Abstract: An assay and system compatible with high throughput screening (HTS) that is capable of identifying inhibitors, such as small-molecule inhibitors, of the degradation of the Cdk inhibitor p21, are described. The assay is based on the use of fusion protein comprising (i) a p2 polypeptide; and (i) a reporter protein linked to the C-terminal of said p21 polypeptide, wherein the fusion protein has a half-life that is similar to that of the p21 polypeptide. Inhibitors identified by this assay may be useful to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, and thus for the treatment of cancers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are substantially pure nucleic acids encoding mutated SUMO isoforms, polypeptides, vectors, cells and methods of their use to identify and quantify protein SUMOylation in mammalian cells. Also disclosed is a dual affinity method for detecting a mutated SUMOylated protein substrate fragment.

Abstract: An assay and system compatible with high throughput screening (HTS) that is capable of identifying inhibitors, such as small-molecule inhibitors, of the degradation of the Cdk inhibitor p21, are described. The assay is based on the use of fusion protein comprising (i) a p2 polypeptide; and (i) a reporter protein linked to the C-terminal of said p21 polypeptide, wherein the fusion protein has a half-life that is similar to that of the p21 polypeptide. Inhibitors identified by this assay may be useful to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, and thus for the treatment of cancers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are substantially pure nucleic acids encoding mutated SUMO isoforms, polypeptides, vectors, cells and methods of their use to identify and quantify protein SUMOylation in mammalian cells. Also disclosed is a dual affinity method for detecting a mutated SUMOylated protein substrate fragment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a predisposition to develop cancer in a patient, comprising the step of detecting EN 2 gene or its expression product in said patient or in a biological sample of said patient, whereby detecting presence of at least one of EN 2 gene or its expression product is indicative of a predisposition to develop breast cancer. The present invention also relates to antisense hybridizine to EN2 gene kits for determining predisposition to develop cancer and method of reducing EN2 expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining a predisposition to develop cancer in a patient, comprising the step of detecting EN 2 gene or its expression product in said patient or in a biological sample of said patient, whereby detecting presence of at least one of EN 2 gene or its expression product is indicative of a predisposition to develop breast cancer. The present invention also relates to antisense hybridizine to EN2 gene kits for determining predisposition to develop cancer and method of reducing EN2 expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for enhancing nucleic acid transfer into cells and especially for enhancing nucleic acid transfer into cells for which conventional non-viral transfection methods and compositions are inefficient. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with nucleic acid delivery compositions and methods comprising cationic polymers. The present invention particularly relates to compositions and methods for transfecting cells using a nucleic acid-cationic polymer-lipid mixture. The compositions and methods of the present invention display significantly improved transfection efficiency over other non-viral delivery formulations and methods.