Abstract: The present invention provides for novel receptor tyrosine kinases known as Ror-1, Ror-2, Ehk-1 and Ehk-2. The invention also provides for assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure neurotrophin activity or to identify agents that exhibit neurotrophin-like activity. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the trkB proto-oncogene encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor that may serve as a functional binding protein for BDNF and NT-3. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on the interaction between BDNF and/or NT-3 and trkB.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 1995
Date of Patent:
December 1, 1998
Assignee:
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Inventors:
Peter C. Maisonpierre, Piotr Masiakowski, George D. Yancopoulos