Methods and compositions for modulating neurodegeneration
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsSeymour Benzer, Kyung-Tai Min
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Abstract
Disclosed are polypeptides and polynucleotides having very long chain fatty acid coA synthetase activity. The polypeptides and polynucleotides are useful in identifying and modulating neurodegeneration.
Claims7
A substantially purified polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
An isolated polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
A method of identifying a compound that inhibits the thioesterification activity of VLCFA coA-syn, the method comprising:
- a) providing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
- b) contacting the polypeptide with a thioesterifiable substrate and the compound;
- and
- c) measuring the amount of thioesterification in the presence or absence of the compound, wherein a decrease in thioesterification in the presence of the compound is indicative of a compound that inhibits the thioesterification activity of the polypeptide.
A method of identifying a compound that increases the thioesterification activity of VLCFA coA-syn, the method comprising:
- a) providing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2;
- b) contacting the polypeptide with a thioesterifiable substrate and determining the amount of thioesterified substrate;
- c) contacting the polypeptide with a thioesterifiable substrate in the presence of the compound and determining the amount of thioesterified substrate;
- and
- d) comparing the amount of thioesterified substrate obtained in b) with the amount obtained in c), wherein an increase in thioesterified substrate in the presence of the compound is indicative of a compound that increases the thioesterification activity of the polypeptide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.