Abstract: The present invention provides a process of increasing dopamine production in a cell comprising co-transfecting the cell with one or more expression vectors containing polynucleotides that encode tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase and GTP cyclohydrolase. Cells transfected with such vectors and the use of such transformed cells to increase dopamine production in the central nervous system of animals are also provided.

Abstract: Mice which produce measurable levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient red blood cells can be used as animal models to evaluate new drugs for risk of inducing hemolytic anemia in G6PD-deficient individuals, and for pre-clinical evaluation of gene therapy protocols to correct G6PD deficiency. Deficient and wild-type cells can be distinguished using a tetrazolium dye, and the numbers of each type of cell counted before and after exposure of the cells to the drug or therapy.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleotide and amino acid sequences that identify and encode a novel serpin (CAPE) expressed in human hypothalamus. The present invention also provides for antisense molecules to the nucleotide sequences which encode CAPE, expression vectors for the production of purified CAPE, antibodies capable for binding specifically to CAPE, hybridization probes or oligonucleotides for the detection of CAPE-encoding nucleotide sequences, genetically engineered host cells for the expression of Cape, a pharmaceutical composition containing biologically active CAPE, a diagnostic test based on CAPE-encoding nucleic acid molecules, and treatment methods comprising administration of biologically active CAPE.

Abstract: The invention includes mammalian multipotent neural stem cells and their progeny and methods for the isolation and clonal propagation of such cells. At the clonal level the stem cells are capable of self regeneration and asymmetrical division. Lineage restriction is demonstrated within developing clones which are sensitive to the local environment. The invention also includes such cells which are transfected with foreign nucleic acid, e.g., to produce an immortalized neural stem cell, and immortalized cell lines which are capable of subsequent disimmortalization. The invention further includes transplantation assays which allow for the identification of mammalian multipotent neural stem cells from various tissues and methods for transplanting mammalian neural stem cells and/or neural or glial progenitors into mammals. A novel method for detecting antibodies to neural cell surface markers is disclosed as well as a monoclonal antibody to mouse LNGFR.

Abstract: Oligomers which inhibit expression of a collagen gene are described. It is believed that each oligomer, when introduced into a cell, forms a transcription-inhibiting complex composed of the oligomer and the collagen-gene promoter region. The oligomer, preferably a phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotide, preferably binds in the antiparallel orientation to the polypurine strand of a polypurine-polypyrimidine region of the promoter region of a mammalian .alpha.1(I) collagen gene.