Abstract:
The invention provides an alternative method of reversible aggregation and/or dissociation of polypeptides. Proteins or polypeptides according to the invention have an inherent aggregation capability, wherein the aggregation is an oligomerization of the polypeptide that is based on the presence and the strucuture of peptide repeats localized in a flexibly disordered domain of this polypeptide. The flexibly disordered domain comprising the peptide repeats preferrably is located in close proximity with the N-terminus of the protein amino acid sequence. Preferably, each of the peptide repeats has a sequence that comprises one to four identical octapeptides with the amino acid sequence: PHGGGWGQ. Preferred proteins are selected from the group comprising cellular prion proteins (PrPC) and engineered polypeptides or fusion proteins with a respective inherent reversible aggregation and dissociation capability. Because of the new mechanism of aggregation, the oligomerization reaction of the protein is reversible in a fluidic environment depending on the pH of this fluidic environment. Oligomerization occurs at a pH of 6.2 to 7.8, and the dissociation into monomers is reported to be at a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5. 1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The peptides of the invention comprise DP178 (SEQ ID:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LAI gp41 protein, and fragments, analogs and homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.
Abstract:
The present invention provides active, hydrophilic polymer-modified derivatives of insulin. The insulin derivatives of the invention are, in one aspect, suitable for delivery to the lung and exhibit pharmakokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties that are significantly improved over native insulin.
Abstract:
Disclosed is the first crystal structure in the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family, the mouse CEACAM1anull1,4null, containing the N-terminal functional domain that is characterized as having a uniquely folded CCnull loop. This novel feature could not be predicted based on sequence analysis alone. The structure has provided a prototypic architecture for modeling human homologues within the CEA family. These tertiary structures are used in a number of screening methods for identifying candidate molecules that have a binding affinity for the tertiary structure of the CCnull loop and its vicinity. Pharmaceutical preparations that include one or more of such identified candidates may then be provided and used in treatments for certain bacterial and viral infections, certain tumors and disorders of angiogenesis or immune responses and autoimmune disease.
Abstract:
The protein tyrosine kinase receptors, designated Rse and HPTK6, have been purified from human and/or murine cell tissues. Rse and HPTK6 have been cloned from a cDNA library of a human liver carcinoma cell line (i.e., Hep 3B) using PCR amplification. Provided herein are nucleic acid sequences encoding Rse and HPTK6 useful as diagnostics and in the recombinant preparation of Rse and HPTK6. Rse and HPTK6 are used in the preparation and purification of antibodies thereto and in diagnostic assays.
Abstract:
Novel insulin precursors and insulin precursor analogs having a mini C-peptide comprising at least one aromatic amino acid residue have an increased folding stability. The novel insulin precursors and insulin precursor analogs can be expressed in yeast in high yields and are preferably not more 15 amino acid residues in length. Also provided are polynucleotide sequences encoding the claimed precursors or precursor analogs, and vectors and cell lines containing such polynucleotide sequences.
Abstract:
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for all purpose.
Abstract:
Peptides of influenza virus hemagglutinin protein and Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen, antibodies specific for the peptides, influenza vaccines, malaria vaccines and methods of stimulating the immune response of a subject to produce antibodies to influenza virus or malaria are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for formulating vaccines for influenza virus.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an immunodeficiency virus of drill monkeys, its RNA, the corresponding cDNA, proteins derived therefrom and fragments of the nucleic acids or proteins. The invention likewise relates to the diagnostic use of the nucleic acids and proteins mentioned and their fragments and to a diagnostic.