Abstract: The invention relates to regulators of fungal gene expression and their use in commercial and medical applications. More particularly, the invention relates to regulators of fungal genes involved in production of enzymes, secondary metabolites and other useful products, as well as to regulators of genes involved in fungal invasion. The invention provides novel regulators of fungal gene expression, and methods for using regulator genes in commercial and medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, effective assay for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of polypeptides in a library to identifying those polypeptides which induce or antagonize receptor bioactivity. The subject assay is particularly amenable for identifying surrogate ligands for orphan receptors.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to novel yeast cells which are useful for the expression of heterologous G protein coupled receptors. The yeast cells of the present invention can be used in screening assays which can be used to screen for modulators of G protein coupled receptors. Specifically, the invention provides novel yeast cells which express a heterologous G protein coupled receptor and mutant and/or chimeric G protein subunit molecules which serve to functionally integrate the heterologous into the pheromone signaling pathway of the yeast cell. The invention also provides for the expression of heterologous G protein coupled receptors which are functionally integrated into the yeast cell membrane using a yeast ? factor leader sequence. Drug discovery assays using the subject yeast cells are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to regulators of fungal gene expression and their use in commercial and medical applications. More particularly, the invention relates to regulators of fungal genes involved in production of enzymes, secondary metabolites and other useful products, as well as to regulators of genes involved in fungal invasion. The invention provides novel regulators of fungal gene expression, and methods for using regulator genes in commercial and medical applications.

Abstract: Yeast cells are engineered to express both a surrogate of a pheromone system protein (e.g., enzymes involved in maturation of &agr;-factor, transporters of a-factor, pheromone receptors, etc.) and a potential peptide modulator of the surrogate, in such a manner that the inhibition or activation of the surrogate affects a screenable or selectable trait of the yeast cells. Various additional features improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the screening/selection system.

Abstract: The invention provides variant regulator proteins of secondary metabolite production and nucleic acids encoding said variant regulator proteins. In particular, the invention provides variant regulator molecules of the lovE protein.

Abstract: Yeast cells are engineered to express both a surrogate of a pheromone system protein (e.g., enzymes involved in maturation of &agr;-factor, transporters of a-factor, pheromone receptors, etc.) and a potential peptide modulator of the surrogate, in such a manner that the inhibition or activation of the surrogate affects a screenable or selectable trait of the yeast cells. Various additional features improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the screening/selection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of fungal infections. The invention provides new methods for therapeutically or prophylactically treating fungal infections using sub-lethal concentrations of an anti-invasin compound. The methods according to the invention have fewer toxicology problems than existing methods, and thus can be used prophylactically, as well as for early treatment for high risk patients without a firm diagnosis. The methods according to the invention can also be used to treat an established fungal infection. The invention further provides novel genes that regulate fungal hyphal growth.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, reproducible, robust assay system for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular protein, e.g., a receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of compounds to identify those which act as an agonist or antagonist to the bioactivity of the cellular protein. In particular, the assay of the invention makes use of a cell that harbors a protein that is responsive to a cellular signal transduction pathway. The protein is operatively linked to a polypeptide which causes a detectable signal to be generated upon stimulation of the pathway, e.g., when a compound interacts with and modulates the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel of the cell.

Abstract: The invention provides variant regulator proteins of secondary metabolite production and nucleic acids encoding said variant regulator proteins. In particular, the invention provides variant regulator molecules of the lovE protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to the modulation of fungal signaling pathways. More particularly, the invention relates to compounds that modulate such pathways and to methods for identifying such compounds. The invention provides novel modulators of fungal gene expression that can be used to regulate or modulate activities of specific signaling pathways and to identify and validate potential targets in drug discovery efforts.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, effective assay for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of polypeptides in a library to identifying those polypeptides which induce or antagonize receptor bioactivity. The subject assay is particularly amenable for identifying surrogate ligands for orphan receptors.

Abstract: Yeast cells are engineered to express both a surrogate of a pheromone system protein (e.g., enzymes involved in maturation of &agr;-factor, transporters of a-factor, pheromone receptors, etc.) and a potential peptide modulator of the surrogate, in such a manner that the inhibition or activation of the surrogate affects a screenable or selectable trait of the yeast cells. Various additional features improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the screening/selection system.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, reproducible, robust assay system for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular protein, e.g., a receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of compounds to identify those which act as an agonist or antagonist to the bioactivity of the cellular protein. In particular, the assay of the invention makes use of a cell that harbors a protein that is responsive to a cellular signal transduction pathway. The protein is operatively linked to a polypeptide which causes a detectable signal to be generated upon stimulation of the pathway, e.g., when a compound interacts with and modulates the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel of the cell.

Abstract: Modified forms of G protein-coupled receptors which display altered ligand binding and/or coupling properties are provided as well as cells expressing such receptors and assays utilizing these cells for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically modulate the activity of a these modified forms of G protein coupled receptors. Yeast or mammalian cells can be used to express such receptors. The subject assays enable rapid screening of large numbers of compounds (e.g., compounds in a library) to identify those which are receptor agonists or antagonists. Compositions of matter, such as these novel receptors, novel recombinant yeast cells and novel gene constructs, are also provided. The instant assays provide a convenient format for discovering compounds which can be useful in modulating cellular function, as well as in understanding the pharmacology of compounds that specifically interact with these modified forms G protein coupled receptors.

Abstract: The invention relates to regulators of fungal gene expression and their use in commercial and medical applications. More particularly, the invention relates to regulators of fungal genes involved in production of enzymes, secondary metabolites and other useful products, as well as to regulators of genes involved in fungal invasion. The invention provides novel regulators of fungal gene expression, and methods for using regulator genes in commercial and medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, effective assay for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of polypeptides in a library to identifying those polypeptides which induce or antagonize receptor bioactivity. The subject assay is particularly amenable for identifying surrogate ligands for orphan receptors.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, effective assay for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of polypeptides in a yeast expression library to identifying those polypeptides which induce or antagonize receptor bioactivity. The subject assay is particularly amenable for identifying surrogate ligands for orphan receptors.

Abstract: The present invention makes available a rapid, effective assay for screening and identifying pharmaceutically effective compounds that specifically interact with and modulate the activity of a cellular protein, e.g., a receptor or ion channel. The subject assay enables rapid screening of large numbers of compounds to identify those which act as an agonist or antagonist to the bioactivity of the cellular protein. The subject assay is particularly amenable for identifying surrogate ligands for receptors especially from small molecule or peptide libraries or from peptides produced by an autocrine system.

Abstract: Yeast cells are engineered to express both a surrogate of a pheromone system protein (e.g., enzymes involved in maturation of .alpha.-factor, transporters of a-factor, pheromone receptors, etc.) and a potential peptide modulator of the surrogate, in such a manner that the inhibition or activation of the surrogate affects a screenable or selectable trait of the yeast cells. Various additional features improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the screening/selection system.