Patent 7695961 was granted and assigned to Joslin Diabetes Center (company) on April, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The invention provides isolated mMafA polypeptides, nucleic acids, vectors and host cells containing them, which encode a novel insulin related transcription factor. Diagnostic methods, methods of selecting and differentiating insulin-producing cells, and methods of treatment utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.