Message Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Bearsden Bio, Inc.

Deborah L Beach

Tony Giordano

Gretchen L Temeles

David Jacobs

Disclosed are nucleic acid sequences which, when present in an RNA molecule, bind to RNA binding proteins. These nucleic acid sequences are present in untranslated regions of certain mRNA. They can be used in assays to identify compounds that affect the interaction of RNA containing the nucleic acid sequence, such as the source mRNA, and RNA binding proteins. The disclosed nucleic acid sequences can also be used to identify RNA binding proteins that can interact with the sequences. An assay for identifying compounds that affect interaction of RNA containing one of the disclosed nucleic acid sequences and RNA binding proteins is also disclosed. The assay involves detecting interactions between RNA binding proteins and an RNA molecule containing one of the disclosed nucleic acid sequences in the presence of a test compound and in the absence of the test compound. A difference in the detected interaction in the presence and absence of the test compound indicates that the compound affects the interaction. The identified compounds can be used to affect the interaction of RNA binding proteins with mRNA containing the nucleic acid sequences or related sequences.

Method for identifying compounds RNA/RNA binding protein interactions

It has been discovered that a single set of conditions can be used to detect nearly every interaction of RNA binding proteins and RNA molecules. Prior to this discovery it was thought that each specific interaction required separate optimized conditions in order to be detected. Assays employing the disclosed universal conditions are useful for identifying RNA binding proteins that interact with specific RNA molecules of interest, detecting RNA molecules that interact with specific RNA binding proteins of interest, identifying RNA binding proteins active in certain cell types and under certain physiological conditions, identifying specific regions of an RNA molecule that interact with RNA binding proteins. Screening assays employing the disclosed universal conditions are useful for identifying compounds that modulate RNA/RBP interactions of interest.

Method for identifying compounds affecting RNA/RNA binding protein

Disclosed is a method for identifying possible binding sites for RNA binding proteins in nucleic acid sequences, and confirming the identity of such prospective binding sites by detection of interaction between the prospective binding site and RNA binding proteins. Also disclosed are specific binding sites of RNA binding proteins which have been identified using this method.

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Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Deborah L Beach