Human testis specific serine/threonine kinase 1 & 2
AssigneeUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation
InventorsJohn C. Herr, Pablo E. Visconti, Zhonglin Hao
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a family of testis specific kinases (the tssk family), nucleic acid sequences encoding those kinases and antibodies against the kinases. The invention is further directed to the use of those kinases as targets for isolating specific inhibitors or antagonists of tssk kinase activity. Such inhibitors are anticipated to have use as contraceptive agents.
Claims13
A purified polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 1, SEQ ID NO:
- 2, SEQ ID NO:
- 3, and SEQ Id NO:
- 10.
A recombinant human tssk gene construct, said construct comprising a non-native promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 1, SEQ ID NO:
- 2, and SEQ ID NO:
- 3.
A purified polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 4, SEQ ID NO:
- 5, SEQ ID NO:
- 6, SEQ ID NO:
- 10, an amino acid sequence that differs from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 4 by one or two conservative amino acid substitutions, and an amino acid sequence that differs from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 6 by one or two conservative amino acid substitutions.
An antibody that binds to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
- 5.
An antibody that binds to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
- 6.
A method of screening for potential human therapeutic agents, said method comprising contacting a tssk polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 4, SEQ ID NO:
- 5, SEQ ID NO:
- 6, and bioactive fragments of SEQ ID NO:
- 4, SEQ ID NO:
- 5, SEQ ID NO:
- 6, with a candidate compound;
- and determining if the candidate compound selectively binds to said polypeptide.
A method for identifying antagonists of tssk kinase activity, said method comprising
- providing an in vitro kinase assay composition, said composition comprising a labeled source of phosphate, a tssk substrate and a tssk kinase selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
- 4, SEQ ID NO:
- 5, SEQ ID NO:
- 6;
- contacting said composition with a candidate inhibitory compound;
- and
- identifying compounds that decrease the activity of the tssk kinase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.