IKK3 kinase

Abstract

This invention relates to an IKK kinase protein, IKK3, nucleotides coding for it, vectors and host cells containing the same and methods for screening for modulators of said IKK3 protein for treatment of conditions involving inflammation.

1 . An isolated IKK3 kinase protein or a variant thereof.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated IKK3 kinase protein having the amino acid sequence in FIG. 3, or a variant thereof.  
     
     
         3 . An IKK3 kinase protein or variant thereof according to  claim 1  or  2 , for use in a method for screening for agents with anti-inflammatory activity.  
     
     
         4 . A nucleotide sequence encoding an IKK3 kinase or a variant thereof, or a nucleotide sequence which is complementary thereto.  
     
     
         5 . A nucleotide sequence encoding an IKK3 kinase as shown in FIG. 4, or a variant thereof, or a nucleotide sequence which is complementary thereto.  
     
     
         6 . The nucleotide sequence of either  claim 4  or  5 , which is a cDNA sequence.  
     
     
         7 . A nucleotide sequence that hybridises to any part of a nucleotide strand referred to in either of  claims 4  to  6 .  
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence according to any one of  claims 4  to  7 , which is capable of expressing a IKK3 kinase protein or a variant thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A stable cell line comprising a vector according to  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A cell line according to  claim 9  which is a Hela cell line.  
     
     
         11 . An antibody specific for a protein as claimed in  claims 1  to  3 .  
     
     
         12 . A method for identification of a compound which exhibits IKK3 kinase modulating activity, comprising contacting a IKK3 kinase protein according to any of  claims 1  to  3  with a test compound and detecting modulating activity or inactivity.  
     
     
         13 . A compound which modulates IKK3 kinase, identifiable by a method according to  claim 12 .  
     
     
         14 . A method of treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder which is responsive to modulation of IKK3 kinase activity in a mammal, which comprises administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound identifiable by the method according to  claim 12 .  
     
     
         15 . Use of a compound identifiable by the method according to  claim 12  in a method of formulating a medicament for treatment or prophylaxis of a disorder which is responsive to the modulation of IKK3 kinase activity in a mammal.  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing an IKK3 kinase protein comprising introducing into an appropriate cell line a suitable vector or vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding for IKK3 or variants thereof, under conditions suitable for obtaining expression of the protein or variants.