Abstract: A novel growth arrest homeobox gene has been discovered and the nucleotide sequences have been determined in both the rat and the human. The expression of the novel homeobox gene inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell growth. The growth arrest homeobox gene hereinafter referred to as the “Gax gene” and its corresponding proteins are useful in the study of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and in the treatment of blood vessel diseases that result from excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation, particularly after balloon angioplasty.

Abstract: This invention relates to synthetic polynucleotides which encode lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase like molecules or variants of these species. The synthetic polynucleotides of the invention permit the expression of functional lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase like molecules or variants of these species, typically in good yield. The invention also relates to recombinant DNA molecules containing these, synthetic polynucleotides, to cells containing them and to uses of the expression products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of expressing enzymatically-active, recombinant human &bgr;-tryptase in a yeast host cell, expression constructs which drive the production of enzymatically-active tryptase in transformed yeast, and genetically-engineered yeast containing the expression constructs and which express enzymatically-active human &bgr;-tryptase. Uses for the tryptase so produced are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding various proteases, from a mammal, reagents related thereto, including specific antibodies, and purified proteins are described. Methods of using said reagents and related diagnostic kits are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase and the use of these homologs to degrade s-triazine-containing compounds. In particular, this invention includes the identification of homologs of atrazine chlorohydrolase encoded by a DNA fragment having at least 95% homology to the sequence from the nucleic acid sequence beginning at position 236 and ending at position 1655 of SEQ ID NO:1, where the DNA fragment is capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:1 and has altered catalytic activity as compared with wild-type atrazine chlorohydrolase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant DNA polymerases that exhibit reduced discrimination against labeled nucleotides into polynucleotides. The DNA polymerases of the invention have at least one mutation in the nucleotide label interaction region of the enzyme such the mutation results in reduced discrimination against labeled nucleotides. The nucleotide label interaction regions is located at portions of the O-helix, (ii) the K helix, and (iii) the inter O-P helical loop of Taq DNA polymerase or analogous positions in other DNA polymerases. In addition to providing novel mutant DNA polymerases, the invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the subject mutant DNA polymerases. The polynucleotides provided may comprise expression vectors for the recombinant production of the mutant polymerases. The invention also provide host cells containing the subject polynucleotides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase, also referred to herein as an aryl-aldehyde oxidoreductase, that has been isolated and purified from Nocardia sp. strain NRRL 5646, and to methods of using the carboxylic acid reductase as a biocatalyst for the reduction of carboxylic acids or their derivatives to the corresponding useful product(s). In a preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to biochemically-produced vanillin, and to the methods of its production by the biocatalytic reduction of vanillic acid, or a precursor or derivative thereof, in a reaction comprising the substantially purified, biologically-derived carboxylic acid reductase.

Abstract: A cDNA encoding (E)-&bgr;-farnesene synthase from peppermint (Mentha piperita) has been isolated and sequenced, and the corresponding amino acid sequence has been determined. Accordingly, an isolated DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) is provided which codes for the expression of (E)-&bgr;-farnesene synthase (SEQ ID NO:2), from peppermint (Mentha piperita). In other aspects replicable recombinant cloning vehicles are provided which code for (E)-&bgr;-farnesene synthase, or for a base sequence sufficiently complementary to at least a portion of (E)-&bgr;-farnesene synthase DNA or RNA to enable hybridization therewith. In yet other aspects, modified host cells are provided that have been transformed, transfected, infected and/or injected with a recombinant cloning vehicle and/or DNA sequence encoding (E)-&bgr;-farnesene synthase.

Abstract: This invention provides to a novel gene encoding a protein aving the activity of &bgr;-galactoside-&agr;2,6-sialyltransferase. The gene of the invention encodes a protein which having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 which have been modified by deletion, substitution or addition of at least one amino acid residue in said sequence, while maintaining substantially the same &bgr;-galactoside-&agr;2,6-sialyltransferase activity. The present invention uses said gene to further provide a vector for expressing a protein having the &bgr;-galactoside-&agr;2,6-sialyltransferase activity, host cells and a recombinant protein. The protein encoded by the gene of the invention does not have any substantial homology with known sialyltransferases, and in addition, the membrane binding region is located in the C-terminal unlike known sialyltransferases.

Abstract: Purified &bgr;-amino acids are of considerable interest in the preparation of pharmacologically active compounds. Although enantiomerically pure &bgr;-amino acids, such as L-&bgr;-lysine, can be produced by standard chemical synthesis, this traditional approach is time consuming, requires expensive starting materials, and results in a racemic mixture which must be purified further. However, DNA molecules encoding lysine 2,3-aminomutase can be used to prepare L-&bgr;-lysine by methods that avoid the pitfalls of chemical synthesis. In particular, L-&bgr;-lysine can be synthesized by cultures of host cells that express recombinant lysine 2,3-aminomutase. Alternatively, such recombinant host cells can provide a source for isolating quantities of lysine 2,3-aminomutase, which in turn, can be used to produce L-&bgr;-lysine in vitro.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an ornithine biosynthetic enzyme. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the ornithine biosynthetic enzyme, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the ornithine biosynthetic enzyme in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: Novel SH2-containing inositol-phosphatase which has a src homology 2 (SH2) domain and exhibits phosphoIns-5-ptase activity, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel protein are disclosed. The invention also relates to methods for identifying substances which affect the binding of the protein to Shc and/or its phosphoIns-5-ptase activity and methods for screening for agonists or antagonists of the binding of the protein and Shc.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated nucleic acid compounds encoding a glycosyltransferase enzyme of Amycolatopsis orientalis. Also provided are vectors carrying genes that encode said enzyme, transformed heterologous host cells for expressing said enzyme, and methods for producing glycopeptide compounds using the cloned genes that encode said enzyme.

Abstract: Mutant, chimeric thermostable DNA polymerases are provided, along with purified DNA sequences that encode the enzymes. Also provided are methods for producing and using the enzymes.

Abstract: Novel SH2-containing inositol-phosphatase which has a src homology 2 (SH2) domain and exhibits phosphoIns-5-ptase activity, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel protein are disclosed. The invention also relates to methods for identifying substances which affect the binding of the protein to Shc and/or its phosphoIns-5-ptase activity and methods for screening for agonists or antagonists of the binding of the protein and Shc.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition in a preferred embodiment comprises an isolated bacterial protein that induces fibrin-dependent plasminogen activation, and methods for dissolving blood clots in a subject use such a composition. Embodiments also include a nucleic acid encoding such a bacterial protein, a nucleic acid encoding such a bacterial protein as a fusion to another protein, an expression vector with the nucleic acid, and a host cell transformed with the expression vector.

Abstract: Fabry disease results from an X-linked deficiency in the enzyme &agr;-galactosidase A. The present invention is directed to recombinant truncated forms of &agr;-galactosidase A, as well as therapeutic compositions comprising said truncated &agr;-galactosidase A which are useful, for example, to treat Fabry disease patients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an isocitrate dehydrogenase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the isocitrate dehydrogenase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the isocitrate dehydrogenase in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid 13-hydroperoxide lyase protein from guava (Psidium guajava) and the gene encoding the protein. Expression systems for recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase and methods of using recombinant guava 13-hydroperoxide lyase for the production of green notes are provided.