Abstract: The invention relates to regulators of UCP2 gene transcription, including novel UCP2 transcriptional promoters. UCP2 gene promoters are used in diagnosis and pharmaceutical development. In particular, transfected cells comprising UCP2 gene promoters operably linked to a reporter are used in high-throughput pharmaceutical screens.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor-(TRAF) mediated signal transduction. The invention encompasses the novel inhibitor proteins (I-TRAFs), nucleic acid encoding them, methods for their recombinant production, and their use in screening assays and as pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for screening for pharmacological agents which regulate satiety, fat metabolism and/or the type II diabetes mellitus in mammals, and in particular, agents active at regulating the level of ob gene expression. An exemplary assay involves (a) contacting a mammalian adipocyte comprising a mutant of a native ob allele encoding a reporter of ob gene expression, wherein the expression of the reporter is under the control of the gene expression regulatory sequences of the native ob allele, with a candidate agent under conditions whereby but for the presence of the agent, the reporter is expressed at a first expression level; and, (b) measuring the expression of the reporter to obtain a second expression level, wherein a difference between the first and second expression levels indicates that the candidate agent modulates ob gene expression.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to I.kappa.B regulating proteins, known as T2K proteins, and related nucleic acids. The proteins may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed T2K encoding nucleic acid or purified from human cells. The invention provides specific hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed T2K gene, T2K-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to a novel tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor number six (TRAF6) protein, which transcriptionally activates Nuclear Factor .kappa.B. The invention provides isolated TRAF6 hybridization probes and primers capable of hybridizing with the disclosed TRAF6 gene, nucleic acids encoding the subject TRAF6 proteins, methods of making the subject TRAF6 proteins, and methods of using the subject compositions in diagnosis and drug screening.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods and compositions for detecting kinase activity in solution, without the use of radioactivity. The methods marry the kinetic advantages of solution-based reaction with the efficiency and high-throughput adaptability of solid-phase wash and detection steps, yet is conveniently practiced in a single tube. The methods may be used to assay for kinase activity per se or, by controlling for the kinase activity, for modulators of kinase activity. The method is exemplified with a preferred chemiluminescent protein kinase assay using biotinylated substrate peptides captured on a streptavidin coated microtiter plate and monoclonal antibodies to detect their phosphorylation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to interleukin 12 signal transducers, particularly an isolated human signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (hStat 4), or a fragment thereof having an hStat 4-specific binding affinity, nucleic acids encoding hStat 4, which nucleic acids may be part of hStat 4-expression vectors and may be incorporated into a recombinant cell, agents which selectively bind hStat 4 or hStat 4 intracellular binding targets, or disrupt the binding of hStat 4 to such intracellular targets, methods of making such agents and hStat 4-specific binding targets in the form of cell surface proteins and nucleic acids. An hStat 4 drug screening assay involves forming mixtures of an hStat 4, an intracellular hStat 4 binding target, and a prospective agent at different concentrations. The mixtures are incubated to permit the binding of the intracellular hStat 4 binding target to the hStat 4 and the mixtures are then analyzed for the presence of such binding.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to a human telomerase and related nucleic acids, including four distinct human telomerase subunit proteins called p140, p105, p48 and p43 having human telomerae-specific activity. The proteins may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed telomerase encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. Also included are human telomerase RNA components, as well as specific, functional derivative thereof. The invention provides isolated telomerase hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed telomerase gene, telomerase-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to a novel tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor number six (TRAF6) protein, which transcriptionally activates Nuclear Factor .kappa.B. The invention provides isolated TRAF6 hybridization probes and primers capable of hybridizing with the disclosed TRAF6 gene, nucleic acids encoding the subject TRAF6 proteins, methods of making the subject TRAF6 proteins, and methods of using the subject compositions in diagnosis and drug screening.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by an interleukin 4 signal transducer and activator of transcription, IL-4 Stat. IL-4 Stat peptides and IL-4 receptor peptides and nucleic acids encoding such peptides find therapeutic uses. The subject compositions include IL-4 Stat and IL-4 receptor proteins, portions thereof, nucleic acids encoding them, and specific antibodies. The disclosed pharmaceutical screening methods are particularly suited to high-throughput screening where one or more steps are performed by a computer controlled electromechanical robot comprising an axial rotatable arm.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by a transcription complex containing at least a human nuclear factor of activated T-cells (hNFAT). The materials include a family of hNFAT proteins, active fragments thereof, and nucleic acids encoding them. The methods are particularly suited to high-throughput screening where one or more steps are performed by a computer controlled electromechanical robot comprising an axial rotatable arm.

