Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of transgenic plants capable of forming seeds whose embryos exhibit a more refined development.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for removing unincorporated dye-labeled molecules from a mixture that includes dye-labeled polynucleotides or other polymers and the unincorporated dye-labeled molecules. The methods involve adsorbing the unincorporated dye-labeled molecules into a plurality of particles that are made up of one or more porous hydrophobic materials that are encapsulated in a hydrophilic matrix.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the identification of a novel class of glutamate transporters. In particular, this invention pertains to the discovery that proteins originally considered to perform an entirely different function (BNPI, DNPI, etc.), in fact, transport glutamate into synaptic vesicles. Designated VGLUT glutamate transporters, the transporters provide good targets with which to screen for modulators of glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles.

Abstract: Provided are antisense oligonucleotides directed against the raf-1 gene, Ha-ras gene and HER-2 gene, components of a signal transduction pathway involving oncogenes and their normal counterparts and leading to the phenotype of cellular radioresistance. Administration of these antisense oligonucleotides is shown to reverse the radioresistance phenotype in cells overexpressing HER-2 or a mutant form of Ha-ras. Methods and compositions for reversing radiation resisting among other conditions involving these genes are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) of Musca domestica, the VSSC being capable of conferring insecticide susceptibility or insecticide resistance to Musca domestica, as well as to the isolated voltage-sensitive sodium channels of Musca domestica encoded thereby. Nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticide susceptible VSSCs and nucleic acid molecules encoding insecticide resistant VSSCs are provided. Methods for increasing or decreasing the expression of functional voltage-sensitive sodium channels in host cells are also provided, as well as methods using the sodium channels. Also provided is a method for isolating other voltage-sensitive sodium channels.

Abstract: The invention features novel osteoregulin polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences which encode the polypeptides, vectors, antibodies, hosts which express heterologous osteoregulins, and animal cells and mammals with a targeted disruption of an osteoregulin gene. These osteoregulins play a role in regulating bone homeostasis, adiposity, and the calcification of atherosclerotic plaques. Accordingly, the invention also features screening assays to identify modulators of osteoregulin activity as well as methods of treating mammals for diseases or disorders associated with osteoregulin activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bioconjugates and the delivery of bioactive agents which are preferably targeted for site-specific release in cells, tissues or organs. More particularly, this invention relates to bioconjugates which comprise a bioactive agent and an organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is covalently bonded directly or indirectly to the cobalt atom of the organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is released from the bioconjugate by the cleavage of the covalent bond between the bioactive agent and the cobalt atom in the organocobalt complex. The cleavage may occur as a result of normal displacement by cellular nucleophiles or enzymatic action, but is preferably caused to occur selectively as a predetermined release site by application of an external signal. The external signal may be light or photoexcitation, i.e. photolysis, or it may be ultrasound, i.e. sonolysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a genomic DNA encoding a polypeptide capable of inducing the production of interferon-&ggr; by immunocompetent cells. The genomic DNA efficiently expresses the polypeptide with high biological activities of such as inducing the production of interferon-&ggr; by immunocompetent cells, enhancing killer cells' cytotoxicity and inducing killer cells' formation, when introduced into mammalian host cells. The high biological activities of the polypeptide facilitate its uses to treat and/or prevent malignant tumors, viral diseases, bacterial infectious diseases and immune diseases without serious side effects when administered to humans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of stimulating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity to enhance the elimination of IgE-bearing B-cells comprising administering to a mammal an anti-IgE antibody, which binds to membrane bound IgE, but does not induce histamine release and administering an ISO to the mammal. The ISO may be a CpG containing oligonucleotide, or a modified CpG-containing oligonucleotide with an electron-withdrawing group at least at position C-5 of the cytosine in the CpG sequence. In addition, the method may include the administration of an allergen to improve desensitization therapy.

Abstract: A method for regulating expression of a tet operator-linked gene in a cell of a subject is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method involves introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a tetracycline-controllable transactivator (tTA), the tTA comprising a Tet repressor operably linked to a polypeptide which directly or indirectly activates transcription in eucaryotic cells; and modulating the concentration of a tetracycline, or analogue thereof, in the subject. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the method involves obtaining the cell from the subject, introducing into the cell a first nucleic acid molecule which operatively links a gene to at least one tet operator sequence, introducing into the cell a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a tTA, to form a modified cell, administering the modified cell to the subject, and modulating the concentration of a tetracycline, or analogue thereof, in the subject. The first and second nucleic acid molecule can be within a single molecule (e.g.

