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Purified BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. The proteins may be used in the treatment of bone and cartilage defects and in wound healing and related tissue repair.
1. An isolated polynucleotide comprising:
a) nucleotide 1252 through 1543 of SEQ ID NO:3; or
b) nucleotides encoding amino acids 299 through 396 of SEQ ID NO:4.
2. An isolated polynucleotide comprising nucleotides 1252 through 1543 of SEQ ID NO:3.
3. An isolated polynucleotide comprising nucleotides encoding amino acids 299 through 396 of SEQ ID NO:4.
4. A vector comprising a polynucleotide of
5. A host cell transformed with a vector of
6. A method for producing a bone morphogenetic protein, said method comprising the steps of:
a) culturing a host cell transformed with a polynucleotide of
b) recovering said bone morphogenetic protein.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/925,779, filed Sep. 9, 1997 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,889); which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/721,847, filed Jun. 14, 1991 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,328). U.S. Ser. No. 07/721,847 is a continuation-in-part of two applications (U.S. Ser. Nos. 07/493,272, filed Mar. 14, 1990 (abandoned) and 07/655,579 filed Mar. 18, 1991 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,924)). U.S. Ser. No. 07/493,272 is a continuation in part of two applications (U.S. Ser. Nos. 07/406,217, filed Sep. 12, 1989 (abandoned) and 07/378,537 filed Jul. 11, 1989 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,058)). U.S. Ser. No. 07/655,579 is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 07/179,100, filed Apr. 8, 1988 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,649), while U.S. Ser. No. 07/378,537 is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/179,100. Applicants claim priority to all of these applications.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Nos. 493,272 filed Mar. 14, 1990 (which is a CIP of 406,217 filed Sep. 12, 1989); 378,537 filed Jul. 11, 1989; and 655,579 filed Feb. 14, 1991 which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 179,100 filed Apr. 8, 1988 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,649) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. Nos. 028,285 filed Mar. 20, 1987 now abandoned; 943,332 filed Dec. 17, 1986 now abandoned; and 880,776 filed Jul. 1, 1986 now abandoned.
The present invention relates to a novel family of purified proteins designated BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins and processes for obtaining and producing them. These proteins may be used to induce bone and/or cartilage formation and in wound healing and tissue repair.
BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins have previously been referred to collectively as BMP-2 proteins (BMP-2 previously referred to as BMP-2A or BMP-2 Class I and BMP-4 as BMP-2B or BMP-2 Class II).
Human BMP-2 proteins are characterized by an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid #299 (His, Pro, Leu . . . )–#396 (Arg) of
Human BMP-2 may be produced by culturing a cell transformed with a DNA sequence comprising the nucleotide coding sequence from nucleotide #356 to #1543 as shown in
The bovine BMP-2 protein is a member of the family of BMP-2 proteins of the invention. Bovine BMP-2 proteins comprise the amino acid sequence represented by amino acid #32 to amino acid #129 of
Human BMP-4 proteins are characterized by an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids #311(His, Ser, Leu . . . )–#408 (Arg) as shown in
BMP-4 may be produced by culturing a cell transformed with a DNA sequence comprising the nucleotide coding sequence from nucleotide #403 to nucleotide #1626 substantially as shown in
Another aspect of the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing a therapeutically effective amount of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle or carrier. These compositions of the invention may be utilized in the formation of cartilage. These compositions may further be utilized in the formation of bone. They may also be used for wound healing and tissue repair. In further embodiments the compositions of the invention may be utilized for neuronal survival.
Further compositions of the invention may comprise a therapeutically effective amount of BMP-2 and BMP-4 in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Compositions of the invention may further include, in addition to a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein, at least one other therapeutically useful agent such as the BMP proteins BMP-1, BMP-3, BMP-5, BMP-6, BKP-7, and BMP-8 disclosed respectively in co-owned U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 655,578, Ser. No. 179,197, Ser. No. 370,547, Ser. No. 370,544 Ser. No. 370,549, and Ser. No. 525,357. The compositions of the invention may comprise, in addition to a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein, other therapeutically useful agents including growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF-α and TGF-β). The compositions may also include an appropriate matrix for instance, for supporting the composition and providing a surface for bone and/or cartilage growth. The matrix may provide slow release of the BMP protein and/or the appropriate environment for presentation of the BMP protein.
The BMP-2 and BMP-4 compositions may be employed in methods for treating a number of bone and/or cartilage defects, periodontal disease and various types of wounds. These methods, according to the invention, entail administering to a patient needing such bone and/or cartilage formation wound healing or tissue repair, an effective amount of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein. These methods may also entail the administration of a protein of the invention in conjunction with at least one of the novel BMP proteins disclosed in the co-owned applications described above. In addition, these methods may also include the administration of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein with other growth factors.
Still a further aspect of the invention are DNA sequences encoding a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein. Such sequences include the sequence of nucleotides in a 5′ to 3′ direction illustrated in
A further aspect of the invention entails a vector comprising a DNA sequence as described above in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor. Such vector may be employed in a novel process for producing a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein of the invention in which a cell line transformed with a DNA sequence encoding a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein in operative association with an expression control sequence therefor, is cultured in a suitable culture medium and a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein is recovered and purified therefrom. This claimed process may employ a number of known cells both prokaryotic and eukaryotic as host cells for expression of the polypeptide.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and preferred embodiments thereof.
BMP-2 proteins are characterized by an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid #299–#396 of
The purified human BMP-2 proteins of the present invention are produced by culturing a host cell transformed with a DNA sequence comprising the DNA coding sequence of
BMP-4 proteins are characterized by an amino acid sequence comprising amino acids #311–#408 as shown in
The purified BMP-4 proteins are produced by culturing a host cell transformed with a DNA sequence comprising the DNA coding sequence of
BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins are characterized by the ability to induce the formation of bone. They are further characterized by the ability to induce the formation of cartilage. BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins may be further characterized by the ability to demonstrate cartilage and/or bone formation activity in the rat bone formation assay described below. In preferred embodiments, the proteins of the invention demonstrate activity in this rat bone formation assay at a concentration of 10 μg–500 μg/gram of bone. These proteins may be characterized by the ability of 1 μg of the protein to score at least +2 in the rat bone formation assay using the modified scoring method described in Example VII.
The BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins provided herein also include factors encoded by the sequences similar to those of
Other specific mutations of the sequences of BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins described herein involve modifications of at least one of the glycosylation sites. The absence of glycosylation or only partial glycosylation results from amino acid substitution or deletion at asparagine-linked glycosylation recognition sites present in the sequences of BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins shown in
The present invention also encompasses the novel DNA sequences, free of association with DNA sequences encoding other proteinaceous materials, and coding on expression for BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins. These DNA sequences include those depicted in
Similarly, DNA sequences which code for BMP-2 and BMP-4 polypeptides coded for by the sequences of
Another aspect of the present invention provides a novel method for producing BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins. The method of the present invention involves culturing a suitable cell line, which has been transformed with a DNA sequence coding on expression for a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein, under the control of known regulatory sequences. The transformed host cells are cultured and the BMP-2 or BMP-4 proteins recovered and purified from the culture medium. The purified proteins are substantially free from other proteins with which they are co-produced as well as from other contaminants. Suitable cells or cell lines may be mammalian cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO). The selection of suitable mammalian host cells and methods for transformation, culture, amplification, screening and product production and purification are known in the art. See, e.g., Gething and Sambrook, Nature, 293:620–625 (1981), or alternatively, Kaufman et al, Mol. Cell. Biol., 5(7):1750–1759 (1985) or Howley et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,446. Another suitable mammalian cell line, which is described in the accompanying examples, is the monkey COS-1 cell line. The mammalian cell CV-1 may also be suitable.
Bacterial cells may also be suitable hosts. For example, the various strains of E. coli (e.g., HB101, MC1061) are well-known as host cells in the field of biotechnology. Various strains of B. subtilis, Pseudomonas, other bacilli and the like may also be employed in this method.
Many strains of yeast cells known to those skilled in the art may also be available as host cells for expression of the polypeptides of the present invention. Additionally, where desired, insect cells may be utilized as host cells in the method of the present invention. See, e.g. Miller et al, Genetic Engineering, 8:277–298 (Plenum Press 1986) and references cited therein.
Another aspect of the present invention provides vectors for use in expression of these novel BMP-2 and BMP-4 polypeptides. Preferably the vectors contain the full novel DNA sequences described above which encode the novel factors of the invention. Additionally the vectors also contain appropriate expression control sequences permitting expression of the BMP-2 and BMP-4 protein sequences. Alternatively, vectors incorporating modified sequences as described above are also embodiments of the present invention and useful in the production of the BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins. The vectors may be employed in the method of transforming cell lines and contain selected regulatory sequences in operative association with the DNA coding sequences of the invention which are capable of directing the replication and expression thereof in selected host cells. Useful regulatory sequences for such vectors are known to one of skill in the art and may be selected depending upon the selected host cells. Such selection is routine and does not form part of the present invention.
A protein of the present invention, which induces cartilage and/or bone growth in circumstances where bone is not normally formed, has application in the healing of bone fractures and cartilage defects in humans and other animals. Such a preparation employing a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein may have prophylactic use in closed as well as open fracture reduction and also in the improved fixation of artificial joints. De novo bone formation induced by an osteogenic agent contributes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or oncologic resection induced craniofacial defects, and also is useful in cosmetic plastic surgery. A BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein may be used in the treatment of periodontal disease, and in other tooth repair processes. Such agents may provide an environment to attract bone-forming cells, stimulate growth of bone-forming cells or induce differentiation of progenitors of bone-forming cells. BMP-2 and BMP-4 polypeptides of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis. A variety of osteogenic, cartilage-inducing and bone inducing factors have been described. See, e.g. European patent applications 148,155 and 169,016 for discussions thereof.
