Abstract: Described is a gene situated in the region of the neuroblastoma consensus deletion 1p36.2-p36.1 and which codes for a helix-loop-helix protein with the designation HEIR-1. The gene is affected significantly by allelic tumor deletions in neuroblastomas and correlates inversely both N-myc overexpression in tumors and with N-myc expression in normal development. The cDNA and antibodies coding for HEIR-1 are used for the diagnosis of pathological conditions associated with aberration in the region of the neuroblastoma consensus deletion.

Abstract: A substantially pure nucleic acid comprising a sequence encoding a pp60.sup.PIK peptide and methods of using nucleic acid encoding pp60.sup.PIK to make pp60.sup.PIK polypeptide.

Abstract: A serine/threonine kinase protein which is associated with mitotic and meiotic cell division and which is characterized by having a kinase domain in its N-terminus and three PEST regions in the C-terminus, and nucleic acid molecules encoding the protein. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using the serine/threonine kinase protein and nucleic acid molecules are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleotide sequences of the human Notch and Delta genes, and amino acid sequences of their encoded proteins, as well as fragments thereof containing an antigenic determinant or which are functionally active. The invention is also directed to fragments (termed herein "adhesive fragments"), and the sequences thereof, of the proteins ("toporythmic proteins") encoded by toporythmic genes which mediate homotypic or heterotypic binding to toporythmic proteins. Toporythmic genes, as used herein, refers to the genes Notch, Delta, and Serrate, as well as other members of the Delta/Serrate family which may be identified, e.g., by the methods described herein. Analogs and derivatives of the adhesive fragments which retain binding activity are also provided. Antibodies to human Notch and to adhesive fragments are additionally provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treatment of a neuromuscular or muscle disorder resulting from the loss of axonal contact with the muscle comprising administering an effective amount of ciliary neurotrophic factor. The invention also relates to a method of treatment of a disorder of a type of tissue or cell resulting from the loss of axonal contact with the cell comprising administering an effective amount of ciliary neurotrophic factor in which the type of tissue or cell expresses a CNTF receptor protein.

Abstract: The invention provides purified ARAg polypeptides, antibodies against ARAg polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding ARAg polypeptides. Also provided are methods of diagnosis and treatment using the same. ARAg polypeptides are typically present on the surface of alloantigen-activated CD8.sup.+ T-cells, monocytes, granulocytes and peripheral dendritic cells, and substantially absent on resting T-cells, mitogen-activated CD8.sup.+ T-cells, B-cells, erythroid cell lines, myelomonocitic cell lines, EBV-LCL cell lines and fibroblastoid cell lines. An exemplary ARAg polypeptide, termed ARAg-h-1, has a signal sequence, seven variable-type immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular domain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for isolating a mutant cell that excretes a desired compound. The method includes culturing a plurality of auxotrophic pretreated starter cells and auxotrophic feeder cells in the presence of a reversibly noninfective, modified lambdoid bacteriophage. If the treated starter cell produces the desired compound, the bacteriophage will be rendered infective and infect the feeder cell. The feeder cell, in turn, will excrete a metabolite required by the starter cell and the starter cell will excrete a metabolite required by the feeder cell, enabling the cells to cross-feed, grow, and produce a colony containing a starter cell which produces the desired compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel purified human lysosomal membrane sialoglycoproteins. These novel human proteins, lamp-1 and lamp-2, are highly glycosylated and are the major carriers of polylactosaminoglycan, when expressed on the cell surface participate in various cellular adhesion interactions.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule the bcl-6 locus. This invention also provides an isolated human nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 locus. This invention further provides a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule of at least 15 nucleotides capable of specifically hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 locus. This invention provides an isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 operatively linked to a promoter of RNA transcription. This invention provides a vector which comprises the nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 locus. This invention provides a host vector system for the production of a polypeptide encoded by bcl-6 locus, which comprises the vector of bcl-6 locus in a suitable host. This invention provides a polypeptide encoded by the isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule of bcl-6 locus. This invention provides an antibody capable of binding to polypeptide encoded by bcl-6 locus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method of producing a DNA sequence encoding human osteogenic protein, OP-1, using recombinant DNA techniques. The DNA sequence encoding OP-1 is utilized in the preparation of recombinant baculovirus, which is then used to infect cells from Spodoptera frugiperda. The present invention is further drawn to the production of physiologically active OP-1 protein by culturing the infected insect cells and to recombinant baculovirus containing DNA encoding human OP-1 as well as insect cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus. The recombinant OP-1 produced by the present invention may be used to produce pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of bone diseases, orthopedic diseases, bone defects, and trauma.

