Abstract: In vitro delivery of the diphtheria toxin (DT) catalytic (C) domain from the lumen of purified early endosomes to the external milieu requires the addition of both ATP and a cytosolic translocation factor (CTF) complex. The results presented here demonstrate that ?-COP plays an essential role in the cytosolic release of the C-domain and is mediated by a consensus peptide sequence found on several bacterial toxins and in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The invention features methods for inhibiting cell death that include the administration of compounds based on this consensus sequence that inhibit the translocation of the catalytic domain of toxins or transcription factors. Also featured are methods for identifying compounds that inhibit cell death, and methods for identifying compounds that promote cell death by blocking or accelerating, respectively, the rate of toxin/factor endosomal translocation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medium for the detection and/or identification of a Candida yeast, the medium comprising: a chromogen; carbohydrate in the range 1-5 gms/liter; and an alcohol; the medium being such that growth of the Candida yeast under appropriate conditions results in hydrolysis of the chromogen to generate a chromophore of a derived color which is a different color from that generated by hydrolysis of the chromogen in a standard medium.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical kit for treatment of retinitis pigmentosis and a method of producing the same, the kit comprising the enzymes glutathione peroxidase, prolidase, glucose-6-phosephate dehydrogenase and, optionally, aldose reductase in aliquot parts and interactive quantities appropriate for administering the enzymes in accordance with a predetermined time sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides for methods for detecting bacterial pathogens in a sample. A preferred method includes the steps of: suspending a sample comprising a medium and microorganisms, the microorganisms suspected of comprising bacterial pathogens; mixing the sample, an adsorbent and a first solution in a vessel; separating the adsorbent and the microorganisms from the medium and the bulk of the first solution and removing the medium and the bulk of the first solution from the vessel; adding a second solution to the vessel to resuspend the adsorbent and the microorganisms; and detecting agglutination of the adsorbent wherein the agglutination of the adsorbent signifies bacterial pathogens are present in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for recovering microorganisms from a sample that is rapid and provides microorganisms substantially free of adsorbents and other particles. The method includes mixing a sample comprising a medium, an adsorbent and microorganisms with a first solution in a first vessel; separating the adsorbent from the medium and the microorganisms and removing the microorganisms and a portion of the medium from the first vessel; mixing the microorganisms and the portion of the medium with a second solution in a second vessel to resuspend the microorganisms; and separating the microorganisms from the resulting mixture.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a process for conveniently producing phosphorylase at a high purity using a phosphorylase-producing microorganism. Namely, a process for producing phosphorylase characterized by culturing a phosphorylase-producing microorganism in a medium containing phosphoric acid or its salt at a concentration of 50 mM or above and collecting the phosphorylase thus produced in the medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of detecting staphylococcus.

