Abstract: The invention features nucleic acid molecules that are involved with (e.g. activate or regulate) human SR—BI receptor transcription, as well as complements thereto, and homologs thereof. In addition, drug discovery assays are provided for identifying agents which modulate SR—BI promoter activity and thereby modulate the expression of a gene regulated thereby. Such agents can be useful therapeutically for treating or preventing the development of a disease or condition that is caused or contributed to by an aberrant SR—BI activity. In a preferred embodiment, the disease or condition is characterized by inappropriate lipid transfer or metabolism (e.g., atherosclerosis or gallstone formation). Such agents can also be used to modulate expression of a specific gene under the control of the SR—BI promoter in gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of novel genes encoding an angiotensin converting enzyme, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2). Therapeutics, diagnostics and screening assays based on these molecules are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery of the genomic structure of the human SR-BI gene and on the identification of polymorphic regions within the gene. Accordingly, the invention provides nucleic acids having a nucleotide sequence of an allelic variant of an SR-BI gene and nucleic acids having an SR-BI intronic sequence. The invention also provides methods for identifying specific alleles of polymorphic regions of an SR-BI gene, methods for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of developing a disease which is associated with a specific allele of a polymorphic region of an SR-BI gene, and kits for performing such methods.

Abstract: The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery of a polymorphism in the human SR-BI gene which is genetically linked with a high body mass index. Accordingly, the invention provides diagnostic assays and kits for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of developing an abnormal body mass index, such as a high body mass.

Abstract: The present invention is based at least in part on the discovery of the genomic structure of the human SR-BI gene and on the identification of polymorphic regions within the gene. Accordingly, the invention provides nucleic acids having a nucleotide sequence of an allelic variant of an SR-BI gene and nucleic acids having an SR-BI intronic sequence. The invention also provides methods for identifying specific alleles of polymorphic regions of an SR-BI gene, methods for determining whether a subject has or is at risk of developing a disease which is associated with a specific allele of a polymorphic region of an SR-BI gene, and kits for performing such methods.

Abstract: The invention features nucleic acid molecules that are involved with (e.g. activate or regulate) human SR-BI receptor transcription, as well as complements thereto, and homologs thereof. In addition, drug discovery assays are provided for identifying agents which modulate SR-BI promoter activity and thereby modulate the expression of a gene regulated thereby. Such agents can be useful therapeutically for treating or preventing the development of a disease or condition that is caused or contributed to by an aberrant SR-BI activity. In a preferred embodiment, the disease or condition is characterized by inappropriate lipid transfer or metabolism (e.g., atherosclerosis or gallstone formation). Such agents can also be used to modulate expression of a specific gene under the control of the SR-BI promoter in gene therapy. Moreover, the present invention provides diagnostic assays and reagents for determining whether a subject has a disorder involving, for example, aberrant expression of SR-BI genes.