Abstract: This invention provides compositions consisting essentially of a polypeptide and a water-soluble polymer covalently bound thereto at the N-terminal .alpha.-carbon atom via a hydrazone or reduced hydrazone bond, or an oxime or reduced oxime bond. This invention also provides methods of making the instant compositions, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and kits for use in preparing same.

Abstract: Genes are disclosed which are capable of directing the synthesis in a selected host microorganism of two thaumatin I analogues both of which have the amino acid sequence of natural thaumatin I including an aspartate amino acid residue in the 113th position from the amino terminal end of the polypeptide and one of which additionally has a lysine amino acid residue substituted for asparagine in the 46th position from the amino terminal end.

Abstract: Regression associated antigens (RAAs) are identified in material from neoplastic cells by their immunological reactivity with regression associated antibodies from the serum of patients diagnosed as undergoing regression of a tumor. Regression associated antibodies (RAAbs) are identified by their absence during progression of a neoplastic disease state and by their presence in a diagnosed state of regression. RAAs have been purified and used to monitor the condition of cancer patients. Production of RAAbs and treatments employing those antibodies are described. It is herein disclosed that RAAs are expressed by M. hyorhinis and are also expressed by expression of provided nucleotide sequences in recombinant host cells, particularly nucleotide sequence for 38 kd and 43 kd RAAs as expressed in E. coli. RAAs and nucleic acids encoding RAAs (or portions thereof) and RAAbs may be used in diagnostic assays and immunotherapy.

Abstract: Disclosed are murine-derived hybridoma tumor cell lines and monoclonal anti-thaumatin antibody substances produced by these cell lines. The monoclonal antibody substances may be used alone or in combination in immunological procedures for isolation of thaumatin and for quantitative detection of thaumatin in fluid samples.

Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods for orienting polypeptide molecules containing multiple disulfide bonds into their native conformation through (1) treating the polypeptide with (a) a denaturing agent and (b) a reducing agent capable of reductively dissociating cystine disulfide bonds; (2) concurrently reducing the concentration of the reducing agent while forming a stable intermediate by reacting a disulfide containing compound with the reduced cysteine moieties of the polypeptide and; (3) forming native cystine disulfide bonds in the presence of a mild oxidizing/reducing environment while dissociating the disulfide-group polypeptide moeities.