Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to vascular smooth muscle proliferation and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting arterial and venous smooth muscle proliferation resulting, for example, from arterial injury or vein grafting. The invention also relates to an expression construct encoding a G.beta..gamma. inhibitor suitable for use in such a method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleotide sequence which is present at a position adjacent to the 5' end of the reverse sequence complementary to the open reading frame coding for a potential transposase contained in the insertion element IS900 in Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The nucleotide sequence has promoter functions and contains important signals for the regulation of transcription and translation. The invention also relates to methods for cloning and expressing heterologous proteins using such regulatory sequences, to vectors and transformed host cells containing these sequences, and to immunogenic compositions prepared by expression of nucleotide sequences placed under control of these regulatory sequences.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery, identification and characterization of nucleic acids that encode a novel G protein coupled receptor (I5E) protein. The invention encompasses I5E nucleotides, host cell expression systems, I5E proteins, fusion proteins, polypeptides and peptides, antibodies to the receptor, transgenic animals that express an I5E transgene, or recombinant knock-out animals that do not express the I5E, antagonists and agonists of the receptor, and other compounds that modulate I5E gene expression or I5E activity that can be used for diagnosis, drug screening, clinical trial monitoring, and/or used to treat disorders such as inflammatory, central nervous system or gastrointestinal disorders.

Abstract: A process for expression of a protein product in Aspergillus oryzae is disclosed. The process comprises transforming Aspergillus oryzae with a vector system comprising DNA-sequences encoding functions facilitating gene expression, a suitable marker for selection of transformants, and a DNA-sequence encoding the desired protein product. The process enables industrial production of many different polypeptides and proteins in A. oryzae. Examples of such products are chymosin or prochymosin and other rennets, proteases, lipases and amylases. Also disclosed is an effective promoter for expression of a protein in Aspergillus. A preferred promoter is the TAKA-amylase promoter or functional parts thereof. There is also provided a process for the production of a recombinant Humicola lipase. The recombinant Humicola lipase from A. oryzae differs from the native lipase in having a greater glycosylation and in exhibiting an improved thermostability.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing a heterologous protein of interest by inserting a copy of a gene encoding the heterologous protein of interest into the chromosome of a host cell, such as E. coli. A chromosomal transfer DNA (a circular, non-self-replicating DNA) is used to integrate the gene encoding the heterologous protein of interest into the host cell chromosome. The chromosomal transfer DNA comprises at least one selectable marker and may optionally include repeated DNA sequences flanking the selectable marker, facilitating chromosomal amplification of the integrated DNA. The gene encoding the protein of interest may be expressed after integration into the chromosome of the host cell; selection for chromosomal amplification may be performed prior to expression of the gene.

Abstract: Recombinantly produced serum albumin is purified in a series of steps, optionally by incubation with an anion-exchange adsorbent, followed by affinity chromatography employing a hydrophobic solid phase and using a water-soluble lipid anion as desorbens in the aqueous phase. This immobile phase comprises a carrier coupled to a 2-mercapto or 2-hydroxy alkanoic acid.

Abstract: Analogs of blood factors which are transiently inactive are useful in treatment of diseases characterized by thrombosis. In addition, modified forms of activated blood factors that generate the active blood factor in serum but have extended half-lives are useful in treating hemophilic conditions. These modified forms of the blood factor may be acylated forms which are slowly deacylated in vivo.

Abstract: The present invention provides a virus comprising a DNA sequence essential for replication of a human cytomegalovirus and at least one foreign DNA sequence adapted for expression in a host. The foreign DNA sequence may encode a human immunodeficiency virus anti-sense mRNA sequence or an antigenic polypeptide, e.g., a malarial surface antigen. Also provided are therapeutic compositions and vaccines which comprise the novel viruses of the present invention.

Abstract: An increased level of translation of a selected mRNA molecule is effected by coupling specific nucleotide sequences at the 5'- and 3'-ends of a nucleic acid molecule transcribable to or which itself is the mRNA molecule. The nucleotide sequence at the 5'-end is effective to increase the rate of translation initiation of the mRNA molecule in a cell while the nucleotide sequence at the 3'-end is effective to increase the period of translation of the mRNA molecule in a cell.

Abstract: A novel process for the use of antisense oligonucleotides and analogs thereof has been developed. Namely, this technique is useful for the elimination of contamination in the nucleic acid amplification area. Elimination of unwanted contamination has made gene probe analyses much more reproduceable.

