Abstract: Methods for producing polypeptide with altered immunogenicity or improved stability properties are disclosed. The methods involve a) expressing a diversified population of nucleotide sequences encoding a polypeptide of interest, b) screening the polypeptides expressed in step a) for function, immunogenicity and/or stability, c) selecting functional polypeptides having altered immunogenicity and/or increased stability, e.g. functional in vivo half-life as compared to the polypeptide of interest, and d) optionally subjecting the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide selected in step c) to one or more repeated cycles of steps a)-c). In a further step the expressed polypeptides of step a) or c) can be conjugated to at least one non-polypeptide moiety.

Abstract: Methods for producing polypeptide with altered immunogenicity or improved stability properties are disclosed. The methods involve a) expressing a diversified population of nucleotide sequences encoding a polypeptide of interest, b) screening the polypeptides expressed in step a) for function, immunogenicity and/or stability, c) selecting functional polypeptides having altered immunogenicity and/or increased stability, e.g. functional in vivo half-life as compared to the polypeptide of interest, and d) optionally subjecting the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide selected in step c) to one or more repeated cycles of steps a)-c). In a further step the expressed polypeptides of step a) or c) can be conjugated to at least one non-polypeptide moiety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that differs from and is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of hRANK, and which has a binding affinity to RANKL that is at least as high as the binding affinity of hRANK to RANKL, as determined by the functional competition assay described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified enzyme with lipolytic activity, a lipolytic enzyme capable of removing a substantial amount of fatty matter during a one cycle wash, a DNA sequence encoding said enzymes, a vector comprising said DNA sequence, a host cell harbouring said DNA sequence or said vector, and a process for producing said enzymes with lipolytic activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzymes produced by mutating the genes for a number of subtilases and expressing the mutated genes in suitable hosts are presented. The enzymes exhibit improved autoproteolytic stability in comparison to their wild type parent enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transglutaminases and transglutaminase preparations obtained from lower fungi belonging to the class Oomycetes and unprecedented high-level expression is achievable by growing these coenocytium forming organisms, especially the strains Pythium sp., Pythium irregulare, Pythium dissotocum, Pythium periilum (or P. periplocum), Pythium torulosum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora palmivora, Phytophthora porri, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora megasperma, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora cryptogea; and a recombinant transglutaminase has been cloned and expressed, the enzyme and enzyme preparations being useful for cross-linking proteins, e.g. in flour, baked products, meat products, fish products, cosmetics, cheese, milk products, gelled food products and leather finishing, or as a glutaminase, e.g. in bread and other baked glutein-containing food products.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods for increasing muscle mass by means of immunization against Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of GDF-8 which are capable of inducing antibody production against homologous GDF-8. Especially preferred as an immunogen is homologous GDF-8 which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes while substantially preserving the tertiary structure of the homologous GDF-8. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against GDF-8 and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for identification of useful immunogenic GDF-8 analogues, methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel methods for increasing muscle mass by means of immunization against Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin). Immunization is preferably effected by administration of analogues of GDF-8 which are capable of inducing antibody production against homologous GDF-8. Especially preferred as an immunogen is homologous GDF-8 which has been modified by introduction of one single or a few foreign, immunodominant and promiscuous T-cell epitopes while substantially preserving the tertiary structure of the homologous GDF-8. Also disclosed are nucleic acid vaccination against GDF-8 and vaccination using live vaccines as well as methods and means useful for the vaccination. Such methods and means include methods for identification of useful immunogenic GDF-8 analogues, methods for the preparation of analogues and pharmaceutical formulations, as well as nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conjugate comprising an adiponectin polypeptide, and a first non-polypeptide moiety covalently attached to the adiponectin polypeptide, wherein the adiponectin polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue having an attachment group for said first non-polypeptide moiety, wherein said amino acid residue has been introduced in a position that in the parent adiponectin is occupied by a surface exposed amino acid residue.

