Abstract: The invention is based on the finding that furin belongs to a family of endoproteolytically active enzymes and relates to a process for the in vitro cleavage of a protein by treating the protein in the presence of Ca.sup.2+ ions with furin or furin like enzyme, or enzymatically active fragment, derivative or fusion protein of furin or furin-like enzyme.

Abstract: Thermoplastics interdispersed with a variety of functional thermostable polypeptides, including proteins, and methods of making such thermoplastics are provided. The disclosure demonstrates that certain polypeptides can retain functional activity through exposure to plastic thermomolding. The polypeptides are exposed to the heating and molding/extrusion/casting process and are hence present on the formed plastic surface and at a depth below the plastic surface. The polypeptides contained in the disclosed compositions retain functional properties or binding specificities through the heating and molding/extrusion/casting processes. Preferred thermostable polypeptides used in the disclosed compositions include silk-like protein polymers, particularly ProNectin.RTM.F. The disclosed methods and compositions find use in many applications where plastics containing functional thermostable polypeptides are desired, in particular, cell cultureware.

Abstract: The production of an active Pseudomonas glumae lipase isolated from P. glumae PG1 (CBS 322.89) and other lipases suitable for application in detergent systems is described in homologous, but particularly in heterologous hosts, e.g. Bacillus subtilis. For the latter a "helper function" or "lipase-specific stabilization/translocation protein" is needed, for which a gene is provided which, when expressed in concert with the lipase gene, can improve the stabilization of the intermediates involved in the production and translocation/secretion of the lipase. The hosts are transformed by recombinant DNA methods and modified lipases can be made by site-directed mutation or classical mutation techniques. The lipase gene and the gene encoding the helper function can be part of one operon that can be transcribed to form a polycistronic messenger or be present as separate genes yielding two mRNA's on transcription. The production level can be further improved by optimizing the regulation sequences.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for cloning and producing the SfiI restriction endonuclease by 1) introducing the restriction endonuclease gene from S. fimbriatus into a host whereby the restriction gene is expressed; 2) fermenting the host which contains the plasmid encoding and expressing the SfiI restriction endonuclease activity; and 3) purifying the SfiI restriction endonuclease from the fermented host which contains the plasmid encoding and expressing the SfiI restriction endonuclease activity.

Abstract: An intended nucleic acid is determined in a sample by a method in which at least one of the nucleic acid strands of the intended nucleic acid is subjected to hybridization with a primer and to chain-extension reaction over the primer to form a synthesized nucleic acid which is complementary to and in hybridization with the strand; a copy of the intended nucleic acid is obtained, which copy is (a) the nucleic acid of the double-stranded double produced by the chain-extension reaction, or (b) the synthesized nucleic acid freed from the double-stranded nucleic acid, or (c) a double stranded nucleic acid form from a pair of the synthesized nucleic acids complementary with each other; and it is determined whether the copy is present in the sample thereby to know whether the intended nucleic acid is in present in the sample.

Abstract: A recombinant adenovirus comprising a chimeric penton base protein, which includes a nonpenton base sequence, and a therapeutic gene, a method of gene therapy involving the use of such adenovirus, and adenoviral transfer vectors for the generation of such recombinant adenovirus are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isolated or essentially pure DNA sequence encoding a human Dopamine D2 receptor, the protein comprising the receptor, vectors for transforming or transfecting host cells with such DNA so that the cells express the DNA, methods of obtaining the DNA and preparing the transformed or transfected cells and cell lines, and methods of using the cells and cell lines in assays for the determination of human dopamine D2 receptor antagonists or agonists.

Abstract: An immunological serum and method of making same. The serum essentially consists of purified and concentrated materials, sometimes known as transfer factor, and immunoglobulins, expressed from the clotted blood of a donor group having known immunity. To produce the serum, a group of donors is chosen which includes known immunity, preferably to a wide variety of ailments. Blood is drawn from the donor group and allowed to clot. Thereafter, the blood is filtered to remove all cellular material, producing raw serum. This raw serum is then concentrated by removal of water. The concentrated serum is then sterilized, but not denatured, by freezing and gamma irradiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the PUR protein, nucleotide sequences and expression vectors encoding PUR, and to methods for inhibiting PUR activity. Inhibitors of PUR activity may be used to treat hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: Recombinant bacteria containing phage-encoded resistance ("Per") and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. Such bacteria are made by (a) conducting a fermentation of a substrate in a medium containing a defined bacterial culture until bacteriophage are detected in the medium, the bacteriophage being specific to at least one bacteria in the medium; (b) isolating the bacteriophage; (c) digesting DNA of the bacteriophage to produce a library of DNA fragments; (d) transforming the bacteria susceptible to said bacteriophage with the library of DNA fragments to provide transformed bacteria; (e) selecting from among the transformed bacteria, a bacteriophage-resistant transformed bacteria; (f) adding bacteriophage resistant transformed bacteria to the medium; and (g) recommencing step (a).