The proteins of the invention may also be used in wound healing and related tissue repair. The types of wounds include, but are not limited to burns, incisions and ulcers. (See, e.g. PCT Publication WO84/01106 for discussion of wound healing and related tissue repair).
The proteins of the invention may increase neuronal survival and therefore be useful in transplantation and treatment of conditions exhibiting a decrease in neuronal survival.
A further aspect of the invention is a therapeutic method and composition for repairing fractures and other conditions related to cartilage and/or bone defects or periodontal diseases. In addition, the invention comprises therapeutic methods and compositions for wound healing and tissue repair. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein of the invention in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, carrier or matrix.
It is expected that the proteins of the invention may act in concert with or perhaps synergistically with other related proteins and growth factors. Further therapeutic methods and compositions of the invention therefore comprise a therapeutic amount of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein of the invention with a therapeutic amount of at least one of the other BMP proteins disclosed in co-owned and concurrently filed U.S. applications described above. Such combinations may comprise separate molecules of the BMP proteins or heteromolecules comprised of different BMP moieties. For example, a BMP-2 or BMP-4 subunit may be linked to a BMP-1, BMP-3, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7 or BMP-8 subunit. Such linkage may comprise disulfide bonds. A method and composition of the invention may comprise a disulfide linked dimer comprising a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein subunit and another "BMP" protein subunit described above. One may comprise a heterodimer of BMP-2 and BMP-4 moieties. Another embodiment may comprise a heterodimer of BMP-2 and BMP-7 subunits.
In further compositions, BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins may be combined with other agents beneficial to the treatment of the bone and/or cartilage defect, wound, or tissue in question. These agents include various growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factors (TGF-a and TGF-b), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF). The preparation and formulation of such physiologically acceptable protein compositions, having due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability and the like, is within the skill of the art. The therapeutic compositions are also presently valuable for veterinary applications due to the lack of species specificity in BMP proteins. Particularly domestic animals and thoroughbred horses in addition to humans are desired patients for such treatment with BMP-2 and BMP-4 of the present invention.
BMP-2 may be used individually in a pharmaceutical composition. BMP-2 may also be used in combination with BMP-4 and/or one or more of the other BMP proteins disclosed in co-owned and co-pending US applications as discussed above. BMP-4 may be used individually in pharmaceutical composition. In addition, it may be used in combination with other BMP proteins as described above.
The therapeutic method includes administering the composition topically, systematically, or locally as an implant or device. When administered, the therapeutic composition for use in this invention is, of course, in a pyrogen-free, physiologically acceptable form. Further, the composition may desirably be encapsulated or injected in a viscous form for delivery to the site of bone, cartilage or tissue damage. Topical administration may be suitable for wound healing and tissue repair. Therapeutically useful agents other than the BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins which may also optionally be included in the composition as described above, may alternatively or additionally, be administered simultaneously or sequentially with the BMP composition in the methods of the invention. Preferably for bone and/or cartilage formation, the composition would include a matrix capable of delivering BMP-2, BMP-4 or other BMP proteins to the site of bone and/or cartilage damage, providing a structure for the developing bone and cartilage and optimally capable of being resorbed into the body. Such matrices may be formed of materials presently in use for other implanted medical applications.
The choice of matrix material is based on biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, cosmetic appearance and interface properties. The particular application of the BMP-2 and BMP-4 compositions will define the appropriate formulation. Potential matrices for the compositions may be biodegradable and chemically defined calcium sulfate, tricalciumphosphate, hydroxyapatite, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and polyanhydrides. Other potential materials are biodegradable and biologically well defined, such as bone or dermal collagen. Further matrices are comprised of pure proteins or extracellular matrix components. Other potential matrices are nonbiodegradable and chemically defined, such as sintered hydroxyapatite, bioglass, aluminates, or other ceramics. Matrices may be comprised of combinations of any of the above mentioned types of material, such as polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite or collagen and tricalciumphosphate. The bioceramics may be altered in composition, such as in calcium-aluminate-phosphate and processing to alter pore size, particle size, particle shape, and biodegradability.
The dosage regimen will be determined by the attending physician considering various factors which modify the action of the BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins, e.g. amount of bone weight desired to be formed, the site of bone damage, the condition of the damaged bone, the size of a wound, type of damaged tissue, the patient's age, sex, and diet, the severity of any infection, time of administration and other clinical factors. The dosage may vary with the type of matrix used in the reconstitution and the types of BMP proteins in the composition. The addition of other known growth factors, such as IGF I (insulin like growth factor I), to the final composition, may also effect the dosage. Progress can be monitored by periodic assessment of bone growth and/or repair, for example, x-rays, histomorphometric determinations and tetracycline labeling.
The following examples illustrate practice of the present invention in recovering and characterizing bovine BMP-2 protein and employing it to recover the human proteins BMP-2 and BMP-4, and in expressing the proteins via recombinant techniques.
Isolation of Bovine Bone Inductive Factor
Ground bovine bone powder (20–120 mesh, Helitrex) is prepared according to the procedures of M. R. Urist et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci USA, 70:3511 (1973) with elimination of some extraction steps as identified below. Ten kgs of the ground powder is demineralized in successive changes of 0.6N HCl at 4� C. over a 48 hour period with vigorous stirring. The resulting suspension is extracted for 16 hours at 4� C. with 50 liters of 2M CaCl2 and 10 mM ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid [EDTA], and followed by extraction for 4 hours in 50 liters of 0.5M EDTA. The residue is washed three times with distilled water before its resuspension in 20 liters of 4M guanidine hydrochloride [GuCl], 20 mM Tris (pH 7.4), 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide, 1mM iodoacetamide, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluorine as described in Clin. Orthop. Rel. Res., 171: 213 (1982). After 16 to 20 hours the supernatant is removed and replaced with another 10 liters of GuCl buffer. The residue is extracted for another 24 hours.
The crude GuCl extracts are combined, concentrated approximately 20 times on a Pellicon apparatus with a 10,000 molecular weight cut-off membrane, and then dialyzed in 50 mM Tris, 0.1M NaCl, 6M urea (pH7.2), the starting buffer for the first column. After extensive dialysis the protein is loaded on a 4 liter DEAE cellulose column and the unbound fractions are collected.
The unbound fractions are concentrated and dialyzed against 50 mM NaAc, 50 mM NaCl (pH 4.6) in 6M urea. The unbound fractions are applied to a carboxymethyl cellulose column. Protein not bound to the column is removed by extensive washing with starting buffer, and the material containing protein having bone and/or cartilage formation activity as measured by the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi assay (described in Example III below) desorbed from the column by 50 mM NaAc, 0.25 mM NaCl, 6M urea (pH 4.6). The protein from this step elution is concentrated 20- to 40-fold, then diluted 5 times with 80 mM KPO4, 6M urea (pH 6.0). The pH of the solution is adjusted to 6.0 with 500 mM K2HP04. The sample is applied to an hydroxylapatite column (LKB) equilibrated in 80 mM KPO4, 6M urea (pH 6.0) and all unbound protein is removed by washing the column with the same buffer. Protein having bone and/or cartilage formation activity is eluted with 100 mM KPO4 (pH7.4) and 6M urea.
The protein is concentrated approximately 10 times, and solid NaCl added to a final concentration of 0.15M. This material is applied to a heparin-Sepharose column equilibrated in 50 mM KPO4, 150 mM NaCl, 6M urea (pH 7.4). After extensive washing of the column with starting buffer, a protein with bone and/or cartilage inductive activity is eluted by 50 mM KPO4, 700 mM NaCl, 6M urea (pH 7.4). This fraction is concentrated to a minimum volume, and 0.4 ml aliquots are applied to Superose 6 and Superose 12 columns connected in series, equilibrated with 4M GuCl, 20 mM Tris (pH 7.2) and the columns developed at a flow rate of 0.25 ml/min. The protein demonstrating bone and/or cartilage inductive activity has a relative migration on SDS-PAGE corresponding to approximately 30,000 dalton protein.
The above fractions from the superose columns are pooled, dialyzed against 50 mM NaAc, 6M urea (pH 4.6), and applied to a Pharmacia MonoS HR column. The column is developed with a gradient to 1.0M NaCl, 50 mM NaAc, 6M urea (pH 4.6). Active bone and/or cartilage formation fractions are pooled and brought to pH 3.0 with 10% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The material is applied to a 0.46�25 cm Vydac C4 column in 0.1% TFA and the column developed with a gradient to 90% acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA (31.5% acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA to 49.5% acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA in 60 minutes at 1 ml per minute). Active material is eluted at approximately 40–44% acetonitrile. Aliquots of the appropriate active fractions are iodinated by one of the following methods: P. J. McConahey et al, Int. Arch. Allergy, 29:185–189 (1966); A. E. Bolton et al, Biochem J., 133:529 (1973); and D. F. Bowen-Pope, J. Biol. Chem., 237:5161 (1982). The iodinated proteins present in these fractions are analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis and urea Triton X 100 isoelectric focusing. At this stage, the protein having bone and/or cartilage forming activity is estimated to be approximately 10–50% pure.
