The present invention relates to a method for identifying endogenous first responder protein-cysteines. Methods for screening candidate compounds suitable for regulating NF-kB signaling and the DNA damage response pathway are also disclosed.

Provided herein are carrier cells and virus combinations and methods for treatment of cancers. Also provided are modified carrier cells for such treatment, and methods of selecting carrier cells that are matched to subjects for such treatment.

Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding NMD polypeptides, and methods of using such polypeptides and nucleic acids in the treatment of ALS and in screening for agents for the treatment of ALS are described.

Provided are methods and compositions for the heterologous expression of a payload (e.g., DNA, RNA, protein) of interest in a target cell (e.g., cancer cell). In some cases payload delivery results in expression (e.g., by a cancer cell in vivo) of a secreted immune signal such as a cytokine, a plasma membrane-tethered affinity marker (thus resulting in an induced immune response), or a cytotoxic protein such as an apoptosis inducer (e.g., by a cancer cell in vivo). Payloads are delivered with a delivery vehicle and in some cases the delivery vehicle is a nanoparticle. In some cases a subject nanoparticle includes a targeting ligand for targeted delivery to a specific cell type/tissue type (e.g., a cancerous tissue/cell). In some embodiments, payload delivery is “personalized” in the sense that the delivery vehicle and/or payload can be designed based on patient-specific information.

The present invention is primarily directed to provide a new process capable of performing direct conversion of or induction from a somatic cell to brown adipocytes with low molecular weight compounds, without performing artificial gene transfer.

The present invention includes, for example, a process for producing brown adipocytes by direct differentiation induction from somatic cells, comprising a step of culturing a somatic cell in a serum-free differentiation induction medium in the presence of a selective PPARγ agonist and a cAMP inducer.

According to the present invention, direct conversion of or induction from somatic cells to brown adipocytes can be effectively performed without gene transfer. The brown adipocytes obtained by the present invention are useful as regenerative medicine, models of human brown adipocytes and human beige cells, and the like.

The disclosure relates to a plurality of cells, compositions and methods for identifying modulators of a target protein. The cells, compositions and methods comprise a (i) a target domain gene (ii) an intracellular chimeric G-protein alpha subunit comprising an endogenous G-protein alpha subunit with a humanized C-terminus; and (iii) an inducible reporter, wherein the expression of the reporter is dependent on the activation of the target domain encoded by target domain gene, and wherein the target domain gene comprises a barcode. The disclosure further relates to a host cell comprising a plurality of exogenous landing pads integrated in the host cell's genome, wherein each exogenous landing pad is integrated at a safe harbor genome loci in the host cell's genome.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for identifying, assessing, preventing, and treating melanoma. A variety of PD-L1 isoform biomarkers are provided, wherein alterations in the copy number of one or more of the biomarkers and/or alterations in the amount, structure, and/or activity of one or more of the biomarkers is associated with melanoma status.

A biosensor, including a modified gold electrode and a macrophage RAW264.7 immobilized on the modified gold electrode. The disclosure also provides a method of preparing the biosensor and a method of using the same for evaluation of antioxidant capacity of substances.

The present invention includes method and system for detecting kinase activity in vivo, comprising: providing a cell that comprises one or more mutated kinases, wherein the one or more mutated kinases comprise a mutation that enlarges an ATP binding pocket of the kinase; contacting the cell with an ATP analog-nanoparticle conjugate capable of intracellular delivery of the ATP analog-nanoparticle conjugate, wherein the ATP analog comprises a detectable label; culturing the cells under conditions in which the ATP analog-nanoparticle conjugate contacts the one or more mutated kinases in cellulo, wherein the detectable label is transferred from the ATP analog-nanoparticle conjugate to a substrate of the one or more mutated kinases, wherein the one or more kinases react to transfer the detectable label to the substrate.

The present invention is directed to an isolated synthetic tripeptide of formula H-D-Phe-N-Methyl-L-Val-L-Ala-OMe (SEQ ID NO:1), or a derivative thereof, and to the corresponding lipotripeptides, which are specific to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) S-type strain, as well as derivatives and conjugates thereof. The invention also concerns the use of these antigens in different methods and tests for detecting Map infection, especially by detecting humoral response and cell mediated response of infected animals. The invention is also directed to a genetic signature of Map and a mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy signature of Map presence or infection.