Methods of identifying adipocyte specific genes, the genes identified, and their uses

An isolated polynucleotide comprising

• a) a nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 86, 87, 93, 96, 115, 116, 117, 135, 145, 148, 151, 160, 172, 179, 180, 191, 192, 201, 223, 224, 229, 236, 246, 255, 256, 263, 264, 267, 268, 276 or 277, or any one of SEQ ID NOs:
• 84, 85, 88, 97, 98, 99, 100, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 115, 116, 117, 122, 123, 124, 125, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 138, 139, 149, 150, 175, 176, 177, 178, 181, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188, 189, 190, 199, 200, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 227, 228, 232, 233, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 259, 260, 261, 262, 268, 272 or 273;
• b) a nucleotide sequence coding for the same polypeptide as that encoded by the nucleic acid of part a);
• c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 90% identity over the entire coding region to the nucleotide sequence of part a);
• or
• c) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

A method for identifying compounds which antagonize or agonize the polypeptide which is at least 90% identical to the amino acid encoded by any one of SEQ. ID. NO. 1 to 279 comprising:

• (a) contacting a candidate compound with cells which express the polypeptide (or cell membrane expressing the polypeptide or a fragment thereof bound to a solid matrix) or respond to the polypeptide;
• and
• (b) observing the binding, or stimulation or inhibition of a functional response;
• or comparing the ability of the cells (or cell membrane) which were contacted with the candidate compound(s) with the same cells which were not so contacted for polypeptide activity.

A method for screening for modulators of a target protein, wherein the target protein is encoded by a nucleotide having the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ. ID. NO. 1 to 279 or has 90% amino acid identity to such protein as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm, the method comprising the steps of

• a) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a first concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• and
• b) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a second concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• wherein a difference between the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the first concentration of the candidate agent and the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the second concentration of the candidate agent indicates that the candidate agent modulates the activity of the target protein.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising

• a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:103;
• b) a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide of SEQ. ID. NO. 603;
• c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 91% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence encoding the sFRP-5 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:603 said identity being over the entire region encoding SEQ ID NO:603;
• or
• d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

A method for screening for modulators of a target protein, wherein the target protein is sFRP-5 and comprises a sequence that has greater than 91% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO:603 as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm, the method comprising the steps of

• a) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a first concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• and
• b) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a second concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• wherein a difference between the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the first concentration of the candidate agent and the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the second concentration of the candidate agent indicates that the candidate agent modulates the activity of the target protein.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising

• a) a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:278;
• b) a nucleotide sequence coding for the polypeptide of SEQ. ID. NO. 778;
• c) a nucleotide sequence that has at least 90% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence encoding the npr3 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:778 said identity being over the entire region encoding SEQ ID NO:778;
• or
• d) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

A method for screening for compounds that modulate a target protein, wherein the target protein is npr3 and comprises a sequence that has greater than 90% amino acid identity to SEQ ID NO:778 as measured using a sequence comparison algorithm, the method comprising the steps of

• a) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a first concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• and
• b) contacting the target protein with a candidate agent at a second concentration and determining a level of activity of the target protein;
• wherein a difference between the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the first concentration of the candidate agent and the level of activity of the target protein contacted with the second concentration of the candidate agent indicates that the candidate agent modulates the activity of the target protein.