Novel proteins

Abstract

The present invention relates to human diacylglycerol kinase proteins (hDAGK) and particularly to human diacylglycerol kinase β (hDAGKβ) protein, and to related nucleotide sequences, expression vectors, cell lines, antibodies, screening methods, compounds, methods of production and methods of treatment, as well as other related aspects.

1 . An isolated human diacylglycerol kinase β (hDAGKβ) protein or a variant thereof.  
     
     
         2 . hDAGKβ protein according to  claim 1  having an amino acid sequence as set out in Seq ID No 1 or in Seq ID No 4.  
     
     
         3 . hDAGKβ protein according to  claim 1  having an amino acid sequence as set out in Seq ID No 4.  
     
     
         4 . A nucleotide sequence encoding a hDAGKβ protein or a variant thereof, or a nucleotide sequence which is complementary thereto.  
     
     
         5 . The nucleotide sequence according to  claim 4  having a sequence as set out in Seq ID No 3 or in Seq ID No 6.  
     
     
         6 . The nucleotide sequence according to  claim 4  having a sequence as set out in Seq ID No 6.  
     
     
         7 . The nucleotide sequence according to in any of  claims 4  to  6  or which is a cDNA sequence.  
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence according to any one of  claims 4  to  7 , which is capable of expressing an hDAGKβ protein.  
     
     
         9 . A stable cell line comprising an expression vector according to  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . The cell line according to  claim 9  that is a modified HEK293, COS or HeLa cell line.  
     
     
         11 . An antibody specific for a protein as claimed in any  claims 1  to  3 .  
     
     
         12 . A method for identification of a compound that exhibits DAGK modulating activity, comprising contacting a DAGK protein with a test compound and detecting modulation of enzyme activity or detecting enzyme inactivity.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the DAGK protein is hDAGKβ.  
     
     
         14 . A compound that modulates hDAGK activity, identifiable by a method according to  claim 12 .  
     
     
         15 . The compound according to  claim 14  that modulates hDAGKβ activity.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder that is responsive to modulation of hDAGK activity in a human patient, which comprises administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound according to either  claim 14  or  claim 15 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder that is responsive to modulation of hDAGK activity in a human patient, which comprises administering to said patient an effective amount of a modulator of hDAGK activity.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to either  claim 16  or  claim 17  wherein the disorder is a mood disorder, epilepsy, a neurodegenerative disorder, anxiety, schizofrenia, migraine, drug dependence, stroke, Alzheimer's dementia or Parkinson's disease.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to any one of  claims 16  to  18  wherein the disorder is responsive to modulation of hDAGKβ.  
     
     
         20 . Use of a compound according to either  claim 14  or  claim 15  in a method of formulating a medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder that is responsive to modulation of hDAGK activity in a human patient.  
     
     
         21 . Use of a modulator of hDAGK activity in a method of formulating a medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder that is responsive to modulation of hDAGK activity in a human patient.  
     
     
         22 . The use according to either  claim 20  or  claim 21  wherein the disorder is a mood disorder, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorder, anxiety, schizofrenia, migraine, drug dependence, stroke, Alzheimer's dementia, Parkinson's disease.  
     
     
         23 . The use according to any one of  claims 20  to  22  wherein the disorder is responsive to modulation of hDAGKβ.  
     
     
         24 . A method of producing an hDAGKβ protein or a variant thereof comprising introducing into an appropriate cell line a suitable vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding for an hDAGKβ protein or a variant thereof, under conditions suitable for obtaining expression of the hDAGKβ protein or variant.