The present invention relates to the field of fibrosis and inflammation and more particularly to the use of ADAM12 (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 12) inhibitors to prevent or treat inflammation-induced fibrosis. The present invention also relates to the use of ADAM12 as a marker for inflammation-induced fibrosis and to the ablation of ADAM12 expressing cells as therapeutic approach to interfere with the development of pro-fibrotic cells.

Methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs comprise a vector for making circular RNA, the vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a.) a 5′ homology arm, b.) a 3′ group I intron fragment containing a 3′ splice site dinucleotide, c.) optionally, a 5′ spacer sequence, d.) a protein coding or noncoding region, e.) optionally, a 3′ spacer sequence, f.) a 5′ Group I intron fragment containing a 5′ splice site dinucleotide, and g.) a 3′ homology arm, the vector allowing production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. Methods for purifying the circular RNA produced by the vector and the use of nucleoside modifications in circular RNA produced by the vector are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a novel modified protein which is to be used, as a novel detection tool relating to gene expression, for detecting a chromatin open structure more easily at a higher sensitivity than by the conventional technique. The present invention relates to: a nucleic acid binding fluorescent protein, said protein containing a DNA binding domain in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, characterized by binding independently from base sequences; and a method for fluorescent labeling of an open chromatin in a vital cell, said method comprising a step for transferring a gene encoding a nucleic acid binding protein into the vital cell, characterized in that the nucleic acid binding protein is a protein comprising a DNA binding domain, in which 3 or more TAL-repeats are repeatedly connected, and a fluorescent protein directly or indirectly bound thereto and the DNA binding domain binds to a nucleic acid independently from base sequences.

Genetically encoded death indicator (GEDI) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides are provided. In addition, methods of using such nucleic acids and polypeptides to monitor cell death events in vitro and in vivo, particularly in neuronal cell death, are also provided.

Described are DNA molecules which can be transcribed into an mRNA harbouring novel UTR sequences combining the advantages of being extremely short and at the same time allowing for high translation efficiencies of RNA molecules containing them. Further, described are vectors comprising such a DNA molecule and to host cells comprising such a vector. Moreover, described are corresponding RNA molecules containing such UTRs. Further, described in a pharmaceutical composition comprising the described RNA molecule are optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as well as to the use of the described UTRs for translating a coding region of an RNA molecule into a polypeptide or a protein encoded by said coding region.

Methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs comprise a vector for making circular RNA, the vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a.) a 5′ homology arm, b.) a 3′ group I intron fragment containing a 3′ splice site dinucleotide, c.) optionally, a 5′ spacer sequence, d.) a protein coding or noncoding region, e.) optionally, a 3′ spacer sequence, f) a 5′ Group I intron fragment containing a 5′ splice site dinucleotide, and g.) a 3′ homology arm, the vector allowing production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. Methods for purifying the circular RNA produced by the vector and the use of nucleoside modifications in circular RNA produced by the vector are also disclosed.

Methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs comprise a vector for making circular RNA, the vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a.) a 5′ homology arm, b.) a 3′ group I intron fragment containing a 3′ splice site dinucleotide, c.) optionally, a 5′ spacer sequence, d.) a protein coding or noncoding region, e.) optionally, a 3′ spacer sequence, f) a 5′ Group I intron fragment containing a 5′ splice site dinucleotide, and g.) a 3′ homology arm, the vector allowing production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. Methods for purifying the circular RNA produced by the vector and the use of nucleoside modifications in circular RNA produced by the vector are also disclosed.

Methods and constructs for engineering circular RNA are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and constructs comprise a vector for making circular RNA, the vector comprising the following elements operably connected to each other and arranged in the following sequence: a.) a 5′ homology arm, b.) a 3′ group I intron fragment containing a 3′ splice site dinucleotide, c.) optionally, a 5′ spacer sequence, d.) a protein coding or noncoding region, e.) optionally, a 3′ spacer sequence, f.) a 5′ Group I intron fragment containing a 5′ splice site dinucleotide, and g.) a 3′ homology arm, the vector allowing production of a circular RNA that is translatable or biologically active inside eukaryotic cells. Methods for purifying the circular RNA produced by the vector and the use of nucleoside modifications in circular RNA produced by the vector are also disclosed.

Provided herein are compositions and methods of use thereof for screening a plurality of uniquely identifiable therapeutic moiety in vivo by identifying one or more reporters indicative of a cell state.

A composition of matter comprises one or more cell lines configured to inducibly differentiate to at least a first stage of differentiation and a second, subsequent stage of differentiation. Each of the one or more cell lines are genetically edited to express one or more first stage inserted secretable reporter genes placed under control of promoters for genes canonically expressed during the first stage of differentiation. The cell lines are further genetically edited to express one or more second stage inserted secretable reporter genes placed under control of promoters for genes canonically expressed during the second stage of differentiation, but not during the first stage of differentiation, wherein the one or more second stage inserted secretable reporter genes are different than the one or more first stage inserted secretable reporter genes.