66784, a novel human potassium channel and uses therefor

An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 96% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or a complement thereof;
• (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of at least 559 nucleotides of a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, or a complement thereof;
• (c) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 96% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or a complement thereof;
• and
• (d) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the fragment comprises at least 187 contiguous amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, or a complement thereof.

An isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

• a) a fragment of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the fragment comprises at least 187 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2;
• b) a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to complement of a nucleic acid molecule consisting of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3 under stringent conditions;
• c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 96% identical to a nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3;
• and
• d) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 96% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

A method of identifying a nucleic acid associated with a metabolic disorder comprising:

• a) contacting a sample comprising nucleic acid molecules with a first and a second amplification primer, said first primer comprising at least 25 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 and said second primer comprising at least 25 contiguous nucleotides from the complement of SEQ ID NO:1;
• b) incubating said sample under conditions that allow nucleic acid amplification;
• and
• c) detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule in said sample that is amplified, thereby identifying a nucleic acid molecule associated with a metabolic disorder.

A method of identifying a subject having a metabolic disorder, or at risk for developing a metabolic disorder comprising:

• a) contacting a sample obtained from said subject comprising nucleic acid molecules with a first and a second amplification primer, said first primer comprising at least 25 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 and said second primer comprising at least 25 contiguous nucleotides from the complement of SEQ ID NO:1;
• b) incubating said sample under conditions that allow nucleic acid amplification;
• and
• c) detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule in said sample that is amplified, thereby identifying a subject having a metabolic disorder, or at risk for developing a metabolic disorder.

A method for identifying a compound capable of modulating a pancreatic beta-cell activity comprising:

• a) contacting a pancreatic beta-cell with a test compound;
• and
• b) assaying the ability of the test compound to modulate the expression of a 66784 nucleic acid or the activity of a 66784 polypeptide;
• thereby identifying a compound capable of modulating a pancreatic beta-cell activity.