CD4+ T-lymphocyte proteases and genes encoding said proteases

An isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:12 and SEQ ID NO:14.

A method to identify a compound that inhibits proteolytic cleavage by a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid molecule comprising a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease gene nhTCP and a nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of said gene, wherein said fragment encodes a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease having proteolytic activity, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting a Kex2 endoprotease-deficient yeast strain transformed with said nucleic acid molecule and containing a precursor protein having a dibasic amino acid processing site with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said yeast strain effects cleavage of said precursor protein into cleavage products;
• and
• (b) assaying for production of at least one of said cleavage products, wherein production of a reduced amount of at least one of said cleavage products in the presence of said putative inhibitory compound compared to in the absence of said putative inhibitory compound indicates that said compound is able to inhibit proteolytic cleavage by said endoprotease.

A test kit to identify a compound that inhibits a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid molecule comprising a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease gene nhTCP and a nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of said gene, wherein said fragment encodes a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease having proteolytic activity, said kit comprising:

• (a) a Kex2 endoprotease-deficient yeast strain transformed with said nucleic acid molecule and containing a precursor protein having a dibasic amino acid processing site, said yeast strain being able to effect cleavage of said precursor protein into cleavage products;
• and
• (b) a means for determining the extent of cleavage by said yeast strain in the presence of a putative inhibitory compound, said means for determining comprising means for assaying for production of said cleavage products, wherein production of a reduced amount of said cleavage products in the presence of said putative inhibitory compound compared to in the absence of said putative inhibitory compound indicates that said compound is able to inhibit proteolytic cleavage by said endoprotease.

A method to identify a compound that inhibits a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease, said method comprising:

• (a) contacting a putative inhibitory compound with a secreted soluble dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease protein, wherein said endoprotease protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid molecule comprising a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease gene nhTCP and a nucleic acid molecule comprising a fragment of said gene, wherein said fragment encodes a dibasic amino acid processing endoprotease having proteolytic activity, and wherein said endoprotease protein is contacted in the presence of a precursor protein having a dibasic amino acid processing site under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said endoprotease protein effects cleavage of said precursor protein into cleavage products;
• and
• (b) assaying for production of said cleavage products, wherein production of a reduced amount of said cleavage products in the presence of said putative inhibitory compound compared to in the absence of said putative inhibitory compound indicates that said compound is able to inhibit proteolytic cleavage by said endoprotease.