Abstract: Recombinant laminin B1k and fragments thereof.

Abstract: Copolymers are provided having varying ratios of elastin and fibroin repeating units. By varying the length of segments of the elastin and fibroin repeating units, the absorption can be greatly varied. Tensile strengths remain relatively constant regardless of the composition within the prescribed ranges. The copolymer compositions and recombinant fibroin can be used for the production of a wide variety of formed objects and amorphous masses for use as implants.

Abstract: A method is provided for generation of bone at a site of an animal where skeletal tissue is deficient comprising administering to the animal, locally at the bone site in the presence of a source of osteogenic cells, an effective amount of a composition comprising TGF-.beta. in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, provided that such composition excludes a bone morphogenetic cofactor, the composition being administered in an amount effective to induce bone growth at the bone site. Also provided is a device for implantation into a site of an animal where skeletal tissue is deficient comprising a device treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising TGF-.beta. and a source of osteogenic cells in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: KS-laminin and a KS-laminin-kalinin adduct are disclosed. The molecules of the invention are useful for promoting the adhesion of keratinocytes to a substrate.

Abstract: A composition and method for controlled release of water-soluble proteins comprising a surface-eroding polymer matrix and water-soluble bioactive factors is described. The composition bioerodes in the biological environment of the subject at a controlled rate, thereby releasing the water soluble proteins at a rate which allows them to interact with local cell populations.

Abstract: Injectable implant compositions for soft tissue augmentation comprise elastin and collagen and a biocompatible carrier. An injectable implant composition for soft tissue augmentation is derived from the ligamentum nuchae which has been treated to remove non-collagenous and non-elastinous proteins. Methods of making an injectable implant composition for soft tissue augmentation from the ligamentum nuchae are described.

Abstract: A biochemically pure polypeptide(s), termed osteogenic growth polypeptide (OGP), which exhibits stimulatory effects on osteoblastic cells, in vivo bone formation and hemopoietic reconstruction. OGP, identified from regenerating bone marrow, has an amino acid sequence ofAla-Leu-Lys-Arg-Gln-Gly-Arg-Thr-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Gly.

Abstract: A method for detecting a potentially detrimental transformation of cells of an organism. The method comprises determining syndecan content indicator from a sample of biological material from the organism, and comparing the determined syndecan content indicator with a reference syndecan content indicator from a reference biological material of the same type.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of high purity bone mineral wherein the organic matter in degreased bone is degraded and solubilized by heating with ammonia or a primary amine, characterized in that the solubilized degradation products are extracted by washing with flowing water at temperatures below 60.degree. C., such heating with primary amine and washing steps optionally being repeated, whereby substantially all organic matter removable by these steps is removed, the bone mineral so treated being heated in air at temperatures of up to 700.degree. C.

Abstract: The protein materials of the invention are essentially those obtained through reaction of a concentrated aqueous solution of type I and/or type III collagens and elastin or elastin peptides having a molecular weight above about 10,000, which can be dissolved in water. Preferred ratios of collagen reactants to elastin reactants in the process of the invention are in the range 1:10. The materials of the invention are obtained through solubilization of elastin.

Abstract: Organofunctional silicone chains having an organic moiety on at least one end of the chains, are covalently linked to free amino groups of proteins by the organic moieties to provide a useful ingredient for cosmetic formulations.

Abstract: A purified protein kalinin is disclosed that provides adhesion between epidermal keratinocytes and the underlying dermis. Purified kalinin localizes to the anchoring filaments of basement membranes or human subepithelial skin, trachea, esophagus, cornea and amnion when such areas are probed with BM165 monoclonal antibody after localization. The protein has a molecular weight of approximately 400-460 kDa and exists in a cell-associated form (about 460 kDa) and two medium-associated forms (about 440 and 400 kDa, respectively). The cell-associated form comprises a 200-, a 155- and a 140-kDa subunit, all normally held together by disulflde bonds. The cell-associated form is subjected to extracellular processing to produce the two medium-associated forms, wherein, in the 440-kDa form, the 200-kDa subunit has been processed to a 165-kDa subunit and, in the 400-kDa form, the 155-kDa subunit has been processed to a 105-KDa subunit. The BM165 epitope is located on the 165-kDa subunit.

