Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Cornell University

Jen-Zen Chuang

Ching-Hwa Sung

Rajiv R Ratan

The disclosure relates to an isolated regulatory sequence for Tctex-1 that is transcriptionally active in adult neural progenitor and stem cells, including Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 progenitors, as well as during development. The disclosure also relates to a method for selectively expressing a genetic sequence in neural progenitor cells. The disclosure of inserting and expressing a specific sequence in these cells allows marking, identification, sorting, tracking, and manipulating neural progenitor and stem cells.

Tctex-1 regulatory sequence as stem cell marker

A method of stimulating neurite outgrowth in a subject may include administering to the subject a formulation that includes a tctex-1-related polypeptide that stimulates neurite outgrowth in vitro.

Stimulating neurite outgrowth using Tctex-1-related polypeptides

A polypeptide may include an amino acid sequence having at least about 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42, wherein a residue at position 94 of the polypeptide is an amino acid other than threonine or wherein a residue at position 82 of the polypeptide is an amino acid other than serine. A polypeptide may include at least the first 14 residues and at most the first 92 residues of an amino acid sequence starting with residue 1 of, and having at least about 95% identity to, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, or 17. Such polypeptide may stimulate neurite outgrowth or neurogenesis. A nucleic acid may encode the polypeptide. A vector may include the nucleic acid. A host cell, such as an embryonic stem cell, may include the vector.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Jen-Zen Chuang