Characterization of Bovine Bone Inductive Factor
A. Molecular Weight
Approximately 20 ug protein from Example I is lyophilized and redissolved in 1� SDS sample buffer. After 15 minutes of heating at 37� C., the sample is applied to a 15% SDS polyacrylamide gel and then electrophoresed with cooling. The molecular weight is determined relative to prestained molecular weight standards (Bethesda Research Labs). Immediately after completion, the gel lane containing bone and/or cartilage forming material is sliced into 0.3 cm pieces. Each piece is mashed and 1.4 ml of 0.1% SDS is added. The samples are shaken gently overnight at room temperature to elute the protein. Each gel slice is desalted to prevent interference in the biological assay. The supernatant from each sample is acidified to pH 3.0 with 10% TFA, filtered through a 0.45 micron membrane and loaded on a 0.46 cm�5 cm C4 Vydac column developed with a gradient of 0.1% TFA to 0.1% TFA, 90% CH3CN. The appropriate bone and/or cartilage inductive protein—containing fractions are pooled and reconstituted with 20 mg rat matrix and assayed. In this gel system, the majority of bone and/or cartilage inductive fractions have the mobility of a protein having a molecular weight of approximately 28,000–30,000 daltons.
B. Isoelectric Focusing
The isoelectric point of bone inductive factor activity is determined in a denaturing isoelectric focusing system. The Triton X100 urea gel system,(Hoeffer Scientific) is modified as follows: 1) 40% of the ampholytes used are Servalyte 3/10; 60% are Servalyte 7–9; and 2) the catholyte used is 40 mM NaOH. Approximately 20 ug of protein from Example I is lyophilized, dissolved in sample buffer and applied to the isoelectrofocusing gel. The gel is run at 20 watts, 10 C for approximately 3 hours. At completion the lane containing bone and/or cartilage inductive factor is sliced into 0.5 cm slices. Each piece is mashed in 1.0 ml 6M urea, 5 mM Tris (pH 7.8) and the samples agitated at room temperature. The samples are acidified, filtered, desalted and assayed as described above. The major portion of activity as determined by the Rosen-modified Sampath—Reddi assay migrates in a manner consistent with a pI of about 8.8–9.2.
C. Subunit Characterization
The subunit composition of the isolated bovine bone protein is also determined. Pure bone inductive factor is isolated from a preparative 15% SDS gel as described above. A portion of the sample is then reduced with 5 mM DTT in sample buffer and re-electrophoresed on a 15% SDS gel. The approximately 28–30 kd protein yields two major bands at approximately 18–20 kd and approximately 16–18 kd, as well as a minor band at approximately 28–30 kd. The broadness of the two bands indicates heterogeneity caused most probably by glycosylation, other post translational modification, proteolytic degradation or carbamylation.
Rosen Modified Sampath-Reddi Assay
A modified version of the rat bone formation assay described in Sampath and Reddi, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80:6591–6595 (1983) is used to evaluate bone and/or cartilage activity of the bovine protein obtained in Example I and the BMP-2 proteins of the invention. This modified assay is herein called the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi assay. The ethanol precipitation step of the Sampath-Reddi procedure is replaced by dialyzing (if the composition is a solution) or diafiltering (if the composition is a suspension) the fraction to be assayed against water. The solution or suspension is then redissolved in 0.1% TFA, and the resulting solution added to 20 mg of rat matrix. A mock rat matrix sample not treated with the protein serves as a control. This material is frozen and lyophilized and the resulting powder enclosed in #5 gelatin capsules. The capsules are implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal thoracic area of 21–49 day old male Long Evans rats. The implants are removed after 7–14 days. Half of each implant is used for alkaline phosphatase analysis [See, A. H. Reddi et al., Proc. Natl Acad Sci., 69:1601 (1972)].
The other half of each implant is fixed and processed for histological analysis. 1 μm glycolmethacrylate sections are stained with Von Kossa and acid fuschin to score the amount of induced bone and cartilage formation present in each implant. The terms +1 through +5 represent the area of each histological section of an implant occupied by new bone and/or cartilage cells and matrix. A score of +5 indicates that greater than 50% of the implant is new bone and/or cartilage produced as a direct result of protein in the implant. A score of +4, +3, +2 and +1 would indicate that greater than 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% respectively of the implant contains new cartilage and/or bone.
The rat matrix samples containing at least 200 ng of bovine protein obtained in Example I result in bone and/or cartilage formation that filled more than 20% of the implant areas sectioned for histology. This protein therefore scores at least +2 in the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi assay. The dose response of the matrix samples indicates that the amount of bone and/or cartilage formed increases with the amount of protein in the sample. The control sample did not result in any bone and/or cartilage formation. The purity of the protein assayed is approximately 10–15% pure.
The bone and/or cartilage formed is physically confined to the space occupied by the matrix. Samples are also analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing as described above, followed by autoradiography. Analysis reveals a correlation of activity with protein bands at 28–30 kd and a pI of approximately 8.8–9.2. To estimate the purity of the protein in a particular fraction an extinction coefficient of 1 OD/mg-cm is used as an estimate for protein and the protein is run on SDS PAGE followed by silver staining or radioiodination and autoradiography.
Bovine BMP-2
The protein composition of Example IIA of molecular weight 28–30 kd is reduced as described in Example IIC and digested with trypsin. Eight tryptic fragments are isolated by standard procedures having the following amino acid sequences:
Two probes consisting of pools of oligonucleotides (or unique oligonucleotides) are designed according to the method of R. Lathe, J. Mol. Biol., 183(1):1–12 (1985) on the basis of the amino acid sequence of Fragment 3 and synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer as described above.
Because the genetic code is degenerate (more than one codon can code for the same amino acid), the number of oligo-nucleotides in a probe pool is reduced based on the frequency of codon usage in eukaryotes, the relative stability of G:T base pairs, and the relative infrequency of the dinucleotide CpG in eukaryotic coding sequences [See J. J. Toole et al, Nature, 312:342–347 (1984)]. Bracketed nucleotides are alternatives. "N" means either A, T, C or G. These probes are radioactively labeled and employed to screen a bovine genomic library. The library is constructed as follows: Bovine liver DNA is partially digested with the restriction endonuclease enzyme Sau 3A and sedimented through a sucrose gradient. Size fractionated DNA in the range of 15–30 kb is then ligated to the vector lambda J′ Bam Hl arms [Mullins et al., Nature, 308:856–858 (1984)]. The library is plated at 8000 recombinants per plate. Duplicate nitrocellulose replicas of the plaques are made and amplified according to a modification of the procedure of Woo et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75:3688–91 (1978). Probe #1 is hybridized to the set of filters in 3M tetramethylammonium chloride (TMAC), 0.1M sodium phosphate pH6.5, 1 mM EDTA, 5� Denhardts, 0.6% SDS, 100 ug/ml salmon sperm DNA at 48 degrees C., and washed in 3M TMAC, 50 mM Tris pH 8.0 at 50 degrees C. These conditions minimize the detection of mismatches to the 17 mer probe pool [see, Wood et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci, U.S.A. 82:1585–1588 (1985)].
400,000 recombinants are screened by this procedure. One duplicate positive is plaque purified and the DNA is isolated from a plate lysate of the recombinant bacteriophage designated lambda bP-21. Bacteriophage bP-21 was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. USA (hereinafter the "ATCC") under accession number ATCC 40310 on Mar. 6, 1987. This deposit as well as the other deposits contained herein meets the requirements of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure and Regulations thereunder. The bP-21 clone encodes at least a portion of a bovine BMP-2 protein designated bovine BMP-2 or bBMP-2.
The oligonucleotide hybridizing region of this BMP-2 clone is localized to an approximately 1.2 kb Sac I restriction fragment which is subcloned into M13 and sequenced by standard techniques. The partial DNA sequence and derived amino acid sequence of this Sac I fragment and the contiguous Hind III-Sac I restriction fragment of bP-21 are shown below in
Human BMP-2 and BMP-4
The HindIII-SacI bovine genomic BMP-2 fragment described in Example IV is subcloned into an M13 vector. A 32P-labeled single-stranded DNA probe is made from a template preparation of this subclone. This probe is used to screen polyadenylated RNAs from various cell and tissue sources. Polyadenylated RNAs from various cell and tissue sources are electrophoresed on formaldehyde-agarose gels and transferred to nitrocellulose by the method of Toole et al., supra. The probe is then hybridized to the nitrocellulose blot in 50% formamide, 5� SSC, 0.1% SDS, 40 mM sodium phosphate pH 6.5, 100 ug/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 5 mM vanadyl ribonucleosides at 42� C. overnight and washed at 65� C. in 0.2�SSC, 0.1% SDS. A hybridizing band corresponding to an mRNA species of approximately 3.8 kb is detected in the lane containing RNA from the human osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS. cDNA is synthesized from U-2 OS polyadenylated RNA and cloned into lambda GT10 by established techniques (Toole et al, supra). 20,000 recombinants from this library are plated on each of 50 plates. Duplicate nitrocellolose replicas are made of the plates.
The HindIII-SacI fragment is labeled with 32p by nick translation and used to screen the nitrocellulose filter replicas of the above-described U-2 OS cDNA library by hybridization in standard hybridization buffer at 65� overnight followed by washing in 1�SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65�. Twelve duplicate positive clones are picked and replated for secondaries. Duplicate nitrocellulose replicas are made of the secondary plates and both sets hybridized to the bovine genomic probe as the primary screening was performed. One set of filters is then washed in 1�SSC, 0.1% SDS; the other in 0.1�SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65�.
