US2005186211A1PendingUtilityA1

Use of mda-5 as an antiviral and antiproliferative agent

54
Priority: Feb 29, 2000Filed: Jan 24, 2005Published: Aug 25, 2005
Est. expiryFeb 29, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul FisherDong-Chul KangRahul Gopalkrishnan
C07K 14/47G01N 2500/10C07K 14/4748A61P 35/00
54
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to mda-5 nucleic acids, MDA-5 proteins, the mda-5 promoter, and related molecules, and the use of each of these elements in protecting against or limiting viral infection, controlling cell proliferation, and promoting apoptosis. It is based upon the discovery that, contrary to earlier hypotheses based on the amino acid sequence of MDA-5, the protein is not a defective ATPase but rather exhibits ATPase activity. This supports the role of MDA-5 as a RNA helicase protein and consequently its use in promoting RNA degradation, for example in the context of antiviral defense, limitation of cell proliferation, or induction of apoptosis.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of protecting a subject against contracting a viral infection comprising administering, to the subject, an effective amount of an agent which increases the level of MDA-5 protein activity in the subject.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where the viral infection is caused by a virus which produces a viral helicase.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where the viral infection is caused by a virus which does not produce a viral helicase.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent increases the RNA degradation activity of MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent increases the ATPase activity of MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering, to the subject, an interferon in an amount such that the combined effects of interferon and agent confer protection against viral infection.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject an antiviral agent in an amount such that the combined effects of the antiviral agent and the agent confer protection against viral infection.  
     
     
         14 . A method of limiting a viral infection in a subject comprising administering, to the subject, an effective amount of an agent which increases the level of MDA-5 protein activity in the subject.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , where the viral infection is caused by a virus which produces a viral helicase.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , where the viral infection is caused by a virus which does not produce a viral helicase.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the agent is a MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , where the MDA-5 protein comprises a protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the agent increases the RNA degradation activity of MDA-5 protein.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the agent increases the ATPase activity of MDA-5 protein.

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