US 7,598,048 B2 · Screening methods for identifying agents that modulate output of a circadian pacemaker

Abstract

The invention provides a method for screening for a compound for modulating circadian rhythm. The method involves (a) providing a compound that is a Prokineticin 2 (PK2) receptor antagonist or agonist; and (b) determining the ability of the compound to modulate one or more indicia of circadian rhythm function, wherein a compound that modulates one or more indicia of circadian rhythm function is identified as a compound for modulating circadian rhythm. The invention also provides a mouse PK2 receptor nucleic acid, polypeptide and related compositions. Further provided is a method for modulating circadian rhythm of an animal, which involves administering an effective amount of a PK2 receptor antagonist or agonist to an animal. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid comprising a PK2 gene promoter operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for identifying an agent that modulates output of a circadian pacemaker of a suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), comprising:

(a) contacting a sample comprising a prokineticin 2 (PK2) receptor as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 with at least one test agent, under conditions suitable for the PK2 receptor to bind to the test agent;
and
(b) detecting circadian locomotor activity induced by the test agent as compared to the circadian locomotor activity induced by a known PK2 receptor modulating agent, wherein the known PK2 receptor modulating agent is human PK2,
thereby identifying the test agent as an agent for modulating output of the circadian pacemaker of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Screening methods for identifying agents that modulate output of a circadian pacemaker

Life of this patent

Screening methods for identifying agents that modulate output of a circadian pacemaker

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14