Apoptotic protease Mch6, nucleic acids encoding same and methods of us
AssigneeThomas Jefferson University
InventorsEmad S. Alnemri, Teresa Fernandes-Alnemri, Gerald Litwack
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Abstract
The invention provides an isolated gene encoding Mch6 as well as functional fragments thereof. Also provided are isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding Mch6 or functional fragments thereof. The gene or nucleic acid sequences can be single or double stranded nucleic acids corresponding to coding or non-coding strands of the Mch6 nucleotide sequences. The invention further provides an isolated Mch6 polypeptide and isolated large and small subunits of the Mch6 polypeptide, including functional fragments thereof.
Claims31
A method for identifying a compound that modulates Mch6 activity, compromising:
- (a) contacting a sample containing Mch6 (SEQ ID NO:2) or a fragment with enzymatic activity thereof with a test compound;
- and
- (b) detecting the activity of Mch6 or the fragment, wherein a change in activity indicates a compound which modulates Mch6 activity.
A method for identifying a compound that inhibits Mch6 activity in a cell, comprising:
- (a) contacting a cell which expresses Mch6 (SEQ ID NO:2) with a test compound;
- (b) contacting said cell with a stimulus of apoptosis;
- and
- (c) detecting Mch6 activity of said cell, wherein a decrease in activity identifies a compound that inhibits Mch6 activity.
A method for identifying an inhibitor of Mch6 activity, comprising contacting a sample containing Mch6 (SEQ ID NO:2) or a fragment with enzymatic activity thereof with an Mch6 substrate in the presence and absence of at least one candidate inhibitor;
- and comparing the levels of Mch6 substrate turnover, and therefrom identifying an inhibitor of Mch6 activity.
A method for identifying an enhancer of Mch6 activity, comprising contacting a sample containing Mch6 (SEQ ID NO:2) or fragment with enzymatic activity thereof with an Mch6 substrate in the presence and absence of at least one candidate enhancer;
- and comparing the levels of Mch6 substrate turnover, and therefrom identifying an enhancer of Mch6 activity.
A method for identifying an inhibitor or enhancer of Mch6 processing, comprising contacting a sample containing proMch6 (SEQ ID NO:2) or a cleavage site containing fragment thereof with protein capable of processing proMch6 and at least one candidate inhibitor or candidate enhancer;
- and detecting the presence of large and small Mch6 subunits, and therefrom determining the level of proMch6 processing, wherein a decrease in processing indicates the presence of a caspase processing inhibitor, and wherein an increase in processing indicates the presence of a caspase processing enhancer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.