Abstract: The invention provides for novel noxin polypeptides and nucleic acids from humans, rats, and mice and to related compositions and uses. The invention also provides for the creation of non-human, transgenic mammals which have, incorporated in their genome, DNA that includes a sequence of a mammalian noxin gene that does not produce noxin polypeptides, i.e. a noxin knockout mouse. The invention also provides for methods for protecting a cell from stress damage by enhancing the expression noxin, methods for decreasing cell death by enhancing the expression of noxin, methods for inducing cell death by decreasing noxin activity, methods for inducing cell cycle arrest by increasing noxin, and methods for preventing cell cycle arrest by inhibiting noxin activity.

Abstract: Non-human transgenic mammals are produced which have, incorporated in their genome, DNA which includes a regulatory sequence of a mammalian nestin gene, operably linked to a gene coding for a nuclear localization signal peptide fused to a marker protein or reporter protein. The regulatory sequence can include a promoter and a sequence present in the second intron of the mammalian nestin gene. Preferably, the marker protein or reporter protein is a fluorescent protein, for example a cyan fluorescent protein, modified for enhanced fluorescence. Multipotent and, in particular, neural stem and progenitor cell populations are quantitatively observed in the organs of the non-human transgenic mammal or progeny thereof. Multipotent stem and progenitor cells are isolated directly from the non-human transgenic mammal, progeny or embryo thereof, for example by FACS, without culture passages.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that nitric oxide (NO) is an important growth regulator in an intact developing organism. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of increasing in a mammal a population of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis, differentiation and maturation in hematopoietic tissue, wherein the hematopoietic tissue is contacted with at least one inhibitor of NO, such as one or more inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), thereby producing hematopoietic tissue having an increased population of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of undergoing normal hematopoiesis, differentiation and maturation. The present invention also relates to a method of increasing a population of cells in S phase in a tissue of a mammal, comprising contacting the tissue with an inhibitor (one or more) of NO, such as an inhibitor of NOS.