Epstein-barr virus transcription factor binding assay

US5679525A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Tularik Limited · US

Inventors

• Michael G. Peterson · Millbrae, US
• Thomas Henkel · Eppelheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 17, 1996
• Grant date: Oct 21, 1997
• Expiry date: Jul 17, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2710/16222
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying pharmacological agents useful in the diagnosis or treatment of disease associated with the expression of a gene modulated by a transcription complex containing at least CBF1 and a transcription factor. The methods involve combining CBF1, the Epstein-Barr virus transcription factor EBNA2 or cellular homolog thereof, and a candidate pharmacological agent. This mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate pharmacological agent, CBF1 binds EBNA2. The absence of selective binding indicates that the candidate pharmacological agent is capable of selectively modulating the expression of a gene dependent on CBF1-transcription factor binding. The mixture may further comprise a CBF1 binding element including the nucleotide sequence: C-G-T-G-G-G-A-A. This mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate pharmacological agent, a transcription complex comprising both polypeptides bound, directly or indirectly to the nucleic acid is formed. The methods are particularly suited to high-throughput screening where one or more steps are performed by a computer con…