Abstract: The present invention relates to a batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence and/or a mutated ?-factor secretion signal sequence, and a vector and a transformant using the same. The batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence of this invention exhibits an excellent expression efficiency in yeast, particular Pichia pastoris and the recombinant batroxobin is obtained at 4-13 fold higher yield than natural-occurring batroxobin-encoding sequences. The protein expression system which uses the batroxobin-encoding nucleotide sequence as well as mutated ?-factor secretion signal peptide sequence of this invention obtains the recombinant batroxobin at about 20-fold higher yield than natural-occurring batroxobin-encoding sequences. In addition, the recombinant batroxobin prepared using the sequence of this invention has a significantly plausible activity and stability compared with natural-occurring batroxobin.

Abstract: The present invention features a novel protein engineering strategy by combining the domains of two independent proteins into a molecular switch. The invention features polypeptides comprising a prodrug activating enzyme and a protein that binds a cancer specific marker, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and molecular switches for converting a prodrug into a toxin, comprising the polypeptides. The invention also features methods for converting a prodrug into a toxin, methods for treating cancer, and methods for making the molecular switches, as well as kits.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based peptide chip prepared by forming a monolayer of AuNPs onto a self-assembled monolayer constructed on a solid support, and then immobilizing a peptide on the AuNPs. The AuNPs can effectively amplify the mass signal of the peptide, thus making it possible to measure the mass change of the peptide in a simple and accurate manner. Also, when secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis (spectrum or imaging) is performed on the AuNP-based peptide chip, the activities of enzymes and related inhibitors can be effectively quantified. The disclosed invention enables various enzyme activities to be analyzed rapidly and accurately, and thus can provide an important method for disease diagnosis and new drug development through the elucidation of signaling and interaction mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of serine proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E that are stable in the presence of copper (Cu2+) and/or inhibited by copper only to a limited extent. Structural features of potential relevance for this effect are also disclosed. This class of proteases includes proteases derived from Brachysporiella gayana, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis prasina, and Nocardiopsis alba, but excludes the known proteases derived from Metarhizium anisopliae and Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. The invention also relates to DNA encoding such proteases, the expression thereof in a host cell, including animal and plant cells, as well as to the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and in detergents. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed and animal feed additives, such as premix, incorporating these proteases together with 1-500 ppm Cu (in-feed-concentration).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the enzymatic production of a dipeptide composition from a cyanophycin (CGP) or CGP-like polymer preparation by degrading the polymer preparation with an CGPase, a CGPase particularly adapted for said process, and the use of cyanophycin (CGP) or CGP-like polymers or fragments thereof, notably a dipeptide composition obtained by the process as defined above, as pharmaceutical composition, medicament, or as food or feed substitute.

Abstract: There is provided a method for specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin using enzymes without a separation operation, and a determination reagent kit therefor. A protease that cleaves a glycated amino acid and/or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal without substantially cleaving a glycated amino acid or a glycated peptide from a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin or a fragment thereof is screened. The method of specifically determining a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin and the determination reagent kit are provided by using the protease obtained by the screening method. According to the present invention, a glycated ?-chain N-terminal of glycated hemoglobin can specifically be determined without a separation operation.

Abstract: An immunogenic Chlamydia HtrA protein, which has one or more mutations relative to wild-type Chlamydia HtrA that result in a reduced or eliminated protease activity relative to the protease activity of wild-type Chlamydia HtrA. In some embodiments the serine protease activity is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: The specification discloses modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located within the di-chain loop region; polynucleotide molecules encoding such modified Clostridial toxins comprising a Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located in the di-chain loop region; and method of producing modified Clostridial toxins comprising Clostridial toxin substrate cleavage site located within the di-chain loop region.

Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant bacterial cells for producing a detergent-additive protein. In some embodiments, the cells are of the genus Bacillus. In additional embodiments, the cells comprise a genome comprising an inactivated bglC gene, as well as a recombinant nucleic acid for production of at least one secreted detergent-additive protein. In some preferred embodiments, the secreted detergent-additive protein is a protease. The present invention also provides methods of using the bacterial cells to produce at least one detergent-additive protein, as well as cellulase-free compositions containing at least one detergent-additive protein.

Abstract: A method for purifying or detecting a target protein present in a solution, includes, before carrying out the actual detection or purification step, a step of contacting the solution with an aptamer binding specifically to the target protein, where the aptamer does not bind to a protein homologous to the target protein that could also be present in the solution.

