Modified interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme with increased stability
US6242240A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC12N9/6475
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Modified forms of human interleukin-1.beta. converting enzyme (ICE) that display proteolytic activity and, furthermore, have increased stability compared to unmodified human ICE are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules encoding a modified p10 subunit of ICE, and recombinant vectors and host cells incorporating such nucleic acid molecules, are also disclosed. A modified ICE protein of the invention can be used to cleave proteolytically ICE substrates and to identify modulators of ICE activity in screening assays. Moreover, due to its enhanced stability, the modified ICE of the invention is particularly suitable for use in the preparation of ICE crystals for X-ray crystallography.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.