Mcgill University

Other

The Rockefeller University

Ribogene, Inc.

University of Washington

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

Nahum Sonenberg

Vincent J Miles

Joe B Harford

Arnim Pause

Steven M Ruben

Henrik S Olsen

Eran Rom

Joseph Marcotrigiano

Stephen K Burley

Nathalie Methot

Anne-Claude Gingras

Michael G Katze

Michael Altmann

Isaac Edery

Glen H Barber

Antonis E Koromilas

Sophie Roy

Method for screening for a non-hormone agent potentially useful to treat a hormone disorder The method involves contacting a potential agent with a system containing a cellular component and a translation factor. The component and factor interact with one another in an intact normal cell in a manner responsive to the hormone to cause a modulation of translation in the cell. The method involves determining whether the agent causes a modulation of translation by the component and the factor analogous to that which occurs in intact cells in response to the hormone.

Methods for treating hormone disorders

The present invention relates to novel human Prt1 (hPrt1) and eIF4G-like (p97) proteins which are involved in eukaryotic transcription. In particular, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding the human hPrt1 and p97 proteins. hPrt1 and p97 polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of hPrt1 and p97 activity. Also provided are therapeutic methods for treating disease states associated with the hPrt1 and p97 proteins.

Human Prt1-like subunit protein (hPrt1) polynucleotides

Isolated human Prt1 protein

A detailed three-dimensional structure for the least abundant of the general translation initiation factors in eukaryotes, eIF4E, complexed with a ligand is disclosed. The novel N-terminal truncated eIF4Es which were constructed so as to omit a significant portion of the flexible N-terminal tail of the eIF4E are also part of the present invention. In addition, the crystals of the protein-ligand complexes containing the N-terminal truncated eIF4Es are also included. Furthermore, methods of identifying antagonists of the eIF4E protein which can be used to regulate protein synthesis in cells are also disclosed.

Crystal of a protein-ligand complex containing an N-terminal truncated

Method for screening for a non-hormone agent potentially useful to treat a hormone disorder. The method involves contacting a potential agent with a system containing a cellular component and a translation factor. The component and factor interact with one another in an intact normal cell in a manner responsive to the hormone to cause a modulation of translation in the cell. The method involves determining whether the agent causes a modulation of translation by the component and the factor analogous to that which occurs in intact cells in response to the hormone.

Methods of screening for non-hormone compounds which effect modulation

A method of screening human tissue for the presence of neoplastic cells, by determining the activity of PKR, P58 of anti-P58 in test cells being screened, and identifying candidate neoplastic cells on the basis of subnormal PKR, P58, or anti-P58 activity. The activities may be determined directly by measuring protein kinase activity or its equivalent, or measured indirectly, by detecting functional mutations in the various proteins. Also disclosed are assay kits for carrying out the screening method.

Anti-tumor agent assay using PKR

A protein comprising at least a first functional site having the ability to bind the cap structure of mRNA and a second functional site having the ability to bind a solid support matrix in such a manner as to allow the first functional site to be immobilized and still remain functionally accessible to interact with the cap structure of mRNA. Also within the scope of the present invention is a method for generating a cDNA library mostly containing full-length cDNAs. The method comprises the incubation of a mixture comprising mRNA:cDNA hybrids with 1) a single strand RNA specific nuclease and 2) the above-mentioned protein. The resulting mixture is then passed through a column comprising a support matrix having the ability to bind the second functional site of the above-mentioned protein in order to selectively bind complete mRNA:cDNA hybrids. The mRNA:cDNA hybrids are then competitively eluted with a cap analog and full-length cDNA strands are separated and recovered. The present invention also includes a method for purifying capped mRNA using the above-mentioned protein. The process comprises the incubation of a mixture containing mRNA with the above-mentioned protein, passing the resulting mixture through a column comprising the support matrix having the ability to bind to the second functional site of the above-mentioned protein in order to selectively bind capped mRNAs, and competitively eluting the capped mRNAs with a cap analog.

Bifunctional protein for the isolation of capped mRNA

Growing community of inventors

Cote st. Luc, Canada

Nahum Sonenberg