Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening for a therapeutically useful compound which comprises testing an LC132 receptor agonist in a screening assay for psychiatric and/or neurological disorders. More particularly, the screening method is based on contacting an LC132 receptor with an agent suspected of being an agonist of the LC132 receptor function, followed by the detection of the binding and/or the agonist activity of the compound and then testing of an agent with LC132 agonist activity in an antiepileptic, anticonvulsant or anxiolytic screening assay.

Abstract: A variant human &agr;7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) polypeptide is provided wherein the variant contains an amino acid substitution at the valine-274 position of the wild-type human &agr;7 nAChR. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the variant human &agr;7 nAChR, receptors and host cells containing such nucleic acid molecules are also provided. In addition, methods are provided for producing the variant as are methods of using such variants for screening compounds for activity at the nAChR.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of modifying feeding behavior, including increasing or decreasing food consumption, e.g., in connection with treating obesity, bulimia or anorexia. These methods involve administration of compounds are selective agonists or antagonists or the Y5 receptor. One such compound has the structure: In addition, this invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, an isolated Y5 receptor protein, vectors comprising an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a Y5 receptor, cells comprising such acid probes useful for detecting nucleic acid encoding Y5 receptors, antisense oligonucleotides complementary to any unique sequences of a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a Y5 receptor, and nonhuman transgenic animals which express DNA a normal or a mutant Y5 receptor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) receptor, and provides for CNTF receptor nucleic acid and amino acid sequences. It also relates to (i) assay systems for detecting CNTF activity; (ii) experimental model systems for studying the physiologic role of CNTF; (ii) diagnostic techniques for identifying CNTF-related neurologic conditions; (iv) therapeutic techniques for the treatment of CNTF-related neurologic and muscular conditions, and (v) methods for identifying molecules homologous to CNTF and CNTFR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides that promote neurite outgrowth. The polypeptides contain fibronectin Type III repeats derived from a family of cell adhesion molecules characterized by having 6 immunoglobulin domains and 5 fibronectin Type III repeats. The polypeptides of this invention correspond to F80, 3-5 and 4-5 regions of the cell adhesion family members chicken Ng-CAM, chicken Nr-CAM, mouse L1CAM, human L1CAM and homologs thereof. Methods of promoting neurite outgrowth in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications are also described as are methods of making the disclosed polypeptides and devices for using thereof.

Abstract: Factors and methods for disrupting or inhibiting the association of protomers of a multimeric protein are described. Such inhibition reduces the biological disorders. Particularly, novel neurotrophin antagonists are described. Generally, the antagonist comprises amino acids from positions 68-58 and 108-110 of a neurotrophin, in which the amino acid from position 68 is covalently bound to the amino acid from position 108 and the amino acid from position 58 is covalently bound to the amino acid at position 110 to form a bicyclic structure, in another aspect of the invention transition metal ions are provided for selectively altering the geometry of the receptor binding domains of neurotrophins which allows functionality and activity of the neurotrophins to be selectively reduced. For example Zn2+ alters the conformation of NGF rendering it unable to bind to p75NTR or TrkA receptors or to activate signal transduction and biological outcomes normally induced by this protein.

Abstract: The invention provides ribA polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding ribA polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing ribA polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acids encoding AL-1 protein, as well as AL-1 protein produced by recombinant DNA methods. Such AL-1 protein is useful in preparing antibodies and in diagnosing and treating various neuronal disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to neuronal formation and methods of treating diseases characterized by abnormalities in the activity of dopaminergic (DA) and serotonergic (5HT) neurons. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming serotonergic neurons in vitro by contacting neuroprogenitor cells to an effective amount of native sequence, variants and functional fragments of FGF-4, FGF-8 and Shh. Additionally, disclosed is a method for forming dopaminergic neurons by contacting neuroprogenitor cells to an effective amount of FGF-8 and Shh. Further described are compositions, cell culture compositions and medical devices which contain sufficient amount of FGF-8, Shh or FGF-8, Shh and FGF-4 to stimulate differentiation into dopaminergic or serotonergic neurons, respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides a new human phosphodiesterase regulatory subunit (HPRS) and polynucleotides which encode HPRS. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, the complement of the polynucleotide sequence and antibodies. The invention also provides methods for treating disorders associated with expression of HPRS.