Abstract: A myogenic protein isolate from mammalian bone is provided that stimulates lineage commitment and differentiation of stem cells in vitro and in vivo. The protein isolate is characterized by its ability to cause muscle stem cell differentiation without excessive proliferation of connective tissue proximal to the delivery site. Treated muscle stem cells differentiate into myotubes and multinucleated structures with minimal formation of scar tissue, resulting in functional muscle tissue restoration in vivo, and therefore useful in the treatment of a number of disorders and injuries. The protein isolate is preferably administered by implanting a bioerodible polymer matrix, preferably a surface erodible polymer such as a polyanhydride or a polyorthoester, interspersed with the protein isolate near the site of muscle injury or degeneration, but can be administered directly to cells cultured in vitro.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment and repair of defects in the cartilage or bone of humans and other animals as in full-thickness defects in joints. The defect in bone is filled with a matrix having pores large enough to allow cells to populate the matrix and to form blood vessels. The matrix filling the bone defect contains an angiogenic factor and also contains an osteogenic factor in an appropriate delivery system. To induce cartilage formation, a defect in cartilage is filled with a matrix having pores sufficiently large to allow cartilage repair cells to populate the matrix. The matrix filling the defect in cartilage contains a proliferation agent and also contains a transforming factor in an appropriate delivery system. The matrix may also contain a chemotactic agent to attract cartilage repair cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diagnostic agent for the enzymatic determination of cholesterol, wherein, besides the necessary enzymes, it contains a scleroprotein or a scleroprotein hydrolysate; said invention also provides a process for the production of a reagent film for the detection of cholesterol, as well as a test strip for the detection of cholesterol; and said invention is also concerned with the use of scleroproteins and scleroprotein hydrolysates for increasing the enzyme stability in diagnostic agents for the detection of cholesterol and for increasing the temperature-independence of the detection of cholesterol with diagnostic agents.

Abstract: A recombinant spider silk protein can be obtained in a commercially useful form by cloning and the expression in a host cell of a polynucleotide encoding an endogenous spider silk protein or variant thereof. The sequencing of a spider silk protein is made possible by a method for solubilizing a spider silk protein.

Abstract: Recombinant production of bioadhesive precursor protein analogs is disclosed. The bioadhesive precursor protein analogs can be hydroxylated and used as an adhesive in wet environments.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the production of large polypeptides containing repeating sequences of amino acids utilizing biochemical techniques, specifically DNA sequences coding for the expression of the large polypeptides. Systems utilizing exogenous transcriptional and translational regions to control the production of the large polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Recombinant structural and functional polymers are purified by lysing of the cellular host, separation of the solid materials, washing and extraction of contaminants using a detergent solution at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an elastin-based product consisting of an adduct containing elastin and at least one protein which can be coagulated and/or activated by thrombin.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment and repair of defects or lesions in the cartilage of humans and other animals. The defect or lesion in the cartilage may be first treated with an enzyme to remove proteoglycans from the defect area. To induce cartilage formation, the defect is filled or otherwise dressed with a biodegradable matrix having pores sufficiently large to allow repair cells to populate the matrix. The matrix filling the defect contains a proliferation agent at a concentration sufficient to stimulate proliferation of repair cells and a transforming factor in an appropriate delivery system to release the transforming factor at a concentration sufficient to transform repair cells in the matrix and defect area into cartilage-producing chondrocytes. The matrix may also contain a chemotactic agent to attract repair cells. The entire treatment may be carried out in a single arthroscopic or open surgical procedure.

Abstract: Vectors are provided that are capable of expressing, in microbial transformants, a protein having the native amino acid sequence of a bioadhesive precursor protein of a marine animal selected from the group consisting of mussels, barnacles, and oysters. The bioadhesive precursor protein can be expressed in transformants, recovered and converted to a bioadhesive protein by hydroxylation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the immunological determination of basal membrane low-density heparan sulfate-proteoglycan in body fluids, and to the preparation or obtaining of a low-density heparan sulfate-proteoglycan suitable for this purpose, and of the corresponding highly specific antibodies.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of high purity bone mineral wherein the organic matter is degraded by heating with ammonia or a primary amine, characterized in that the solubilized degradation products are extracted by washing with flowing water at temperature below 60.degree. C., such heating with primary amine and washing steps optionally being repeated, whereby substantially all organic matter removable by these steps is removed, the bone mineral so treated being heated in air at temperatures between 250.degree. C. and 600.degree. C.

Abstract: Recombinant production of a bioadhesive precursor protein analog comprising three, five, ten, fifteen or twenty repeated decapeptides of the formula Ala-Lys-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Thr-Tyr-Lys is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an osteogenically active protein preparation characterized by a molecular weight of from about 31,000 to 34,000 daltons as characterized comprising a subunit identical to or homologous to a subunit in P3 OF 31-34, by non-reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by the characteristic of eluting from a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography column equilibrated with buffers containing trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile by eluting within the concentrations of 35% to 45% acetonitrile. The invention further provides improved methods for isolating such preparations and genes encoding all or a portion of polypeptide subunits of dimers comprising the osteogenic protein preparation.

