Abstract: Detecting glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and/or determining the level of one or more glycosaminoglycans can be useful, e.g., in identifying or monitoring various medical conditions, the status of patients having various medical conditions, and/or the response to treatment of individuals having various medical conditions. The present invention provides methods for detecting glycosaminoglycans and/or determining the level of glycosaminoglycans through the use of, e.g., mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Detecting glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and/or determining the level of one or more glycosaminoglycans can be useful, e.g., in identifying or monitoring various medical conditions, the status of patients having various medical conditions, and/or the response to treatment of individuals having various medical conditions. The present invention provides methods for detecting glycosaminoglycans and/or determining the level of glycosaminoglycans through the use of, e.g., mass spectrometry.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides and polypeptides related to the IL-17F signaling pathway. The invention also provides antibodies to IL-17F homodimers and IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimers, and methods of isolating and purifying members of the IL-17 family, including IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimers, from a natural source. The present invention also is directed to novel methods for diagnosing, prognosing, monitoring the progress of, and treating and/or preventing disorders related to IL-17F signaling, i.e., IL-17F-associated disorders, including, but not limited to, inflammatory disorders, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis), psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis), respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, cystic fibrosis, asthma, allergy), transplant rejection (including solid organ transplant rejection), and inflammatory bowel diseases or disorders (IBDs, e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides and polypeptides related to the IL-17F signaling pathway. The invention also provides antibodies to IL-17F homodimers and IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimers, and methods of isolating and purifying members of the IL-17 family, including IL-17A/IL-17F heterodimers, from a natural source. The present invention also is directed to novel methods for diagnosing, prognosing, monitoring the progress of, and treating and/or preventing disorders related to IL-17F signaling, i.e., IL-17F-associated disorders, including, but not limited to, inflammatory disorders, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis), psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis), respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, cystic fibrosis, asthma, allergy), transplant rejection (including solid organ transplant rejection), and inflammatory bowel diseases or disorders (IBDs, e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease).

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods comprising lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT?R) modulators, which activate or inhibit LT?R signaling. LT?R modulators are useful for treating lymphocyte mediated immunological diseases and cancer, and more particularly, for regulating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. This invention relates to soluble forms of the LT?R complex proteins that act as LT?R activating or inhibiting agents. This invention also relates to the use of soluble molecules, directed against either the LT?R, its ligands, LIGHT and LT?1?2, or its intracellular binding partners, that function to regulate LT?R signaling. A novel screening method for selecting soluble receptors, antibodies and other agents that modulate LT?R signaling is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods comprising lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT?R) modulators, which activate or inhibit LT?R signaling. LT?R modulators are useful for treating lymphocyte mediated immunological diseases and cancer, and more particularly, for regulating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. This invention relates to soluble forms of the LT?R complex proteins that act as LT?R activating or inhibiting agents. This invention also relates to the use of soluble molecules, directed against either the LT?R, its ligands, LIGHT and LT?1?2, or its intracellular binding partners, that function to regulate LT?R signaling. A novel screening method for selecting soluble receptors, antibodies and other agents that modulate LT?R signaling is provided.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides novel compounds, termed acid-labile isotope-coded extractants (ALICE), for quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of protein mixtures. The compounds contain a thiol-reactive group that is used to capture cysteine-containing peptides from all peptide mixtures, an acid-labile linker, and a non-biological polymer. One of the two acid-labile linkers is isotopically labeled and therefore enables the direct quantitation of peptides/proteins through mass spectrometric analysis. Because no functional proteins are required to capture peptides, a higher percentage of organic solvent can be used to solubilize the peptides, particularly hydrophobic peptides, through the binding, washing and eluting steps, thus permitting much better recover of peptides. Moreover, since the peptides are covalently linked to the non-biological polymer (ALICE), more stringent washing is allowed in order to completely remove non-specifically bound species.

