In vivo control of NMDA receptor transcript level in motoneurons by viral transduction of a short antisense gene.

Glutamate receptors play critical roles in normal and pathological processes. We developed an antisense gene delivery strategy to modulate the NMDA type of glutamate receptor. Using transient transfection in vitro and viral mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo, the effect of expression of an antisense gene fragment (60 bp) of the NR1 subunit was tested.

Cloning, central nervous system expression and chromosomal mapping of the mouse PAK-1 and PAK-3 genes.

Two cDNAs encoding PAK kinases were isolated from a mouse embryo library by screening with a PCR-generated probe derived from the kinase domain of a rat PAK kinase. These cDNAs, designated PAK-1 and PAK-3, encode mouse PAK kinases of 545 and 544 amino acids, respectively. Both proteins possess an N-terminal Cdc42/Rac interacting binding domain (CRIB) and a C-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain.

A paracrine paradigm for in vivo gene therapy in the central nervous system: treatment of chronic pain.

A limitation of current gene therapy efforts aimed at central nervous system disorders concerns distribution of vectors on direct injection into neural tissue. Here we have circumvented this problem by transferring genes to the meninges surrounding the spinal cord, achieving an in vivo gene transfer paradigm for treating chronic pain. The therapeutic vector consisted of a recombinant adenovirus encoding a secreted form of the potent endogenous opioid beta-endorphin.

Cloning, genomic organization and chromosomal assignment of the mouse p190-B gene.

The p190 family of GTPases consists of at least two different isoforms both containing an N-terminal GTPase and a C-terminal Rho GAP domain. Here we have isolated and characterized genomic and cDNA clones spanning the entire coding region of the mouse p190-B gene. Genomic data were obtained by sequencing plasmid subclones of two overlapping mouse genomic phage clones.

Spinal kappa1 and kappa2 opioid binding sites in rats, guinea pigs, monkeys and humans.

Several lines of work demonstrate that there are two subtypes of kappa opioid receptors. Intrathecally administered agonists for the kappa1 subtype are not effective in treating pain, whereas agonists for the kappa2 receptor are anti-hyperalgesic and anti-allodynic. The question addressed here was whether the ratio of spinal kappa1 to kappa2 receptors was conserved across species.