PATENT ABSTRACTS

methods of making and using these products. The DNA sequences and recombinant DNA molecules are characterized in that they code on expression for a human lipocortin-like poly- peptide. In appropriate hosts these DNA sequences permit the production of human lipocortin-like polypeptides useful as anti- inflammatory agents and methods in the treat- ment of arthritic, allergic, dermatologic, ophthalmic and collagen diseases as well as other disorders involving inflammatory processes.

4950649

D I D E M N I N S A N D N O R D I D E M N I N S

Kenneth Rinehart assigned to University of Il- linois

Novel antibiotics didemnins A, B and C (didem- nins), and nordidemnins A, B and C (nordidem- nins) which can be obtained from a marine organism. These antibiotics are active against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses; thus, they can be used in various environments to control or eradicate these viruses. Further, these antibiotics can be used to treat animals and humans hosting acute myelocytic leukemia and acute lympho- cytic leukemia.

4950665

P H O T O T H E R A P Y U S I N G M E T H Y L E N E B L U E

Robert A Floyd assigned to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

The present invention is a method for using thiazin dyes, especially methylene blue, in com- bination with light to hydroxylate guanosine or deoxyguanosine at the C8 of the purine ring. The number of guanosines in a nucleic acid strand converted to 8-OH-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) or 8-OH-guanosine (8-OH-G) can be controlled through manipulation of the concentration of methylene blue, light intensity and length of ex- posure, pH, and buffer strength. The method can be used for the selective mutation or modifica- tion of either a DNA or a RNA sequence, or the protein expressed therefrom. The method can also be used in the treatment of viral infectons and in cancer. Methylene blue is FDA approved for topical, i.v., and oral administration.

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Viruses, bacteria, and ceils undergoing rapid DNA synthesis are all inactivated by methylene blue in the presence of light or when irradiated.

4952395

M Y C O B A C T E R I A L R E C O M B I N A N T S A N D P E P T I D E S

Thomas Shinnick, Richard Houghten assigned to Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation

Recombinant 540 amino acid residue and 517 amino acid residue proteins encoded by the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are dis- closed as are vectors for propagating their DNA sequences and expressing the proteins. Also dis- closed are methods for using those proteins. Pep- tides that correspond substantially to the sequences of those proteins and methods of their use are also disclosed, as are polymers con- taining 517 protein pentapeptides as repeating units.

4952496

C L O N I N G A N D E X P R E S S I O N O F T H E G E N E FOR

B A C T E R I O P H A G E T7 R N A P O L Y M E R A S E

F William Studier, Parichehre Davanloo, Alan H Rosenberg, Barbara A Moffatt, John J Dunn assigned to Associated Universities Inc

This application describes a means to clone a functional gene for bacteriophage T7 RNA poly- merase. Active T7 RNA polymerase is produced from the cloned gene, and a plasmid has been constructed that can produce the active enzyme in large amounts. T7 RNA polymerase trans- cribes DNA very efficiently and is highly selec- tive for a relatively long promoter sequence. This enzyme is useful for synthesizing large amounts of RNA in vivo or in vitro, and is capable of pro- ducing a single RNA selectively from a complex mixture of DNAs. The procedure used to obtain a clone of the T7 RNA polymerase gene can be applied to other T7-1ike phages to obtain clones that produce RNA polymerases having different promoter specificities, different bacterial hosts, or other desirable properties. T7 RNA poly- merase is also used in a system for selective, high- level synthesis of RNAs and proteins in suitable host ceils.