Two classes of hBMP-2 cDNA clones are evident based on strong (4 recombinants) or weak (7 recombinants) hybridization signals under the more stringent washing conditions (0.1�SSC, 0.1% SDS). All 11 recombinant bacteriophage are plaque purified, small scale DNA preparations made from plate lysates of each, and the inserts subcloned into pSP65 and into M13 for sequence analysis. Sequence analysis of the strongly hybridizing clones designated hBMP-2 (previously designated BMP-2A and BMP-2 Class I) indicates that they have extensive sequence homology with the sequence given in
Full length human BMP-2 cDNA clones are obtained in the following manner. The 1.5 kb insert of one of the BMP-4 subclones (II-10-1) is isolated and radioactively labeled by nick-translation. One set of the nitrocellulose replicas of the U-2 OS cDNA library screened above (50 filters, corresponding to 1,000,000 recombinant bacteriophage) are rehybridized with this probe under stringent conditions (hybridization at 650 in 0.2 �SSC, 0.1% SDS). All recombinants which hybridize to the bone genomic probe which do not hybridize to the BMP-4 probe are picked and plaque purified (10 recombinants). Plate stocks are made and small scale bacteriophage DNA preparations made. After subcloning into M13, sequence analysis indicates that 4 of these represent clones which overlap the original BMP-2 clone. Two of these, lambda U2OS-39 and U2OS-3, were deposited with the ATCC (10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va., 20110-2209). under the Budapest Treaty, on Jun. 16, 1987 under accession number 40345 and 40342, respectively. The DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) (compiled from lambda U2OS-39 and several other hBMP-2 cDNA recombinants) and derived amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 4) are shown below in
BMP-2 proteins of the invention comprise at least the amino acid sequence from amino acid #299 to #396, although further included in the invention are protein species with a carboxy terminus which is characterized by an amino acid upstream from amino acid #396.
Full-length BMP-4 human cDNA clones are obtained in the following manner. The 200 bp EcoRI-SacI fragment from the 5′ end of the BMP-4 recombinant II-10-1 is isolated from its plasmid subclone, labeled by nick-translation, and hybridized to a set of duplicate nitrocellulose replicas of the U-2 OS cDNA library (25 filters/set; representing 500,000 recombinants). Hybridization and washing are performed under stringent conditions as described above. 16 duplicate positives are picked and replated for secondaries. Nitrocellulose filter replicas of the secondary plates are made and hybridized to an oligonucleotide which was synthesized to correspond to the sequence of II-I 0-1 and is of the following sequence:
The sequences of BMP-2 and BMP-4, as shown in
The procedures described above may be employed to isolate other related BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins of interest by utilizing the bovine BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins as a probe source. Such other BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins may find similar utility in, inter alia, fracture repair, wound healing and tissue repair.
Expression of BMP-2 and BMP-4
In order to produce bovine, human or other mammalian BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins, the DNA encoding the desired protein is transferred into an appropriate expression vector and introduced into mammalian cells or other preferred eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts by conventional genetic engineering techniques. The presently preferred expression system for biologically active recombinant human BMP-2 and BMP-4 is stably transformed mammalian cells.
One skilled in the art can construct mammalian expression vectors by employing the sequence of
One skilled in the art could manipulate the sequences of
Similar manipulations can be performed for the construction of an insect vector [See, e.g. procedures described in published European patent application 155,476] for expression in insect cells. A yeast vector could also be constructed employing yeast regulatory sequences for intracellular or extracellular expression of the factors of the present invention by yeast cells. [See, e.g., procedures described in published PCT application WO86/00639 and European patent application EPA 123,289].
A method for producing high levels of a BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein of the invention in mammalian cells involves the =construction of cells containing multiple copies of the heterologous BMP-2 or BMP-4 gene. The heterologous gene is linked to an amplifiable marker, e.g. the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene for which cells containing increased gene copies can be selected for propagation in increasing concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) according to the procedures of Kaufman and Sharp, J. Mol. Biol., 159:601–629 (1982). This approach can be employed with a number of different cell types.
For example, a plasmid containing a DNA sequence for a BMP-2 or BMP-4 of the invention in operative association with other plasmid sequences enabling expression thereof and the DHFR expression plasmid pAdA26SV(A)3 [Kaufman and Sharp, Mol. Cell. Biol., 2:1304 (1982)] can be co-introduced into DHFR-defiecient CHO cells, DUKX-BII, by calcium phosphate coprecipitation and transfection, electroperation, protoplast fusion or lipofection. DHFR expressing transformants are selected for growth in alpha media with dialyzed fetal calf serum, and subsequently selected for amplification by growth in increasing concentrations of MTX (e.g. sequential steps in 0.02, 0.2, 1.0 and 5 uM MTX) as described in Kaufman et al., Mol Cell Biol., 5:1750 (1983).
Transformants are cloned, and biologically active BMP-2 or BMP-4 expression is monitored by the Rosen-modified Sampath—Reddi rat bone formation assay described above in Example III. BMP-2 and BMP-4 expression should increase with increasing levels of MTX resistance. Similar procedures can be followed to produce other related BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins.
A. COS Cell Expression
As one specific example of producing a BMP-2 protein of the invention, the insert of II-3 (aλ GT10 derivative containing the full length BMP-2 CDNA) is released from the vector arms by digestion with EcoRI and subcloned into pSP65 (Promega Biotec, Madison, Wis.)[Melton et al, Nucl.Acids Res. 12:7035–7056 (1984)] in both orientations yielding pBMP-2 #39-3 or pBMP-2 #39-4. The insert is subcloned into the EcoRI site of the mammalian expression vector, pMT2 CXM, described below, though derivitives thereof may also be suitable. Plasmid DNA from this subclone is transfected into COS cells by the DEAE-dextran procedure [Sompayrac and Danna PNAS 78:7575–7578 (1981); Luthman and Magnusson, Nucl.Acids Res. 11: 1295–1308 (1983)] and the cells are cultured. Serum-free 24 hr. conditioned medium is collected from the cells starting 40–70 hr. post-transfection. Recovery and purification of the COS expressed BMP-2 proteins is described below in Example VII.
The mammalian expression vector pMT2 CXM is a derivative of p91023 (b) (wong et al., Science 228:810–815, 1985) differing from the latter in that it contains the ampicillin resistance gene in place of the tetracycline resistance gene and further contains a XhoI site for insertion of CDNA clones. The functional elements of pMT2 CXM have been described (Kaufman, R. J., 1985, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:689–693) and include the adenovirus VA genes, the SV40 origin of replication including the 72 bp enhancer, the adenovirus major late promoter including a 5′ splice site and the majority of the adenovirus tripartite leader sequence present on adenovirus late mRNAs, a 3′ splice acceptor site, a DHFR insert, the SV40 early polyadenylation site (SV40), and pBR322 sequences needed for propagation in E. coli.
Plasmid pMT2 CXM is obtained by EcoRI digestion of pMT2-VWF, which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) , Rockville, Md. (USA) under accession number ATCC 67122. EcoRI digestion excises the cDNA insert present in pMT2-VWF, yielding pMT2 in linear form which can be ligated and used to transform E. coli HB 101 or DH-5 to ampicillin resistance. Plasmid pMT2 DNA can be prepared by conventional methods. pMT2 CXM is then constructed using loopout/in mutagenesis [Morinaga, et al., Biotechnology 84: 636 (1987)]. This removes bases 1075 to 1145 relative to the Hind III site near the 5V40 origin of replication and enhancer sequences of pMT2. In addition it inserts the following sequence:
(1) BMP-2 Expression in CHO Cells
In order to achieve high levels of human BMP-2 protein expression, the DNA sequence of
A BMP-2 protein of the invention is expressed in CHO cells by releasing the insert of pBMP-2 #39-3 described above, from the vector by digestion with EcoRI. The insert is subcloned into the EcoRI cloning site of the mammalian expression vector, pMT2 CXM described above, though derivitives thereof may also be suitable.
A derivative of the BMP-2 cDNA sequence set fourth in
The BMP-2 cDNA with deletions of the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions are excised from pSP65 with SalI, and subcloned into the SalI site of pMT23 described above. Plasmid DNA from the subclones is transfected into CHO cells by electroporation (Neuman et al, EMBO J., 1:841–845 (1982)]. Two days later, cells are switched to selective medium containing 10% dialyzed fetal bovine serum and lacking nucleosides. Colonies expressing DHFR are counted 10–14 days later. Individual colonies or pools of colonies are expanded and analyzed for expression of BMP-2 RNA and protein using standard procedures and are subsequently selected for amplification by growth in increasing concentrations of MTX. Stepwise selection of the preferred pool, termed 2ΔD, is carried out up to a concentration of 2 μM MTX. Individual cells from the pool are then cloned and assayed for BMP-2 expression. Procedures for such assay include Northern Blot analysis to detect the presence of mRNA, protein analysis including SDS-PAGE and analysis for cartilage and/or bone formation activity using the ectopic rat bone formation assay described above. The presently preferred clonally-derived cell line is identified as 2ΔD2I. This cell line secretes BMP-2 proteins into the media containing 2 μM MTX.
The CHO cell line 2ΔD2I is grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)/Ham's nutrient mixture F-12, 1:1 (vol/vol), supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. When the cells are 80–100% confluent, the medium is replaced with serum-free DMEM/F-12. Medium is harvested every 24 hours for 4 days. For protein production and purification the cells are cultured serum-free.
Currently, this cell line 2ΔD2I is being subjected to stepwise selection in increasing concentrations of MTX (10 μM, 100 μM, 1000 μM) which may potentially yield cells which produce even higher levels of BMP-2 protein expression.
cDNA genes inserted into the EcoRI and/or Xho I sites are expressed as a bicistronic mRNA with DHFR in the second position. In this configuration, translation of the upstream (BMP-2) open reading frame is more efficient than the downstream (DHFR) cDNA gene [Kaufman et al, EMBO J. 6:187–193 (1987). The amount of DHFR protein expressed is nevertheless sufficient for selection of stable CHO cell lines.
Characterization of the BMP-2 polypeptides through pulse labeling with [35S] methionine or cysteine and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that multiple molecular size forms of BMP-2 proteins, further described below, are being expressed and secreted from the stable CHO lines.
