Assays for the detection of microtubule depolymerization inhibitors

US6872537B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Ronald D. Vale · San Francisco, US
• James Hartman · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 13, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 29, 2005
• Expiry date: Apr 13, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2333/4703
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This invention provides methods for the screening and identification of agents having potent effects on the progression of the cell cycle. In one embodiment, the methods involve contacting a polymerized microtubule with a microtubule severing protein or a microtubule depolymerizing protein in the presence of an ATP or a GTP and a test agent; and (ii) detecting the formation of tubulin monomers, dimers or oligomers. The p60 subunit of katanin provides a particularly preferred microtubule severing protein possessing both ATPase and microtubule severing activities.