Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding recombinant calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Expression vectors and host cells transformed or transfected with such vectors are also provided. The invention further provides multifunctional polypeptides containing amino acid sequences encoding for calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase and a second amino acid sequence encoding a reagent having specific reactivity with a ligand. The recombinant calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase or its active fragments and the multifunctional polypeptides can be used in the methods for determining the presence or concentration of a ligand.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding recombinant calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Expression vectors and host cells transformed or transfected with such vectors are also provided. The invention further provides multifunctional polypeptides containing amino acid sequences encoding for calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase and a second amino acid sequence encoding a reagent having specific reactivity with a ligand. The recombinant calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase or its active fragments and the multifunctional polypeptides can be used in the methods for determining the presence or concentration of a ligand.

Abstract: The invention relates to structural and regulatory DNA sequences encoding the germ cell ALP gene. These sequences differ at identified positions from the PLAP gene. Labelled nucleotide sequences complementary to germ cell ALP encoding nucleotide sequences but differing from PLAP may be used to detect the presence of the gene. The invention also relates to gene fragments specifying amino acid sequences which are specific to germ cell ALP and to antibodies raised against germ cell ALP-specific peptide fragments, their diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Abstract: Synthetic peptide compounds are provided which are capable of producing antibodies binding to the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme of human serum (LDH-C.sub.4). The peptide compounds comprise antigenic sequences of human LDH-C.sub.4. The peptide compounds can be used to prepare vaccines for reducing the fertility of women.