Abstract: The present invention provides the nucleotide sequences of Acetobacter operons, cdg operons encoding genes for the biosynthesis and degradation of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP). Specifically, the nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of 3 phosphodiesterases isozymes, 3 diguanylate cyclase isozymes, and 2 polypeptides of unidentified function are provided. Also provided for are various strains of microorganisms, including Acetobacter cells genetically manipulated so as to produce elevated and/or reduced levels of one or more cdg operon encoded proteins.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the sequential separation of whey proteins using radial-flow chromatography. Different buffer systems adjusted to suitable pH and ionic strength are utilized in the separation process. The method separates at least five different proteins from whey. Infant feeding formulas, and other food formulations are also disclosed incorporating therein in different proportions various proteins separated from the whey.

Abstract: This invention discloses a gene for the identification of cells comprising a selection leader segment, a cell marker segment and a transmembrane segment. The gene can be used to identify cells transfected with the gene by the steps of: inserting the gene having a selection leader segment, a cell marker segment and a transmembrane segment into the DNA or RNA of a cell, allowing the cell to express the gene, and detecting the expressed cell marker segment of the gene.

Abstract: Insertion of IFN-alpha promoters in recombinant DNAs improves their expression efficiencies for useful polypeptides. Expression of such a recombinant DNA in host cells of mammalian origin is artificially controllable by the presence and absence of external stimuli using IFN-alpha inducers. Thus, transformants with such a recombinant DNA readily increase to a maximized cell density with causing neither damages nor extinction due to polypeptides they produce, and subsequent exposure to IFN-alpha inducers allows the proliferated cells to efficiently produce polypeptides with significant glycosylations.

Abstract: A new plasmid vector operable in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, comprising a synthetic promoter capable of directing with great efficiency the expression of the heterologous gene under its control is described. This vector which has a high stability in transformed strains is particularly useful for the production of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli and/or Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a biochemically active polypeptide from a biochemically inactive polypeptide. The polypeptide is normally but need not be expressed in a precursor form containing a pro-sequence. The inactive polypeptide is reacted with a tailor-made activating peptide. The activating peptide can be synthetic or made by recombinant DNA procedure. The activating peptide is a peptide which contains one or more functional domains which are necessary for folding the inactive polypeptide into a biochemically active conformation. The activating peptide may but need not contain a sequence of amino acids which is identical to the sequence of the natural occurring pro-sequence of the polypeptide. Also, a method is disclosed which permits to identify the one or more functional domains in the pro-sequence of a polypeptide which contribute(s) to the folding of the inactive polypeptide into a biochemically active conformation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the production of human superoxide dismutase and a novel protocol for enhancing efficiency of expression. The gene encoding for human superoxide dismutase is isolated and inserted into a vector in conjunction with a synthetic linker which provides for enhanced efficiency in translation. E. coli strain D1210 (pSODX8) was deposited at the A.T.C.C. on Sep. 27, 1983 and given Accession No. 39453. Yeast strain 2150-2-3 (pC1/1GAPSOD) and E. coli strains D1210 (pSOD11) and D1210 (pS2OR) were deposited at the A.T.C.C. on May 9, 1984, and given Accession Nos. 20708, 39679 and 39,680, respectively.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for synthesizing biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides. The apparatus includes plural reaction vessels in which subunit coupling to biopolymers in a particle suspension is carried out. The vessels are connected to common valving structure for use in mixing the suspension and removing suspension liquid. In one embodiment, a robotic arm in the apparatus is operable to transfer reaction solution to the reaction vessels, and to transfer particle suspensions from the reaction vessels to a mixing vessel and back to the reaction vessels. The method can be used to produce preferably equi-molar amounts of different-sequence biopolymers, such as polypeptides and polynucleotides.

Abstract: A mutant AOX2 promoter obtained by mutating a sequence of natural AOX2 promoter in a manner comprising at least one of the three mutation modes of (1) a region extending upstream from nucleotide 1187 inclusive and comprising at least nucleotides 845-960 is deleted, (2) nucleotide(s) is(are) replaced in region(s) in nucleotides 1274-1314, and (3) new oligonucleotide(s) is (are) inserted in region(s) in nucleotides 1274-1314, a vector carrying said mutant AOX2 promoter, a transformant into which said vector has been introduced, and a method for producing a heterologous protein, which comprises cultivating said transformant. The promoter of the present invention has remarkably enhanced activity as compared with natural AOX2 promoter, and is highly useful as a promoter to be carried in an expression vector allowing heterologous protein expression. In addition, the vector and the transformant of the invention can efficiently express and produce various useful heterologous proteins.

Abstract: Synthetic peptides have an amino acid sequence corresponding to at least one antigenic determinant of at least one protein, usually a structural protein, particularly the P1, P2 and P6 protein, of Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), particularly type b, and are used as is, in chimeric T-B form, in lipidated form, linked to a carrier molecule, particularly a synthetic PRP molecule and/or polymerized to form molecular aggregates, in vaccines against Hi.