Pdz domain interactions and lipid rafts
AssigneesArbor Vita Corporation, The General Hospital Corporation
InventorsPeter S. Lu, Chamorro Somoza Diaz-Sarmiento, Brian Seed, Ramnik Xavier, Brayan Allen Irving
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for modulating immune cell signaling are provided. In general such methods involve modulating an interaction between a PDZ protein and a PDZ ligand protein whose interaction affects the composition and/or distribution of lipid rafts in an immune cell. Modulators that enhance or inhibit such interactions are also disclosed, as well as methods of screening for such modulators.
Claims26
A method for screening a compound to determine whether the compound modulates immune cell signaling, the method comprising identifying a compound that modulates interaction between a PDZ protein and a PDZ ligand protein (a PL protein), wherein the PDZ protein and the PL protein are proteins which in an immune cell can interact with one another to affect the composition and/or distribution of lipid rafts in the immune cell.
A method for modulating immune cell signaling, the method comprising modulating an interaction between a PDZ protein and a PDZ ligand protein (a PL protein), which interaction affects the composition and/or distribution of lipid rafts in an immune cell, and whereby such modulation alters immune cell signaling.
A modulator of binding of a PDZ protein and a PDZ ligand protein (a PL protein), wherein the modulator inhibits or enhances binding of a PDZ domain polypeptide and a PL domain polypeptide, and wherein
- (a) the PDZ domain polypeptide comprises at least a partial sequence of the PDZ protein and the PL domain polypeptide comprises at least a partial sequence of the PL protein;
- and
- (b) the PDZ protein and the PL protein are proteins which in an immune cell can interact with one another to affect the composition and/or distribution of lipid rafts in the immune cell.
22-26. (canceled)
The use of a modulator of the binding of a PDZ protein and a PDZ ligand protein (a PL protein) to treat an immune disorder, wherein the PDZ protein and the PL protein are proteins which in an immune cell can interact with one another to affect the composition and/or distribution of lipid rafts in the immune cell.
30-36. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.