Abstract: A composition suitable for the isolation of a nucleic acid from a material containing the nucleic acid contains at least one buffer with a chaotropic component; at least one proteolytic enzyme; at least one buffer with an non-chaotropic component; at least one alcoholic component; and a detergent.

Abstract: Novel enzyme variants including protease variants derived from the DNA sequences of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human proteases are disclosed. The variant proteases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant protease to generate the substitution of a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of a precursor protease. Such variant proteases have properties which are different from those of the precursor protease, such as altered wash performance. The substituted amino acid residue correspond to positions 27, 45, 170, 181, 251 and 271 of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. Additional variants comprising at least one additional substitution at a position selected from 1, 14, 49, 61, 87, 100, 102, 118, 128, 204 and 258 of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are also described.

Abstract: Novel enzyme variants including protease variants derived from the DNA sequences of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human proteases are disclosed. The variant proteases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant protease to generate the substitution of a plurality of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of a precursor protease. Such variant proteases have properties which are different from those of the precursor protease, such as altered wash performance. The substituted amino acid residue correspond to positions 27, 45, 170, 181, 251 and 271 of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin. Additional variants comprising at least one additional substituion at a positon selected from 1, 14, 49, 61, 87, 100, 102, 118, 128, 204 and 258 of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin are also described.

Abstract: Multimeric fusion proteins of an Ig-like domain of Flt-1 are rendered functional by inclusion of a linker moiety. Vectors encoding the fusion proteins and host cells expressing the fusion proteins can be used therapeutically to block neovascularization in individuals with pathological conditions related to neovascularization. Such conditions include age-related macular degeneration, cancer, psoriasis, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, asthma, uveitis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The same means of multimerization used for an Iglike domain of Flt-1, i.e., a linker and a multimerization domain, can be used for other polypeptides, including extracellular receptors, antibody variable regions, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.

Abstract: Described herein is a chemostat-like continuous cell culture system that combines certain advantages of perfusion open systems and chemostat open systems to improve the culturing of mammalian cells, e.g., genetically modified cells, particularly in serum-free or chemically-defined media. The continuous culture system described herein involves culturing mammalian cells in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d?1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the protease hepsin is specifically over-expressed in ovarian and other malignancies. A number of hepsin peptides can induce immune responses to hepsin, thereby demonstrating the potential of these peptides in monitoring and the development of immunotherapies for ovarian and other malignancies. There is also provided a hepsin protein variant that is useful as a marker for ovarian cancer cells, prostate cancer cells or kidney cancer cells.

Abstract: A chemoenzymatic method for the preparation of a homogeneous glycoprotein or glycopeptide, including (a) providing an acceptor selected from the group consisting of GlcNAc-protein and GlcNAc-peptide; and (b) reacting the acceptor with a donor substrate including an activated oligosaccharide moiety, in the presence of a catalyst comprising endoglycosidase (ENGase), to transfer the oligosaccharide moiety to the acceptor and yield the homogeneous glycoprotein or glycopeptide. The donor substrate includes, in a specific implementation, a synthetic oligosaccharide oxazoline. A related method of glycoprotein or glycopeptide remodeling with a predetermined natural N-glycan or a tailor-made oligosaccharide moiety, and a method of remodeling an antibody including a heterogeneous sugar chain, are also described. The disclosed methodology enables glycoprotein drugs to be modified for prolonged half-life in vivo, reduced immunogenicity, and enhanced in vivo activity, and for targeting and drug delivery.

Abstract: Disclosed are isolated polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus sp. having glutamic peptidase activity.

Abstract: Novel polynucleotide and amino acids of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae are described. These sequences are useful for diagnosis of B. hyodysenteriae disease in animals and as a therapeutic treatment or prophylactic treatment of B. hyodysenteriae disease in animals. These sequences may also be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of diseases in animals caused by other Brachyspira species.

Abstract: The invention relates to transgenic rabbits that produce human factor VII in their mammary glands. The milk of said transgenic rabbits can be used as a raw material for the production of recombinant human factor VII.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides and more specifically to enzymes having isomerase activity, e.g., racemase activity, e.g., amino acid racemase activity, alanine racemase activity, and/or epimerase activity, and/or catalyze the re-, arrangement of atoms within a molecule, catalyze the conversion of one isomer into another, catalyze the conversion of an optically active substrate into a raceme, which is optically inactive, catalyze the interconversion of substrate enantiomers, catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry, catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration around an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one asymmetric center, and/or catalyze the racemization of amino acids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selecting a protein variant having modified immunogenicity as compared to the parent protein comprising the steps obtaining antibody binding peptide sequences, using the sequences to localise epitope sequences on the 3-dimensional structure of parent protein, defining an epitope area including amino acids situated within 5 ? from the epitope amino acids constituting the epitope sequence, changing one or more of the amino acids defining the epitope area of the parent protein by genetical engineering mutations of a DNA sequence encoding the parent protein, introducing the mutated DNA sequence into a suitable host, culturing said host and expressing the protein variant, and evaluating the immunogenicity of the protein variant using the parent protein as reference. The invention further relates to the protein variant and use thereof, as well as to a method for producing said protein variant.

