Axin gene and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes Axin. This invention further provides an isolated nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Axin. This invention further provides a purified wildtype or mutant Axin. This invention further provides an oligonucleotide capable of distinguishing nucleic acids encoding mutant or wildtype Axin. This invention also provides various methods of use: such as a method for determining whether a subject carries a mutation in the axin gene, a method of determining whether a subject has a predisposition for cancer, a method for treating a subject who has a predisposition to cancer, a method for determining whether a subject has cancer, a method for detecting a mutation in cancerous cells of the subject, a method of suppressing cells unable to regulate themselves and a method for identifying a chemical compound which is capable of suppressing cells unable to regulate themselves. This invention also provides a variety of pharmaceutical compositions and a method of treating a subject who has cancer comprising administration the pharmaceutical compositions. This invention also provides a transgenic, nonhuman mammal, specifically a transgenic expressing mutant Axin.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.