Abstract: Arginine-containing cysteine-modifying compounds useful for MALDI-MS analysis of proteins are provided. These compounds termed isotope-coded ionization enhancement reagents (ICIER) can provide ionization enhancement in MALDI-MS, relative quantitation, and additional database searching constraints at the same time without any extra sample manipulation. More specifically, ICIER increase the ionization efficiency of cysteine-containing peptides by attachment of a guanidino functional group. ICIER also increase the overall hydrophilicity of these peptides due to the hydrophilic nature of ICIER and thus increase the percentage of recovery of these peptides during sample handling and processing such as in-gel digestion or liquid chromatography.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides novel compounds, termed acid-labile isotope-coded extractants (ALICE), for quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of protein mixtures. The compounds contain a thiol-reactive group that is used to capture cysteine-containing peptides from all peptide mixtures, an acid-labile linker, and a non-biological polymer. One of the two acid-labile linkers is isotopically labeled and therefore enables the direct quantitation of peptides/proteins through mass spectrometric analysis. Because no functional proteins are required to capture peptides, a higher percentage of organic solvent can be used to solubilize the peptides, particularly hydrophobic peptides, through the binding, washing and eluting steps, thus permitting much better recovery of peptides. Moreover, since the peptides are covalently linked to the non-biological polymer (ALICE), more stringent washing is allowed in order to completely remove non-specifically bound species.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides novel compounds, termed acid-labile isotope-coded extractants (ALICE), for quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of protein mixtures. The compounds contain a thiol-reactive group that is used to capture cysteine-containing peptides from all peptide mixtures, an acid-labile linker, and a non-biological polymer. One of the two acid-labile linkers is isotopically labeled and therefore enables the direct quantitation of peptides/proteins through mass spectrometric analysis. Because no functional proteins are required to capture peptides, a higher percentage of organic solvent can be used to solubilize the peptides, particularly hydrophobic peptides, through the binding, washing and eluting steps, thus permitting much better recover of peptides. Moreover, since the peptides are covalently linked to the non-biological polymer (ALICE), more stringent washing is allowed in order to completely remove non-specifically bound species.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods comprising lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT&bgr;R) modulators, which activate or inhibit LT&bgr;R signaling. LT&bgr;R modulators are useful for treating lymphocyte mediated immunological diseases and cancer, and more particularly, for regulating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. This invention relates to soluble forms of the LT&bgr;R complex proteins that act as LT&bgr;R activating or inhibiting agents. This invention also relates to the use of soluble molecules, directed against either the LT&bgr;R, its ligands, LIGHT and LT&bgr;1&agr;2, or its intracellular binding partners, that function to regulate LT&bgr;R signaling. A novel screening method for selecting soluble receptors, antibodies and other agents that modulate LT&bgr;R signaling is provided.

Abstract: Arginine-containing cysteine-modifying compounds useful for MALDI-MS analysis of proteins are provided. These compounds termed isotope-coded ionization enhancement reagents (ICIER) can provide ionization enhancement in MALDI-MS, relative quantitation, and additional database searching constraints at the same time without any extra sample manipulation. More specifically, ICIER increase the ionization efficiency of cysteine-containing peptides by attachment of a guanidino functional group. ICIER also increase the overall hydrophilicity of these peptides due to the hydrophilic nature of ICIER and thus increase the percentage of recovery of these peptides during sample handling and processing such as in-gel digestion or liquid chromatography.

Abstract: The method of the invention provides novel compounds, termed acid-labile isotope-coded extractants (ALICE), for quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of protein mixtures. The compounds contain a thiol-reactive group that is used to capture cysteine-containing peptides from all peptide mixtures, an acid-labile linker, and a non-biological polymer. One of the two acid-labile linkers is isotopically labeled and therefore enables the direct quantitation of peptides/proteins through mass spectrometric analysis. Because no functional proteins are required to capture peptides, a higher percentage of organic solvent can be used to solubilize the peptides, particularly hydrophobic peptides, through the binding, washing and eluting steps, thus permitting much better recovery of peptides. Moreover, since the peptides are covalently linked to the non-biological polymer (ALICE), more stringent washing is allowed in order to completely remove non-specifically bound species.