Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides that act both as an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and an antagonist of the glucagon receptor. Such polypeptides are useful for treating individuals with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides that act both as an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and an antagonist of the glucagon receptor. Such polypeptides are useful for treating individuals with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides that act both as an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and an antagonist of the glucagon receptor. Such polypeptides are useful for treating individuals with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Abstract: The present invention discloses purified and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides having a structure substantially similar to that of splicing forms of mammalian GFR?4 comprising the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1:)-(SEQ ID NO:6:). The preferred sequences comprise cDNAs having the sequence (SEQ ID NO:7:)-(SEQ ID NO:13:). The present invention is also related to purified and isolated polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence and or substantially similar splicing forms of mammalian GFRà4. Furthermore, the invention is related to substances capable of specifically recognizing said polypeptides and including both antibodies and receptors. The active compounds of the present invention including cDNAS, polypeptides, binding substances, and antibodies.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides that act both as an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and an antagonist of the glucagon receptor. Such polypeptides are useful for treating individuals with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of angiogenesis. More particularly, the present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding “angiogenesis regulatory proteins and nucleic acids” which are involved in modulation of angiogenesis. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents, including small organic molecules, antibodies, peptides, cyclic peptides, nucleic acids, antisense nucleic acids, RNAi, and ribozymes, that modulate angiogenesis via modulation of angiogenesis regulatory proteins and nucleic acids; as well as to the use of expression profiles and compositions in diagnosis and therapy of diseases related to angiogenesis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-human animal embryonic stem cells in which a lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase-like lysophospholipase endogenous gene is inactivated; non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene; methods of screening for prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug using the cells or the animals; and prophylactics and/or therapeutic drug obtainable by the screening. The non-human animal ES cells of the invention in which their LLPL gene is inactivated are very useful in creating non-human animals deficient in expression of LLPL gene. The LLPL expression deficient non-human animals of the invention can be disease models for such diseases caused by insufficiency of the biological activities of LLPL since the animals lack various biological activities inducible by LLPL.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple method for splitting and loss of a chromosome in yeast. The method for modifying a chromosome in yeast includes preparing a linear chromosome splitting vector (1) having a target sequence (a), a marker gene sequence and (C4A2)n sequence in this order; preparing a linear chromosome splitting vector (2) having a target sequence (b), a centromere sequence of a yeast chromosome and (C4A2)n sequence in this order; and introducing the chromosome splitting vectors (1) and (2) into yeast. Herein, n is each independently an integer of 6 to 10. Although this chromosome splitting vector has a repetitive sequence of 5?-CCCCAA-3?, it can be amplified specifically with PCR, so that a chromosome splitting vector can be prepared significantly simply and easily, compared with the conventional DNA splitting method.

Abstract: The invention features methods for treating a patient suffering from muscular dystrophy by administration of umbilical cord blood cells, e.g., by IV infusion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a DNA containing uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) promoter region containing the regulator sequence, a transformant transformed with the DNA, a method for screening a compound or its salt that promotes or inhibits UCP-2 promoter activity characterized by use of the transformant, a method for screening an antiobestic drug, an antidiabetic drug, a depressor, an antihyperlipemic drug, and an antipyretic drug characterized by use of the transformant, a kit for screening a compound or its salt that promotes or inhibits UCP-2 promoter activity characterized by use of the transformant, and pharmaceutical composition containing a compound or its salt that promotes or inhibits UCP-2 promoter activity obtained using the screening method or the screening kit.

Abstract: Disclosed are particular 3-dimensional structural matrices containing nucleic acids, various fabrication processes and methods for the prolonged release of nucleic acids in various biological environments. The nucleic acid-matrix materials are created such that they maintain a defined space, allowing cellular migration, transfection and proliferation to occur in a controlled manner. The fabrication processes provide for both high incorporation efficiencies and control over the sustained nucleic acid release. The resultant nucleic acid-containing structural matrices are thus particularly useful in in vivo cell transfection and gene expression in the context of gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to regulation of angiogenesis. More particularly, the present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding “angiogenesis regulatory proteins and nucleic acids” which are involved in modulation of angiogenesis. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents, including small organic molecules, antibodies, peptides, cyclic peptides, nucleic acids, antisense nucleic acids, RNAi, and ribozymes, that modulate angiogenesis via modulation of angiogenesis regulatory proteins and nucleic acids; as well as to the use of expression profiles and compositions in diagnosis and therapy of diseases related to angiogenesis.

Abstract: A plasmid has been isolated from Rhodococcus erythropolis strain AN12 comprising a unique replication protein. The replication protein may be used in a variety of cloning and expression vectors and particularly in shuttle vectors for the expression of heterologous genes in Rhodococcus sp.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel genes and methods for the screening of therapeutics useful for treating impaired glucose tolerance conditions, as well as diagnostics and therapeutic compositions for identifying or treating such conditions.

Abstract: Delivery systems and methods are provided for delivering a biologically active protein to a host animal. The systems and methods provided include obtaining an algal cell transformed by an expression vector, the expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the biologically active protein, operably linked to a promoter. In one illustrated embodiment, the biologically active protein is an antigenic epitope and upon administration to the animal the algal cell induces an immune response in the host animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to nematodes as model organisms for the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases in particular. Parkinsons disease, uses and methods for the discovery of substances and genes which can be used in the treatment of the above disease states and identification of a nematode gene, from C. elegans, which is homologous to the human parkin gene associated with Parkinsons disease. The invention further relates to those nematodes which contain an aberrant or missing expression of at least one gene, preferably a parkin gene and/or a ?-synuclein gene, which is connected with Parkinsons disease. According to the invention, the above organisms can be used for the identification and characterisation of medicaments for the treatment of said disease states.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides that act both as an agonist of the GLP-1 receptor and an antagonist of the glucagon receptor. Such polypeptides are useful for treating individuals with type 2 diabetes or other metabolic disorders.

Abstract: Methods for the delivery of genes to improve cardiac function including the use of viral vectors, isolation of the heart from systemic circulation, and induction of hypothermia/cardiac arrest are described. The method results in high-level, long-term expression of reporter genes and enhanced cardiac function in hamster models of heart disease.

Abstract: Through screening of an expression library, a cDNA sequence has been identified that encodes a protein that interacts with human CD33, the DNA being highly homologous to a portion of the human dystrophin gene. A region of that cDNA has been identified as an important regulatory element in controlling expression, both transcription and translation, of the DNA with which it is associated. This DNA sequence element may be used as a regulatory cassette in conjunction with any suitable gene, to modify gene expression. The putative controlling DNA sequence element contains a minimum of 137 base pairs (FIG. 1) to 147 base pairs (FIG. 1A) and a maximum of 287 base pairs (FIG. 1B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins; to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to inhibitory compounds that regulate such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to identify and obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds.