Abstract: The invention provides an isolated major ampullate spidroin protein, which consists of from 150 to 420 amino acid residues and is defined by the formula REP-CT. REP is a repetitive, N-terminally derived protein fragment having from 80 to 300 amino acid residues. CT is a C-terminally derived protein fragment having from 70 to 120 amino acid residues. The invention further provides an isolated fusion protein consisting of a first protein fragment, which is a major ampullate spidroin protein, and a second protein fragment comprising a fusion partner and a cleavage agent recognition site. The first protein fragment is coupled via said cleavage agent recognition site to the fusion partner. The invention also provides a method of producing a major ampullate spidroin protein and polymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated major ampullate spidroin protein, which consists of from 150 to 420 amino acid residues and is defined by the formula REP-CT. REP is a repetitive, N-terminally derived protein fragment having from 80 to 300 amino acid residues. CT is a C-terminally derived protein fragment having from 70 to 120 amino acid residues. The invention further provides an isolated fusion protein consisting of a first protein fragment, which is a major ampullate spidroin protein, and a second protein fragment comprising a fusion partner and a cleavage agent recognition site. The first protein fragment is coupled via said cleavage agent recognition site to the fusion partner. The invention also provides a method of producing a major ampullate spidroin protein and polymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated major ampullate spidroin protein, which consists of from 150 to 420 amino acid residues and is defined by the formula KEP-CT. KEP is a repetitive, N-terminally derived protein fragment having from 80 to 300 amino acid residues. CT is a C-terminally derived protein fragment having from 70 to 120 amino acid residues. The invention further provides an isolated fusion protein consisting of a first protein fragment, which is a major ampullate spidroin protein, and a second protein fragment comprising a fusion partner and a cleavage agent recognition site. The first protein fragment is coupled via said cleavage agent recognition site to the fusion partner. The invention also provides a method of producing a major ampullate spidroin protein and polymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated major ampullate spidroin protein, which consists of from 150 to 420 amino acid residues and is defined by the formula KEP-CT. KEP is a repetitive, N-terminally derived protein fragment having from 80 to 300 amino acid residues. CT is a C-terminally derived protein fragment having from 70 to 120 amino acid residues. The invention further provides an isolated fusion protein consisting of a first protein fragment, which is a major ampullate spidroin protein, and a second protein fragment comprising a fusion partner and a cleavage agent recognition site. The first protein fragment is coupled via said cleavage agent recognition site to the fusion partner. The invention also provides a method of producing a major ampullate spidroin protein and polymers thereof.

Abstract: Variants of the ? subunit of AMPK, nucleic acids encoding such variants, and methods for their use are provided.

Abstract: Variants of the ? subunit of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), nucleic acids encoding such variants, and methods for their use are provided. The AMPK variants include splice variants that have an additional exon in the AMPK mRNA, and thus have an additional 15 amino acid residues in the encoded polypeptide. The AMPK variants can, for example, have at least 75% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, and can contain an amino acid sequence having at least 75% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

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: 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.