Abstract: It is intended to provide an activator for blood coagulation factor VII. Ribavirin or its derivative is used as an activator for blood coagulation factor VII promoter.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods, kits and/or compositions for the determination of analytes by mass analysis using unique labeling reagents or sets of unique labeling reagents. The labeling reagents can be isomeric or isobaric and can be used to produce mixtures suitable for multiplex analysis of the labeled analytes.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to treating synucleinopathies in subjects that are not clinically diagnosed with a lysosomal storage disease, as well as associated methods of making medicaments and screening methods.

Abstract: Provided herein is are polypeptides that include the protease domain of a type II transmembrane serine protease (MTSP) as a single chain. Methods using the polypeptides to identify compounds that modulate the protease activity of an MTSP are provided. Also provided are MTSPs designated MTSP3 and MTSP4 and a form of an MTSP designated MTSP6.

Abstract: Disclosed is an efficient method for production of aminopeptidase. The method comprises either transforming host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene and with a neutral protease gene, or transforming some part of host bacteria with an aminopeptidase gene while transforming the other part of the host bacteria with a neutral protease gene, culturing in a medium the hose bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and with the neutral protease gene, or culturing a mixture of the host bacteria transformed with the aminopeptidase gene and the host bacteria transformed with the neutral protease gene, to let both the aminopeptidase and the neutral protease be expressed, and collecting the aminopeptidase thus produced from the culture mixture.

Abstract: A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a dynorphin Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the dynorphin Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent.

Abstract: The application relates to a composition comprising a hyperbranched polymer attached to a core and a biologically active moiety. The biologically active moiety is attached to the core by means of a substantially non-enzymatically cleavable linker L. The composition can be used to deliver the biologically active moiety to its target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising a Caspase domain or a functionally active variant thereof and a ligand binding domain of a nuclear hormone receptor, a nucleic acid coding for the fusion protein, a vector or cell comprising the nucleic acid, a method of producing the fusion protein, a non-human transgenic animal containing the nucleic acid, the use of the fusion protein for ligand-mediated induction of apoptosis of a cell, or for studying the function of a cell, tissue and/or organ or the use of a transgenic organism for studying the function of a cell at various developmental stages or as a disease model, a method for inducing apoptosis of a cell expressing a fusion protein or for identifying a ligand, or a medicament comprising a fusion protein, the nucleic acid, the vector or the cell, particularly for the treatment of cancer or for or after transplantation, particularly as safety mechanism.

Abstract: Cell lines having genetically modified glycosylation pathways that allow them to carry out a sequence of enzymatic reactions, which mimic the processing of glycoproteins in humans, have been developed. Recombinant proteins expressed in these engineered hosts yield glycoproteins more similar, if not substantially identical, to their human counterparts. The lower eukaryotes, which ordinarily produce high-mannose containing N-glycans, including unicellular and multicellular fungi are modified to produce N-glycans such as Man5GlcNAc2 or other structures along human glycosylation pathways.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ACE2 for the therapeutic treatment or prevention of inflammation.

Abstract: Protease-like nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, protease-like fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-protease-like antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and cells into which the vectors have been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides and methods of use for the polypeptides of the invention are further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous composition and method for extracting nucleic acid from a sample of bodily fluid, such as saliva, such that the nucleic acid within said sample remains stable for at least fourteen days at room temperature. The composition permits direct use of the extracted and stored DNA in an amplification reaction without further processing.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject, the method including administring a composition that includes a reversibly inactivated acidfied plasmin substantially free of a plasminogen activator, in a low buffering capacity buffer, wherein the composition is a solution suitable for pharmacenutical use that can be raised to physiological pH by adding no more than about 5 volumes of serum to the solution relative to a volume of the solution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polynucleotide marker or a protein marker for use in the specific detection of an IL-17-producing helper T-cell (a Th17 cell). Also disclosed is a method for detecting a Th17 cell, which is characterized by detecting the occurrence of the polynucleotide marker or the protein marker.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method of reducing the content of dimers in Factor VII polypeptide composition by heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to targeted killing of a cell utilizing a chimeric polypeptide comprising a cell-specific targeting moiety and a signal transduction pathway factor. In a preferred embodiment, the signal transduction pathway factor is an apoptosis-inducing factor, such as granzyme B, granzyme A, or Bax.

