AKT3 inhibitors

Abstract

Inhibitors of human Akt3, including antisense oligonucleotides, methods, and compositions specific for human Akt3, are provided. Methods of using the compositions for modulating Akt3 expression and for regulating cell growth, particularly tumor cell growth, are also provided.

1 . An isolated Akt3 inhibitor selected from the group consisting of an antisense oligonucleotide, a ribozyme, a protein, a polypeptide, an antibody, and a small molecule.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 1  wherein said Akt3 inhibitor is an antisense molecule.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 2  wherein said antisense molecule or the complement thereof comprises at least 10 consecutive nucleic acids of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 3  wherein said antisense molecule or the complement thereof hybridizes under high stringency conditions to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         5 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 2  wherein said antisense molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2-6 and 12-19.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 1  wherein said Akt3 inhibitor is a ribozyme.  
     
     
         7 . The isolated Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 1  wherein said Akt3 inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an antibody and an antibody fragment.  
     
     
         8 . A composition, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a Akt3 inhibitor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , comprising two or more Akt3 inhibitors.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein said Akt3 inhibitor is an antisense molecule.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said antisense molecule or the complement thereof comprises at least 10 consecutive nucleic acids of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein said antisense molecule comprises a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2-6 and 12-19.  
     
     
         13 . A method of decreasing the expression of Akt3 in a mammalian cell, comprising administering to said cell an Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said Akt3 inhibitor is an antisense molecule.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating neoplastic disease, comprising administering to a mammalian cell an Akt3 inhibitor of  claim 1  such that said neoplastic disease is reduced in severity.  
     
     
         16 . An antisense compound of 8 to 35 nucleotides in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding human Akt3, wherein the antisense compound inhibits the expression of human Akt3.  
     
     
         17 . An isolated polynucleotide with a sequence comprising a transcriptional initiation region and a sequence encoding an antisense oligonucleotide at least 8 nucleotides or nucleotide analogues and not longer than 35 nucleotides in length comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS:2-6 and 12-19.  
     
     
         18 . A recombinant vector comprising polynucleotide having a DNA with a sequence of  claim 17.