Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides comprising a first nucleic acid sequence for a chromatin element, which is capable of enhancing expression, and at least one second nucleic acid sequence comprising a curved origin motif. Furthermore, the invention relates to a host cell, a non-human transgenic organism, a vector and a kit comprising the aforementioned polynucleotide. Moreover, the invention relates to methods for expressing a polynucleotide of interest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tetranortriterpenoid compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are provided for use in the treatment, diagnosis and/or prevention of trinucleotide repeat disorders (like a polyglutamine diseases, e.g Huntingdon's disease), amyloid diseases, neurodegenerative disease, protein misfolding diseases or tumors. The tetranortriterpenoid compounds of the present invention are further provided for the reduction and/or inhibition of the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins, preferably of polyglutamine proteins (such as huntingtin) as well as for increasing proteasome activity. The present invention furthermore relates to nucleic acids, comprising the nucleotide sequences of two huntingtin fragments, as well as to cells and kits, which are useful in methods for assessing the aggregation of huntingtin and in methods for identifying compounds, which modulate the aggregation of huntingtin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotides comprising a first nucleic acid sequence for a chromatin element, which is capable of enhancing expression, and at least one second nucleic acid sequence comprising a curved origin motif. Furthermore, the invention relates to a host cell, a non-human transgenic organism, a vector and a kit comprising the aforementioned polynucleotide. Moreover, the invention relates to methods for expressing a polynucleotide of interest.