Abstract: The invention provides screening assays for identifying an inhibitor of a pathogenic helicase activity, e.g. a helicase derived from a pathogenic infectious organism such as a bacterium, protozoan or fungus. Helicase activity is detected by the solid-phase, preferential capture of retained (non-liberated) single-stranded nucleic acid comprising a detectable label.

Abstract: The invention relates to the Ob gene transcriptional promoter. The subject promoters generally comprise a C/EBP binding site and a novel untranslated Ob gene exon. Ob gene promoters are used in diagnosis and pharmaceutical development. In particular, transfected adipocytes comprising Ob gene promoters operably linked to a reporter are used in high-throughput pharmaceutical screens.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by a transcription complex containing at least CBF1 and a transcription factor. The methods involve combining CBF1, the Epstein-Barr virus transcription factor EBNA2 or cellular homolog thereof, and a candidate pharmacological agent. This mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate pharmacological agent, CBF1 binds EBNA2. The absence of selective binding indicates that the candidate pharmacological agent is capable of selectively modulating the expression of a gene dependent on CBF1-transcription factor binding. The mixture may further comprise a CBF1 binding element including the nucleotide sequence: C-G-T-G-G-G-A-A.

Abstract: The invention relates to human Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Protein Kinases (IRAKs), nucleic acids which encode IRAKs and hybridization probes and primers capable of hybridizing with IRAK genes and methods of using the subject compositions; in particular, methods such as IRAK-based in vitro binding assays and phosphorylation assays for screening chemical libraries for lead compounds for pharmacological agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to interleukin 12 signal transducers, particularly an isolated human signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (hStat 4), or a fragment thereof having an hStat 4-specific binding affinity, nucleic acids encoding hStat 4, which nucleic acids may be part of hStat 4-expression vectors and may be incorporated into a recombinant cell, agents which selectively bind hStat 4 or hStat 4 intracellular binding targets, or disrupt the binding of hStat 4 to such intracellular targets, methods of making such agents and hStat 4-specific binding targets in the form of cell surface proteins and nucleic acids. An hStat 4 drug screening assay involves forming mixtures of an hStat 4, an intracellular hStat 4 binding target, and a prospective agent at different concentrations. The mixtures are incubated to permit the binding of the intracellular hStat 4 binding target to the hStat 4 and the mixtures are then analyzed for the presence of such binding.

Abstract: The invention provides promoter specific and promoter non-specific screening assays for identifying an inhibitor of a pathogenic nucleic acid polymerase activity, e.g. an RNA polymerase derived from a pathogenic infectious organism such as a bacterium, protozoan or fungus. Generally, the methods involve forming a mixture of nucleotides, a polynucleotide template, a pathogenic polymerase candidate inhibitor of polymerase activity, where at least one of the nucleotides comprises a detectable label. The mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate inhibitor, the polymerase transcribes the polynucleotide template by catalyzing the polymerization of the nucleoside triphosphates into a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence complementary to that of the polynucleotide template. The nascent transcript is captured by a polynucleotide-selective agent immobilized on a solid substrate for subsequent washing and label detection.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions relating to interleukin 2 signal transducers, particularly an isolated human signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (hStat 5), or a fragment thereof having an hStat 5-specific binding affinity, nucleic acids encoding hStat 5, which nucleic acids may be part of hStat 5-expression vectors and may be incorporated into a recombinant cell, agents which selectively bind hStat 5 or hStat 5 intracellular binding targets, or disrupt the binding of hStat 5 to such intracellular targets, methods of making such agents and hStat 5-specific binding targets in the form of cell surface proteins and nucleic acids. An hStat 5 drug screening assay involves forming mixtures of an hStat 5, an intracellular hStat 5 binding target, and a prospective agent at different concentrations. The mixtures are incubated to permit the binding of the intracellular hStat 5 binding target to the hStat 5 and the mixtures are then analyzed for the presence of such binding.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by a transcription complex containing at least a human nuclear factor of activated T-cells (hNFAT). The materials include a family of hNFAT proteins, active fragments thereof, and nucleic acids encoding them. The methods are particularly suited to high-throughput screening where one or more steps are performed by a computer controlled electromechanical robot comprising an axial rotatable arm.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by an interleukin 4 signal transducer and activator of transcription, IL-4 Stat. IL-4 Stat peptides and IL-4 receptor peptides and nucleic acids encoding such peptides find therapeutic uses. The subject compositions include IL-4 Stat and IL-4 receptor proteins, portions thereof, nucleic acids encoding them, and specific antibodies. The disclosed pharmaceutical screening methods are particularly suited to high-throughput screening where one or more steps are performed by a computer controlled electromechanical robot comprising an axial rotatable arm.