Patent ID: 6969610

Claim:
A method of modifying cell structure comprising: introducing into a mammalian cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding biliverdin reductase under conditions effective to express biliverdin reductase, thereby increasing the intracellular concentration of biliverdin reductase and modifying the structure of the mammalian cell, wherein the biliverdin reductase is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes to the complement of SEQ ID NO: 2 under hybridization conditions comprising a temperature of 65Â° C. and a hybridization medium comprising 1 M Na + buffer and remains hybridized following wash conditions comprising a temperature of 65Â° C. and a wash medium comprising 0.2Ã—SSC buffer, and wherein the modified cell structure is enhanced cell size, actin microspike formation, polar cell morphology, or a combination thereof.