Use of sarcoplasmic ca2+-atpase type 2 protein for diagnosing and treating learning or mental disorders
AssigneeSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital
InventorStanislav S. Zakharenko
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Abstract
The present invention embraces methods for the diagnosis and treatment of learning or mental disorders, as well as the identification of agents useful in the treatment of such disorders based upon the identified involvement of Sarcoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase type 2 Protein in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release in 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge Syndrome.
Claims10
A method for identifying an agent useful for the treatment of a mental disorder comprising contacting SERCA2 protein or nucleic acids encoding the same with a candidate agent and determining whether the candidate agent inhibits SERCA2 expression or activity thereby identifying an agent useful for the treatment of a mental disorder.
A method for treating a learning disorder or mental disorder comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a SERCA inhibitor thereby treating the subject's learning disorder or mental disorder.
A method for diagnosing susceptibility to developing a learning or mental disorder comprising obtaining a biological sample from a subject, and measuring the level of SERCA2 protein or activity in said sample, wherein an elevated level of SERCA2 protein or activity as compared to a control indicates an increased susceptibility to developing a learning or mental disorder.
A method for diagnosing a subject suspected of having a learning or mental disorder comprising measuring the level of synaptic activity of a subject suspected of having a learning or mental disorder, wherein an elevated level of neurotransmitter released from presynaptic terminals as compared to a control subject is indicative of a learning or mental disorder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.