Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes Axin. This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Axin. This invention further provides a purified wildtype or mutant Axin. This invention further provides an oligonucleotide capable of distinguishing nucleic acids encoding mutant or wildtype Axin. This invention also provides various methods of use: such as a method for determining whether a subject carries a mutation in the axin gene, a method of determining whether a subject has a predisposition for cancer, a method for treating a subject who has a predisposition to cancer, a method for determining whether a subject has cancer, a method for detecting a mutation in cancerous cells of the subject, a method of suppressing cells unable to regulate themselves and a method for identifying a chemical compound which is capable of suppressing cells unable to regulate themselves.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence is provided which encodes a peptide having &bgr;-xylosidase activity and exhibits at least 30% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or hybridises under stringent conditions with a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, or a part thereof having at least 15 nucleotides encoding an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3. Also provided is a peptide having &bgr;-xylosidase activity and exhibiting at least 30% amino acid identity with the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3 or a part thereof having at least 8 amino acids shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 and described in SEQ ID NO. 3.

Abstract: The production of thermostable xylanses having bacterial origin is described. These compositions are useful for modifying plant biomass and for enzyme-aided bleaching of wood pulp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to heat tolerant phytases and DNA sequences which code therefor. The phytases are useful in hydrolyzing phytate to inositol and inorganic phosphates. The phytases are valuable feed additives.

Abstract: A human DNA Ligase III polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptide and a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing such polypeptide via gene therapy for the treatment of disorders associated with a defect in DNA Ligase III. Antagonists against such polypeptides and their use as a therapeutic to destroy unwanted cells are also disclosed. Diagnostic assays to detect mutant DNA Ligase III genes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cell which is introduced with a DNA coding for a protein defined in the following (A) or (B): (A) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 shown in Sequence Listing; (B) a protein which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 shown in Sequence Listing including substitution, deletion, insertion, addition, or inversion of one or several amino acids, and has activity to promote methanol dehydrogenase activity, in such a manner that the protein encoded by the DNA can be expressed, is cultured in a medium so that the protein having an activity to promote methanol dehydrogenase activity should be produced and accumulated in the medium, and the protein is collected from the medium. The present invention provides a novel activator of methanol dehydrogenase, DNA coding for it, cell expressing the DNA, and method for producing the activator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polynucleotide which identifies and encodes a novel human galectin-8. The invention provides for genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding human galectin-8. The invention also provides for the production and use of substantially purified human galectin-8 in pharmaceutical compositions to increase immune responses. The invention also provides for the use of antisense molecules and antibodies in pharmaceutical compositions to decrease immune response. The invention also describes diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide to hybridize with the transcripts and/or genomic DNA encoding human galectin-8 and anti-human galectin-8 antibodies which specifically bind to human galectin-8.

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 Ca2+ ions with furin or a furin-like enzyme, or an endoproteolytically active fragment, derivative or fusion protein of furin or furin-like enzyme. The invention can be used for the (micro)biological production of a protein by culturing genetically engineered cells expressing a proform of the protein as well as furin or a furin-like enzyme and isolating the protein formed. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents or adjuvants, as well as an endoproteolytically active amount of furin or a furin-like enzyme, or a fragment or derivative of furin or furin-like enzyme having an endoproteolytic activity.

Abstract: Aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain C2-C24 monocarboxylic acids and polyhydric alcohols, particularly glycerol are selectively reached to monoesters in the presence of an enzyme which comprises potato lipid acyl hydrolase. The process can be used too for upgrading technical monoglycerides which contain free fatty acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zsig37, a novel member of the family of proteins bearing a collagen-like domain and a globular domain. The polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding them, are involved in dimerization or oligomerization and may be used in the study thereof. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zsig37 polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to histo-blood group O alleles of baboon. The major O allele retains identifying sequence characteristics of the baboon A allele. Other alleles, including a B-like allele, are also disclosed herein. The O alleles of baboon are closer in sequence similarity to the baboon A and B alleles than are any of the baboon ABO alleles to the human alleles of the ABO locus. This invention also provides materials and methods for identifying O alleles, and carriers of O alleles, as well as methods for producing baboons and baboon cells, tissues, and organs having a group O phenotype. Group O baboons, cells, tissues, and organs of the invention are useful for xenotransplantation.

Abstract: The invention provides a human cell junction PDZ protein (CJPDZ) and polynucleotides which identify and encode CJPDZ. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with expression of CJPDZ.

Abstract: A fibrinolytically active metalloproteinase polypeptide (called “novel acting thrombolytic”) which is useful for blood clot lysis in vivo and methods and materials for its production by recombinant expression are described.

Abstract: Recombinant strains of L. johnsonii which have capacities of surviving passage through the intestine, adhering to human intestinal cells and increasing phagocytosis of macrophages and which have a sequence of gene coding which is an L. johnsonii strain sequence of gene coding for D-lactate dehydrogenase modified so that the recombinant strain produces only L(+)-lactate.

Abstract: Five human genes related to the Mad gene of Drosophila were identified. One of these genes (Smad2) was found to reside at chromosome 18q21, adjacent to a previously described member of this family called DPC4 (Smad4). Smad2 was found to be somatically mutated in two of eighteen human colorectal cancers. Smad2 and Smad4 are important in the suppression of neoplasia by mediating the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-&bgr;-like ligands.

Abstract: The present invention makes available assays and reagents for identifying anti-proliferative agents, such as mitotic and meiotic inhibitors. The present assay provides a simple and rapid screening test which relies on scoring for positive cellular proliferation as indicative of anti-mitotic or anti-meiotic activity, and comprises contacting a candidate agent with a cell which has an impaired cell-cycle checkpoint and measuring the level of proliferation in the presence and absence of the agent. The checkpoint impairment is such that it either causes premature progression of the cell through at least a portion of a cell-cycle or inhibition of normal progression of the cell through at least a portion of a cell-cycle, but can be off-set by the action of an agent which inhibits at least one regulatory protein of the cell-cycle in a manner which counter-balances the effect of the impairment.

Abstract: The invention provides a human growth-associated protease inhibitor heavy chain precursor (GAPIP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode GAPIP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for diagnosing, treating or preventing disorders associated with expression of GAPIP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prenyl diphosphate synthetase and a gene coding for the synthetase. The invention discloses a recombinant protein having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or a recombinant protein which has the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2 having deletion, substitution or addition of at least one amino acid and which has decaprenyl diphosphate synthetase activity; a gene coding for the protein; a recombinant vector comprising the gene; a transformant transformed with the vector; a method for producing a decaprenyl diphosphate synthetase; and a method for producing ubiquinone-10.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of the (S)-enantiomers of optically active cyanohydrins, in which a reaction mixture of a) an aldehyde or ketone dissolved in an organic, water-immiscible or slightly miscible diluent, b) an aqueous (S)-hydroxynitrile lyase solution and c) a cyanide group donor is stirred in such a way that an emulsion is formed which is maintained up to the end of the reaction by stirring.

Abstract: An aminopeptidase is provided which efficiently decomposes a low-molecular-weight peptide containing glutamic acid or aspartic acid in its sequence. A method of hydrolyzing a peptide or protein by use of the aminopeptidase is also provided. Aminopeptidase GX is derived from germinated soybean cotyledons and releases glutamic acid or aspartic acid from a peptide or protein containing glutamic acid or aspartic acid at the N-terminal end and is used to hydrolyse peptides or proteins.