Abstract:
Methods of use of compounds and compounds for the treatment of disorders characterized by the cerebral deposition of amyloid are provided. Among the compounds are those of formulae (I) and (II), in which R1 is preferably 2-methyl propene, 2-butene, cyclohexyl or cyclohexylmethyl; R2, R4, and R8 are each independently methyl or ethyl; R3 is preferably iso-butyl or phenyl; R5 is preferably iso-butyl; R6 is H or methyl; R7 - (Q)n is preferably benzyloxycarbonyl or acetyl; Q is preferably -C(O)-; RB is preferably iso-butyl; RA = -(T)m-(D)m-R1, in which T is preferably oxygen or carbon, and D is preferably a mono-unsaturated C3-4 alkenyl; and X is preferably a alpha -ketoester or alpha -ketoamide or aldehyde.
Abstract:
Isolated DNA encoding each of human calcium chanel alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta - and gamma -subunits, including subunits that arise as splice variants of primary transcripts, is provided. In particular DNA clones encoding each of the alpha 1A-1, alpha 1A-2, alpha 1E-1, alpha 1C-2, alpha 1E-3, beta 3-1, beta 2C, beta 2D, beta 2E and beta 4 subunits of human calcium channels are provided. Cells and vectors containing the DNA, subunit specific antibodies and nucleic acid probes and methods for identifying compounds that modulate the activity of human calcium channels are also provided.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided nucleic acids encoding human metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes and the proteins encoded thereby. In a particular embodiment, the invention nucleic acids encode mGluR1, mGluR2, mGluR3 and mGluR5 subtypes of human metabotropic glutamate receptors. In addition to being useful for the production of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes, these nucleic acids are also useful as probes, thus enabling those skilled in the art, without undue experimentation, to identify and isolate related human receptor subunits. In addition to disclosing novel metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes, the present invention also comprises methods for using such receptor subtypes to identify and characterize compounds which affect the function of such receptors, e.g., agonists, antagonists, and modulators of glutamate receptor function.
Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided nucleic acids encoding human NMDA receptor protein subunits and the proteins encoded thereby. The NMDA receptor subunits of the invention comprise components of NMDA receptors that have cation-selective channels and bind glutamate and NMDA. In one aspect of the invention, the nucleic acids encode NMDAR1 and NMDAR2 subunits of human NMDA receptors. In a preferred embodiment, the invention nucleic acids encode NMDAR1, NMDAR2A, NMDAR2B, NMDAR2C and NMDAR2D subunits of human NMDA receptors. In addition to being useful for the production of NMDA receptor proteins subunit, these nucleic acids are also useful as probes, thus enabling those skilled in the art, without undue experimentation, to identify and isolate related human receptor subunits. Functional glutamate receptors can be assembled, in accordance with the present invention, from a plurality of one type of NMDA receptor subunit protein (homomeric) or from a mixture of two or more types of subunit proteins (heteromeric). In addition to disclosing novel NMDA receptor protein subunits, the present invention also comprises methods for using such receptor subunits to identify and characterize compounds which affect the function of such receptors, e.g., agonists, antagonists, and modulators of glutamate receptor function. The invention also comprises methods for determining whether unknown protein(s) are functional as NMDA receptor subunits.
Abstract:
The isolation and characterization of genes involved in proteolytic processing in species of the genus Pichia is described. The availability of such genes has enabled the generation of strains of Pichia that are deficient in proteolytic activity and useful as hosts for the expression of proteolytically sensitive recombinant products. The isolation and characterization of additional genes from species of the genus Pichia is also described, as well as uses therefor.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of increasing the production of a recombinant gene product from a culture of a recombinant methylotrophic yeast host, wherein said product is made by expression from a recombinant gene sequence operably associated with a methanol-responsive expression control element. In the method of the invention, the methylotrophic yeast host is first cultured on a medium with a high concentration of multi-carbon, carbon-source nutriment, such as glycerol, but with little or no methanol, in order to increase the density of the host cells with little or no expression of the recombinant gene product. When the host cells have achieved a suitable density in the culture medium, the culture is subjected to a phase during which the concentration of multi-carbon, carbon-source nutriments is maintained sufficiently low that the methanol-responsive control element controlling expression of the recombinant gene encoding the desired product is derepressed. Finally, the culture is subjected to a phase of high production of the recombinant gene product by increasing the concentration of methanol while maintaining the concentration of multi-carbon, carbon-source nutriments at a low level. The invention is illustrated with production, using Pichia pastoris, of bovine lysozyme c2, human lysozyme, human epidermal growth factors (1-52) and (1-48), and human superoxide dismutase.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a process of recombinant DNA technology and means for producing polypeptides having Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activity in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) yeast cells. In another aspect, the invention relates to a process for extracting a polypeptide having IL-2 activity from P. pastoris cells. IL-2 is a naturally-occurring polypeptide that has a great potential in treatment of immunological disorders, bacterial or viral infections and other severe clinical conditions.
Abstract:
Nucleic acids encoding human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha and beta subunits, mammalian and amphibian cells containing said nucleic acids, methods for producing alpha and beta subunits and recombinant (i.e., isolated or substantially pure) alpha subunits (specifically alpha 4 and alpha 7) and beta subunits (specifically beta 4) are provided. In addition, combinations of subunits (i.e., alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, and/or alpha 7 subunits in combination with beta 4 subunits; or beta 2, beta 3 and/or beta 4 subunits in combination with alpha 4 and/or alpha 7 subunits) are provided.
Abstract:
Highly efficient automated measurement apparatus and methods for automated drug screening procedures are provided. The apparatus is capable of initiating and measuring rapid or transient events such as cell receptor and/or ion channel activity. The apparatus of the invention is capable of aligning with predetermined positions, one or more samples contained in a multi-well container, initiating the reaction with reagent addition and measuring a resultant attribute for a period of time. The apparatus is capable of substantially continuously measuring and recording data corresponding to the measured attribute before, during and after initiation of the reaction so that a time course of the rapid or transient event may be determined. After the reaction(s) are complete in one or more wells of the multi-well container, the apparatus can align one or more different wells to be assayed with the predetermined position and repeat the cycle until a predetermined number of wells are assayed. Automated drug screening methods employing the apparatus are also provided for screening for compounds which activate, inhibit or potentiate cellular ion channel or receptor activity. The assays are fluorescent indicator-based assays which utilize viable cells containing in their cytoplasm effective levels of a fluorescent indicator which is responsive to changes in ion concentration. Activation of the ion channels or receptors is initiated in the automated measurement apparatus by injection into one or more predetermined cell-containing wells of a reagent which is a known or putative activator of the ion channels or receptors of interest. The resultant activity of the ion channels or receptors (which causes changes in ion concentration in the cytoplasm) is determined by measurement of fluorescence intensity changes of the indicator in response to an excitation wavelength.