(2) BMP-4 Expression in CHO Cells
In order to achieve high levels of human BMP-4 protein expression, the DNA sequence of
As described above, numerous expression vectors known in the art may be utilized in the expression of BMP proteins of the invention. The vector utilized in the following example is pEMC2βl derived from pMT21 though other vectors may be suitable in practice of the invention.
pMT2β1 is derived from pMT2 which is derived from pMT2-VWF, deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, Md. (USA) under accession number ATCC 67122 under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty. EcoRI digestion excises the cDNA insert present in pMT-VWF, yielding pMT2 in linear form which can be ligated and used to transform E. Coli HB 101 or DH-5 to ampicillin resistance. Plasmid pMT2 DNA can be prepared by conventional methods.
pMT21 was derived from pMT2 through the following two modifications. First, 76 bp of the 5′ untranslated region of the DHFR cDNA including a stretch of 19 G residues from G/C tailing for cDNA cloning was deleted. In this process, a XhoI site was inserted to obtain the following sequence immediately upstream from DHFR:
A portion of the EMCV leader was obtained from pMT2-ECAT1 [S. K. Jung, et al, J. Virol 63:1651–1660 (1989)] by digest with Eco RI and PstI, resulting in a 2752 bp fragment. This fragment was digested with TaqI yielding an Eco RI-TaqI fragment of 508 bp which was purified by electrophoresis on low melting agarose gel. A 68 bp adapter and its complementary strand were synthesized with a 5′ TaqI protruding end and a 3′ XhoI protruding end which has the following sequence:
This vector contains the SV40 origin of replication and enhancer, the adenovirus major late promoter, a cDNA copy of the majority of the adenovirus tripartite leader sequence, a small hybrid intervening sequence, an SV40 polyadenylation signal and the dadenovirus VA I gene, DHFR and B-lactamase markers and an EMC sequence, in appropriate relationships to direct the high level expression of the desired CDNA in mammalian cells.
A derivative of the BMP-4 cDNA sequence set forth in
The BMP-4 containing plasmid designated pXMBMP-4DUT is digested with EcoRI in order to release the BMP-4 cDNA containing insert from the vector. This insert is subcloned into the EcoRI site of the mammalian expression vector pEMC2β1 described above. Plasmid DNA from the subclones is transfected into CHO cells by electroporation [Neuman et al, EMBO J., 1:841–845 (1982)]. Two days later, cells are switched to selective medium containing 10% dialyzed fetal bovine serum and lacking nucleosides. Colonies expressing DHFR are counted 10–14 days later. Individual colonies or pools of colonies are expanded and analyzed for expression of BMP-4 RNA and protein using standard procedures and are subsequently selected for amplification by growth in increasing concentrations of MTX. Stepwise selection of the preferred pool, termed 4ΔED, is carried out up to a concentration of 2 μM MTX. Individual cells from the pool are then cloned and assayed for BMP-4 expression. Procedures for such assay include Northern Blot analysis to detect the presence of mRNA, protein analysis including SDS-PAGE and analysis for cartilage and/or bone formation activity using the ectopic rat bone formation assay described above.
4ΔED is grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)/Ham's nutrient mixture F-12, 1:1 (vol/vol), supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. When the cells are 80–100% confluent, the medium is replaced with serum-free DMEM/F-12. Medium is harvested every 24 hours for 4 days. For protein production and purification the cells are cultured serum-free. cDNA genes inserted into the EcoRI and/or Xho I sites are expressed as a bicistronic mRNA with DHFR in the second position. In this configuration, translation of the upstream (BMP-4) open reading frame is more efficient than the downstream (DHFR) cDNA gene [Kaufman et al, EMBO J. 6:187–193 (1987). The amount of DHFR protein expressed is nevertheless sufficient for selection of stable CHO cell lines.
Characterization of the BMP-4 polypeptides through pulse labeling with [35S] methionine or cysteine and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that multiple molecular size forms of BMP-4 proteins, further described below, are being expressed and secreted from the stable CHO lines.
Characterization and Biological Activity of Expressed BMP-2 and BMP-4
To measure the biological activity of the expressed BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins obtained in Example VI above, the proteins are recovered from the cell culture and purified by isolating the BMP-2 and BMP-4 proteins from other proteinaceous materials with which they are co-produced as well as from other contaminants. The purified protein is assayed in accordance with the rat bone formation assay described in Example III using a modified scoring method described below.
A. COS Expressed Protein
The COS expressed material of Example VI may be partially purified on a Heparin Sepharose column. 4 ml of the collected post transfection conditioned medium supernatant from one 100 mm culture dish is concentrated approximately 10 fold by ultrafiltration on a YM 10 membrane and then dialyzed against 20 mM Tris, 0.15 M NaCl, pH 7.4 (starting buffer). This material is then applied to a 1.1 ml Heparin Sepharose column in starting buffer. Unbound proteins are removed by an 8 ml wash of starting buffer, and bound proteins, including BMP-2 polypeptides, are desorbed by a 3–4 ml wash of 20 mM Tris, 2.0 M NaCl, pH 7.4.
The proteins bound by the Heparin column are concentrated approximately 10-fold on a Centricon 10 and the salt reduced by diafiltration with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. The appropriate amount of this solution is mixed with 20 mg of rat matrix and then assayed for in vivo bone and/or cartilage formation activity by the Rosen-modified Sampath-Reddi assay. A mock transfection supernatant fractionation is used as a control.
The implants containing rat matrix to which specific amounts of human BMP-2 or BMP-4 have been added are removed from rats after seven days and processed for histological evaluation. Representative sections from each implant are stained for the presence of new bone mineral with von Kossa and acid fuschin, and for the presence of cartilage-specific matrix formation using toluidine blue. The types of cells present within the section, as well as the extent to which these cells display phenotype are evaluated and scored as described in Example III.
Addition of the expressed human BMP-2 or BMP-4 to the matrix material results in formation of cartilage-like nodules at 7 days post implantation. The chondroblast-type cells are recognizable by shape and expression of metachromatic matrix. The amount of activity observed for human BMP-2 or BMP-4 indicates that it may be dependent upon the amount of human BMP-2 or BMP-4 protein added to the matrix sample.
Similar levels of activity are seen in the Heparin Sepharose fractionated COS cell extracts. Partial purification is accomplished in a similar manner as described above except that 6 M urea is included in all the buffers.
B. CHO Expressed Protein
To measure the biological activity of the BMP-2 proteins expressed in accordance with Example VIB above, 0.5 liters of conditioned media is directly adsorbed to 1 ml Heparin Sepharose (Pharmacia) column. The resin is washed with 0.15 M NaCl, 6.0 M urea, 20 mM Tris, pH 7.4 and then developed with a linear gradient to 1.0 M NaCl, 6.0 M urea, 50 mM Tris, pH 7.4. Fractions are assayed by the rat ectopic cartilage and bone formation assay described in Example III. The highest specific activity fractions are pooled and concentrated by ultrafiltration on a YM-10 (Amicon) membrane. Conditioned medium from CHO cells not transfected with the BMP-2 gene is prepared similarly, except that a step gradient to 1 M NaCl is used. Protein concentration is determined by amino acid analysis.
Further purification is achieved by preparative NaDodSO4/PAGE [Laemmli, Nature 227: 680–685 (1970)]. Approximately 300 μg of protein is applied to a 1.5-mm-thick 12.5% gel: recovery is estimated by adding L-[35S]methionine-labeled BMP-2 purified over heparin-Sepharose as described above. Protein is visualized by copper staining of an adjacent lane [Lee, et al., Anal. Biochem. 166:308–312 (1987)). Appropriate bands are excises and extracted in 0.1% NaDodSO4/20 mM Tris, pH 8.0. The supernatant is acidified with 10% CF3COOH to pH 3 and the proteins are desalted on 5.0�0.46 cm Vydac C4 column (The Separations Group, Hesperia, Calif.) developed with a gradient of 0.1% CF3COOH to 90% acetonitrile/0.1% CF3COOH.
The pooled material is analyzed by SDS-PAGE using a 12% acrylamide (U.K. Laemmli, Nature 227:680 (1970)] stained with silver [R. R. Oakley, et al. Anal. Biochem. 105:361 (1980)] and by immunoblot (H. Towbin, et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 76:4350 (1979)] of 13.5% gel. SDS-PAGE reveals that multiple molecular size forms of BMP-2 proteins are being expressed and secreted from the stable CHO lines. Under non-reduced conditions, the major protein species is represented by a broad band at 30,000 daltons. Lower molecular weight species are seen as well as higher species, most notably 82,000 daltons and 113,000 daltons.
The 30,000 dalton band reacts with a rabbit antiserum directed against an E. coli produced fragment of BMP-2 amino acids #130–#396 as shown in
A major N-terminal amino acid sequence beginning at amino acid #283 (Gln,Ala,Lys . . . ) as shown in
Immunoblot analysis using antibodies directed against a portion of the mature region (amino acids #350–365) and an antibody directed against the pro region (amino acids #103–116) of the 82,000 and 113,000 higher molecular weight species of BMP-2 under both non-reduced and reduced conditions suggests that these species may represent intermediate forms in the processing of the BMP-2 dimer. A 66,000 dalton species is present under reduced conditions. The 113,000 dalton species is contemplated to comprise proprotein dimers of 113,000 daltons (2 subunits of 66,000 daltons) and the 82,000 dalton species is contemplated to comprise a proprotein subunit linked to a mature BMP-2 subunit (66, 000 daltons plus 18, 000 daltons). Based on these analyses, approximately 50% of the total protein is active mature BMP-2.
