Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating a disease or pathological condition resulting in apoptotic cell death. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in cells affected by the disease or pathological condition. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. Also provided is a method of prolonging the in vivo survival of transplanted cells for the treatment of a disease or pathological condition. The method includes increasing the activity of Bcl-2 in a population of cells and transplanting the population of cells having increased Bcl-2 activity into a subject. Diseases or pathological conditions can include, for example, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and viral infections. A method to enhance the sensitivity of malignant cells to therapy is provided that includes decreasing the activity of Bcl-2 in the malignant cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an action between an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein and members of the caspase family of cell death proteases, for example, an interaction of the X chromosome linked IAP (XIAP) and caspase-3, caspase-7 or caspase-9, wherein the IAP regulates the activity of the caspases. The invention provides screening assays for identifying agents that alter the specific association of an IAP such as XIAP, c-IAP-1 or c-IAP-2 and a caspase such as caspase-3 or caspase-7. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying agents that alter the specific association of an IAP such as XIAP, c-IAP-1 or c-IAP-2 and a pro-caspase such as pro-caspase-9. In addition, the invention also provides methods for identifying agents that modulate the activity of a caspase in the presence of an IAP and that regulate the activation of a pro-caspase by an IAP.

Abstract: The invention provides Bcl-G polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids. Bcl-G polypeptides include Bcl-GL and Bcl-GS. The invention also provides mouse Bcl-G. The invention also provides vectors containing Bcl-G nucleic acids, host cells containing such vectors, Bcl-G anti-sense nucleic acids and related compositions. The invention additionally provides Bcl-G oligonucleotides that can be used to hybridize to or amplify a Bcl-G nucleic acid. Anti-Bcl-G specific antibodies are also provided. Further provided are kits containing Bcl-G nucleic acids or Bcl-G specific antibodies. Such kits and reagents can be used to diagnose cancer, monitor response to therapy, or predict the prognosis of a cancer patient. The invention additionally provides methods of modulating apoptosis using Bcl-G polypeptides, encoding nucleic acids, or compounds that modulate the activity or expression of Bcl-G polypeptides. The methods for modulating apoptosis can be used to treat diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a family of BAG-1 related proteins from humans (BAG-1L, BAG-1, BAG-2, BAG-3, BAG-4 and BAG-5), the invertebrate C. elegans (BAG-1, BAG-2) and the fission yeast S. pombe (BAG-1A, BAG-1B) and the nucleic acid molecules that encode them.

Abstract: The invention provides caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing polypeptides, CARD, NB-ARC, ANGIO-R, LRR and SAM domains therefrom, as well as encoding nucleic acid molecules and specific antibodies. The invention also provides related screening, diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel TRAF-Protein-Binding-Domain polypeptides (TPBDs). The invention also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding TPBDs, vectors containing these nucleic acid molecules and host cells containing the vectors. The invention also provides antibodies that can specifically bind to invention TPBDs. Such TPBDs and/or anti-TPBD antibodies are useful for discovery of drugs that suppress autoimmunity, inflammation, allergy, allograph rejection, sepsis, and other diseases.

Abstract: A novel human member of the Bcl-2 family Bcl-B has been identified, which is closest in amino-acid sequence homology to the Boo (Diva) protein. The Bcl-B protein is widely expressed in adult human tissues. The Bcl-B protein modulates apoptosis. Bcl-B also binds Bcl-2. BCl-XL, and Bax but not Bak. Bcl-B displays a unique pattern of selectivity for binding and regulating the function of other members of the Bcl-2 family. Accordingly, provided herein is a method for identifying a molecule that binds to the Bcl-B polypeptide, by contacting the Bcl-B polypeptide with a test molecule and determining whether the test molecule binds to the polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing polypeptides and functional fragments thereof, encoding nucleic acid molecules, and specific antibodies. Also provided are screening methods for identifying CARD-associated polypeptides (CAPs), and for identifying agents that alter the association of a CARD-containing polypeptide with itself or with a CAP. Further provided are methods of altering a biochemical process modulated by a CARD-containing polypeptide, and methods of diagnosing a pathology characterized by an increased or decreased level of a CARD-containing polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provides caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing polypeptides and functional fragments thereof, encoding nucleic acid molecules, and specific antibodies. Also provided are screening methods for identifying CARD-associated polypeptides (CAPs), and for identifying agents that alter the association of a CARD-containing polypeptide with itself or with a CAP. Further provided are methods of altering a biochemical process modulated by a CARD-containing polypeptide, and methods of diagnosing a pathology characterized by an increased or decreased level of a CARD-containing polypeptide.

