University of Oregon

Jennifer Hampton

Karen Guillemin

Methods of identifying compounds that increase &#x3b2; cell number and/or proliferation by determining the effect of compounds on &#x3b2; cell number or proliferation in zebrafish pancreas are provided.

Proteins increasing pancreatic &#x3b2; cell number and methods of use

Disclosed herein are bacterial proteins that increase pancreatic beta (&#x3b2;) cell number and/or proliferation, methods of increasing &#x3b2; cell number and/or proliferation using such proteins, and methods of treating or inhibiting diabetes in a subject by administering such proteins to the subject. In some embodiments, the protein has at least 80% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7, or fragments thereof. Recombinant vectors including a nucleic acid encoding the protein (such as a nucleic acid encoding a protein with at least 80% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-7 or fragments thereof) operably linked to a heterologous promoter are also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds that increase &#x3b2; cell number and/or proliferation by determining the effect of test compounds on &#x3b2; cell number or proliferation in zebrafish pancreas.

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Eugene, OR, United States of America

Jennifer Hampton