Abstract: Disclosed is an expression vector comprising an enhancer sequence derived from the 3? untranslated variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) domain of the dopamine transporter gene and a reporter gene, where the enhancer sequence is capable of promoting the transcription of the reporter gene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel family of chemical compounds possessing a pharmacological activity, in particular a collagenase-inhibiting activity, a process for the production of these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions in which they are present.According to the invention, these compounds correspond to the general formula: ##STR1## in which: W represents an amino acid residue selected from the group comprising valine, lysine, norleucine and methionine, andZ represents an amino radical or an alkylamino radical of which the alkyl part, which contains 1 or 2 carbon atoms, is substituted by a phenyl or trifluorophenyl radical,and also include their diastereoisomers and their addition salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids.The invention is applicable especially in the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: Animal cells are grown in a vertically disposed cylindrical vessel containing a stack of parallel spaced-apart discs inclined at least 5.degree. from the horizontal and mounted to a rotatable axial shaft. The vessel is closed by a top plate having a plurality of inlets and a bottom plate with an outlet, and contains an external pumping loop for circulating contents of the vessel from the bottom to the top of the vessel. Growing of the cells is carried out by substantially filling the vessel with a mixture of animal cells and growth medium, allowing the cells to settle on the disc surfaces and then rotating the axial shaft at a speed of at least 5 rpm while continuously circulating the vessel contents from the bottom to the top of the vessel. This process and apparatus provides efficient mixing and ensures a homogeneous system within the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a method for stabilizing interferon during purification, concentration, packaging, filtering and storage comprising treating an interferon preparation with an effective stabilizing amount of reduced glutathione, thiodiglycol, thioethanolamine, thioalkanoic acid having 1-7 carbon atoms, monothioglycerol, dithiothreitol, thioctic acid, N-acetylcysteine, or N-acetyl-homo-cysteine, as a sulfur containing reducing agent for selectively retaining interferon thiols in the reduced state. The method of the present invention preserves the activity of interferon by selectively retaining interferon sulfhydryl (SH) functions in the reduced state without reducing interferon disulfide linkages (--S--S--) which are essential for activity, or by selectively blocking interferon sulfhydryl groups.