Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for crystallizing macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and to a crystalline M-CSF produced thereby. The present invention is also directed to methods for designing and producing M-CSF agonists and antagonists using information derived from the crystallographic structure of M-CSF. The invention is also directed to methods for screening M-CSF agonists and antagonists. In addition, the present invention is directed to an isolated, purified, soluble and functional M-CSF receptor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fractionation process for the production of triglycerides with at least 12 wt % SSU (S=saturated fatty acids; U=unsaturated fatty acids) by subjecting a fat with at least 5 wt % SSU to a fractionation, achieving an enrichment factor fo the SSU enrichment of at least 1.

Abstract: A triglyceride oil containing a membrane lipid in a concentration effective for crystallization modification the membrane lipid having a formula:C.sub.13 H.sub.27 --CH.dbd.CH--CH(OH)--CH(NHCOA.sub.2)--CH2--OA.sub.4,wherein C.sub.13 H.sub.27 -- is an unbranched alkyl chain, A.sub.2 is an unbranched C.sub.23 H.sub.47 -- hydrocarbon chain, and A.sub.4 is a sugar moiety selected from the group consisting o a monosaccharide residue, a disaccharide residue or an oligosaccharide residue, including glucose, fructose, galactose, saccharose, lactose and maltose. Said membrane is utilized to separate solid fatty materials from triglyceride oils by heating the oil in an inert solvent until a substantial amount of the solid material is no longer present, adding the membrane lipid as the crystallization modifying substance, cooling the oil to crystallize a solid stearin phase in combination with a liquid olein phase, and recovering the stearin phase by separating it from the olein phase.

Abstract: Process for triglyceride oil fractionation using a crystallisation modifying substance which isi. a copolymer having subunits A and B of which subunit A is derived from maleic acid or itaconic acid and subunit B is derived from vinyl alcohol, alkyl substituted vinyl alcohol, acrylic acid or styrene, A and B being present in a ratio of 10:1 to 1:10, where 5-100% of the the maleic acid or itaconic acid subunits are connected to unbranched (C8-C24)-alkyl chains and where 0-100% of the vinyl alcohol or alkyl substituted vinyl alcohol or acrylic acid subunits are connected to unbranched (C1-C8)-alkyl chains and whereii. inulin or phlein of which 5-100% of the hydroxyl groups on the fructose subunits are connected to (C8-C24) unbranched alkyl chains and 0-95% of the hydroxyl groups have been esterified with a (C1-C8)-alkyl containing fatty acid, preferably acetic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dry fractionation of fatty substances by a counter current dry fractionation operation, comprising at least two dry fractional crystallization treatments;a first dry fractional crystallization treatment comprising the steps of:1a) dry fractionating by crystallization the fatty substances into a higher melting first stearin fraction and a lower melting first olein fraction;1b) separating the first stearin fraction from the first olein fraction by membrane filter pressing; and1c) feeding the separated first olein fraction to a second dry fractional recrystallization treatment; anda second dry fractional crystallization treatment comprising the steps of:2a) dry fractionating by crystallization the first olein fraction into a higher melting second stearin fraction and a lower melting second olein fraction;2b) separating the second stearin fraction from the second olein fraction by membrane filter pressing; and2c) feeding the separated second stearin fraction to the first dry

Abstract: A method for dry fractionation of a mixture of meltable, higher molecular weight organic substances, including: melting a mixture of organic substances which is meltable and which has a higher molecular weight by heating the mixture to a temperature effective to provide a melt, the melt having an interior temperature; pre-cooling the melt with a cooling means including a coolant to one of (1) cool the melt without nucleation of crystallization and (2) cool the melt and nucleate crystallization at a nucleation temperature; and growing crystals under conditions effective to one of (1) nucleate crystallization at the nucleation temperature and ripen the crystals, and (2) ripen crystals nucleated in step (b), wherein pre-cooling, nucleating and crystal ripening each include a thermal treatment, wherein, during precooling, temperature reduction is effected at any desired rate but under the conditions that the coolant has a temperature which is not more than 10.degree. C.

Abstract: The separation of unsaturated triglycerides on the basis of degree of unsaturation is achieved by an adsorptive chromatographic process in liquid phase with silane- or alcohol-treated silica gel as the adsorbent. Desorbents in the separation process include ketones, having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, low molecular weight esters, having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms or p-cymene, or mixtures thereof, alone or mixed with a hydrocarbon diluent. The preferred temperature in the separation column is from 120.degree.-150.degree. C.