Abstract: Methods for producing polypeptide with altered immunogenicity or improved stability properties are disclosed. The methods involve a) expressing a diversified population of nucleotide sequences encoding a polypeptide of interest, b) screening the polypeptides expressed in step a) for function, immunogenicity and/or stability, c) selecting functional polypeptides having altered immunogenicity and/or increased stability, e.g. functional in vivo half-life as compared to the polypeptide of interest, and d) optionally subjecting the nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide selected in step c) to one or more repeated cycles of steps a)-c). In a further step the expressed polypeptides of step a) or c) can be conjugated to at least one non-polypeptide moiety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that differs from and is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of hRANK, and which has a binding affinity to RANKL that is at least as high as the binding affinity of hRANK to RANKL, as determined by the functional competition assay described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for down-regulating the biological activity of osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL, TRANCE) thereby rendering possible the treatment/amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive loss of bone mass, e.g. osteoporosis. Down-regulation is effected by inducing an immune response against OPGL in an individual in need thereof. Immune responses can be raised by classical immunization with immunogenic variants of OPGL or by nucleic acid immunization where the nucleic acids encode the OPGL variant. The invention also pertains to compositions, polypeptides and nucleic acids useful in the invention, as well as to vectors and transformed host cells useful in the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-chain oilgomeric polypeptide antagonist which binds to an extracellular ligand-binding domain of a cellular receptor of a type requiring binding of an oligomeric ligand to two or more receptor subunits to be activated, the polypeptide comprising at least two, typically structurally homologous, receptor-binding sites of which at least one is capable of binding to a ligand-binding domain of the cellular receptor and at least one is incapable of effectively binding to a ligand-binding domain of the cellular receptor, whereby the single-chain oligomeric polypeptide is capable of binding to the receptor, but incapable of activating the receptor; as well as to nucleotide sequences encoding such single-chain oligomeric polypeptides, expression vectors comprising such a nucleotide sequence, recombinant host cells comprising such a nucleotide sequence or expression vector, methods for producing the nucleotide sequences and polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the singl

Abstract: A polypeptide selected from the group of lysosomal enzymes and lysosomal enzyme activators, comprising at least one introduced glycosylation site as compared to a corresponding parent enzyme or activator. By introducing additional glycosylation sites the resulting glycosylated lysosomal enzyme or activator obtains improved in vivo activity and thereby provides for improved treatment of lysosomal storage diseases.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method for down-regulating the biological activity of osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL, TRANCE) thereby rendering possible the treatment/amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive loss of bone mass, e.g. osteoporosis. Down-regulation is effected by inducing an immune response against OPGL in an individual in need thereof. Immune responses can be raised by classical immunization with immunogenic variants of OPGL or by nucleic acid immunization where the nucleic acids encode the OPGL variant. The invention also pertains to compositions, polypeptides and nucleic acids useful in the invention, as well as to vectors and transformed host cells useful in the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified enzyme with lipolytic activity, a lipolytic enzyme capable of removing a substantial amount of fatty matter during a one cycle wash, a DNA sequence encoding said enzymes, a vector comprising said DNA sequence, a host cell harbouring said DNA sequence or said vector, and a process for producing said enzymes with lipolytic activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conjugate comprising an adiponectin polypeptide, and a first non-polypeptide moiety covalently attached to the adiponectin polypeptide, wherein the adiponectin polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue having an attachment group for said first non-polypeptide moiety, wherein said amino acid residue has been introduced in a position that in the parent adiponectin is occupied by a surface exposed amino acid residue.

Abstract: Methods for producing polypeptide with altered immunogenicity or improved stability properties are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transglutaminases and transglutaminase preparations obtained from lower fungi belonging to the class Oomycetes and unprecedented high-level expression is achievable by growing these coenocytium forming organisms, especially the strains Pythium sp., Pythium irregulare, Pythium dissotocum, Pythium periilum (or P. periplocum), Pythium torulosum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora palmivora, Phytophthora porri, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora megaspenna, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora cryptogea; and a recombinant transglutaminase has been cloned and expressed, the enzyme and enzyme preparations being useful for cross-linking proteins, e.g. in flour, baked products, meat products, fish products, cosmetics, cheese, milk products, gelled food products and leather finishing, or as a glutaminase, e.g. in bread and other baked glutein-containing food products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified enzyme with lipolytic activity, a lipolytic enzime capable of removing a substantial amount of fatty matter a one cycle wash, a DNA sequence encoding said enzymes, a vector comprising said DNA sequence, a host cell harbouring said DNA sequence or said vector, and a process for producing said enzymes with lipolytic activity.