Abstract: Drug screening assays useful in the discovery of pharmaceutically active compounds for use in the treatment of diseases involving abnormal lipid metabolism including diabetic neuropathy are taught. In particular, the control region of delta-5-desaturase gene is taught as a target for the drug screening methods, which serve to identify nucleotides, proteins, compounds and/or other pharmacological agents, which modulate the activity of desaturase enzymes or regulate the level of expression of the desaturase genes. Cell-based and cell lysate assays are taught for detecting components that interact with the desaturase enzymes and modify fatty acid profiles. In addition, cell-based and cell lysate assays are used to identify functional and regulatory elements controlling expression of the desaturase genes as well as to screen for components that modulate the transcriptional activity of the desaturase genes. Also taught is the gene for rat delta-5-desaturase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elongase genes, their polypeptides and their control regions, and the use of such genes, polypeptides and control regions in determining compositions for use in the treatment of disease. The identified compositions regulate the expression of the elongase genes or modulate the activity of their protein products. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences are taught for ELG4, ELG6 and ELG7. The control sequences and function are taught for ELG1, ELG2, ELG3, ELG4, ELG5, ELG6 and ELG7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elongase genes, their polypeptides and their control regions, and the use of such genes, polypeptides and control regions in determining compositions for use in the treatment of disease. The identified compositions regulate the expression of the elongase genes or modulate the activity of their protein products. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences are taught for ELG4, ELG6 and ELG7. The control sequences and function are taught for ELG1, ELG2, ELG3, ELG4, ELG5, ELG6 and ELG7.

Abstract: Drug screening assays useful in the discovery of pharmaceutically active compounds for use in the treatment of diseases involving abnormal lipid metabolism including diabetic neuropathy are taught. In particular, the control region of delta-5-desaturase gene is taught as a target for the drug screening methods, which serve to identify nucleotides, proteins, compounds and/or other pharmacological agents, which modulate the activity of desaturase enzymes or regulate the level of expression of the desaturase genes. Cell-based and cell lysate assays are taught for detecting components that interact with the desaturase enzymes and modify fatty acid profiles. In addition, cell-based and cell lysate assays are used to identify functional and regulatory elements controlling expression of the desaturase genes as well as to screen for components that modulate the transcriptional activity of the desaturase genes. Also taught is the gene for rat delta-5-desaturase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for identifying genes regulated by fat and their subsequent use in determining compositions for use in the treatment of disease, by utilizing the identified genes and their proteins. The identified compositions regulate the expression of the fat regulated genes or modulate the activity of their protein products. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for METP, a novel mitochondrial carrier protein and FTF1, a fat responsive transcription factor, are taught. The nucleotide sequence for A1BG, a plasma glycoprotein is taught. The nucleotide and amino add sequences for human GPAT and rat GLOL are taught. Control sequences for human METP, GLOL, FTF1, SCD, GPAT and A1BG are taught.

Abstract: Drug screening assays useful in the discovery of pharmaceutically active compounds for use in the treatment of diseases involving abnormal lipid metabolism including diabetic neuropathy are taught. In particular, the control region of delta-5-desaturase gene is taught as a target for the drug screening methods, which serve to identify nucleotides, proteins, compounds and/or other pharmacological agents, which modulate the activity of desaturase enzymes or regulate the level of expression of the desaturase genes. Cell-based and cell lysate assays are taught for detecting components that interact with the desaturase enzymes and modify fatty acid profiles. In addition, cell-based and cell lysate assays are used to identify functional and regulatory elements controlling expression of the desaturase genes as well as to screen for components that modulate the transcriptional activity of the desaturase genes. Also taught is the gene for rat delta-5-desaturase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elongase genes, their polypeptides and their control regions, and the use of such genes, polypeptides and control regions in determining compositions for use in the treatment of disease. The identified compositions regulate the expression of the elongase genes or modulate the activity of their protein products. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences are taught for ELG4, ELG6 and ELG7. The control sequences and function are taught for ELG1, ELG2, ELG3, ELG4, ELG5, ELG6 and ELG7.