Abstract: Purified Bone Morphogenetic Protein-11 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. Recombinant DNA molecules encoding the BMP-11 proteins are also disclosed. The proteins may be useful in regulating follicle stimulating hormone, such as for contraception, and for the induction of bone, cartilage and/or other connective tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions of and methods for obtaining ubiquitous, nuclear receptor (UR) polypeptides. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding UR polypeptides, recombinant host cells and vectors containing UR-encoding polynucleotide sequences, and recombinant UR polypeptides. By way of example, the invention discloses the cloning and functional expression of at least two different UR polypeptides. The invention also includes methods for using the isolated, recombinant receptor polypeptides in assays designed to select substances which interact with UR polypeptides for use in diagnostic, drug design and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Biologically active heterodimeric human fertility hormones composed of two different subunits, each subunit being synthesized in the same cell transformed by at least one cell expression vector having heterologous DNA encoding each subunit with each subunit being controlled by a separate promoter. Preferred human fertility hormones include hCG, hLH and hFSH.

Abstract: Purified Bone Morphogenetic Protein-10 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. Recombinant DNA molecules encoding the BMP-10 proteins are also disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: Purified BMP-5 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and/or cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.

Abstract: The present invention provides for circularly permuted ligands which possess specificity and binding affinity comparable to or greater than the specificity and binding affinity of the original (unpermuted) ligand. The invention further provides for novel fusion proteins comprising a circularly permuted ligand fused to one or more proteins of interest.

Abstract: The isolation, identification and production by recombinant methods of bone calcification factor, a 22 KD polypeptide, are disclosed. The peptide has calcification-inducing activity when implanted with matrix Gla protein into mammals.

Abstract: Three unique control DNA sequences of the glial fibrillary acidic (gfa) protein gene have been identified upstream of its basal promoter that are capable of regulating astrocyte-specific transcription of the human gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). One or more of those three regions alone or together with the SV40 early promoter and SV40 enhancer control expression of endogenous or heterologous protein in astrocytes. Transgenic animals expressing amyloid protein can be prepared and used as a model for evaluating Alzheimer's disease. Many heterologous proteins can be expressed in the astrocytes so as to take advantage of the growing list of astrocyte functions. Such proteins include hormones, growth factors, and their receptors. Examples include basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), acidic FGF (aFGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1, IGF-2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factors .beta.-1 and .beta.-2 (TGF.beta.1, TGF.beta.

Abstract: A novel method for producing novel and/or improved heterofunctional binding fusion proteins termed Totally Synthetic Affinity Reagents (TSARs) is disclosed. TSARs are concatenated heterofunctional proteins, polypeptides or peptides comprising at least two functional regions: a binding domain with affinity for a ligand and a second effector peptide portion that is chemically or biologically active. In one embodiment, the heterofunctional proteins, polypeptides or peptides further comprise a linker peptide portion between the binding domain and the second active peptide portion. The linker peptide can be either susceptible or not susceptible to cleavage by enzymatic or chemical means. Novel and/or improved heterofunctional binding reagents as well as methods for using the reagents for a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in general, to a glycoprotein that is a member of the epidermal growth factor superfamily ASGP-2. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding the glycoprotein; to a recombinant DNA molecule containing the DNA segment; to cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; to a method of producing the glycoprotein; and to methods of disease diagnosis and therapy that involve the use of the glycoprotein or DNA segment encoding same.