Abstract: The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction and particularly KDR/FLK-1 receptor signal transduction in order to regulate and/or modulate vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The invention is based, in part, on the demonstration that KDR/FLK-1 tyrosine kinase receptor expression is associated with endothelial cells and the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the high affinity ligand of FLK-1. These results indicate a major role for KDR/FLK-1 in the signaling system during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Engineering of host cells that express FLK-1 and the uses of expressed FLK-1 to evaluate and screen for drugs and analogs of VEGF involved in FLK-1 modulation by either agonist or antagonist activities is also described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 9, 1995
Date of Patent:
January 27, 1998
Assignees:
Yissum Research Development Corp., Sugen
Inventors:
Harald App, Gerald M. McMahon, Peng Cho Tang, Aviv Gazit, Alexander Levitzki