Abstract: A chemically inducible promoter is described that may be used to transform plants, including tobacco and lettuce, with genes which are easily regulatable by adding the plants or plant cells to a medium containing an inducer of the promoter or by removing the plants or plant cells from such medium. The promoter described is one that is inducible by a glucocorticoid which is not endogenous to plants. Such promoters may be used with a variety of genes such as ipt or knotted1 to induce shoot formation in the presence of a glucocorticoid. The promoter may also be used with antibiotic or herbicide resistance genes which are then regulatable by the presence or absence of inducer rather than being constitutive. Other examples of genes which may be placed under the control of the inducible promoter are also presented.

Abstract: Drosophila melanogaster and C. elegans that have been genetically modified to express or mis-express proteins involved in the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) pathway are described. These genetically modified animal models have identifiable phenotypes that make them useful in assays for studying lipid metabolism, other genes implicated in lipid metabolism, and compounds capable of modulating lipid metabolism pathways. Methods for studying lipid metabolism in living nematodes using fluorescently-labelled fatty acid conjugates, such BODITY™ fatty acid conjugates, are also described. Novel SREBP pathway nucleic acid and protein sequences are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bioconjugates and the delivery of bioactive agents which are preferably targeted for site-specific release in cells, tissues or organs. More particularly, this invention relates to bioconjugates which comprise a bioactive agent and an organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is covalently bonded directly or indirectly to the cobalt atom of the organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is released from the bioconjugate by the cleavage of the covalent bond between the bioactive agent and the cobalt atom in the organocobalt complex. The cleavage may occur as a result of normal displacement by cellular nucleophiles or enzymatic action, but is preferably caused to occur selectively as a predetermined release site by application of an external signal. The external signal may be light or photoexcitation, i.e. photolysis, or it may be ultrasound, i.e. sonolysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bioconjugates and the delivery of bioactive agents which are preferably targeted for site-specific release in cells, tissues or organs. More particularly, this invention relates to bioconjugates which comprise a bioactive agent and an organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is covalently bonded directly or indirectly to the cobalt atom of the organocobalt complex. The bioactive agent is released from the bioconjugate by the cleavage of the covalent bond between the bioactive agent and the cobalt atom in the organocobalt complex. The cleavage may occur as a result of normal displacement by cellular nucleophiles or enzymatic action, but is preferably caused to occur selectively as a predetermined release site by application of an external signal. The external signal may be light or photoexcitation, i.e. photolysis, or it may be ultrasound, i.e. sonolysis.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for preventing depletion of non-autologous hematopoietic cells. Animal model systems using the method are also provided as are methods of treatment using non-autologous hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel PrP protein, and nucleic acids encoding this protein, where the PrP protein is characterized in vivo by 1) incomplete glycosylation relative to glycosylation of wild-type PrPC and 2) proper cellular localization, i.e. an ability to be transported to the cell surface. This novel, under-glycosylated PrP, unlike its normal cellular counterpart, can easily be converted into a protease-resistant isoform by incubation with infectious prions. The invention further provides systems for the study of prion disorders and methods of using these systems, e.g. the study of the mechanical processes in progression of prion-mediated disease or the identification of new therapeutic agents for treatment of prion-mediated disorders. In such systems, protease-resistant under-glycosylated PrP is generated de novo and can be detected by standard immunoblot techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions of growth hormone and/or growth hormone releasing hormone that promote of the release and the elevation of growth hormone when administered to animals. The present invention further relates to methods and compositions of growth hormone and/or growth hormone releasing hormone for treatment of diseases or disorders resulting from growth hormone related deficiencies. The invention also provides methods for producing novel growth hormone releasing hormone variants and their uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach to gene therapy of restricted areas such as tumors. The methods introduced here comprise: (a) placing a gene of interest in a plasmid vector driven by a heat or light inducible promoter; (b) modifying this vector by including a tetracycline responsive fusion protein which acts as a transcriptional activator, thus permitting regulation of gene expression by varying the levels of drug and; (c) modifying this vector by including DNA sequences that reduce or eliminate expression of genes in normal bystander cells. Also provided are a set of vectors for both sustained and regulable expression. There is also presented novel vectors for the gene therapy treatment of local and metastatic breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Abstract: The isolation and characterization of a metastasis tumor suppressor gene KAI1 is disclosed and diagnostic methods and gene therapy approaches utilizing reagents derived from the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the KAI1 gene are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides porcine retrovirus (PoEV) polynucleotide fragments, particularly those encoding at least one PoEV expression product, a recombinant vector comprising such a polynucleotide fragment or fragments, use of PoEV polynucleotide fragments in the detection of native PoEV, a host cell containing at least one PoEv polynucleotide fragment or recombinant vector, PoEV polypeptides, antibodies immuno-reactive with PoEV polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising recombinant PoEV polypeptides for use as prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents and uses of PoEV polynucleotide fragments and/or polypeptides in medicine, including veterinary medicine and in the preparation of medicaments for use in medicine.