Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the production of renewable fatty acids from photosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms, such as a blue green algae, any specie of the phylum Cyanophyta, a chloroplast of a green algae and/or a Cyanobacterium. Engineered or natural strains of these organisms or organelles can be used to produce both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with variable chain length specificity from 8-18 carbons. The fatty acids can then be secreted into the culture medium, allowing for rapid, continuous and efficient separation of fatty acid product without harvesting of cell mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes by administering an effective amount of a melatonin receptor agonist to a human subject in need of such treatment or prevention.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the production of renewable fatty acids from photosynthetic prokaryotic microorganisms, such as a blue green algae, any specie of the phylum Cyanophyta, a chloroplast of a green algae and/or a Cyanobacterium. Engineered or natural strains of these organisms or organelles can be used to produce both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with variable chain length specificity from 8-18 carbons. The fatty acids can then be secreted into the culture medium, allowing for rapid, continuous and efficient separation of fatty acid product without harvesting of cell mass.

Abstract: Screening assays for identifying agents that modulate BK channel activity and further modulate the sleep/wake cycle in a subject, circadian regulated locomotor activity in a subject, or both are provided, as are agents identified using such screening assays. Also provided are methods of modulating the sleep/wake cycle in a subject and methods of modulating circadian regulated locomotor activity in a subject by administering an agent that modulates BK channel activity to the subject, for example, an agent identified by a screening assay as disclosed.

Abstract: Screening assays for identifying agents that modulate BK channel activity and further modulate the sleep/wake cycle in a subject, circadian regulated locomotor activity in a subject, or both are provided, as are agents identified using such screening assays. Also provided are methods of modulating the sleep/wake cycle in a subject and methods of modulating circadian regulated locomotor activity in a subject by administering an agent that modulates BK channel activity to the subject, for example, an agent identified by a screening assay as disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of identifying circadian rhythm modulators and methods of modulating circadian rhythm in animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transgenic non-human animals comprising a disruption in the melanopsin gene as well as methods for using the animals to identify agents useful for modulating circadian rhythm in animals.

Abstract: A genetically modified plant cell containing a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide, which is expressed in amount sufficient to produce at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second, is provided, as is a visibly bioluminescent transgenic plant, which contains such a genetically modified plant cell. Also provided is a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, which contains a plant translational enhancer operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide. In addition, methods of producing a genetically modified plant cell that is visibly bioluminescent introducing a transgene encoding a bioluminescent polypeptide into a plant cell, whereby the bioluminescent polypeptide is expressed at a level that produces at least about 750,000 photons of visible light/mm2/second are provided, as are kits containing such visibly bioluminescent compositions.