The pool of protein containing recombinant human BMP-2 is assayed in accordance with the rat cartilage and bone formation assay described in Example III using a modified scoring method as follows, three non-adjacent sections are evaluated from each implant and averaged. "+/−" indicates tentative identification of cartilage or bone; "+1" indicates >10% of each section being new cartilage or bone; "+2", >25%; "+3", >50%; "+4", ˜75%; "+5", >80%. A "−" indicates that the implant is not recovered. The scores of the individual implants (in triplicate) are tabulated to indicate assay variability. BMP-2 protein is implanted subcutaneously in rats for times ranging from 5–21 days and the resulting implants evaluated histologically for the presence of newly formed cartilage and bone. Additionally, the level of alkaline phosphatase, synthesized by both cartilage and bone cells is measured.
Addition of partially purified CHO expressed human BMP-2 to the matrix material induces both new cartilage and new bone formation. Implantation of amounts of 0.46–115.3 μg of protein tested for times ranging from 5–21 days results in the induction of new cartilage and bone formation. Induction of cartilage formation is evident by day 7 and induction of bone formation is evident by day 14 for the lowest dose. The time at which bone formation occurs is related to the amount of BMP-2 implanted. At high doses bone can be observed at five days.
The development of cartilage and bone with time of a 12.0 microgram dosage of protein containing BMP-2 is summarized below. Amounts of new cartilage and bone are evaluated semi-quantitatively and scored on a scale of 0 to 5. Individual implants are listed to illustrate assay variability. At 5 days, many immature and some hypertrophic cartilage cells are present in the BMP-containing implant, but no mineralizing cartilage is detected. After 7 days chondrogenesis progresses so that most of the cartilage cells are hypertrophic and surrounded by mineralized matrix. Osteoblasts appear to be actively secreting osteoid, which is not yet mineralized. Day 7 implants have the greatest alkaline phosphatase content reflecting production by both chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Vascular elements, including giant cells and bone marrow precursors, are seen and are most abundant in areas where calcified cartilage is undergoing remodeling.
The decline of alkaline phosphatase activity on day 10 signals the end of chondrogenesis in the implants. At 14 days the removal of calcified cartilage is nearly complete and bone is widespread. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are abundant and appear to be actively engaged in the organization of newly formed trabecular bone. The levels of alkaline phosphatase reflect osteoblast activity at this stage in the maturation process. The vascularity of the implants has increased markedly, and hematopoietic cell maturation is tentatively observed.
At 21 days, implants show increased maturity over the previous time point. The bone is highly organized with mature marrow spaces, and bone-forming cells embedded in mineralized bone matrix are apparent. At 21 days, all remnants of matrix carrier have been removed in contrast to the control implants with no BMP, where matrix remains intact.
NaDodSO4/PAGE is used to purify each of the three BMP-2 species to homogeneity. The overall recovery of BMP-2 protein after electrophoresis, desalting, and concentration is approximately 30% and 87% of the BMP-2 is the 30,000 dalton form. All three forms of BMP-2 show in vivo activity when assayed for cartilage and bone induction. The 30,000 and 82,000 dalton species were equivalent in this assay while the 113,000 dalton species showed significantly less activity.
To measure the biological activity of BMP-4 expressed in accordance with Example VIB above BMP-4 is collected from the conditioned medium by batch adsorbing BMP-4 to heparin sepharose CL-6B using 3 ml swelled heparin sepharose per liter conditined media (CM) and stirring overnight at 4� C. The heparin sepharose is collected by filtering the CM through a fitted glass filter and washed with cold (4� C.) 50 mM Tris pH 7.4. A Pharmacia column is packed with the heparin sepharose using 50 mM Tris buffer and washed with buffer to the baseline. Elution is carried out with, the following gradient of sodium chloride:
BMP-4 containing fractions are located using Western blots probed with antipeptide antibody W10 (an anti-peptide polyclonal antibody recognizing the carboxy terminus of BMP-2). The BMP-4 containing fractions are pooled, the NaCl concentration is adjusted to 0.8M, and the pool is loaded onto a Butyl Toyopearl hydrophobic interaction column. Gradient elution from the hydrophobic interaction column is carried out using a sodium chloride and ethanol gradient:
SDS-PAGE and silver stain analysis reveals that BMP-4 typically migrates as a single band at approximately 35kD (non-reduced) and reduces to a single band at approximately 22 kD. BMP-4 is, therefore, a dimer of approximate molecular weight 35 kD which reduces to a monomer of approximate molecular weight 20 kD. Monomers of 18 and 22 kD have been detected. Monomer can also be seen reducing from a high molecular weight region (>67 kD) where it is assumed to be associated with an unprocessed BMP-4 molecule. The 2D pattern indicates that heterodimers are formed between the various molecular weight monomeric species.
BMP-4 is sensitive to N-glycanase, Endoglycosidase H, and Endoglycosidase F digestion, indicating the presence of N linked high mannose sugars. In a western format, ConA and WGA bind BMP-4, again indicating the presence of N-linked high mannose glycans. Lentil Lectin, which indicates the presence of α-D mannosyl or α-D glycosyl linkages, also binds BMP-4.
N-terminal sequence analysis reveals a single amino terminus at serine #293. Indicating a cleavage site at amino acid 293. This amino terminus is analogous to the Gln, Ala, Lys . . . of BMP-2. Mature BMP-4 is, therefore, a dimer of amino acids #293–#408 as shown in
Presently, experiments indicate a minimum dose of 156 ng reproducibly induces cartilage formation with BMP-4 in the rat ectopic assay which is comparable to BMP-2. Bone that is formed by BMP-4 is highly calcified, organized, and LO histologically similar to that formed by BMP-2, as described above. The time course of the appearance and the subsequent remodelling into bone is similar for BMP-4 and BMP-2.
The foregoing descriptions detail presently preferred embodiments of the present invention. Numerous modifications and variations in practice thereof are expected to occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of these descriptions. Those modifications and variations are believed to be encompassed within the claims appended hereto.
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COLUMBIA CITY — When local 80-year-old Barbara Craig picked up the paper one morning she saw a photo of a vintage Indy car she had not laid eyes on in years.
In the article with the photo, Barbara read that STAFCO, Steel Tank and Fabricating Corporation, was to host the refurbished Kennedy Tank Indy car for a day.
Venturing to reconnect with her past, Barbara visited STAFCO June 5 to see the car.
"It's in perfect shape," said Craig. "They even wanted me to get in it."
Since Craig's hip went out of joint nearly six weeks ago, she had to tell the president of STAFCO, Pat Kennedy, that it was not possible for her to sit in the car.
"I met Pat, and he was real nice," said Craig. "I knew his mom and dad before they got married."
Barbara's future husband, Ed Craig, worked for Kennedy Tank, the parent company for STAFCO. The owner of Kennedy Tank was Bill Kennedy, Pat Kennedy's father.
It was only a year after Ed began working for Kennedy Tank, and the owner Bill Kennedy, that he was transferred to STAFCO.
At the time the Indy car raced, Barbara was only a 16-year-old girl, but she can still remember details from back around 1948.
"I was only 16 then, and that was my first 500 mile race," said Barbara. "I can't remember what speed the cars were going, but to me and to everybody else, it was fast."
Sitting in box seats close to the track, Barbara said the race lasted nearly all day, much longer than a race would last today.
"I enjoyed it though," said Barbara. "I thought it was a neat thing for a young 16-year-old to do."
After marrying Ed, Barbara moved to Columbia City with him when he was transferred around 1952-53, and she has been living here ever since.
While Ed passed away 18 years ago, Barbara remembers the past with great satisfaction.
"I've lived a good life," said Barbara.
There is no doubt her neighbors will see Barbara walking and resuming her daily tasks when her hip is back to normal.
Looking toward the future, Barbara said she has one big goal she wants to make.
"My goal is to live to be 100," said Barbara.

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Miley Cyrus: Goodbye 'Hannah Montana'
Miley Cyrus says goodbye to Hannah Montana on Sunday night, in the final episode of the long running Disney Channel show, marking nearly five straight highly successful years on the air.
According to RadarOnline, Hannah Montana first aired in March of 2006, with Cyrus in the lead role. By day she played Miley, a normal teenager and by night she was Hannah, one of the most sought-after young female rock singers around. Cyrus' real-life dad Billy Ray Cyrus also played her father on the series.
While little girls everywhere are likely mourning the end of Hannah Montana, it's definitely time for Miley Cyrus to retire her role. The Disney role she portrayed was one of a wholesome teenager, even when playing the rock star Hannah. In real life, however, Cyrus hasn't even come close to living a wholesome life. Between scantily clad photos that have circulated both print and online publications, and the infamous news story of Miley at a party smoking salvia from a bong–these aren't the things parents want their daughters associating with Hannah Montana. And they're certainly not actions they want them emulating.
People have wondered if Miley Cyrus will find the same kind of success post-Hannah Montana that she enjoyed while filming the show. Some even theorize that this may be the reason for the scandalous press of late. While Cyrus on her own has some talent, she likely doesn't have the voluminous appeal that her Disney character does. Could the run of recent seductive modes of dress and inappropriate scenarios be an effort to keep her in the limelight in case her singing isn't enough to do so?
What's next for Miley Cyrus? There's certainly a lot going on in the 18-year-old's personal life, with parents Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus getting a divorce. Now that filming and related appearances for the Hannah Montana role are over, hopefully fans see Miley surface as merely a young singer. It would be nice to see her put away the sleazy image she's portrayed recently, and simply concentrate on that singing career.
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This is the 1st edition with a publication date of 7/1/2013.
