DNA encoding SNORF44 receptor

A purified mammalian SNORF44 receptor protein.

A nucleic acid probe comprising at least 15 nucleotides, which probe specifically hybridizes with a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein the probe has a sequence complementary to a unique sequence present within one of the two strands of the nucleic acid encoding the human SNORF44 receptor contained in plasmid pcDNA3.1-hSNORF44-f (Patent Deposit Designation PTA-100).

A nucleic acid probe comprising at least 15 nucleotides, which probe specifically hybridizes with a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein the probe has a sequence complementary to a unique sequence present within (a) the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIGS. 1A-1B (SEQ ID NO:

• 1) or (b) the reverse complement thereof.

A transgenic, nonhuman mammal comprising a homologous recombination knockout of the native mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process for identifying a chemical compound which specifically binds to a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises contacting cells containing DNA encoding, and expressing on their cell surface, the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with the compound under conditions suitable for binding, and detecting specific binding of the chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process for identifying a chemical compound which specifically binds to a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises contacting a membrane preparation from cells containing DNA encoding, and expressing on their cell surface, the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with the compound under conditions suitable for binding, and detecting specific binding of the chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process involving competitive binding for identifying a chemical compound which specifically binds to a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises separately contacting cells expressing on their cell surface the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with both the chemical compound and a second chemical compound known to bind to the receptor, and with only the second chemical compound, under conditions suitable for binding of such compounds to the receptor, and detecting specific binding of the chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, a decrease in the binding of the second chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor in the presence of the chemical compound being tested indicating that such chemical compound binds to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process involving competitive binding for identifying a chemical compound which specifically binds to a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises separately contacting a membrane preparation from cells expressing on their cell surface the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with both the chemical compound and a second chemical compound known to bind to the receptor, and with only the second chemical compound, under conditions suitable for binding of such compounds to the receptor, and detecting specific binding of the chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, a decrease in the binding of the second chemical compound to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor in the presence of the chemical compound being tested indicating that such chemical compound binds to the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process for determining whether a chemical compound is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor agonist which comprises contacting cells transfected with and expressing DNA encoding the mammalian SNORF44 receptor with the compound under conditions permitting the activation of the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, and detecting any increase in mammalian SNORF44 receptor activity, so as to thereby determine whether the compound is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor agonist.

A process for determining whether a chemical compound is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor antagonist which comprises contacting cells transfected with and expressing DNA encoding the mammalian SNORF44 receptor with the compound in the presence of a known mammalian SNORF44 receptor agonist, under conditions permitting the activation of the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, and detecting any decrease in mammalian SNORF44 receptor activity, so as to thereby determine whether the compound is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor antagonist.

A process for determining whether a chemical compound specifically binds to and activates a mammalian SNORF44 receptor, which comprises contacting cells producing a second messenger response and expressing on their cell surface the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with the chemical compound under conditions suitable for activation of the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, and measuring the second messenger response in the presence and in the absence of the chemical compound, a change in the second messenger response in the presence of the chemical compound indicating that the compound activates the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A process for determining whether a chemical compound specifically binds to and inhibits activation of a mammalian SNORF44 receptor, which comprises separately contacting cells producing a second messenger response and expressing on their cell surface the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, wherein such cells do not normally express the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, with both the chemical compound and a second chemical compound known to activate the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, and with only the second chemical compound, under conditions suitable for activation of the mammalian SNORF44 receptor, and measuring the second messenger response in the presence of only the second chemical compound and in the presence of both the second chemical compound and the chemical compound, a smaller change in the second messenger response in the presence of both the chemical compound and the second chemical compound than in the presence of only the second chemical compound indicating that the chemical compound inhibits activation of the mammalian SNORF44 receptor.

A method of claim 125, wherein the mammalian cell is non-neuronal in origin.

A method of treating an abnormality in a subject wherein the abnormality is alleviated by increasing the activity of a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises administering to the subject a compound which is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor agonist in an amount effective to treat the abnormality.

A method of treating an abnormality in a subject wherein the abnormality is alleviated by decreasing the activity of a mammalian SNORF44 receptor which comprises administering to the subject a compound which is a mammalian SNORF44 receptor antagonist in an amount effective to treat the abnormality.

The process of claim 139, wherein the mammalian SNORF44 receptor is a human SNORF44 receptor.