Abstract: Disclosed is human lactoferrin expressed using recombinant DNA, its method of production and purification.

Abstract: DNAs coding for human cell surface antigen (Fas or Fas antigen), vectors for expressing for said DNAs and transformants transfected with said vector are proveded. Fas is a polypeptide that exists in the surfaces of a variety of cells and is considered to be deeply concerned with the apoptosis of cells. The isolated Fas CDNA has an open reading frame that is capable of encoding a protein consisting of 335 amino acids. The mature Fas antigen is a protein consisting of 319 amino acids having a calculated molecular weight of about 36,000 and is constituted by an extracellular domain of 157 amino acids, a membrane-spanning domain of 17 amino acids, and a cytoplasmic domain of 145 amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to neuron-restrictive silencer factor proteins, nucleic acids, and antibodies thereto.

Abstract: A method for producing a neuroblast and a cellular composition comprising an enriched population of neuroblast cells is provided. Also disclosed are methods for identifying compositions which affect neuroblast and for treating a subject with a neuronal disorder, and a culture system for the production and maintenance of neuroblasts.

Abstract: We have identified a novel protein, named ALARM or &dgr;-catenin, on the basis of its ability to bind to presenilin 1. ALARM contains 4 copies of the arm repeat and is expressed almost exclusively in brain tissue.

Abstract: Vaccines, antibodies, proteins, DNAs and RNAs for diagnosis, prophylaxis, treatment and detection of Cryptosporidium species or Cryptosporidium species infections. Cryptosporidium species antigen and DNAs and RNA encoding the Cryptosporidium antigen and fragments thereof and recombinant proteins or fusion proteins produced thereby. Methods for diagnosis, prophylaxis, treatment and detection of Cryptosporidium species infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolation of a cDNA clone encoding the calcium sensor in human placenta and subsequent Northern blots confirming the mRNA expression also in human parathyroid and kidney tubule cells. Close sequence similarity is demonstrated with the rat Heymann nephritis antigen, a glycoprotein of the kidney tubule brush border with calcium binding ability. Immunohistochemistry substantiates a tissue distribution of the calcium sensor protein similar to that previously described for the Heymann antigen. It is proposed that the identified calcium sensor protein constitutes a universal sensor for recognition of variation in extracellular calcium, and that it plays a key role for calcium regulation via different organ systems. The calcium sensor protein belongs to the LDL-superfamily of glycoproteins, claimed to function primarily as protein receptors, but with functionally important calcium binding capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for discovering agonists and antagonists of the interaction between UDP-glucose, UDP-galactose, UDP-glucuronic acid, UDP-N-acetyl glucosamine, as well as related UDP sugars, and their cellular receptor, human KIAA0001, which may have utility in the treatment of several human diseases and disorders, including, but not limited to: infections such as bacterial, fungal, protozoan and viral infections, particularly infections caused by HIV-1 or HIV-2; pain; cancers; diabetes, obesity; anorexia; bulimia; asthma; Parkinson's disease; acute heart failure; hypotension; hypertension; urinary retention; osteoporosis; angina pectoris; myocardial infarction; restenosis; atherosclerosis; diseases characterized by excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation; aneurysms; wound healing; diseases characterized by loss of smooth muscle cells or reduced smooth muscle cell proliferation; stroke; ischemia; ulcers; asthma; allergies; benign prostatic hypertrophy; migraine; vomiting; psychotic and neurologic

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated and purified DNA molecule comprising a single coding region encoding (a) a turkey vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP); (b) a turkey prepro vasoactive intestinal peptide or (c) a biologically active subunit of (a) or (b).

Abstract: The invention features methods for stimulating glial cell mitogenesis by contacting the glial cells with p185erbB2 ligand polypeptides, including glial growth factor (GGF), a GGF splice variant comprised of segments E, B, A, C, and C/D or C/D′, a 35 kD polypeptide factor isolated from rat I-EJ transformed fibroblast cells, 75 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the LKBR-3 human breast cells, 44 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the rat I-EJ transformed fibroblast cells, 45 kD polypeptide factor isolated from MDA-MB 231 human breast cells, 7-14 kD polypeptide factor isolated from the ATL-2 human T-cells, 25 kD polypeptide factor isolated from activated mouse peritoneal macrophages, and 25 kD polypeptide factor isolated from bovine kidney.