Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and selection of attachment molecules that attach/immobilize an entity having a detectable activity or property on a support in an orientation that provides a detectable activity or property, and to surfaces made of the attachment molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method producing dimer of chimeric recombinant binding domain-heterogeneous functional group fusion([B-F fusion]2) by using covalent disulfide-bond-bridge connecting the two monomers of chimeric recombinant binding domain-heterogeneous functional group fusion(B-F fusion). The dimer of chimeric recombinant binding domain(B)-heterogeneous functional group(F) fusion was the first to be formed by using covalent disulfide-bond-bridge to connect monomers to have double binding valency of the monomer. It has higher functional efficiency to its targets and the production yield is high by containing said extension peptide chain.

Abstract: A modified bioluminescent system comprising a fluorescent molecule covalently linked with a photoprotein, wherein said link between the two proteins has the function to stabilize the modified bioluminescent system and allowing the transfer of the energy by Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (CRET).

Abstract: The present invention is based on the identification of a series of virulence genes in E. coli K1, the products of which may be implicated in the pathogenicity of the organisms. The identification of the genes allows them, or their expressed products, to be used in a number of ways to treat infection.

Abstract: A modified bioluminescent system comprising a fluorescent molecule covalently linked with a photoprotein, wherein said link between the two proteins has the function to stabilize the modified bioluminescent system and allowing the transfer of the energy by Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (CRET).

Abstract: A universal secretory signal originally derived from a piscine vitellogenin (Vtg) gene is inserted into various expression vectors for driving the secretion of the recombinant protein into the culture medium. This enhances the detection, quantification and downstream scaled-up purification of a recombinant protein of interest. The secretory signal system is very versatile, being conveniently and widely applicable to an array of heterologous host cells such as bacteria, yeast, insect, piscine, and mammalian cell lines (e.g., COS, CHO, NIH/3T3). The said secretory system is also applicable as a reporter vector for secretion of reporter proteins/enzymes, thus, enabling the detection of the reporter proteins (e.g., CAT, GFP) in the culture medium.

Abstract: In a dictionary formation aspect of the invention, a computer-based method of processing a plurality of sequences in a database comprises the following steps. First, the method includes evaluating each of the plurality of sequences including characters which form each sequence. Then, at least one pattern of characters is generated representing at least a subset of the sequences in the database. The pattern has a statistical significance associated therewith, the statistical significance of the pattern being determined by a value representing a minimum number of sequences that the pattern supports in the database.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a glycosylated or nonglycosylated protein which is composed of the amino acid sequence of a first .alpha. subunit common to the glycoprotein hormones linked covalently, optionally through a linker moiety, to the amino acid sequence of a second .alpha. subunit of said hormones, wherein said first and second .alpha. subunits consist of the native amino acid sequences or variants of said amino acid sequences. These proteins are useful as agonists or antagonists of glycoprotein hormone activity.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a novel peptide linker useful for connecting polypeptide constituents into a novel linked fusion polypeptide. The peptide linker of the invention provides greater stability and is less susceptible to aggregation than previously known peptide linkers. The peptide linker of the invention may be up to about 50 amino acids in length and contains at least one occurrence of a charged amino acid followed by a proline. When used for making a single chain Fv (sFv), the peptide linker is preferably from 18 to about 30 amino acids in length. A preferred embodiment of the peptide linker of the invention comprises the sequence:GSTSGSGXPGSGEGSTKG (SEQ. ID NO 1),where X is a charged amino acid, preferably lysine or arginine. Methods of making linked fusion polypeptides using the peptide linker of the invention are claimed. DNA molecules encoding such linked fusion polypeptides, and methods of producing such linked fusion polypeptides from these DNA molecules are also claimed.

Abstract: Hybrid regulatory proteins are provided which contain amino acid sequences that are susceptible to cleavage by specific proteolytic enzymes. When acted upon by such enzymes, the hybrid regulatory proteins are rendered substantially less active, thereby altering the rate of production of products of indicator genes that are controlled by the regulatory proteins. Also provided are DNAs encoding such regulatory proteins, recombinant vectors and transformed eukaryotic cells containing such DNAs, and methods for identifying inhibitors of the specific proteolytic enzymes.

Abstract: A process is provided for cleaving a polypeptide into at least two polypeptide components comprising treating a reduced, free-cysteine form of the polypeptide with a cleaving agent under conditions for cleaving the polypeptide at a desired junction between the polypeptide cleavage products. More preferably, the process for cleaving comprises culturing cells containing DNA encoding said polypeptide, wherein at least one Asp codon is present in said DNA at a desired junction between the components to be cleaved from each other, said culturing resulting in expression of the DNA to produce the polypeptide in the host cell culture; and treating a reduced, free-cysteine form of the polypeptide with dilute acid under conditions for cleaving the polypeptide at the Asp junction.