Abstract: The present invention makes available a method for inducing neuronal differentiation and preventing the death or degeneration of neuronal cells both in vitro and in vivo. The subject method stems from the unexpected finding that, contrary to traditional understanding of neural induction, the default fate of ectodermal tissue is neuronal rather than mesodermal and/or epidermal. In particular, it has been discovered that preventing or antagonizing a signaling pathway in a cell for a growth factor of the TGF-? family can result in neuronal differentiation of that cell.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a method for inducing neuronal differentiation and preventing the death or degeneration of neuronal cells both in vitro and in vivo. The subject method stems from the unexpected finding that, contrary to traditional understanding of neural induction, the default fate of ectodermal tissue is neuronal rather than mesodermal and/or epidermal. In particular, it has been discovered that preventing or antagonizing a signaling pathway in a cell for a growth factor of the TGF-? family can result in neuronal differentiation of that cell.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a method for inducing neuronal differentiation and preventing the death or degeneration of neuronal cells both in vitro and in vivo. The subject method stems from the unexpected finding that, contrary to traditional understanding of neural induction, the default fate of ectodermal tissue is neuronal rather than mesodermal and/or epidermal. In particular, it has been discovered that preventing or antagonizing a signaling pathway in a cell for a growth factor of the TGF-&bgr; family can result in neuronal differentiation of that cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertebrate translation initiation factor (eIF-4AIII), that plays a role in the differentiation of an embryonic cell to an epidermal cell. This translation initiation factor interacts with BMP-4 in a positive regulatory loop. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of using the translation initiation factor, nucleic acids encoding the same, and corresponding antibodies and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting differential expression of embryonic gene products known to play a fundamental role in the embryonic developmental process using nucleic acid arrays containing Xenopus embryonic gene sequences as set forth in Appendix 1. This allows the detection of the expression of differentially expressed genes in embryonic cells, for diagnosing developmental disorders or identifying different types of embryonic cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses nucleic acids containing transcriptional control elements that are lens transcriptional control elements. One such lens transcriptional control element is exemplified by the control element of the Pax-6 gene. Methods of using these lens transcriptional control elements for drug assays, diagnostics and for identifying transcription factors involved in lens development are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertebrate translation initiation factor (eIF-4AIII), that plays a role in the differentiation of an embryonic cell to an epidermal cell. This translation initiation factor interacts with BMP-4 in a positive regulatory loop. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of using the translation initiation factor, nucleic acids encoding the same, and corresponding antibodies and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertebrate translation initiation factor (eIF-4AIII), that plays a role in the differentiation of an embryonic cell to an epideimal cell. This translation initiation factor interacts with BMP-4 in a positive regulatory loop. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of using the translation initiation factor, nucleic acids encoding the same, and corresponding antibodies and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique src-family kinase (SFK) that plays a key role in the transformation of early-stage embryonic cells to mesodermal cells. Furthermore, this src-family kinase is likely to be a proto-oncogene. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are disclosed.