Methods and compositions for modulating tumor suppression

A peptide, comprising:

• an amino acid sequence for MTAF600 such that the amino acid sequence has at least 90% homology with amino acid sequence 3,910-4851 of SEQ ID No 1.

A peptide, comprising:

• an amino acid sequence corresponding to aminoacid 4293-4534 of SEQ ID:
• No. 1.

A small molecule having a molecular weight of less than 1500D and capable of binding at least one of RB (379-928), P107, P130, E2F1-5 or microtubule.

A method according to claim 7, wherein the hyperproliferative condition is a cancer.

A vector, comprising:

• a nucleic acid sequence encoding SEQ ID No:
• 1 or a biologically active substituent thereof operably linked to a regulatory sequence for providing transcriptional activity in a host cell.

A method of diagnosing a susceptibility to cancer of a subject, comprising:

• (a) obtaining a tissue sample from the subject and
• (b) screening the tissue sample for mutations in the chromosome 1 p36 relating to expression of MTAF600 protein.

A reagent for assaying for the presence of normal or mutated MTAF600, comprising at least one of a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibodies or a Fab fragments having specificity for epitopes of intact MTAF600 or fragments thereof.

A reagent for assaying for the presence of normal or mutated MTAF600, comprising nucleic acid probes and primers for detecting DNA or mRNA encoding MTAF600 or fragments thereof.

An animal model, comprising:

• a mouse having a deletion in its genome corresponding to the entire gene or a fragment of a gene at a locus selected from the RB gene and the MTAF600 gene.