Patent ID: 7531320

Claim:
A method for increasing the expression of a target gene induced by β-catenin, comprising contacting a stem cell with an agent having the structure of formula (I), wherein A is —(CHR 3 )— or —(C═O)—, B is —(CHR 4 )— or —(C═O)—, D is —(CHR 5 )— or —(C═O)—, E is -(ZR 6 )— or —(C═O)—, G is —(XR 7 ) n —, —(CHR 7 )—(NR 8 )—, —(C═O)—(XR 9 )—, or —(C═O)—, W is —Y(C═O)—, —(C═O)NH—, —(SO 2 )— or nothing, Y is oxygen or sulfur, X and Z is independently nitrogen or CH, n=0 or 1; and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 and R 9 are each independently selected from an amino acid side chain moiety, a derivative of an amino acid side chain moiety, and stereoisomers thereof, and wherein the agent is contacted with the stem cell in an amount effective to increase the expression of a target gene induced by β-catenin.