Abstract: A method for the detecting whether methyladenosine phosphatase (MTAse) is present in a cell sample in either a catalytically active or catalytically inactive form. In one respect, the method comprises adding oligonucleotide probes to the sample, which probes are capable of specifically hybridizing to any MTAse encoding nucleic acid in the sample under conditions favoring that hybridization. Absence of MTAse in a sample is considered to be indicative of malignancy. Polynucleotides encoding MTAse, MTAse peptides and antibodies to MTAse, as well as kits for performing the methods of the invention, are provided.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing Trypanosoma cruzi infection, or for screening for T. cruzi or Leishmania infection, are disclosed. The disclosed compounds are polypeptides, or antibodies thereto, that contain one or more antigenic epitopes of T. cruzi proteins. The compounds are useful in a variety of immunoassays for detecting T. cruzi infection. The polypeptide compounds are further useful in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing Chagas' disease in individuals exposed to T. cruzi.

Abstract: Amplification of nucleic acids using oligonucleotides immobilized on solid phase supports is disclosed. Target nucleic acid strands (in a sample to be analyzed) are hybridized to the oligonucleotides and copy target strands (incorporating immobilized oligonucleotide) are produced using the target strands as templates. The target strands are denatured from the copy target strands and rehybridized to non-extended oligonucleotides. In the next step, new copy target 1 strands are synthesized from the oligonucleotides hybridized to the target strands, and simultaneously copy target 2 strands are synthesized using previously generated copy target 1 strands. Sequence of denaturing, rehybridizing, and producing copy target 1 and copy target 2 strands is repeated as often as necessary to give the desired degree of amplification.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided nucleic acids encoding human metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype mGluR6, and the proteins encoded thereby. In addition to being useful for the production of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype mGluR6, nucleic acids of the invention are also useful as probes, thus enabling those skilled in the art, without undue experimentation, to identify and isolate related human receptor subunits. In addition to disclosing a novel metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype, mGluR6, the present invention also comprises methods for using the invention receptor subtype to identify and characterize compounds which affect the function of such receptor subtype, e.g., agonists, antagonists, and modulators of glutamate receptor function.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in vitro method of determining the in vivo EPO activity of a sample containing EPO. More particularly, the present method comprises treating a sample containing EPO under conditions which remove desialylated EPO, and measuring the in vitro EPO activity of the resulting treated sample. In a preferred embodiment, desialylated EPO is removed from the sample by incubating the sample with cells of the human hepatoma cell line HepG2, and in vitro EPO activity is determined by incubating the treated sample with cells of an EPO-responsive cell line and measuring the proliferation or viability of the EPO-responsive cells. The present invention is useful, for example, in quantitating the biologically active EPO in a variety of sample types.

Abstract: G-quartet structures have been found to be useful in fluorescence assays to detect a selected nucleic acid sequence. When oligonucleotides containing these structures are labeled with a donor fluorophore and an acceptor dye, the folding or interaction of the oligonucleotides in the G-quartet structure brings the donor-acceptor pair into close proximity, allowing an interaction between the two labels which results in quenching of donor fluorescence or a change in other fluorescence properties which are the result of the interaction of two dyes in close proximity. The G-quartet structure unfolds or is otherwise disrupted upon hybridization to its complementary sequence, increasing the distance between the two dye labels. This results in decreased donor quenching or a change in another proximity-related fluorescence parameter.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reagent composition that employs at least two different terminators of a nucleic acid template-dependent primer extension reaction to determine the identity of a nucleotide base at a specific position in a nucleic acid of interest. The invention also concerns the method for determining such identification. The invention may be used to determine the presence or absence of a specific nucleotide sequence in a sample. It may also be employed in determination of genotype and in the identification of different alleles.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of detecting a high oncogenic-risk type human papillomavirus in a subject which comprises: obtaining from a subject a specimen containing cervical cells and treating the specimen so as to recover nucleic acid molecules present in the cervical cells; contacting the resulting nucleic acid molecules with multiple pairs of single-stranded labeled oligonucleotide primers capable of specifically hybridizing with a different high oncogenic-risk type of human papillomavirus; amplifying any nucleic acid molecules to which a pair of primers hybridizes so as to obtain a double-stranded amplification product and treating any double-stranded amplification product so as to obtain single-stranded nucleic acid molecules; contacting any resulting single-stranded nucleic acid molecules with multiple single-stranded labeled oligonucleotide probes which are capable of specifically hybridizing with such high oncogenic-risk types of human papillomavirus; contacting any resulting hybrids with a mark

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantitative measurement of gene expression through multiplex competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification are disclosed. The method and apparatus are especially useful for analysis of small specimens of cells and tissues.

