Cell modulation using a cytoskeletal protein

A method for detecting a compound that modulates ezrin activity in the mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

• 1) introducing into cells a nucleic acid comprising at least part of a mammalian cyclin A gene linked to a detectable sequence,
• 2) adding at least one known or candidate ezrin modulating agent to the cells,
• 3) culturing the cells under conditions suited to expressing the nucleic acid and detecting the sequence in the presence and absence of the compound;
• and
• 4) determining the effect of the compound on the cells.

A method for detecting a compound that modulates ezrin activity, the method comprising the steps of:

• 1) adding at least one known or candidate ezrin modulating agent to the cells,
• 2) culturing the cells under conditions suited to increase or decrease ezrin phosphorylation relative to a control;
• and
• 3) identifying an increase or decrease in ezrin phosphorylation relative to a suitable control as being indicative of the compound.

A method for detecting DNA binding between ezrin (or a DNA binding fragment thereof) and at least part of a mammalian cyclin A gene, the method comprising the steps of:

• 1) incubating at least part of a mammalian cyclin A gene with the ezrin protein or a DNA binding fragment thereof, wherein the incubation is conducted under conditions sufficient to form a specific binding pair between the cyclin A gene and the ezrin protein (or fragment),
• 2) adding at least one known or candidate ezrin modulating agent to the incubation medium;
• and
• 3) detecting presence of a specific binding pair between the cyclin A gene (or fragment) and the ezrin protein (or fragment) in the presence and absence of the compound, wherein a reduction or absence of the binding pair is taken to be indicative of a compound that reduces or blocks ezrin binding to the cyclin A gene.