Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Cerylid Pty., Ltd.

Suzanne Cory

Jerry Adams

Lorraine Ann O'Reilly

Andreas Strasser

Hamsa Puthalakath

Liam O'Connor

Shaun P Holmgreen

David C S Huang

Leonie M Gibson

The present invention relates generally to novel molecules capable of, inter alia, modulating apoptosis in mammalian cells and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, referred to herein as 'Bim', and to genetic sequences encoding same. The molecules of the present invention are useful, for example, in therapy, diagnosis, antibody generation and as a screening tool for therapeutic agents capable of modulating physiological cell death or survival and/or modulating cell cycle entry.

Therapeutic molecules

The present invention is broadly directed to therapeutic molecules capable of inter alia modulating apoptosis in mammalian cells. The therapeutic molecules of the present invention encompass genetic sequences and chemical entities capable of regulating expression of a novel mammalian gene belonging to the bcl-2 family and which promotes cell survival. The therapeutic molecules of the present invention may have further utility in delaying cell cycle entry. In addition, the present invention extends to chemical entities capable of modulating activity and function of the translation product of said novel gene of the bcl-2 family. The present invention also extends to the translation product of the novel gene of the bcl-2 family and its use in, for example, therapy, diagnosis, antibody generation and as a screening tool for therapeutic molecules capable of modulating physiological cell death or survival and/or modulating cell cycle entry.

Mammalian gene, bcl-w, belongs to the bcl-2 family of apoptosis-controlling genes

Mammalian gene, BCL-W, belongs to the BCL-2 family of apoptosis-controlling genes

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North Melbourne, Australia

Suzanne Cory