Cholesterol biosynthesis pathway modulators and uses thereof

An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) nucleic acid molecules comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1;
• (b) nucleic acid molecules encoding a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant, derivative and/or fragment thereof having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol;
• (c) nucleic acid molecules which hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the nucleic acid molecule of (a), or (b) or fragment thereof, and which encode a peptide having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol;
• and
• (d) nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence having at least 40% identity with the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a fragment thereof and which encode a peptide having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol.

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide is at least one of:

• (a) an isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2 or a variant, derivative and/or fragment thereof having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol;
• or
• (b) an isolated peptide, wherein the peptide has the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol, and wherein the peptide has a molecular weight of 16803 Da, 16790 Da, 16791 Da or 17211 Da.

A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of disorders characterised by the accumulation of cholesterol, its by-product and/or related lipid derived products, the method comprising a step of administering to a subject in need at least one of:

• (a) a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant, derivative and/or fragment thereof having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol;
• and/or
• (b) an isolated peptide, wherein the peptide has the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol, and wherein the peptide has a molecular weight of 16803 Da, 16790 Da, 16791 Da or 17211 Da.

A method for the treatment of cholesterol independent and pleiotropic conditions, the method comprising a step of administering to a subject in need at least one of:

• (a) a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2;
• (b) an isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant, derivative and/or fragment thereof having the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol;
• or
• (c) an isolated peptide, wherein the peptide has the function of HMGCoA reductase inhibitor, phosphomevalonate inhibitor, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway and/or reducing the level of serum cholesterol, and wherein the peptide has a molecular weight of 16803 Da, 16790 Da, 16791 Da or 17211 Da.