Abstract: The invention provide a method of identifying a biomarker that is diagnostic for survival of a patient with a prostate neoplastic condition. The method consists of (a) measuring the level of IAPs in a neoplastic prostate cell-containing sample from patients with a prostate neoplastic condition, and (b) identifying a correlation between the level of IAPs in a sample from a patient with the survival of that patient, where the correlation of an IAP with survival in patients indicates the IAP is a biomarker diagnostic of survival of a patient with a prostate neoplastic condition. Also provided is a method of determining a prognosis for survival for a patient with a prostate neoplastic condition. The method consists of (a) measuring the level of XIAP in a neoplastic prostate cell-containing sample from the patient, and (b) comparing the level of XIAP in the sample to a reference level of XIAP, where an increased level of XIAP in the sample correlates with increased survival of the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides comprising inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, such as BmIAP initially derived from Bombyx mori BmN cells, and nucleic acids encoding them, and methods for making and using these compositions, including their use for inhibiting apoptosis.

Abstract: Various phenylamine derivatives are described as well as the use of compounds to inhibit BID protein for controlling apoptotic cascade.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating cancer in a mammal comprising contacting the cancer cells with a compound which is a apogossypol, derivative.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an action between an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein and members of the caspase family of cell death proteases, for example, an interaction of the X chromosome linked IAP (XIAP) and caspase-3, caspase-7 or caspase-9, wherein the IAP regulates the activity of the caspases. The invention provides screening assays for identifying agents that alter the specific association of an IAP such as XIAP, c-IAP-1 or c-IAP-2 and a caspase such as caspase-3 or caspase-7. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying agents that alter the specific association of an IAP such as XIAP, c-IAP-1 or c-IAP-2 and a pro-caspase such as pro-caspase-9. In addition, the invention also provides methods for identifying agents that modulate the activity of a caspase in the presence of an IAP and that regulate the activation of a pro-caspase by an IAP.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to glutathione derivatized beads which are adapted for use in conjunction with glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins (generally, GST fusion proteins, which contain a fluorescent label such as fluorescent green protein) for use in flow cytometry. The present invention also relates to methods for detecting and/or quantifying interactions between a GST fusion protein and their binding partners, in particular, labeled binding partners such as fluorescently labeled binding partners. By creating glutathione beads with an appropriate high or increased site density, disadvantages often associated with low affinity systems and quick off-rates in solution may be resolved to provide a workable system and method. Methods of identifying potential agonists, antagonists and regulator compounds of proteins fused to GST from libraries of compounds represents another aspect of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides polypeptides comprising inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, such as BmIAP initially derived from Bombyx mori BmN cells, and nucleic acids encoding them, and methods for making and using these compositions, including their use for inhibiting apoptosis.

Abstract: Novel methods of regulating cellular apoptosis by affecting the interaction of hepatitis B X-interacting protein (HBXIP) with Survivin are described. More specifically, these novel methods of enhancing apoptosis of neoplastic cells comprises inhibiting interaction of hepatitis B X-interacting protein (HBXIP) with Survivin using siRNA or antisense compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides NB-ARC and CARD-containing proteins (NACs), nucleic acid molecules encoding NACs and antibodies specific for at least one NAC. The invention further provides chimeric NAC proteins. The invention also provides screening assays for identifying an agent that can effectively alter the association of a NAC with a NAC-associated protein. The invention further provides methods of modulating apoptosis in a cell by introducing into the cell a nucleic acid molecule encoding a NAC or an antisense nucleotide sequence. The invention also provides a method of using a reagent that can specifically bind to a NAC to diagnose a pathology that is characterized by an increased or decreased level of apoptosis in a cell.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated SUMO-specific protease-like (or “SSP”) domain-containing polypeptides from microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoans and yeast, including Escherichia, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Chlamydia, Plasmodium, Trypanosma, Mesorhizobium, Rickettsia, Cryptosporidium and Candida species. The invention further provides modifications of such polypeptides, functional fragments therefrom, encoding nucleic acid molecules and specific antibodies. Also provided are methods for identifying polypeptides and compounds that associate with or modulate the activity of the SSP domain-containing polypeptides. Further provided are methods of modulating a biological activity in a cell, and treating pathological conditions, using the described nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides and compounds.

Abstract: Various phenylamine derivatives are described as well as the use of compounds to inhibit BID protein for controlling apoptotic cascade.