Steroid-activated nuclear receptors and uses therefor
US6756491B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K38/00
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an example of a novel class of nuclear receptor(s), termed the steroid X receptor (SXR). SXR is expressed almost exclusively in the liver, the primary site of xenobiotic and steroid catabolism. Unlike classical steroid receptors, SXR heterodimerizes with RXR and binds to directly repeated sequences related to the half-site, AGTTCA. SXR can activate transcription through response elements found in some steroid inducible P450 genes in response to a wide variety of natural and synthetic steroid hormones, including antagonists such as PCN—ideal properties for a “steroid sensing receptor” which mediates the physiological effect(s) of hormones. SXR represents the first new class of steroid receptors described since the identification of the mineralocorticoid receptor ten years ago. Also provided according to the invention are nucleic acid sequences encoding the above-identified receptors, as well as constructs and cells containing same, and probes derived therefrom. Furthermore, it has also been discovered that a wide variety of substrates modulate the transcription activating effects of invention receptors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.