Abstract: The invention provides methods of modifying the lipids produced by microbial organisms through genetic engineering. The invention also provides genetically engineered microbes and methods of fermenting microbes for oil production. Also provided are oils, fuels, oleochemicals, chemical precursors, and other compounds manufactured by such modified microorganisms. Exemplary oil-bearing organisms include organisms containing one or more exogenous genes encoding a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, fatty acyl-CoA reductase, fatty aldehyde reductase, fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of cell biology of stem cells, more specifically the directed differentiation of pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells (hESC), somatic stem cells, and induced human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using novel culture conditions. Specifically, methods are provided for obtaining neural tissue, floor plate cells, and placode including induction of neural plate development in hESCs for obtaining midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, motorneurons, and sensory neurons. Further, neural plate tissue obtained using methods of the present inventions are contemplated for use in co-cultures with other tissues as inducers for shifting differentiation pathways, i.e. patterning.

Abstract: A method for the construction of arrays from self-assembling monolayers is described. The arrays have particular utility for the screening of peptides ligands that can foster the growth of cells in culture. This technique has been used to identify peptide ligands that foster the growth of human stem cells, which otherwise require an extracellular matrix in order to grow in an undifferentiated state. This also makes possible an assay to identify other such peptides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle for delivering various chemicals, compositions and proteins to stem cells and embryoid bodies. The vehicle may be biocompatible and biodegradable polymer microparticles. Typically the particles will contain at least a growth factor for delivery to the embryoid bodies, and generally the growth factor induces differentiation of the cells in the embryoid body along a specific lineage. The present invention also provides methods for directing differentiation of the cells in the embryoid body.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of achieving directed evolution of viruses by in vivo screening or “panning” to identify viruses comprising scrambled AAV capsids having characteristics of interest, e.g., tropism profile and/or neutralization profile (e.g., ability to evade neutralizing antibodies). The invention also provides scrambled AAV capsids and virus particles comprising the same.

Abstract: Methods for differentiating stem cells are disclosed herein. These methods can be used to generate neurons, including, but not limited to, dopaminergic neurons. The disclosed methods include culturing stem cells in the absence of fibroblast growth factor-2 to generate embryoid bodies and culturing the embryoid bodies in the presence of an effective amount of at least one of stromal cell-derived factor 1, pleiotrophin, insulin-like growth factor 2, and ephrin B1 on an extracellular matrix for a period of time sufficient to produce dopaminergic neuronal cells. The differentiated cells can be used to study pharmaceutical agents that affect dopaminergic neurons and can be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium composition comprising neuropeptide Y, effective for proliferation and maintenance of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, and a method for culturing undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells using the same. The present invention improves the culture conditions for undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, and ultimately, the present invention can be effectively used for the development of large-scale culture systems, thereby acquiring clinically applicable pluripotent stem cells. Further, the present invention relates to a dedifferentiation medium composition comprising neuropeptide Y (NPY), and a method for inducing dedifferentiation (or reprogramming) using the same. The present invention improves the culture conditions for dedifferentiation and contributes to develop technology of producing clinically applicable induced pluripotent stem cells, thereby being used for the development of stem cell therapy.

Abstract: The present invention describes stem cells and progenitor cells derived from hemangiomas, including testing of angiogenic inhibitors using these cells. The invention as described is useful in providing a process to culture and propagate hemangioma stem cells and generate xenograft models to develop treatments for infantile hemangiomas and other types of vascular lesions.

Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding the amino acid shown in SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO: 5, or encoding an amino acid sequence having not less than 98% identity thereto; preferably a polynucleotide comprising replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1202 of SEQ ID NO:2 (position 177 of SEQ ID NO:5) with glycine, replacement of the amino acid corresponding to glutamic acid at position 1056 (position 31 of SEQ ID NO:5) with valine, and replacement of the amino acid corresponding to alanine at position 2199 (position 1174 of SEQ ID NO:5) with threonine.