Abstract: DNA involved in the bacterial gene expression of carbapenem antibiotics comprising: a) at least one of the genes carA, carB, carC, carD, carE, carF, carG, carH, b) DNA capable of hybridizing to any of the genes defined in a) and capable of functioning as such genes in the biosynthetic pathway of a carbapenem, c) DNA which is a) or b) above by virtue of the degeneracy of the genetic code. Polypeptides encoded by such DNA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample by contacting the sample with a detectable probe having ends which hybridize to two adjacent regions of the target sequence. The hybridized probe ends are then covalently connected to form a cyclized structure interlocking with the target molecule. This structure is then subjected either to non-hybridizing conditions and/or to exonuclease activity to remove any non-cyclized probes from the target sequence. The target molecule is then detected by detecting the presence of the interlocking, cantenated probe.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an assayed nucleic acid in a sample is an essentially two-stage procedure. In a first stage the sample is reacted in a manner which gives rise to the production of a triggering RNA where the sample contains the assays sequence. In the second stage, the reaction product is incubated under appropriate conditions with an amplification reagent ensemble whereby, in the presence of triggering RNA a large amount of a nucleic product is obtained. The detection of this product thus indicates the presence of the assayed sequence in the sample.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting pyrophosphorolysis during DNA chain length elongation is provided. The method comprises including both Mn.sup.++ and Mg.sup.++ in chain-extension and chain-termination reaction mixtures such as those used in DNA sequencing. This method is useful in stabilizing dideoxy-ribonucleoside triphosphate-terminated DNA chains and improving the quality of DNA sequence data obtained via the use of DNA polymerases that do not discriminate against the incorporation of dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and other chain terminating agents. Also provided are a reaction mixture and kit for DNA sequencing employing this method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the presence or absence of amplified nucleic acid products. The method comprises the addition of hapten-labeled nucleotide or target molecule-labeled nucleotide to an amplification reaction and after the amplification process assaying for the presence of nucleic acid products having incorporated hapten-labeled nucleotide or target molecule-labeled nucleotide. Immobilization and detection of the label is accomplished using an affinity molecule that binds specifically to the hapten or target molecule. Thus, detection of amplified nucleic acid products is direct and does not require hybridization with a labeled specific probe.

Abstract: By means of a new molecular cloning technique designated "Alu-splicing PCR", we have isolated a new gene sequence, DSCR1, located in the 21q22.1-q22.2 region. DSCR1 displays a high expression in brain and heart, coding for a new protein with a proline-rich region and with some structural characteristics typical of a protein involved in transcription and/or in protein-protein interactions. The increase in the transient expression of DSCR1 mRNA in brains of young rats compared with the brains of adult rats suggests an important role of DSCR1 during the development of the central nervous system. The overexpression of pSCR1 may be involved in pathogenic abnormalities of mental retardation and/or heart defects in patients with Down syndrome.

Abstract: A method for determining the existence of duplexes of oligonucleotide complementary molecules is provided whereby a plurality of immobilized oligonucleotide molecules, each of a specific length and each having a specific base sequence, is contacted with complementary, single stranded oligonucleotide molecules to form a duplex so as to facilitate intercalation of a fluorescent dye between the base planes of the duplex. The invention also provides for a method for constructing oligonucleotide matrices comprising confining light sensitive fluid to a surface, exposing said light-sensitive fluid to a light pattern so as to cause the fluid exposed to the light to coalesce into discrete units and adhere to the surface; and contacting each of the units with a set of different oligonucleotide molecules so as to allow the molecules to disperse into the units.

Abstract: This invention provides for an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a wildtype human Beclin and a mutant human Beclin. This invention also provides a vector containing the isolated nucleic acid which encodes a wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a method of producing a wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a purified, wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides for a method for determining whether a subject has a predisposition for cancer. This invention also provides a method for determining whether a subject has cancer. This invention also provides for a method for inhibiting cell proliferation in cells unable to regulate themselves. This invention also provides for a method for treating a subject who has cancer. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition composed of the wildtype human Beclin. This invention also provides a method for detecting a mutant human Beclin in a subject.

Abstract: A purified and isolated gene, designated ATM, mutations of which cause ataxia-telangiectasia and its genomic organization is disclosed. Methods and a kit for the detection of carriers of mutations of the ATM gene are provided by analysis of nucleic acids isolated from patients including in situ hybridization, Northern blotting and reverse transcriptase--polymerase chain reaction, Southern blotting, single strand conformational polymorphism, restriction endonuclease fingerprinting (REF), PCR amplification and DNA-chip analysis.

Abstract: Novel 2 polypeptides with binding affinity for the p185.sup.HER2 receptor, designated heregulin 2-.alpha. and heregulin 2-.beta., have been identified and purified from human tissue. The cDNA encoding the novel heregulin 2-.alpha. has been isolated from human tissue and sequenced. Provided herein is nucleic acid sequence of the heregulin 2-.alpha. useful in the production of heregulin 2-.alpha. by recombinant means. Further provided an amino acid sequence of heregulin 2-.alpha. and heregulin 2-.beta.. Heregulins and their antibodies are useful as therapeutic agents and in diagnostic methods.

Abstract: Methods of identifying and preparing anti-infectious agent compounds comprising the steps of incubating single stranded nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogs in the presence of infectious agents, selecting for nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogs which bind infectious agents, amplifying selected nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogs, repeating the selection steps and assaying for anti-infection activity are disclosed. Compositions that have anti-infectious activity against Rous sarcoma virus are also disclosed. Methods of identifying anti-tumor agent compounds are also disclosed.