Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that are activators of the Alpha1A-Adrenergic Receptor (?1A-AR) and methods of using such compounds: for treating neurological conditions, for cardio-protection, and for treating other conditions. In certain embodiments, the ?1A-AR activator compound is a compound of Formula I. In certain embodiments, the neurological condition is Alzheimer's disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory loss, depression, or Parkinson's disease.

Abstract: A method for assessing heart disease in a subject includes generating an expression profile of at least two or more miRNAs in a sample from the subject. The miRNAs can be selected from the group consisting of hsa-miRNA-1, hsa-miRNA-7, hsa-miRNA-29b, has-miRNA-125b, hsa-miRNA145, hsa-miRNA-181b, hsa-miRNA-214, hsa-miRNA-342, hsa-miRNA-378 and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a transgenic non-human mammal (e.g., a rodent such as a mouse) whose genome comprises a recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising an ?1A-adrenergic receptor (AR) and a marker peptide (e.g., a fluorescent peptide such as green fluorescent protein and an enhanced green fluorescent protein) operably linked to all or a functional portion of an ?1A-AR promoter, wherein the ?1A-AR (e.g., human ?1A-AR) and the marker peptide are expressed as a fusion protein in the transgenic non-human mammal. The present invention also provides methods of producing a transgenic non-human mammal whose genome comprises a recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising an ?1A-AR and a marker peptide, as well as targeting constructs for use in such methods. The invention also provides a source of cells (for example, tissue, cells, cellular extracts, organelles) and animals useful for elucidating the function of ?1A-AR in intact animals.

Abstract: New tools for determining the role the &agr;1B adrenergic receptor plays in the physiology and pathology of the brain and the cardiovascular system are provided The tools are transgenic non-human mammalian animals, particularly transgenic mice, that have integrated into the genomes of their somatic cells a transgene encoding an exogenous, wild-type &agr;1B adrenergic receptor or a variant thereof. The transgenic animals of the present invention exhibit phenotypical symptoms similar to those exhibited by individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease or epilepsy. Such mammals also exhibit phenotypical symptoms similar to individuals with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertrophy of the heart and hypotension. Accordingly, these transgenic mammals are also useful for screening for drugs that ameliorate these cardiovascular conditions. Also provided is a method of determining the ability of a test agent or compound to modulate or block function of the &agr;1B adrenergic receptor.

Abstract: The method of synthesizing a segment of DNA, typically a gene, of predetermined structure which comprises synthesizing a first pair of oligonucleotides having ends complementary to the ends enzymatically made at a restriction site on a standard plasmid vector, said first pair of oligonucleotides including adjacent their ends portions of said predetermined structure and each having a pair of restriction sites internal to said portions of predetermined structure which restriction sites are unique to the enzyme and not present in the plasmid vector, cloning said first pair of oligonucleotides into said standard plasmid vector, and amplifying said plasmid vector in vivo to recover plasmid vector containing said first pair of oligonucleotides, repeating said method with a second pair of ologonucleotides, containing portions of predetermined structure which are adjacent to the portions present in the first pair of oligonucleotides, and continuing said repetition until all of said segment of predetermined structure