Abstract: The present application discloses methods expanding SCs in an undifferentiated state, the methods comprising incubating undifferentiated SCs in suspension within a culture system comprising basic medium and knockout serum replacement (KOSR). The methods may also be applicable for selective spontaneous or directed differentiation of SCs into a selected population of somatic cells from a culture system of SCs in suspension, the method further comprising incubating said undifferentiated SCs in culture system that support respectively, spontaneous or directed differentiation of SCs into the selected population of somatic cells. The present application also discloses a culture system for expansion of stem cells (SCs) comprising a suspension of undifferentiated stem cells within basic medium and knockout serum replacement (KOSR). The methods and culture system of the invention may be used for large scale production of differentiated cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method and use of reef coral fluorescent proteins in making transgenic red, green and yellow fluorescent zebrafish. Preferably, such fluorescent zebrafish are fertile and used to establish a population of transgenic zebrafish and to provide to the ornamental fish industry for the purpose of marketing. Thus, new varieties of ornamental fish of different fluorescence colors from a novel source are developed.

Abstract: Inhibitors of luciferase enzymes are disclosed and find use in multiplexed assays using multiple luciferases and multiple inhibitors, in both in vitro and in vivo embodiments.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for selectively directing stem cells to a target tissue within a subject using a system that employs one or more vectors that contain a gene switch/biosensor, a tissue-specific promoter, a gene encoding a stem cell-attracting chemokine, and a gene amplification system. In one embodiment, a stem cell-attracting chemokine is expressed in damaged tissue using a stimulus-responsive vector system. The stimulus can be a physiological stimulus associated with cell injury, such as hypoxia or elevated glucose levels, for example. Expression of the chemokine increases the trafficking of stem cells to the damaged tissue.

Abstract: Synthetic surfaces suitable for culturing stem cell derived cardiomyocytes contain acrylate polymers formed from one or more acrylate monomers. The acrylate surfaces, in many cases, are suitable for culturing stem cell derived cardiomyocytes in chemically defined media.

Abstract: The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. In preferred embodiments, the methods and agents comprise active extracts produced from fish eggs. The invention further provides processes for making active fish egg extracts.

Abstract: The methods and compositions described herein are based, in part, on the discovery of a stem cell state in human cells that resembles the morphology observed in murine-derived stem cells. Induction of such a state in human stem cells permits an increase in the efficiency of homologous recombination. Thus, the methods and compositions described herein relate to cells and methods for increasing the efficiency of homologous recombination in human stem cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of manufacturing oils and oil-based products such as transportation fuels, industrial chemicals, edible oils, lubricants and plastics using sucrose feedstocks from sugar cane, sugar beets, and molasses for bioproduction processes. The disclosed processes utilize oleaginous microbes as a conversion technology to convert chemical energy produced by sugar cane, molasses and sugar beets into energy-containing oils and oil derivatives. Also provided herein are oleaginous microbes containing one or more exogenous sucrose utilization genes.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of cultivating oil-bearing microbes using xylose alone or in combination with other depolymerized cellulosic material. Also provided are microorganisms comprising an exogenous gene encoding a polysaccharide degrading enzyme, such as a cellulase, a hemicellulase, a pectinase, or a driselase. Some methods of microbial fermentation are provided that comprise the use of xylose and depolymerized cellulosic materials for the production of oil-bearing microorgansims.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for cell nuclear transfer that comprise for example modification of zona pellucida of an oocyte, and/or sectioning of oocytes into several parts. The present invention also discloses methods for producing a genetically modified non-human mammal. Genetically modified non-human mammals obtainable by the disclosed methods are also within the scope of the present invention. Disclosed are also methods for cryopreservation of cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to fish whose genome has integrated therein an oncogenic nucleic acid operably linked to a promoter. Methods of making the fish and methods for their use are also provided. The fish may advantageously be utilized in methods of screening for drugs or agents that modulate oncogene-mediated neoplastic or hyperplasic transformation, or that modulate sensitivity to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Immortal tumor cells lines, methods of making immortal tumor cells lines and methods of their use are also provided.