| 20110061118 | VECTORS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING VECTOR-FREE INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM (IPS) CELLS USING SITE-SPECIFIC RECOMBINATION - The present invention relates to a DNA molecule comprising: (a) a first DNA sequence comprising: (aa) a coding sequence giving rise upon transcription to a factor that contributes to the reprogramming of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell; (ab) a promoter mediating the transcription of said coding sequence; and (ac) two sequence motifs that mediate excision of (aa) and/or (ab) from the DNA molecule, wherein one sequence motif is positioned 5′ and the other sequence motif is positioned 3′ of the sequence to be excised; (b) a second DNA sequence comprising a sequence motif that mediates site-specific integration of (a) into another DNA molecule. Further, the invention relates to DNA molecule comprising: (a) a first DNA sequence comprising: (aa) a coding sequence giving rise upon transcription to a factor that contributes to the reprogramming of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem cell; and (ab) a promoter mediating the transcription of said coding sequence; (b) a second DNA sequence comprising: (ba) a sequence motif that mediates extrachromosomal self-replication of the DNA-molecule; and (bb) two sequence motifs that mediate excision of at least said sequence motif of (ba) from the second DNA sequence (b), wherein one sequence motif is located 5′ of (ba) and the other sequence motif 3′ of (ba). Also, the invention relates to a vector comprising the DNA molecule of the invention, a method for assembly of said vector and a somatic cell comprising said DNA molecule or said vector of the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods to generate an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell, an induced pluripotent stem cell obtainable by said methods, to a kit comprising the DNA molecule of the invention, to a cell line or cell culture collection comprising the induced pluripotent stem cell of the invention, to the use of said cell or cell line as a research tool, to a method to generate a transgenic non-human animal and to a non-human animal generated by said method. Finally, the invention relates to a composition for gene therapy, regenerative medicine, cell therapy or drug screening. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20100242127 | METHODS TO IDENTIFY MODULATORS OF B-RAF PROTEIN KINASE AND THEIR USE FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION - The present invention relates to a method for identifying a compound capable of modulating an anxiety or depression disorder comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a composition comprising a B-Raf protein or a B-Raf gene in expressible form or a transcript thereof with a compound under conditions that allow for an interaction of the B-Raf protein or the B-Raf gene or a transcript thereof and the compound; and (b) measuring whether said interaction, if any, results in (i) a change of B-Raf kinase activity compared to B-Raf kinase activity in the absence of said compound; (ii) a modulation of the expression of the B-Raf gene compared to B-Raf gene expression in the absence of said compound; or (iii) the formation of a complex between the compound and the B-Raf protein, wherein such a change in activity, modulation of expression or the formation of a complex is indicative of the compound being a modulator of an anxiety or depression disorder. Further, the invention relates to a method for treating an anxiety or depression disorder in an individual comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of a compound inhibiting B-Raf kinase activity or gene expression and to a use of a compound that inhibits B-Raf kinase activity or gene expression in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for treating an anxiety or depression disorder. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing a B-Raf associated anxiety or depression disorder and to a genetically engineered mouse. Finally, the invention also relates to a method of identifying another gene contributing to the pathophysiology of an anxiety or depression disorder apart from B-Raf. | 09-23-2010 |
