Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention relates to new recombinant artificial polypeptides allowing cytoplasmic signaling in cells containing the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for transmitting signals containing a recombinant polypeptide containing a domain with a first binding partner selected from an artificial ligand and a receptor binding an artificial ligand, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic signaling domain whereby the domain with the binding partner and the cytoplasmic signaling domain are a combination of domains not naturally occurring in an organism and the second binding partner for specific forming of the binding pair. In a further aspect, a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide according to the present invention as well as a vector, cell, cell line or host cell containing said vector are provided.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 1, (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a peptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 2, (c) a nucleic acid molecule whose complementary strand hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to (a) or (b) and which codes for a peptide which binds to ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), the peptide binding with lower affinity than ciliary neurotrophic factor to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), (d) a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence differs from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to (c) due to the degenerated genetic code, the codon at positions 82-84 of the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) coding for a non-positively charged amino acid, and the peptide at position 28 shown in SEQ ID: NO 2 having a non-positively charged amino acid residue.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 1, (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a peptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 2, (c) a nucleic acid molecule whose complementary strand hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to (a) or (b) and which codes for a peptide which binds to ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), the peptide binding with lower affinity than ciliary neurotrophic factor to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), (d) a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence differs from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to (c) due to the degenerated genetic code, the codon at positions 82-84 of the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) coding for a non-positively charged amino acid, and the peptide at position 28 shown in SEQ ID: NO 2 having a non-positively charged amino acid residue.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 GIn113 or ASn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 Gln113 or Asn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.

Abstract: Described are soluble gp130 polypeptide monomers and dimers, wherein, in a preferred embodiment, at least one of the three amino acid residues Thr102 Gln113 or Asn114 of the N-terminal Ig-like domain of gp130 is mutated to Tyr102, Phe113 or Leu114, respectively. These mutations, alone or in combination, specifically enhance binding of gp130 to its ligand complex of interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor, thus increasing the biological activity of the gp130 muteins. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all three mutations are combined in the triple mutein Thr102Tyr/Gln113Phe/Asn114Leu (T102Y/Q113F/N114L). Moreover, a pharmaceutical composition containing said monomers or dimers and various medical uses are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA sequence coding for a synthetic protein and recombinant spider silk proteins which are coded by the inventive DNA sequence. The invention also relates to methods for producing plants or plant cells containing the recombinant spider silk protein and transgenic plants and cells containing a DNA sequence coding for a synthetic spider protein. The invention further relates to a method for obtaining a vegetable spider silk protein from transgenic plants in addition to vegetable spider silk proteins produced according to said method.