Abstract: The present invention provides for the isolation and characterization of a calcium channel &agr;, subunit gene cloned from Drosophila melanogaster, and designated “DmcalD” . . . an invertebrate calcium channel subunit gene.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating cancer and chemotherapy-resistant cancers comprising a chemotherapeutic agent conjugated to or coadministered with a peptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and peptide analogues that mimic the structural and pharmacological properties of human ApoA-I. The peptides and peptide analogues are useful to treat a variety of disorders associated with dyslipidemia.

Abstract: The instant invention is a novel buffer which enables simultaneous cryoprotection and transfection of mammalian cells. It enables the user to make cell stocks which can be kept long term. Use of these cell stocks circumvents the need to culture cells each time a transfection is undertaken. It alleviates the need for continuous cell culture and repeated transfections due to transfection variability.

Abstract: Peptide-macromolecule complexes for delivery of nucleic acid to a cell. The nucleic acid carrier includes a binding complex. The binding complex contains a binding moiety which noncovalently binds to the nucleic acid. The binding complex can also contain a binding moiety which is associated with a surface ligand, nuclear ligand or a lysis agent. These may be associated with the binding moiety by spacers. In addition, the carrier may include a nucleic acid with a combination of the above binding complexes or binding moieties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated cyclic peptide, theta defensin, having antimicrobial activity, and to theta defensin analogs. A theta defensin can have the amino acid sequence Xaa1-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5-Xaa1-Xaa6-Xaa4-Xaa4-Xaa1-Xaa1-Xaa6-Xaa4-Xaa5 -Xaa1-Xaa3-Xaa7-Xaa5, wherein Xaa1 to Xaa8 are defined; wherein Xaa1 can be linked through a peptide bond to Xaa8; and wherein crosslinks can be formed between Xaa3 and Xaa3, between Xaa5 and Xaa5, and between Xaa7 and Xaa7. For example, the invention provides a theta defensin having the amino acid sequence Gly-Phe-Cys-Arg-Cys-Leu-Cys-Arg-Arg-Gly-Val-Cys-Arg-Cys-Ile-Cys-Thr-Arg (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the Gly at position 1 (Gly-1) is linked through a peptide bond to Arg-18, and wherein disulfide bonds are present between Cys-3 and Cys-16, between Cys-5 and Cys-14, and between Cys-7 and Cys-12. The invention also relates to antibodies that specifically bind a theta defensin and to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a theta defensin.

Abstract: Synthetic collagen in triple helical conformation and comprising amino acid chains of repeating trimers of highly populated collagen sequences as well as those sequences wherein the proline or hydroxyproline residue is replaced with a peptoid residue. The invention includes methods of preparing synthetic collagen structures having the triple helix conformation present in collagen from collagen-type polypeptides and poly(peptide-peptoid residue) chains by means of a helix-inducing template.

Abstract: A method of modifying protein solubility employs polyionic polymers. These facilitate the solubilization, formulation, purification and refolding of proteins especially incorrectly folded proteins and aggregated proteins. Compositions are described that are suitable for formulating TFPI. The compositions allow preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of TFPI at concentrations above 0.2 mg/mL and above 10 mg/mL.

Abstract: A method of modifying protein solubility employs polyionic polymers. These facilitate the solubilization, formulation, purification and refolding of proteins especially incorrectly folded proteins and aggregated proteins. Compositions are described that are suitable for formulating TFPI. The compositions allow preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of TFPI at concentrations above 0.2 mg/mL and above 10 mg/mL.

Abstract: Disclosed are conjugates of A&bgr;-binding peptides and CsA analogs and conjugates of A&bgr;-binding peptides and FK506 Binding Peptide inhibitors. These conjugates chemically induce dimerization of either cyclophilin or FK506 Binding Peptide with A&bgr; peptide, a major component of amyloid plaques found in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The conjugates are useful in the treatment of neurological diseases involving the formation of amyloid plaques because they inhibit and/or prevent the aggregation and deposition of A&bgr; peptide into plaques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ligands capable of binding a calcium dependent binding protein, that comprise an amino acid sequence corresponding to that of a wild type ligand for the calcium dependent binding protein with modification which results in enhanced affinity of the ligand for the calcium dependent binding protein.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a novel &bgr;-secretase that produces the A&bgr; peptide found in Alzheimer's Disease. One &bgr;-secretase is a protein having a molecular weight of about 61, 81 or 88 kDa that cleaves an amyloid precursor protein (APP) substrate. Another is a protease complex having a molecular between about 180 and 200 kDa, which, in one embodiment, contains the 61, 81, and 88 kDa proteins and, in another embodiment, contains proteins having a molecular weight of about 66, 60, 33 and 29 kDa. Another &bgr;-secretase has a molecular weight between about 50 and 90 kDA. The invention is also directed to methods of selecting agents that inhibit A&bgr; peptide production and treating Alzheimer's disease in patients.