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of functional reporter molecules in the detection and measurement of nucleic acid sequences in a sample, as a determination, for example, of pathogenic disease existence or potential. The invention is predicated on the utilization of a transcription step between the production of an appropriate reporter molecule and replication based amplification in order to increase the number of detectable species as an indirect reference to target nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: The conditions under which oligonucleotide probes hybridize preferentially with entirely complementary and homologous nucleic acid targets are described. Using these hybridization conditions, overlapping oligonucleotide probes associate with a target nucleic acid. Following washes, positive hybridization signals are used to assemble the sequence of a given nucleic acid fragment. Representative target nucleic acids are applied as dots. Up to to 100,000 probes of the type (A,T,C,G)(A,T,C,G)N8(A,T,C,G) are used to determine sequence information by simultaneous hybridization with nucleic acid molecules bound to a filter. Additional hybridization conditions are provided that allow stringent hybridization of 6-10 nucleotide long oligomers which extends the utility of the invention. A computer process determines the information sequence of the target nucleic acid which can include targets with the complexity of mammalian genomes.

Abstract: The present invention describes an assay system wherein target polynucleotide molecules are captured on a support by base-specific binding to support-bound polymers, which are themselves substantially uncharged, and the target polynucleotides can be detected on the basis of their backbone charge. The assay system may also include polycationic reporter molecules which are designed to bind to the fully charged analyte backbone, but not the uncharged (or substantially uncharged) polymer backbone. In one embodiment, the reporter molecules are composed of a polycationic moiety or tail designed to bind electrostatically to a fully charged polynucleotide, under conditions where the reporter does not bind to the less charged or uncharged binding polymer carried on the diagnostic reagent.

Abstract: The invention provides Baculovirus vectors comprised of a promoter upstream from a signal peptide. The Baculovirus vectors allow for the expression of a glycosylated protein in the late term of Baculovirus infection. Methods for the construction of such a Baculovirus vector are also provided. In addition, methods for producing large amounts of a desired glycosylated protein in the late term infection of Baculovirus infection are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for detecting glucagon antagonists through the use of recombinant DNA techniques are provided. Briefly, subsequent to the expression of glucagon analogs within suitable host cells, the analogs are exposed to a glucagon receptor coupled to a response pathway in the presence of native glucagon. A reduction in the stimulation of the response pathway resulting from the binding of the glucagon analog to the glucagon receptor relative to the stimulation of the response pathway by native glucagon alone indicates the presence of a glucagon antagonist. Glucagon antagonists identified and isolated through the methods are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing recombinant polypeptides in protease-deficient bacterial hosts. Constructs of single, double, triple and quadruple protease deficient and protease/rpoH mutants of E. coli are described. Proteolytically sensitive polypeptides may be expressed and secreted in such cells, providing significantly increased yields compared with expression in wild-type strains.

Abstract: A bacterial preparation capable of packaging phage .lambda. DNA is disclosed. This preparation is in lyophilized form and is stable at ambient temperature. In a preferred form, the preparation contains an over-expressed terminase protein, is prepared from the bacterial strain E. coli Cla [.lambda. c/857 Sam7 .DELTA.(cos-Nu1-A)::Kn.sup.r ]/.lambda. pTER and is capable of a packaging efficiency of at least 1.times.10.sup.8 pfu/.mu.g wild type .lambda. DNA. The present invention is also a method of creating a phage .lambda. DNA packaging extract comprising the steps of preparing a bacterial extract capable of packaging phage .lambda. and lyophilizing said extract.

Abstract: DNA sequences coding for the DR-.beta.-chain locus of human lymphocyte antigen complex and diagnostic typing processes and products related thereto. DNA sequences that code for the .beta.-chain DR locus are useful in simple and efficient typing processes and products and for expression of polypeptides displaying an immunological or biological activity of the antigens of the HLA-DR .beta.-chains for use in diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the rapid isolation and recovery of a desired target DNA or RNA molecules from a mixture or library containing such molecules. The method involves the use of biotinylated probes and enzymatic repair-cleavage to eliminate undesired library members from a sample.

Abstract: Methods of designing or modifying protein structure at the protein or genetic level to produce specified amino-termini in vivo or in vitro are described. The methods can be used to alter the metabolic stability and other properties of the protein or, alternatively, to artificially generate authentic amino-termini in proteins produced through artificial means. The methods are based upon the introduction of the use of artificial ubiquitin-protein fusions, and the discovery that the in vivo half-life of a protein is a function of the amino-terminal amino acid of the protein.