Therapeutic proteins for inducing apoptosis in cells and method for using such proteins are described. The protein, e.g., a chimeric protein, has a host peptide fused to a more stable BH3 domain peptide. The host peptide may be Calbindin D9k, a N-terminal or C-terminal half-domain of Calmodulin, Parvalbimin (“Pa”), an amino acid sequence variant thereof, or a modified variant thereof. The BH3 domain may be Bim, Bid, Bad, Bik, Bmf, Hrk, Puma, or Noxia. Moreover, various conjugates may be attached to the chimeric protein, including a folate and polyethylene glycol.

The present disclosure is related to compositions and methods useful in treating heart conditions. The disclosed compositions and methods are based on gene therapies comprising a recombinant AAV vector for delivering two or more transgenes into the heart of a human subject, wherein the transgenes comprise an S100A1 protein and a cardiac Apoptosis Repressor with caspase recruitment Domain (cARC) apoptotic inhibitor. In various embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein comprise vectors comprising S100A1 and/or cARC cDNA sequences that are codon-optimized for expression in humans. In some aspects, targeting multiple sources of one or more heart conditions can provide synergistic benefits during treatment.

A biosensor comprises first and second molecular components and is capable of displaying protease activity in response to a binding event mediated by first and second binding partners of the biosensor. The first and second binding partners may bind each other directly or may both bind a target molecule. At least the first molecular component comprises an autoinhibited protease, whereby the binding event switches the protease frora an autoinhibited inactive state to a protease active state. The second molecular component may activate the protease of the first molecular component by binding a cross-binder which releases the autoinhibitor or by cleaving a linker which releases the autoinhibitor. The first and second molecular components may both have autoinhibited proteases which reciprocally activate each other.

The present invention relates to a method for expressing, water-solubilizing, and purifying protein by using a calsequestrin-tag (CSQ-tag). Provided are: a recombinant expression vector containing a CSQ-tag and a target protein; a host cell transformed using the recombinant expression vector; and a method for expressing and purifying a target protein by using a CSQ tag. The present invention uses CSQ-tags to increase the expression of proteins that are widely used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and allows the proteins to be easily separated by calcium, and thus is expected to be able to lower the cost of protein materials and protein pharmaceuticals.

Disclosed is a polypeptide having a phase transition behavior, wherein the polypeptide consists of a Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly pentapeptide repeat or a Val-Pro-Ala-Xaa-Gly) pentapeptide repeat, and the polypeptide includes a [Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly]n or a [Val-Pro-Ala-Xaa-Gly]n (SEQ ID NO:2) pentapeptide repeat. In addition, the present invention provides a multi-stimuli polypeptide composed of polypeptide-calmodulin-polypeptide having a phase transition behavior and a hydrogel prepared using the same. A dynamic protein hydrogel according to the present invention may be used as a drug carrier, as a scaffold for tissue engineering or as a kit for tissue or organ regeneration.

A chimeric signal peptide for protein expression includes an N-region, a hydrophobic region, and a C-region, wherein the N-region and the C-region are from a same signal peptide of a first protein and the hydrophobic region is from a signal peptide of a second protein, wherein the first protein is different from the second protein. The first and second protein are independently selected from the group consisting of BM40, IL2, HA, Insulin, CD33, IFNA2, IgGK leader, AZU, and SEAP.

This document provides methods and materials related to genetic variations of developmental disorders. For example, this document provides methods for using such genetic variations to assess susceptibility of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Described herein are compositions, and methods for treating diseases, illness, and symptoms associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) production and dysfunction.

Presently described are engineered microbes modified such that the surface of the microbe contains one or more rare earth element (REE) binding ligands, as well as methods of use thereof.

The present invention concerns a method for the treatment of recessive Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia comprising delivering a gene into a cardiac cell.