Abstract: A high quality soy protein concentrate (SPC) was produced by a process of enzyme treatment combined with ultrafiltration. Soy flour, the starting material, was enzymatically treated with commercial pectinases and diafiltered with a porous stainless steel ultrafiltration system. The resulting product had reduced levels of physic acid and nucleic acids due to contaminant phytase and nuclease activity in the pectinase enzymes. The functionality of the SPC was improved due to increased solubility compared to conventional soy isolates produced by acid precipitation. High performance liquid chromatography gel filtration profiles indicated that the proteins in the SPC remained intact. The SPC also had reduced flavor when compared to the original soy flour according to gas chromatography flavor profiles and sensory evaluation.

Abstract: A process produces a water-soluble, naturally folded eukaryotic polypeptide containing two or several cysteines linked by disulfide bridges. This process involves culturing prokaryotic cells, a) in which the prokaryotic cells contain an expression vector which encodes the polypeptide which contains a prokaryotic signal sequence at the N-terminus, b) under conditions under which the polypeptide is secreted into the periplasm or the medium, c) cleaving the signal sequence and isolating the polypeptide from the periplasm or the medium. In this process, the culturing is carried out in the presence of arginine or a compound of the formula I R2—CO—NR1 (I) in which R and R1 represent hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated branched or unbranched C1-C4 alkyl chain and R2 represents hydrogen, NHR1 or a saturated or unsaturated branched or unbranched C1-C3 alkyl chain, is suitable for the recombinant production of polypeptides in prokaryotes in a high yield.

Abstract: A method for controlling infections caused by protozoans, such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani. The method comprises using syringomycin-family lipodepsipeptides, preferably syringomycins such as syringomycin E, to control or prevent infections caused by protozoans. The method is directed to therapeutic treatment of mammals, such as humans, exposed to protozoans, and additionally as a prophylactic treatment in immunocompromised subjects at high risk for contracting protozoan infections.

Abstract: A process for converting uridines to 2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydrouridines by reacting acetic anhydride with a 2′,3′-0-alkoxymethylideneuridine intermediate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analogs of indolicidin, which is a naturally occurring peptide having the amino acid sequence Ile-Leu-Pro-Trp-Lys-Trp-Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro-Trp-Arg-Arg-NH2 (“Indol 1-13;” SEQ ID NO: 1). The indolicidin analogs of the invention include, for example, analogs such as Indol 2-13 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and Indol 3-13 (SEQ ID NO: 3), which are truncated at the amino terminus by one and two amino acids, respectively, as compared to Indol 1-13 (SEQ ID NO: 1); analogs in which at least one Trp residue in an amino terminal truncated indolicidin analog is replaced by a Phe residue (“Indol/F”) analogs”); indolicidin analogs comprising, at the carboxy terminus, a homoserine residue; and fusion polypeptides comprising an indolicidin analog. In addition, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the indolicidin analogs of the invention or precursors of such analogs.

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

Abstract: A method for dissociating a complex of a biotin compound and a biotin-binding compound, by contacting the complex with an amine, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new class of G-protein-coupled receptor antagonists which bind to the intracellular molecular interface between the receptor and the G-protein, thus hampering signal transduction. The present invention describes peptide sequences derived from the prostaglandin receptor F2&agr; and the G-protein, G&agr;q protein. produced by molecular biology techniques or chemical synthesis, as selective inhibitors of signal transduction involved in the stimulation of this receptor. Such peptides or molecules derived from their primary, secondary and tertiary structures may be used as effective tocolytics for the prevention of premature labor or be utilized for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.