Abstract: Provided herein are novel sirtuin-modulating compounds of Structural Formula (Ia) and methods of use thereof. The sirtuin-modulating compounds may be used for increasing the lifespan of a cell, and treating and/or preventing a wide variety of diseases and disorders including, for example, diseases or disorders related to aging or stress, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, blood clotting disorders, inflammation, cancer, and/or flushing as well as diseases or disorders that would benefit from increased mitochondrial activity. Also provided are compositions comprising a sirtuin-modulating compound in combination with another therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Provided are methods for determining the activity of proteins that modulate the acetylation state of a protein substrate. The methods may be used for determining both acetyltransferase activity and deacetylase activity. The methods utilize mass spectrometry for determining the acetylation state of a substrate peptide. The methods may also be used to identify compounds that modulate the activity of a protein having acetyltransferase or deacetylase activity. In some embodiments, a compound that modulates a deacetylase is an activator of the deacetylase.

Abstract: Diagnostics and therapeutics for osteoporosis, which are based on the identification of the subject's IL-1 haplotype pattern are described.

Abstract: Methods and kits for detecting polymorphism that are predictive of a subject's susceptibility to developing sepsis are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivery of nucleic acids. In particular, the invention provides a polymeric delivery formulation including a nucleic acid to be transfected into a host cell, formulated in a biodegradable polymer having phosphorous-based linkages.

Abstract: The kits and methods of the present invention relate to the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether a subject has a fragile plaque disorder. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether the subject has an occlusive disorder. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether the subject has a restenosis disorder. Other methods of the present invention relate to the selection of therapeutics for a patient with a cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly efficient, rapid, and cost effective method of linking nucleic acid components in a predetermined order to produce a nucleic acid multicomponent construct. The invention further provides nucleic acid components, each nucleic acid component comprising a double stranded nucleic acid molecule having at least one single stranded 5′ or 3′ terminal sequence, the terminal sequence having sufficient complementarity to either a terminal sequence in a separate nucleic acid component or to a sequence in a linking nucleic acid molecule so as to allow for specific annealing of complementary sequences and linkage of the components in a predetermined order. Kits containing reagents required to practice the method of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and kits for determining whether a subject has or is predisposed to developing a disease which is associated with IL-1 polymorphisms and assays for identifying therapeutics for treating and/or preventing the development of these diseases are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the elucidation of mammalian gene function. Specifically, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for improved mammalian complementation screening, functional inactivation of specific essential or non-essential mammalian genes, and identification of mammalian genes which are modulated in response to specific stimuli. In particular, the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, replication-deficient retroviral vectors, libraries comprising such vectors, retroviral particles produced by such vectors in conjunction with retroviral packaging cell lines, integrated provirus sequences derived from the retroviral particles of the invention and circularized provirus sequences which have been excised from the integrated provirus sequences of the invention. The compositions of the present invention further include novel retroviral packaging cell lines.