Abstract: Expression systems and methods for the expression of functional membrane polypeptides such as human cytochrome b5 are provided. The systems include recombinant expression vectors capable of expressing soluble fusion proteins that include a solubilizing agent, a linker, and a membrane polypeptide, as well as one or more cleavers, e.g. proteases, capable of cleaving the linker to release the membrane polypeptide. When the fusion protein is expressed, the linker is cleaved by the cleaver to allow association of the membrane polypeptide with a membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel variants of a protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. (SEQ ID NO: 1) and closely related proteases, as well as their pharmaceutical use. The variants show improved performance in the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). The variants may be combined with a lipase and/or an amylase. Other examples of medical indications are: Treatment of digestive disorders, pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes type I, and/or diabetes type II.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel proteins activating pro-phenoloxidase (pro-PO) system of Tenebrio molitor, genes encoding the same, methods of detecting bacterial infection in a sample using the proteins, and kits for detecting bacterial infection in a sample using the proteins. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a soluble linearized Lys-type pep-tidoglycan (SLPG), useful for a standard substance for the kit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ACE2 for the therapeutic treatment or prevention of a fibrosis or liver disorder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant ACE2 polypeptide, where the ACE2 polypeptide is present as a dimer. The dimer is formed specifically from glycosylated monomers and is used for producing pharmaceutical products with an extended half-life.

Abstract: The invention mainly concerns methods and systems for the preparation of biological samples for proteome analysis, N-terminal or C-terminal peptides of proteins are enriched using exopeptidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having protease activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods and kits for assessing proteolytic enzyme activity and a modulator's effect thereof employ a Ubiquitin or Ubiquitin-like Protein and a signal producing structure. The corresponding fusion polynucleotide is employed for production of transgenic cells, plants and animals that may be produced by stably transfection, optionally transforming the cell, plant or animal with a Ubiquitin-, UBL- or their C-terminal binding functional fragment-Reporter fusion polynucleotide. A method of diagnosing a disease or condition, comprises contacting or administering a sample obtained from a subject suspected of being afflicted with the disease or condition with the cell, plant or animal, detecting any signal produced by the reporter in the presence of the sample and comparing the signal to controls for 0% and 100% signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for engineering proteins to optimize their performance under certain environmental conditions of interest. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for engineering enzymes to optimize their catalytic activity under particular environmental conditions. In some preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods for altering the net surface charge and/or surface charge distribution of enzymes {e.g., metalloproteases or serine proteases) to obtain enzyme variants that demonstrate improved performance in detergent formulations as compared to the starting or parent enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase by a coryneform bacterium. According to the present invention, a process is provided for the secretory production of a foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase, by making a coryneform bacterium to produce an industrially useful foreign protein, in particular, transglutaminase and efficiently release the product extracellularly (i.e., secretory production).

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for use in raising an immune response to P. gingivalis in a subject, the composition comprising an amount effective to raise an immune response of at least one polypeptide having an amino acid sequence substantially identical to at least 50 amino acids, or an antigenic or immunogenic portion, of one of the polypeptides corresponding to accession numbers selected from the group consisting of AAQ65462, AAQ65742, AAQ66991, AAQ65561, AAQ66831, AAQ66797, AAQ66469, AAQ66587, AAQ66654, AAQ66977, AAQ65797, AAQ65867, AAQ65868, AAQ65416, AAQ65449, AAQ66051, AAQ66377, AAQ66444, AAQ66538, AAQ67117 and AAQ67118. The invention also provides a method of preventing or treating a subject for P.

Abstract: NAD-dependent ligase is identified as an indicator of micro-organisms in a sample. A method of detecting the presence of an NAD-dependent ligase expressing micro-organism in a sample comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the sample with a nucleic acid molecule which acts as a substrate for NAD-dependent ligase activity in the sample, (b) incubating the thus contacted sample under conditions suitable for NAD-dependent ligase activity; and (c) specifically determining the presence of a ligated nucleic acid molecule resulting from the action of the NAD-dependent ligase on the substrate nucleic acid molecule to indicate the presence of the NAD-dependent ligase expressing micro-organism. The method has a number of applications and kits for carrying out the methods are also provided.