La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation

The Burnham Institute

Takaaki Sato

John C Reed

Shinichi Takayama

The present invention provides a mammalian CD40-associated protein (CAP), a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CAP and antibodies specific for the CAP. The invention further provides a substantially purified human CAP-1 and a nucleic acid molecule encoding human CAP-1. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that effectively alters the association of a CAP with a second molecule, which can bind to the CAP. In addition, the invention provides methods for identify a CAP agonist or CAP antagonist that can increase or decrease, respectively, the level of expression of the CAP in a cell. Such an effective agent, agonist or antagonist can modulate a function of a cell such as a humoral immune response or cell growth. The invention also provides methods of detecting a CAP in a sample by detecting the CAP or a nucleic acid molecule encoding the CAP. Such methods can be used to diagnose a pathology that is characterized by an increased or decreased level of a CAP in a cell.

Nucleic acid encoding CD40 associated proteins

CD40 associated proteins

The present invention provides mammalian protein tyrosine phosphatases, human PTP-BAS type 4, human PTP-BAS type 5a and mouse PTP-BAS type 5b, each of which is a Fas-associated protein (FAP), nucleic acid molecules encoding a PTP-BAS type 4 or a PTP-BAS type 5 and antibodies specific for a PTP-BAS type 4 or for a PTP-BAS type 5. The invention also provides methods for identifying FAP's, which can associate with Fas and can modulate apoptosis. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that can effectively alter the association of a FAP with Fas and, therefore, can increase or decrease the level of apoptosis in a cell. The invention further provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS or fragment of a PTP-BAS or an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a portion of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS. The invention also provides a method of using a reagent that can specifically bind to a FAP to diagnose a pathology that is characterized by an increased or decreased level of apoptosis in a cell. The invention also provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that effectively alters the association of a FAP and Fas in a cell or alters the activity of a FAP in a cell.

FAS associated proteins

The present invention provides mammalian protein tyrosine phosphatases, human PTP-BAS type 4, human PTP-BAS type 5a and mouse PTP-BAS type 5b, each of which is a Fas-associated protein (FAP), nucleic acid molecules encoding a PTP-BAS type 4 or a PTP-BAS type 5 and antibodies specific for a PTP-BAS type 4 or for a PTP-BAS type 5. The invention also provides methods for identifying FAP's, which can associate with Fas and can modulate apoptosis. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that can effectively alter the association of a FAP with Fas and, therefore, can increase or decrease the level of apoptosis in a cell. The invention further provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS or an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a portion of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a PTP-BAS. The invention also provides a method of using a reagent that can specifically bind to a FAP to diagnose a pathology that is characterized by an increased or decreased level of apoptosis in a cell. The invention also provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by contacting the cell with an agent that effectively alters the association of a FAP and Fas in a cell or alters the activity of a FAP in a cell.

Nucleic acids encoding Fas associated proteins and screening assays

The present invention provides methods for detecting an interaction among proteins involved in regulating cell death. The invention also provides a drug screening assay useful for identifying agents that alter an interaction among proteins involved in controlling cell death. The invention further provides a method for identifying novel proteins that are involved in a cell death pathway.

Interaction of proteins involved in a cell death pathway

The present invention provides nucleotide sequences encoding proteins and fragments thereof that bind to Bcl-2-related proteins. The invention also provides a Bcl-2-associated protein (BAP) such as Bcl-2-associated protein-1 (BAP-1), which binds to Bcl-2. The invention also provides antibodies that specifically bind to a BAP. The invention further provides methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BAP such as BAP-1 or Raf-related protein with a Bcl-2-related protein and methods for detecting agents that induce dissociation of a bound complex formed by the association of a BAP and a Bcl-2-related protein. The invention further provides methods for modulating the activity of a Bcl-2-related protein in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid encoding a BAP or by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a region of a gene encoding a BAP.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Takaaki Sato