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- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
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Recent years have seen an enormous amount of philosophical research into the emotions and the imagination, but as yet little work has been done to connect the two. In his engaging and highly original new book, Adam Morton shows that all emotions require some form of imagination and goes on to fully explore the link between these two important concepts both within philosophy and in everyday life. We may take it for granted that complex emotions, such as hope and resentment, require a rich thinking and an engagement with the imagination, but Morton shows how more basic and responsive emotions such as fear and anger also require us to take account of possibilities and opportunities beyond the immediate situation. Interweaving a powerful tapestry of subtle argument with vivid detail, the book highlights that many emotions, more than we tend to suppose, require us to imagine a situation from a particular point of view and that this in itself can be the source of further emotional feeling. Morton goes on to demonstrate the important role that emotions play in our moral lives, throwing light on emotions such as self-respect, disapproval, and remorse, and the price we pay for having them. He explores the intricate nature of moral emotions and the challenges we face when integrating our thinking on morality and the emotions. This compelling and thought-provoking new book challenges many assumptions about the nature of emotion and imagination and will appeal to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the role that these concepts play in our lives. The book also has far reaching implications that will spark debate amongst scholars and students for some time to come.
Author Biography
Adam Morton is visiting emeritus professor at the University of British Columbia.
Table of Contents
- PART I The range of emotions
- Refined emotions
- Imagining in emotion
- Seeing as
- Emotions and thinking
- Keeping mood and emotion distinct
- Pressure
- Categories of emotion
- PART II Imagining vile emotions
- Imagining vile emotions
- Imagining minds: emotions and perspectives
- Imagining a point of view
- Misimagination
- Imagining fictional characters: fiction and philosophy
- Invisible everyday failures
- Imagining awful actions
- Sympathy versus empathy
- Framing empathy
- PART III Memotions
- The threat of irrelevance
- Retracting emotions
- Emotions with multiple points of view: never trust someone
- who doesn't laugh -- or someone who laughs too much
- The variety of moral emotions
- Emotional learning
- Smugness
- PART IV Families of emotions
- The ideas and the questions
- Shame, regret, embarrassment, remorse
- Shame-like versus regret-like
- Ghosts
- Looking backward and looking inward
- Gaps in the pattern: shame versus guilt
- Two kinds of pride
- The smug family
- Dark humour, radical possibilities
- Shaping our emotions
- A virtue of imagination
- Notes
- References


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Fire & Rescue
Fire Prevention Week
Video: Smoke Alarms
About Fire Prevention Week
Video: Have Two Ways Out
Block Party - October 4
Fire Safety Checklist
Safety Tips
Cooking Safety
Microwave-Oven Safety
Scald Prevention
Escape Planning
Smoke Alarm Safety Tips
Home Fire Escape Plan
Fire Escape Plan Grid
Sparky's Activity Sheets
Home Escape Plan
Fire Safety Checklist
Crack the Code
Hidden Picture Puzzle
Kids In The Kitchen
• Fire Prevention Week
Smoke Alarm Facts
More than 3,000 people die in home fires each year in the United States; most of whom are in homes without a working smoke alarm.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2003 -2006, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Almost three of five (60%) of reported home fire deaths in 2007 to 2011 resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
Working smoke alarms cuts the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 93% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 79% of the time.
When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected, or dead.
An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, or where extra time is needed, to awaken or assist others, both types of alarms, or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms are recommended.
Test smoke alarms monthly and change batteries at least once a year, or as instructed by manufacturer's guide.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
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Germany-based firms RWE and RAG have signed a letter of intent to co-develop integrated pumped-storage hydro and wind projects at RAG's coal slag heap sites in North Rhine Westphalia.
A pilot project is proposed at RAG's waste dump at Halde, near Hamm-Pelkum, with detailed planning beginning as early as 2011, a press release states.
The concept would integrate intermittent wind output with the flexible response of pumped-storage hydropower to provide steady, dependable power.
The planned combined power plant will use wind power at times of high wind output to pump the water of the pumped-storage power plant from a low-lying reservoir to a reservoir on top of the waste heap, some 50 meters higher up, media reports indicate.
The companies have given themselves an 18-month timeframe to examine wind conditions, permitting issues and costs for the project.
For more hydropower news and information, click here


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The Kenyon Review has selected Ann Patchett as the winner of the 2014 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement.
Patchett's empathy for the human condition is at the heart of her work. Bold, innovative, lyrical, she is the author of six novels, among them the spellbinding Bel Canto and the hypnotic State of Wonder. This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, her recent nonfiction, reveals equal power. Patchett will accept the Kenyon Review award in New York City on Nov. 6th.
The Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement is presented at a gala benefit dinner each year in New York City at the Four Seasons Restaurant. The prize honors careers of extraordinary literary achievement, recognizing writers whose influence and importance have shaped the American literary landscape. It celebrates writers for the courage of their vision, their unparalleled imagination, and for the beauty of their art.
This is an awards dinner unlike any other—the food and wine are exceptional, as has been the company—counting such luminaries as Roger Rosenblatt, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Gloria Vanderbilt, the late George Plimpton, and more among its guests. Past years have seen such corporations as Bloomberg, MacAndrews & Forbes, O'Melveny & Myers, LLP, and other distinguished companies sign on as sponsors.
Proceeds from the benefit dinner support The Kenyon Review. Funds are raised through table sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, and a live auction. The event insures the future legacy of one of America's oldest and most respected literary journals. Further, the live auction includes the opportunity to support scholarships to KR's celebrated summer programs—nurturing the next generations of writers and readers.
About Ann Patchett
Ann Patchett is the author of six novels, The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician's Assistant, Bel Canto, Run, and State of Wonder. She was the editor of Best American Short Stories, 2006, and has written three books of nonfiction, Truth & Beauty, about her friendship with the writer, Lucy Grealy, What now? an expansion of her graduation address at Sarah Lawrence College, and, most recently, This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, a collection of essays that examines the theme of commitment.
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Iowa Writer's Workshop, Patchett has been the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including England's Orange Prize, PEN/Faulkner Award, the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Book Sense Book of the Year, a Guggenheim Fellowship, The Chicago Tribune's Heartland Prize, The Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, the American Bookseller's Association's "Most Engaging Author Award," and the Women's National Book Association's Award. Her books have been both New York Times Notable Books and New York Times bestsellers. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages.
In November, 2011, she opened Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee, with her partner Karen Hayes. She has since gone on to be a spokesperson for independent booksellers, talking about books and bookstores on "The Colbert Report," NPR, "The Martha Stewart Show" and "The CBS Early Show." Along with James Patterson she was the honorary chair of World Book Night. In 2012 she was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Ann Patchett lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Karl VanDevender, and their dog, Sparky.


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Below is the poem entitled The Singer's Cloak which was written by poet
James. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Paul James
The singer sang from beyond the grave,*
Or in his grave, to be true.
His voice reached up to the architrave
And vibrated in every pew.
The vicar called on the choir to sing
As loud as loud they could.
But the voice had an even louder ring
Sending quivers down the rood.
Oh Lord, they sang, oh mighty God,
Gloria in excelsis deo.
But the singer sang of life's hard rod
And of Hell's undying blow.
The women looked up the pillars tall,
While big-eyed children cried.
The singer had them in his thrall,
But was not to be descried.
The vicar read his sermon out,
As if proclaiming from the mount.
The singer responded with a voice so stout,
He sang of fear's rich fount.
The congregation lost relation
To the good man's godly word.
They stood in helpless trepidation,
Their souls so far disturbed.
The church's doors swung open wide,
To a cascade of chattering leaves;
The screams and panic and terror inside
Shook the church to its very eaves.
And then, oh then, oh horror pure,
The spectre appeared at the door.
His bloodied hair, his sombre allure,
Chilled the living to the core.
The vicar clutched up bible and ran
Through a hidden door to the side,
The singer opened his cloak like a fan
And wrapped all the children inside.
The women bemoaned this cruellest loss,
They wailed to the crucified Christ.
But bound and weak and nailed as he was,
There was nothing he could do.
* This Poem should be read in conjunction with 'The Pauper's Grave'


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SAT 7/17 Electronica. Psychedelica. Romantica -- what? It's time to float a new term: "Romantica" is an offshoot of the... More >>
As the St. Louis Black Repertory Company concluded its 27th season two weeks ago, it found itself facing a deficit for the first time in four... More >>
The corn may not be as high as an elephant's eye -- not in late June, anyway -- but with a little more summer rain it may well get there.... More >>
The Muny's 86th season opened this week with a highly unusual double bill. For the curtain raiser, the theater offered a one-man performance best... More >>
First Run Theatre is a fledgling group devoted to producing new plays by local writers. Its advertisements tout supportive blurbs from the likes... More >>
Setting aside regional pride, what makes Meet Me in St. Louis a memorable musical? For starters, how about the music? Everybody knows its... More >>
Forget the historical fact that Raisin won the 1974 Tony Award as Best Musical and ran on Broadway for more than two years.... More >>
The irreverent folks at Hydeware Theatre like to do guerrilla Shakespeare outdoors in city parks; last season for Edward Albee's Zoo Story... More >>
Act One of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the rambunctious revue for hopeful heterosexuals that's closing out the City... More >>
The New Jewish Theatre concludes its seventh season with an exuberant and polished production of the William Finn musical Falsettos.... More >>
he spare, square stage at the Soulard Theatre resembles a boxing ring without the ropes. Let the sparring begin. Each combatant has his or her own... More >>
Kudos to HotHouse Theatre Company, which is wrapping up an ambitious four-play season of area (and even national) premieres. If the appetizing... More >>
For lovers of musical theater, it doesn't get any better than this weekend's annual Variety Telethon, which features performances by six... More >>
It's almost as if St. Patrick's Day has arrived a month late. All week long Riverdance, the Irish musical phenomenon, will be clogging its... More >>
Two-thirds of the way through The Last Five Years, the 80-minute, no-intermission musical that is receiving its local premiere in... More >>
You say there's not enough theater in St. Louis? This week there are eleven -- count 'em, eleven -- new shows in town. Musicals, dramas,... More >>
Anyone interested in seeing a brilliantly crafted play -- a throwback to that long-gone era when scripts cared more about people than dogma --... More >>
SAT 3/27 Scene: New York City. You are a dime-a-dozen, non-working actor. You are therefore, obviously, quite left-leaning in your... More >>
In the opening scene of the deliriously cyclonic Hairspray, which is currently testing the very foundations of the Fox... More >>
In one of the many sprightly songs that provide the best reason for seeing the 45th-anniversary revival of the jazz/beat musical The Nervous... More >>
Midway into Act One of the Stray Dog Theatre's mounting of The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams' anguished drama about deception... More >>
Stonewall Jackson's House, the current offering from City Theatre, is an oddity within an oddity. The plot is never quite what it... More >>
Charles Lindbergh is returning to town -- all three of him. In the Metro Theater Company's enthralling stage piece Captain Lindbergh's Ocean... More >>
The first motion picture Bruce Vilanch ever saw was the 1952 circus epic The Greatest Show on Earth. That was the day a four-year-old in Paterson,... More >>
March 10, 1959, was a dreary day in St. Louis. Temperatures hovered in the forties and rain showers played havoc with traffic. In the evening, as... More >>


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Aug. 5 8 p.m.
