Methods for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes

A method of identifying a polypeptide associated with a metabolic disorder comprising:

• a) contacting a sample comprising polypeptides with a 14273 binding substance;
• and
• b) detecting the presence of a polypeptide in said sample that binds to said 14273 binding substance, thereby identifying a polypeptide 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 hybridization probe comprising at least 25 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 or 4;
• and
• b) detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule in said sample that hybridizes to said probe, thereby identifying a subject having a metabolic disorder, or at risk for developing 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 polypeptides with a 14273 binding substance;
• and
• b) detecting the presence of a polypeptide in said sample that binds to said 14273 binding substance, thereby identifying a subject having a metabolic disorder, or at risk for developing a metabolic disorder.

A method for identifying a compound capable of treating a metabolic disorder characterized by aberrant 14273 nucleic acid expression or 14273 polypeptide activity, comprising assaying the ability of the compound to modulate 14273 nucleic acid expression or 14273 polypeptide activity, thereby identifying a compound capable of treating a metabolic disorder characterized by aberrant 14273 nucleic acid expression or 14273 polypeptide activity.

A method for treating a subject having a metabolic disorder comprising administering to the subject a 14273 modulator, thereby treating said subject having a metabolic disorder.

The method of 30, wherein the 14273 modulator is capable of modulating 14273 polypeptide activity.

A method for modulating an adipocyte activity comprising contacting an adipocyte with a 14273 modulator, in an amount effective to modulate an adipocyte activity.

A method for modulating glucose production in a cell, comprising contacting said cell with a 14273 modulator in an amount effective to modulate glucose production in said cell.

A transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a homozygous null mutation in the endogenous 14273 gene, wherein said mouse exhibits a metabolic disorder.

A method of identifying a compound capable of treating a metabolic disorder, comprising:

• administering said compound to a transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a null mutation in the endogenous 14273 gene, wherein said mouse exhibits a metabolic disorder, and determining the effect of the test compound on said mouse, thereby identifying a compound capable of treating a metabolic disorder.

An isolated cell, or a purified preparation of cells from a transgenic mouse whose genome comprises a homozygous null mutation in the endogenous 14273 gene, wherein the production of functional 14273 is inhibited.