The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 23, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1996
C M Chen, Brookline, MA (US);
Norbert Kraut, Seattle, WA (US);
Mark Groudine, Seattle, WA (US);
Harold Weintraub, deceased, late of Seattle, WA (US);
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A novel gene, Inhibitor of MyoD Family (I-mf), is provided which encodes novel proteins, I-mfa, I-mfb and I-mfc, involved in regulation of myogenesis during vertebrate development. I-mf is highly expressed in the sclerotome of developing vertebrates and is postulated to play an important role in patterning of the somite and determination sclerotomal cell fate. A unique, C-terminal interactional domain of the I-mf protein mediates physical interactions between I-mfa and members of the MyoD family of transcriptional activators and functions to inhibit transactivation of muscle specific genes by MyoD family members, thereby repressing myogenesis. Further characterization of I-mf activity shows that I-mf associates with MyoD family member proteins and retains them in the cytoplasm by masking their nuclear localization signals. Based on the I-mf genes and proteins disclosed herein, a variety methods and compositions are provided for screening, isolating, and characterizing endogenous and exogenous factors, drugs and therapeutic agents useful to evaluate and/or control myogenesis normal and abnormal development and cell differentiation.