Abstract: Poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) becomes activated at sites of DNA damage and is thought to promote repair by modifying local chromatin proteins and transcription factors. Disclosed is an isoform of PARP, PARP-e, which lacks enzymatic function and which is encoded by a gene having a novel structure. Also disclosed are methods of modulating chromatin structure resulting in modulation of gene activation, gene repression and chromatin condensation and decondensation.

Abstract: The TGF-&bgr; family of growth factors, particularly the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 homolog decapentaplegic (dpp), are specifically required to maintain germline stem cells and promote their division. Overexpression of dpp blocks germline stem cell differentiation. Mutations in dpp or its receptor saxophone accelerate stem cell loss and retard stem cell division. dpp signaling is directly received by germline stem cells, and thus dpp signaling helps define a niche that controls germline stem cell proliferation.

Abstract: The TGF-&bgr; family of growth factors, particularly the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 homolog decapentaplegic (dpp), are specifically required to maintain germline stem cells and promote their division. Overexpression of dpp blocks germline stem cell differentiation. Mutations in dpp or its receptor saxophone accelerate stem cell loss and retard stem cell division. dpp signaling is directly received by germline stem cells, and thus dpp signaling helps define a niche that controls germline stem cell proliferation.

Abstract: Poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) becomes activated at sites of DNA damage and is thought to promote repair by modifying local chromatin proteins and transcription factors. Disclosed is an isoform of PARP, PARP-e, which lacks enzymatic function and which is encoded by a gene having a novel structure. Also disclosed are methods of modulating chromatin structure resulting in modulation of gene activation, gene repression and chromatin condensation and decondensation.

Abstract: The TGF-&bgr; family of growth factors, particularly the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 homolog decapentaplegic (dpp), are specifically required to maintain germline stem cells and promote their division. Overexpression of dpp blocks germline stem cell differentiation. Mutations in dpp or its receptor saxophone accelerate stem cell loss and retard stem cell division. dpp signaling is directly received by germline stem cells, and thus dpp signaling helps define a niche that controls germline stem cell proliferation.

Abstract: A method for incorporating a desired DNA sequence into the genome of a recipient multi-cellular organism comprising:(1) producing a transposable element of DNA, the element comprising a defined sequence of nucleotide base pairs wherein the defined sequence of nucleotide base pairs comprises at least two sets of target DNA sequences recognizable by transposase and a fragment of DNA, encoding for a structural gene, regulatory gene or other functional DNA, inserted between the sets of target DNA sequences;(2) incorporating the transposable element produced in (1) above into a cell of a recipient multi-cellular organism; and(3) causing the transposable element to be affirmatively inserted into the genome of the recipient multi-cellular organism.The transposable element can additionally become a part of the heritable genome of the recipient multi-cellular organism.