Polynucleotides encoding cellular transporters and methods of use thereof
AssigneeUniversity of Connecticut
InventorsRobert A. Reenan, Blanka Rogina, Stephen L. Helfand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure encompasses the Indy gene, polypeptides encoded by the Indy gene and fragments thereof. This disclosure also encompasses homologs of the Indy gene both from Drosophila and other organisms. In addition, this disclosure encompasses the use of Indy polynucleotides, INDY proteins and polypeptides, antibodies to the INDY protein, antagonists that inhibit Indy activity or expression, and agonists that increase Indy activity or expression, in the diagnosis or treatment of body weight disorders or longevity in humans and animals.
Claims21
A method to assess the inhibitory activity of a test substance on a polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:2, the method comprising:
- contacting the polypeptide with the test substance in the presence of a carboxylate, wherein the polypeptide has been expressed by a cell;
- and
- detecting the amount of carboxylate transported by the polypeptide in the presence and absence of the test substance, wherein inhibition of transport in the presence as compared to the absence of the test substance indicates that the test substance is a cellular transporter inhibitor.
A method to assess interaction of a test molecule with a transporter polypeptide, the method comprising:
- providing a transporter polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:2,
- contacting the transporter polypeptide with a test molecule;
- and
- detecting binding of the test molecule to the transporter polypeptide, thereby assessing interaction of the test molecule with the transporter polypeptide.
A method to assess interaction of a test molecule with a transporter polypeptide, the method comprising:
- providing a transporter polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:2, wherein providing the transporter polypeptide comprises expressing the transporter polypeptide in a host cell such that the transporter polypeptide is present at the cell surface;
- contacting the transporter polypeptide with a test molecule;
- and
- detecting the transport activity in the presence and absence of the test molecule, wherein the step of detecting comprises contacting the transporter polypeptide with a carboxylate and assaying transport of the carboxylate, and wherein an alteration in the transport activity in the presence as compared to the absence of the test substance indicates that the test substance is a modulator of the transporter polypeptide.
A method to assess a test molecule for ability to modulate expression of a transporter polypeptide, the method comprising:
- providing a cell that contains a nucleic acid encoding a transporter polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:2;
- contacting a test molecule to the cell;
- and
- detecting expression of an mRNA that encodes the transporter polypeptide to determine whether the test molecule has the ability to modulate expression of the transporter polypeptide in the cell.
A method to assess transport activity by a transporter polypeptide, the method comprising:
- providing a cell that contains a nucleic acid encoding a transporter polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:2;
- contacting a substrate of the transporter polypeptide to the cell;
- and
- detecting the substrate to determine transport of the substrate into the cell, thereby assessing transport activity of the transporter polypeptide.
A method to assess the inhibitory activity of a test substance on a polypeptide that comprises SEQ ID NO:3, the method comprising:
- contacting the polypeptide which has been expressed by a cell with the test substance;
- and
- detecting the amount of carboxylate transported by the polypeptide in the presence and absence of the test substance by evaluating transport in the presence of a carboxylate, wherein inhibition of transport in the presence as compared to the absence of the test substance indicates that the test substance is a cellular transporter inhibitor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.