Assays, methods and kits for detecting small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle assembly and survival of motor neurons activity

A kit for detecting an RNA binding protein specifically binding to an RNA, said kit comprising biotin-UTP, a first antibody that specifically binds an RNA binding protein, an detectable antibody that specifically binds said first antibody, and an instructional material for the use thereof.

A kit for detecting RNA binding protein activity, said kit comprising biotin-UTP, a first antibody that specifically binds an RNA binding protein, an detectable antibody that specifically binds said first antibody, and an instructional material for the use thereof.

A method of determining the amount of RNA binding protein in a cell, the method comprising detecting the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in a cell, wherein a lower level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation indicates a lower amount of RNA binding protein in a cell, further wherein a higher level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation indicates a higher amount of RNA binding protein in a cell.

A method of identifying a compound that increases the level of RNA binding protein activity in a cell, the method comprising contacting a cell with a test compound and comparing the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the cell with the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in an otherwise identical cell not contacted with the test compound, wherein a higher level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the cell contacted with the test compound compared with the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the otherwise identical cell not contacted with the test compound is an indication that the test compound increases the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in a cell, thereby identifying a compound that increases the level of RNA binding protein activity in a cell.

A method of identifying a compound that decreases the level of RNA binding protein activity in a cell, the method comprising contacting a cell with a test compound and comparing the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the cell with the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in an otherwise identical cell not contacted with the test compound, wherein a lower level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the cell contacted with the test compound compared with the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in the otherwise identical cell not contacted with the test compound is an indication that the test compound decreases the level of RNA binding protein-RNA complex formation in a cell, thereby identifying a compound that decreases the level of RNA binding protein activity in a cell.

A kit for detecting snRNP assembly, said kit comprising a UTP-biotin, ATP, a first antibody that specifically binds an Sm protein, a second labeled antibody that specifically binds said first antibody, and an instructional material for the use thereof.

A kit for detecting activity of the survival of motor neuron (SMN) complex, said kit comprising a UTP-biotin, ATP, a first antibody that specifically binds an Sm protein, a second labeled antibody that specifically binds said first antibody, and an instructional material for the use thereof.