Compositions and methods for inhibiting g protein signaling

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for identifying agents which bind to specific amino acid residues of the protein interaction site of G protein β protein subunit. Compounds identified in accordance with the assay of the invention and methods for using the compound for modulating at least one activity of a G protein are also provide.

1 . A method for identifying an agent that modulates at least one activity of a G protein comprising contacting a G protein β subunit with a test agent and determining whether the agent interacts with at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the β subunit thereby identifying an agent that modulates at least one activity of the G protein. 
     
     
         2 . An agent identified by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A method for identifying an agent that binds at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the β subunit comprising
 contacting a G protein β subunit with a test agent in the presence of a peptide that binds at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of β subunit; and   determining whether the agent inhibits the binding of the peptide to the at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the β subunit thereby identifying an agent that binds at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the β subunit.   
     
     
         4 . An agent identified by the method of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . A kit for identifying an agent that binds at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the β subunit, said kit comprising a SIGK peptide or SIGK peptide derivative. 
     
     
         6 . A method for modulating at least one activity of a G protein comprising contacting a G protein with an effective amount of an agent that interacts with at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the G protein β subunit so that at least one activity of the G protein is modulated. 
     
     
         7 . A method for preventing or treating a disease or condition involving at least one G protein βγ subunit activity comprising administering to a patient having or at risk of having a disease or condition involving at least one G protein βγ subunit activity an effective amount of an agent that interacts with at least one amino acid residue of the protein interaction site of the G protein β subunit so that the at least one activity of the G protein is modulated thereby preventing or treating the disease or condition involving the at least one G protein βγsubunit activity.