Lipid kinase

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel lipid kinase which is part of the PI3 Kinase family. PI3 Kinases catalyze the addition of phosphate to inositol generating inositol mono, di and triphosphate. Inositol phosphates have been implicated in regulating intracellular signaling cascades resulting in alternations in gene expression which, amongst other effects, can result in cytoskeletal remodeling and modulation of cellular motility. More particularly the invention relates to a novel human PI3 Kinase, p110Δ which interacts with p85, has a broad phosphinositide specificity and is sensitive to the same kinase inhibitors as PI3 Kinase p110A. However, in contrast to previously identified PI3 Kinases which show a ubiquitous pattern of expression, p110Δ is selectively expressed in leucocytes. Importantly, p110Δ shows enhanced expression in most melanomas tested and therefore may play a crucial role in regulating the metastatic property exhibited by melanomas. The identification of agents that enhance or reduce p110Δ activity may therefore prevent cancer metastatis.

1 - 29 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         30 . A method for identifying an agent which modulates activity of a p110δ molecule, comprising exposing said p110δ molecule to said agent, observing activity of said p110δ molecule in the presence of said agent, said activity selected from the group consisting of kinase activity, autophosphorylation and cell mobility, and comparing said activity to activity of said p110δ molecule in the absence of said agent, any difference therebetween indicating that said agent modulates activity of p110δ, wherein the amino acid sequence is set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said activity is kinase activity.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said activity is autophosphorylation.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said activity of p110δ is cell mobility.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising carrying out said method in vitro.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising exposing a cell which expresses said p110δ to said agent.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said cell has been transfected by an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes said p110δ.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising exposing said p110δ to said agent and to p85.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said cell is an insect cell or a mammalian cell.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said agent is an antagonist.