Aug. 6 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 8 11 a.m.
Aug. 8 2 p.m.
Aug. 8 2 p.m.
Aug. 8 5 p.m.
Whether you are brought together by geographic location, cultural identity or a student community from your time on campus, your Bruin Family will be there for you as you are there for them.
See the latest edition of the UCLA Alumni Connect Newsletter.
If you are a UCLA alumnus, you can sign in and search for other alumni who have made their profiles available.
As a Bruin, you've earned your place as a member of our new UCLA Alumni Association membership program. Through us, your impact and connect to UCLA is amplified. You have coveted access to benefits and opportunities to engage with your community. Membership is your bridge to UCLA.
Good food. Great company. Fascinating conversation. That's how Bruins meet and make great personal and professional contacts. Enjoy delicious food and refreshments at a lively place near your home or work, swap UCLA stories, unwind from the work day and tap into your powerful network of UCLA alumni.
In collaboration with the School of Theater Film and Television and the Career Center, Entertainment Networking Night is a high-profile Student Alumni Association event that gives students the opportunity to learn about careers in the entertainment field by interacting with UCLA alumni in the industry.
A Proud PartnerSunEdison, the Complete Solar Solution
Copyright © 2015 UCLA Alumni


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Privacy and Cookies
The US military has begun talks with contractors to potentially acquire, after 2010, the first air-launched weapon for shooting down ballistic missiles, say industry officials.
The two possible competitors - Lockheed Martin and Raytheon - are proposing variations of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, respectively.
As well as intercepting ballistic missiles, either weapon may offer military planners the first air-launched missile capable of reaching the edge of space since a US Air Force Boeing F-15 successfully shot down a satellite in 1985 using the short-lived ASM-135 anti-satellite missile. Both contractors are nearing the end of a three-year demonstration period funded by Congressional budget "plus-ups".
Raytheon's new weapon - dubbed the Network-Centric Air Defense Element (NCADE) - has demonstrated two critical technologies.
A flight test last December showed that the infrared seeker - adapted from the company's AIM-9X Sidewinder AAM - can distinguish between the exhaust plume and the body of a ballistic missile.
An earlier bench test also demonstrated the adapted missile's novel monopropellant, hydroxylammonium nitrate, the fuel for a second-stage rocket motor developed by Aerojet.
This will replace the warhead within the AIM-120 missile frame.
Raytheon has committed to deliver the first 20 NCADE weapons to the US Missile Defense Agency by 2013 for less than $1 million each, says Mike Booen, the company's vice-president for advanced missile systems. "The power of this system is that we are adapting an existing missile, and that keeps the cost down," he adds.
But Lockheed claims the air-launched PAC-3 will offer the MDA an even less risky alternative. The modified Patriot will not require the addition of a second-stage booster rocket, or the adaptation of a seeker from a different missile.
Its only unique development item is a missile body canister, which will be jettisoned as a wing store to fire the PAC-3. Lockheed's concept - called the Air Launched Hit to Kill - is scheduled to conduct a flight test in the second quarter of this year.
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Virtualization occurs when a simulation replaces something that exists in the physical world. READ MORE
Integrated Systems October Issue 2008
Featured Articles
Sort by
October 2008
October 2008
More than most industries, resorts—whether for skiing, golfing or horseback riding—are vulnerable to crime and other security lapses. READ MORE
October 2008
A largely untapped security opportunity has emerged for low-voltage electrical contractors: fiber optics on perimeter fences. READ MORE
October 2008
October 2008
US building codes have emphasized flame spread and smoke generation. On the surface, this seems to adequately address fire safety. READ MORE
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Shows business owners and managers how to use Excel to create useful budgets that help them manage resources prudently.
Set up an efficient and flexible invoice management system with these Excel tutorials.
"Because of your lessons, I can go to "class" every night to learn the new programs that are needed for my work and my other projects." —Frances M.
more from our members »


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Arizona Wildcats
Updated Jan 15, 2013 - 5:47 pm
Cat Scan - RichRod rumors and hoops
Most Popular
Wildcats Audio
- Glenn Parker, Pac-12 and Cardinals analystGlenn Parker discusses new Cardinals coach Jen Welter and the strength of the Pac-12 South.
- Bearing Down with Adam and Jarrett Adam and Jarrett go over the best win, worst loss in RichRod's UA tenure
- Chip Brown, writer for HornsDigest.comChip Brown suggests that the Big 12 and the SEC could merge in the future.
- Monica LindstromNew Bill Cosby revelations are devastating for the comedian. Mac and Gaydos talk with their Legal Ex
- Monica LindstromBefore Arizona rushes to become another Colorado no one's able to answer this simple question. Mac


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|Microtel Inns Saratoga hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Microtel Inns hotel prices in Saratoga, CA for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Microtel Inns Saratoga hotels so you can review the Saratoga Microtel Inns hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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Need a group/meeting discount? Get quotes from hotels in Saratoga CA
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Greet the Dodge Challenger Race Car
when: Jun 22, 2013 at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
where: South Lake Union, MOHAI at Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Wa
cost: Included with admission
ages: All
add to calendar: Google iCal/Outlook
add to my play listSave all your favorite RT finds right here. How cool is that?
the scoop:
In 1981, Seattle drag racer Al Young drove a 1970 Dodge Challenger to win the American Hot Rod Association's World Championship. Now, that car is part of MOHAI's collection, and this summer, will be put on display in the museum's Faye G. Allen Grand Atrium.
Celebrate the Dodge Challenger's debut and kick off summer at this special program for all ages. Several times throughout the day, Al Young will talk about his 25-years racing the Challenger and share stories from the track, plus MOHAI's Family Lab will feature race car-themed activities.
more info:
Be the first to RSVP


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Supplemental Instruction
In addition to a variety of resources for one-on-one tutoring at Cal State Fullerton, students can also take advantage of Supplemental Instruction (SI) which is similarly designed to ensure academic success, particularly in traditionally difficult courses. Supplemental Instruction provides regularly scheduled peer-facilitated SI or study group sessions to complement many challenging courses and has been found to be very effective in facilitating greater student success. For example, in math and science courses with SI, students who participated in the SI sessions had an 85% passing rate and a higher average grade than their non-SI peers who had a 55% passing rate (2011 data). Learn more about this valuable resource at http://www.fullerton.edu/SI


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In October 2007, the State of Indiana added cystic fibrosis (CF) to its newborn screening panel. In Indiana, CF newborn screening is a two-step process performed on a standard Guthrie card. The first step involves analysis of immunoreactive trypsin (IRT). Specimens that have IRT levels in the top 4% are considered abnormal; these specimens are then automatically sent for a second test that checks for mutations within the CFTR gene. Indiana's CF newborn screening looks for 43 of the most common CFTR gene changes.
The screen is considered "positive" for CF if one or more mutations from the panel are detected. At this step, the healthcare practitioner is notified of the positive test by the Indiana University Newborn Screening Laboratory.
Click here to view "Cystic Fibrosis: A Review for Healthcare Providers."
Click here to download the Physician Reporting Form.
Click here for a list of resources for families of children with newborn screening conditions.
|Information for Families
(Click on the name of an information sheet to download.)
|Physician Information
(Click on the name of an information sheet to download.)
|Overview of Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening (en español)
|Overview of Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening for Healthcare Providers
|Newborn Screen Positive for One Gene Change (en español)
|Action Sheet for Healthcare Providers
|Newborn Screen Positive for Two Gene Changes (en español)
|Contact Information for CFF-accredited centers in Indiana
|Instruction Sheets for Sweat Test Laboratories
|Why Use CF Foundation-Accredited Centers?
|Deaconess Hospital (en español)
|Contact Information for Indiana's Genetic Services Providers (en español)
|Lutheran Hospital (en español)
|South Bend Medical Foundation Laboratory locations
**Please note that the ONLY accredited sweat testing laboratory for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is located 530 N. Lafayette Boulevard in South Bend. No other South Bend Medical Foundation location is accredited to collect sweat tests.**
|Riley Hospital (en español)
|Cystic Fibrosis Video for Families
|St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend (en español)
|Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) Fact Sheet