding. These polypeptides are also capable of enhancing fibronectin matrix assembly and inducing disulfide cross-linking of fibronectin molecules in vitro. In addition, these polypeptides are capable of inhibiting migration of tumor cells. The polypeptides of the present invention have a number of related uses as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing heterologous heme proteins extracellularly comprising transforming a filamentous fungus with a vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding the heterologous heme protein and a DNA sequence encoding a preregion permitting secretion of the expressed heme protein, and culturing the transformed filamentous fungus in a suitable culture medium to produce the heme protein.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of albumin which has extremely low levels of or is essentially free of colorants, metal ions, human proteins, fragments of albumin, polymers or aggregates of albumin, and viruses, and which is relatively non-glycated, relatively high in free thiol and with an intact C-terminus. The process comprises passing albumin (preferably expressed and secreted by transformed yeast) through two chromatography purifications, ultrafiltering the product, passing through two further chromatography steps and again ultrafiltering the product.

Abstract: A new substrate of epidermal growth factor receptor and certain other tyrosine kinase receptors denominated eps15, polynucleotides encoding epsl5, antisense eps15 polynucleotide, triple helix eps15 polynucleotide, antibodies to eps15, and assays for determining eps15.

Abstract: An almond N-glycosidase gene and genes associated therewith are described. Vectors integrated such genes therein, recombinant microorganisms transformed with said vectors, and a process for preparing the almond N-glycosidase using said recombinant microorganisms are also described.

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 highly thermostable polypeptide possessing protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) activity, a gene coding for the polypeptide and a process for producing the polyeptide are provided. The polypeptide possessing PDI activity is characterized by A) having a capability of catalyzing a disulfide exchange in proteins, B) recognizing mainly ribonuclease A as a substrate, C) having a suitable active temperature of 20.degree. to 70.degree. C., D) being stable at a pH value of 6 to 9, and E) having a molecular weight of about 60,000 to 62,000. Since it has a higher thermostability and exhibits a stable activity in a wider dithiothreitol concentration range as compared with the conventional PDI, it is possible to provide a novel enzyme active protein which can be advantageously used for a refolding reaction of certain proteins.

Abstract: A method for the production of indigo and indirubin dyes using a recombinant Escherichia coli containing a gene encoding a phenol hydroxylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus. The dyes are used for coloring cloth and the like.

Abstract: Purified cartilage and/or bone inductive proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and/or cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: This invention relates to polypeptides that are human somatomedin carrier protein subunits and to processes for producing them. The carrier protein subunits bind to human somatomedin-like polypeptides, also known as insulin-like growth factors. The process involves preparation from a human serum fraction, Cohn IV-1, by a molecule of various chromatographic steps.This invention also relates to DNA molecules encoding human somatomedin carrier protein-like polypeptides, recombinant DNA molecules, hosts, processes for producing carrier protein-like polypeptides, human somatomedin carrier protein-like polypeptides produced using those molecules, hosts and processes. The invention relates to DNA molecules and their expression in appropriate hosts. The recombinant DNA molecules contain DNA molecules that code for polypeptides which have a biological activity of the human carrier protein or a human carrier protein subunit capable of binding somatomedins.

Abstract: A process for producing an active lipase enzyme in vitro, comprising mixing an inactive or partly active lipase enzyme with a chaperone molecule and subjecting the mixture to denaturation followed by renaturation to produce the active lipase enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated DNA molecules comprising a DNA segment encoding a novel human amyloid protein precursor homologue and novel Kunitz-type inhibitors. Also provided are DNA constructs comprising a first DNA segment encoding a novel human amyloid protein precursor homologue or a novel Kunitz-type inhibitor wherein said first DNA segment is operably linked to additional DNA segments required for the expression for the first DNA segment, as well as host cells containing such DNA constructs and methods for producing proteins from the host cells.