Abstract: Process of preparation of an organo-silicon cosmetic compound having cosmetic and cutaneous resorption activity, derived from the addition or combination or complexing of a silanol with a substance which determines its cosmetic activity and an intracutaneous fixation substance.

Abstract: A method of stimulating chemotaxis toward a prosthetic device is disclosed, which method comprises incorporating a chemotactic peptide of the formulaB.sup.1 -X-(AGVPGLGVG).sub.n -(AGVPGFGVG).sub.m -Y-B.sup.2whereinA is a peptide-forming residue of L-alanine;P is a peptide-forming residue of L-proline;G is a peptide-forming residue of glycine;V is a peptide-forming residue of L-valine;F is a peptide-forming residue of L-phenylalanine;L is a peptide-forming residue of L-leucine;B.sup.1 is H or a biocompatible N-terminal group;B.sup.2 is OH, OB.sup.3 where B.sup.

Abstract: Emulsified compositions comprising an elastin hydrolyzate having a molecular weight not lower than 200,000 (preferably in the range from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000) maintain a stable emulsion state without having to use any other surfactants, and cause sufficient retention of water and moisture on the human skin without having to use any other humectants when employed as cosmetics or external preparations for the skin.

Abstract: Three new monoclonal antibodies, MU78, MT334, and MQ49, and the hybridoma cell lines producing these, are disclosed. The antibodies specifically bind to mucin-like antigens with distribution over various carcinomas.

Abstract: Parenteral solutions comprising(a) a sparingly soluble medicament active compound,(b) a solvent consisting of(i) 5-100 M/V % of an organic solvent or of a mixture of organic solvents and(ii) 0-95 W/V % of water,(c) A 0.5-30 W/V % strength aqueous solution of a human serum protein and customary auxiliaries and/or excipients, 1 to 40,000 parts by weight, preferably 25 to 30,000 parts by weight of solvent (b) and 1 to 1,000,000 parts by weight, preferably 50 to 40,000 parts by weight, of human serum protein solution (c) being present per part by weight of medicament active compound.The sparingly soluble medicament active compounds which can be used have a solubility in water of between 1 .mu.g and 10 g, preferably between 10 .mu.g and 1 g per liter of water. Examples of such medicaments are dihydropyridine compounds and pyrazolones, and muzolimine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydrated adhesive gel using a product which is obtained by reacting an aqueous solution consisting essentially of protein having amino groups at the side chains thereof, a gelling retarder, and a hydrophilic tackifier with a N-hydroxyimidoester compound.

Abstract: Two proteins that are found in bone and that have in vivo chondrogenic/osteogenic activity in combination with a co-factor are described. Both proteins also were active in combination with EGF in the in vitro TGF-.beta. assay. Each has a molecular weight of approximately 26,000 daltons by SDS-PAGE. Each is reduced to a single polypeptide indicating that the proteins are probably homodimers. One has an N-terminal sequence identical to that of human placenta-derived TGF-.beta. whereas the other has an N-terminal sequence that is different from that of TGF-.beta. derived from human placenta. The two proteins may be purified to homogeneity using RP-HPLC or acetic acid-urea gel electrophoresis.

Abstract: A protein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The protein has a molecular weight of 10,000-30,000 Dalton, an isoelectric point greater than 9.5, and an N terminus of the sequence H-Lys-X-Phe-Lys-Val-Asp-Val-Leu-Ala-Ala-Leu-X-Phe-Asn-Ala-, wherein X is an amino acid or a tryptic cleavage product which has the sequence -Gly-Ala-Asn-Ala-Val-Asn-. Methods for the isolation and purification of the protein, compositions containing the protein, and methods for the use of the protein and compositions, are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cosmetic preparation which comprises novel derivatives of solubilized elastin which are fatty acid amides of elastin, and which have been found to permit deeper penetration and a higher percentage absorption of elastin into the stratum corneum of human skin.

Abstract: Complexes of polyanionic plant polysaccharides with biodegradable proteins, or proteolytic degradation products thereof, are useful in the formation of wound dressings and surgical implants, such as sutures, blood vessel grafts, and artificial organs. The biodegradable protein is preferably collagen, and the polysaccharide is preferably sodium alginate. The complexes are preferably formed by combining the protein and the polysaccharide at a pH which is no higher than the isoelectric point of the protein. The complexes may be crosslinked, such as by dehydrothermal crosslinking or by the use of chemical crosslinking agents such as aldehydes or carbodiimides. Multivalent cations may also be incorporated in the complex in order to give added strength.