Patent ID: 7626003

Claim:
An improved protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence produced by a genetically engineered cDNA-of the rat bcl-x gene, said cDNA comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 except having at least one nucleotide substitution which changes, in the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1, tyrosine (Tyr) at amino acid residue 22 to phenylalanine (Phe), glutamine (Gln) at amino acid residue 26 to asparagine (Asn), and arginine (Arg) at amino acid residue 165 to lysine (Lys); and (b) the amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 except having at least one nucleotide substitution which changes, in the amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1, tyrosine (Tyr) at amino acid residue 22 to phenylalanine (Phe), glutamine (Gln) at amino acid residue 26 to asparagine (Asn), arginine (Arg) at amino acid residue 165 to lysine (Lys), or a combination thereof.