Abstract: The invention relates to dopamine neuron determinants, the use of these determinants in differentiating cells to dopamine neurons, cells produced by the over-expression of these determinants, and uses of these cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to the induction of the neuronal fate in neural stem cells or neural progenitor cells. The inventors have found that a neuronal fate in a neural stem cell or neural progenitor cell can be induced by expressing Nurr1 above basal levels within the cell. Nurr1 is a transcription factor of the thyroid hormone/retinoic acid nuclear receptor superfamily. It is shown herein that the expression of Nurr1 above basal levels in neural stem cells or neural progenitor cells increases the proportion of the cells which differentiate toward a neural fate. It has been found that in particular, dopaminergic neural stem cells or progenitor cells by a process including expression of Nurr1 above basal levels in the cells and contact of the cells with one or more factors supplied by or derived from Type I astrocytes of the ventral mesencephalon.

Abstract: Nurr1 derivatives are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the finding that the Nurr1 transciption factor, which forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor, can be mutated in the I box region such that dimerisation does not occur while Nurr1 transcriptional activation activity is retained. The invention provides Nurr1 peptides with such I box mutations, as well as assay methods for modulators which affect the monomeric activity of Nurr1.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of increasing the survival of dopamine secreting cells, comprising the steps of administering a retinoid X receptor (RXR) ligand to dopamine secreting cells, wherein the binding of the RXR ligand increases the survival of the dopamine secreting cells. Therapeutic approaches to neurodegenerative diseases are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention involves the identification of a ligand for the retinol X receptor. Specifically docosahexaenoic has been identified as an RXR ligand. Various assays based upon this observation are a feature of this invention.