Abstract: A process for the production of peroxidase which comprises of establishing a plant cell culture producing cells from neem (Azardiracta indica) and nirgundi (Vitex negundo) wherein the peroxidase has higher enzymatic activity not reported earlier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analysis method and analysis system that can accurately analyze the contents of coenzyme Q-10 and a 2-electron reduced form thereof in a specimen, in which human blood plasma as the specimen is mixed with isopropyl alcohol as a pretreatment and the coenzyme Q-10 and the 2-electron reduced form thereof are extracted to the isopropyl alcohol. Extracted liquid is stored at a temperature of 4° C. until the analysis is performed. The extracted liquid as an analytical sample is analyzed by an analysis system provided with a liquid-sending mechanism, a switching mechanism, a concentration column, a separation column, a reduction column, an ultraviolet absorption detector, and an electrochemical detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel esterase derived from Ideonella sp. 0-0013 strain (FERM BP-08660) having the following properties: (1) function, substrate specificity: hydrolyzes methyl 3-hydroxypalmitate to generate 3-hydroxypalmitic acid and methanol; (2) optimal temperature for functioning: 37° C.; (3) optimal pH and stable pH range: pH 7 or more to pH 10 or less; (4) temperature stability: 97% of the enzyme is stable at 43° C.; (5) inhibition, activation, and stabilization: activated by sodium ion and potassium ion, and inhibited by strontium ion, iron ion (divalent), and methyl palmitate; (6) molecular weight: about 46,500 Da (by SDS-PAGE), about 41,000 Da (by a gel filtration method); and (7) isoelectric point: pI 4 (by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing method); a microorganism producing the enzyme; and a method of producing the enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a defructosylation enzyme originating from a plant, a method of defructosylating a fructosylated peptide or protein through use of the enzyme, and a method of measuring a fructosylated peptide or protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel mammalian amino acid transporter proteins and the genes that encode such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization and pharmacological use of the human amino acid transporter proteins EAAT1, EAAT2, EAAT3 and ASCT1. The invention specifically provides isolated complementary DNA copies of mRNA corresponding to each of these transporter genes. Also provided are recombinant expression constructs capable of expressing each of the amino acid transporter genes of the invention in cultures of transformed prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as such cultures of transformed cells that synthesize the human amino acid transporter proteins encoded therein. The invention also provides methods for screening in vitro compounds having transport-modulating properties using preparations of transporter proteins from such cultures of cells transformed with recombinant expression constructs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide composition effective to alter the activity of a first protein that interacts with a second protein, where the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region. The polypeptides of the present invention typically have between 4 and 50 amino acids whose sequence is the same as a sequence of the same length in the WD-40 region of the second protein. The invention further includes a method of altering the activity of the above described first protein. In one embodiment of the invention the polypeptide composition is effective to alter the activity of a protein kinase C, where the protein kinase C interacts with a second protein, and the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region (e.g., RACK1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to cellulase preparations consisting essentially of a homogeneous endoglucanase component. The cellulase preparation may be employed in the treatment of cellulose-containing fabrics for harshness reduction, for color clarification, or to provide a localized variation in the color of such fabrics, or in the treatment of paper pulp.

Abstract: The invention provides alaS polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding alaS polypetides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing alaS polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides tRNA synthetase polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding tRNA synthetase polypetides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing tRNA synthetase polypeptide for the protection against infection, particularly bacterial infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide composition effective to alter the activity of a first protein that interacts with a second protein, where the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region. The polypeptides of the present invention typically have between 4 and 50 amino acids whose sequence is the same as a sequence of the same length in the WD-40 region of the second protein. The invention further includes a method of altering the activity of the above described first protein. In one embodiment of the invention the polypeptide composition is effective to alter the activity of a protein kinase C, where the protein kinase C interacts with a second protein, and the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region (e.g., RACK1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide composition effective to alter the activity of a first protein that interacts with a second protein, where the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region. The polypeptides of the present invention typically have between 4 and 50 amino acids whose sequence is the same as a sequence of the same length in the WD-40 region of the second protein. The invention further includes a method of altering the activity of the above described first protein. In one embodiment of the invention the polypeptide composition is effective to alter the activity of a protein kinase C, where the protein kinase C interacts with a second protein, and the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region (e.g., RACK1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to animal feed additives, which additives comprise a monocomponent xylanase derived from a strain of Byssochlamus, Chaetomium, Humicola, Malbranchea, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Paecilomyces, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, or Thielavia. In other aspects, the invention relates to monocomponent xylanase preparations, DNA constructs, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and methods of producing monocomponent xylanase preparations.

Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acids which encode aminoacyl-tRNA sythetases of enterococcal origin or portions of such enzymes, have been isolated. These nucleic acids can be used to make expression constructs and transformed host cells for the production of enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. They can also be used in the further isolation of nucleic acids related by DNA sequence similarities, which also encode enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, or portions thereof. A further embodiment of the invention is antisense nucleic acid which can hybridize to the nucleic acid which encodes the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase of enterococci. The invention also relates to tRNA synthetases such as isolated and/or recombinant enterococcal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Antibodies which bind to these enzymes can be made and can be used in the purification and study of the enzymes.