Abstract: The present invention relates an isolated promoter region of the mammalian transcription factor FOXC2. The invention also relates to screening methods for agents modulating the expression of FOXC2 and thereby being potentially useful for the treatment of medical conditions related to obesity. The invention further relates to a previously unknown variant of the human FOXC2 gene, derived via the use of an alternative promoter, which produces an additional exon that generates a distinct open reading frame via splicing. The alternative gene encodes a variant of the FOXC2 transcription factor, which is lacking a part of the DNA-binding domain and consequently has a potential regulatory function.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel Afx response element comprising the nucleotide sequence AACATGTT, said nucleotide sequence having a DNA binding site for the human fork head transkription factor Afx. The invention also relates to the use of the Afx response element in the screening for genes as diabetes drug targets and in the bioinformatic analysis of the human genome, said genes in turn being useful in other screening methods for compounds modifying the insulin receptor signaling pathway. A further aspect of the invention is a vector construct comprising the novel nucleotide sequence, a host cell transformed with said vector construct as well as the fusion protein expressed by said host cell.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel Afx response element comprising the nucleotide sequence AACATGTT, said nucleotide sequence having a DNA binding site for the human fork head transkription factor Afx. The invention also relates to the use of the Afx response element in the screening for genes as diabetes drug targets and in the bioinformatic analysis of the human genome, said genes in turn being useful in other screening methods for compounds modifying the insulin receptor signaling pathway. A further aspect of the invention is a vector construct comprising the novel nucleotide sequence, a host cell transformed with said vector construct as well as the fusion protein expressed by said host cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates an isolated promoter region of the mammalian transcription factor FOXC2. The invention also relates to screening methods for agents modulating the expression of FOXC2 and thereby being potentially useful for the treatment of medical conditions related to obesity. The invention further relates to a previously unknown variant of the human FOXC2 gene, derived via the use of an alternative promoter, which produces an additional exon that generates a distinct open reading frame via splicing. The alternative gene encodes a variant of the FOXC2 transcription factor, which is lacking a part of the DNA-binding domain and consequently has a potential regulatory function.