Abstract: Disclosed are various forms of an active, isolated ?-secretase enzyme in purified and recombinant form. This enzyme is implicated in the production of amyloid plaque components which accumulate in the brains of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Recombinant cells that produce this enzyme either alone or in combination with some of its natural substrates (?-APPwt and ?-APPsw) are also disclosed, as are antibodies directed to such proteins. These compositions are useful for use in methods of selecting compounds that modulate ?-secretase. Inhibitors of ?-secretase are implicated as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human polypeptide homolog of DBF4/ASK1 (for “Activator of S phase kinase”) and polynucleotides which identify and encode DRF1 (for “DBF4 Related Factor 1”). In addition, the invention provides expression vectors, host cells and methods for its production. The invention also provides methods for the identification of DRF1 or DRF1-containing complex agonists/antagonists, useful for the treatment of human diseases and conditions.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of two novel human GAK-related gene variants. The invention also relates to the process for producing the polypeptides of the variants. The invention further relates to the use of the nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of the gene variants in diagnosing diseases associated with the deficiency of GAK gene, in particular, iron homeostasis impairment-related diseases or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), e.g. large cell lung cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing middle-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (MCL-PHA) using a maoC gene. The producing method of MCL-PHA according to the present invention comprises the steps of transforming a microorganism with the maoC gene to give a transformant, the microorganism being deleted of a fadB gene and containing a PHA synthase gene; culturing the transformant in medium containing a C6-10 carbon source; and obtaining PHA consisting of monomers with 6–10 carbon atoms. When the maoC gene whose function has not yet been established is used according to the present invention, high quality PHA with a higher number of carbon atoms than the prior PHA can be produced at a higher efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleotide sequence derived form coffee leaves that may be used as a promoter for an inducible expression of genes in plants. In particular, the present invention pertains to a nucleotide sequence embracing the promoter and the coding region of a rbcS gene. In addition the present invention relates to transgenic plants containing such recombinant nucleotide sequences.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel ?-secretase, a method of partially purifying this novel ?-secretase, and its use in assays to screen for potential drug candidates against Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases. The novel ?-secretase has an estimated molecular weight of about 32-39 kDa or 22-26 kDa in HEK293 cell membrane extracts and human brain samples, respectively, as calculated from radiation inactivation analysis, and has a pH optimum at about pH 6.5-7.0.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered Bacillus strains that can secrete large amount of Bacillus proteases in the extracellular culture medium. More particularly, this invention relates to a process of producing recombinant protease molecules of Bacillus origin in a Bacillus subtilis strain 168, utilizing a strong prophage promoter.

Abstract: An L-threonine-producing Escherichia coli strain and a method for producing the same are provided. The Escherchia coli strain contains chromosomal DNA with inactivated metJ gene. Therefore, expression repression of threonine biosynthesis genes by a metJ gene product is prevented, thereby producing a high concentration of threonine. Further, a high concentration of L-threonine can be produced in high yield using the method.

Abstract: Disclosed are various forms of an active, isolated ?-secretase enzyme in purified and recombinant form. This enzyme is implicated in the production of amyloid plaque components which accumulate in the brains of individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Recombinant cells that produce this enzyme either alone or in combination with some of its natural substrates (?-APPwt and ?-APPsw) are also disclosed, as are antibodies directed to such proteins. These compositions are useful for use in methods of selecting compounds that modulate ?-secretase. Inhibitors of ?-secretase are implicated as therapeutics in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for the biological production of 1,3-propanediol from a fermentable carbon source in a single microorganism. In one aspect of the present invention, an improved process for the conversion of glucose to 1,3-propanediol is achieved by the use of an E. coli transformed with the Klebsiella pneumoniae dha regulon genes dhaR, orfY, dhaT, orfX, orfW, dhaB1, dhaB2, dhaB3, and orfZ, all these genes arranged in the same genetic organization as found in wild type Klebsiella pneumoniae. In another aspect of the present invention, an improved process for the production of 1,3-propanediol from glucose using a recombinant E. coli containing genes encoding a G3PDH, a G3P phosphatase, a dehydratase, and a dehydratase reactivation factor compared to an identical process using a recombinant E. coli containing genes encoding a G3PDH, a G3P phosphatase, a dehydratase, a dehydratase reactivation factor and a 1,3-propanediol oxidoreductase (dhaT).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes DNA damage endonucleases which exhibit broad specificity with respect to the types of structural aberrations in double stranded DNA. These enzymes recognize double stranded DNA with distortions in structure, wherein the distortions result from photoproducts, alkylation, intercalation, abasic sites, mismatched base pairs, insertion deletion loops, cisplatin adducts and other types of base damage (for example, uracil resulting from cytosine deamination). The UVDE (Uve1p) of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, certain truncated forms of that UVDE (lacking from about 100 to about 250 amino acids of N-terminal sequence) and certain endonucleases from Homo sapiens, Neurospora crassa, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, Methanococcus jannaschii, and Deinococcus radiodurans. The present disclosure further provides methods for cleaving double stranded DNA having structural distortions as set forth herein using the exemplified endonucleases or their stable, functional truncated derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention provides new recombinantly produced vanadium haloperoxidases. The enzymes are useful in a number of industrial applications.

Abstract: This invention provides the genes encoding the RNA triphosphatase and RNA guanylyltransferase of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the catalytically active recombinant RNA triphosphatase and RNA guanylyltransferase enzymes. These enzymes form the basis of activity inhibition assays to identify molecules that specifically target the formation of the mRNA 5? cap in unicellular eukaryotic parasites.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nucleic acid molecule from nematodes encoding for phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) polypeptides. The PGM-like polypeptide sequence is also provided, as are vectors, host cells, and recombinant methods for production of PGM-like nucleotides and polypeptides. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying inhibitors and/or activators, as well as methods for antibody production. Such inhibitors are useful for control nematode infection.

Abstract: A gene that encodes an inhibitor of CDK4 has been discovered and its genomic nucleotide sequence has been identified. Susceptibility to certain cancers has been shown to be causatively related to the deletion of, or polymorphisms in, the CDK4I gene. The invention is therefore directed to the gene (CDK4I), the inhibitor protein, as well as therapeutic and diagnostic methods which utilize both the CDK4I gene and the CDK4I protein.

Abstract: Aggrecanase proteins and the nucleotides sequences encoding them as well as processes for producing them are disclosed. Methods for developing inhibitors of the aggrecanase enzymes and antibodies to the enzymes for treatment of conditions characterized by the degradation of aggrecan are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a biological method of producing farnesol or geranylgeraniol.

Abstract: The present invention provides new recombinantly produced vanadium haloperoxidases. The enzymes are useful in a number of industrial applications.

Abstract: Human and rat cAMP phosphodiesterase isoforms (denoted PDE4Ds), as well as the DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides, are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptides in diagnostic assays for identifying mutations in nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides of the present invention, for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention as a means of detecting diseases and methods of screening potential modulators, especially inhibitors, of the novel PDE4Ds (denoted PDE4D6) disclosed herein as a means of increasing cyclic AMP in neurons and thus treating neurological problems, such as long term memory loss, if not preventing such maladies entirely. Transgenic animals expressing polypeptides disclosed herein are also described.