Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for regulating ROC-mediated death-associated protein kinase (DAPk) activity. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or ameliorating cancer as well as pathologies associated with neuronal cell death, such as epilepsy and hypoxia/ischemia acute brain injury. The present invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agents that regulate ROC-mediated DAPk activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for human Beclin-1 protein phosphorylated at position Thr 119 and uses thereof. In particular, these antibodies are useful in diagnosing diseases associated with impaired autophagy including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention further relates to human Beclin-1 mutated at position 119 with a phospho-mimicking residue and uses thereof for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Peptides, compositions and methods for modulating apoptosis, useful for treating diseases or disorders characterized by dysregulated apoptosis, such as cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. Screening methods for identifying agents that mediate apoptosis by regulating Atg12 binding to Bcl-2 family members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for regulating ROC-mediated death-associated protein kinase (DAPk) activity. The compositions and methods of the present invention are useful for treating or ameliorating cancer as well as pathologies associated with neuronal cell death, such as epilepsy and hypoxia/ischemia acute brain injury. The present invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agents that regulate ROC-mediated DAPk activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for human Beclin-1 protein phosphorylated at position Thr 119 and uses thereof. In particular, these antibodies are useful in diagnosing diseases associated with impaired autophagy including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention further relates to human Beclin-1 mutated at position 119 with a phospho-mimicking residue and uses thereof for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the modulation of autophagy by altering the phosphorylation of Death Associated Protein (DAP1). The present invention further relates to methods of treating autophagy associated diseases comprising the suppression of autophagy by dephosphorylating DAP1. The invention further provides human DAP1 mutated at positions 3 and 51 with phospho-silencing residues and uses thereof in treating autophagy associated diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for human Beclin-1 protein phosphorylated at position Thr 119 and uses thereof. In particular, these antibodies are useful in diagnosing diseases associated with impaired autophagy including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention further relates to human Beclin-1 mutated at position 119 with a phospho-mimicking residue and uses thereof for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for human Beclin-1 protein phosphorylated at position Thr 119 and uses thereof. In particular, these antibodies are useful in diagnosing diseases associated with impaired autophagy including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention further relates to human Beclin-1 mutated at position 119 with a phospho-mimicking residue and uses thereof for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antibodies specific for human Beclin-1 protein phosphorylated at position Thr 119 and uses thereof. In particular, these antibodies are useful in diagnosing diseases associated with impaired autophagy including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention further relates to human Beclin-1 mutated at position 119 with a phospho-mimicking residue and uses thereof for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: A new protein, which is a novel homologue of DAP-kinase, has been isolated. This novel calmodulin-dependent kinase is a cell death-promoting protein functioning in the biochemical pathway which involves DAP (death-associated protein)—kinase (e.g., forming a cascade of sequential kinases, one directly activating the other). Alternatively, the two kinases may operate to promote cell death in parallel pathways.

Abstract: Tumor metastases are often caused by the elimination of the tumor suppressive effect of DAP-kinase. If the lack of DAP-kinase activity is due to methylation of the DAP-kinase gene, then the tumor suppressive activity of DAP-kinase can be restored by treating with a demethylating agent such as 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine. Thus, tumor cells of a patient are screened to determine whether DAP-kinase protein is produced by the cells and, if not, to determine if the cells contain DAP-kinase genes which are methylated. If the latter case is so, then the patient is treated with a demethylating agent such as 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine. If the cells produce DAP-kinase protein, the patient may be prophylactically treated with a demethylating agent or a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, such as 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, in order to prevent eventual loss of DAP-kinase by methylation of the gene and therefore prevent eventual metastasis.

Abstract: DNA molecules comprising a nucleic acid sequence expressed in cells, the expression product of which is involved in programmed cell death. Also disclosed are methods of therapeutic treatment using the DNA molecules and their expression products, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

Abstract: The present invention describes the isolation and nucleic acid sequence of genes associated with cyptokine induced cell death. As long as these genes function normally, cytokines induce cell death; once the expression of these genes is inhibited, cytokine induced cell death is inhibited One aspect of the invention comprises expressing or the use of expression vectors to promote cell death in abnormal, pathological, cell growth such as cancer and psoriasis and another aspect of the invention is the protection of cells from programmed cell death in abnormal conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The invention can also be used as a screening device for predisportion to cancer or other uncontrolled cell growth diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the production of (2'-5')A(pA).sub.n pA chains wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 6, which comprises polymerizing adenosine (2'-3') monophosphate to obtain a mixture of 2'-5'- and 3'-5'-polyadenylic acid, treating the mixture with ribonuclease P.sub.1 to cleave selectively the 3'-5'-bonds so as to retain the 2'-5'-polymeric moieties with a terminal 5'-phosphate moiety and removing the terminal phosphate groups by means of alkaline phosphatase. The mixture may be purified by separation on an anionic ion exchanger and collecting the individual fractions. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting the immune response of mammals which comprise as active ingredient a (2'-5')oligo-isoadenylate defined above. The preferred compositions are those with a preponderance of the trimer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assay for the quantitative determination of interferon which comprises extracting a cell previously exposed to said interferon with an extractant, and determining in such extract the quantity of an enzyme the content of which in said cell is a function of the quantity of interferon to which said cell had been previously exposed and to a kit for carrying out such assay.