Regulators of nfat

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of identifying an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. One such method comprises contacting at least one test agent with a recombinant cell comprising at least one NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, assessing the effect of the test agent on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, and identifying the test agent that has an effect on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, whereby the identified test agent is characterized as an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. Methods and tools for identifying an agent that modulates intracellular calcium, to screen for an agent that modulates NFAT regulator function, to diagnose unexplained immunodeficiency in a subject, and for identifying an agent for treating or preventing a disease or disorder associated with a NFAT regulator protein or calcium signaling are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A recombinant cell comprising heterologous nucleic acid encoding at least one mammalian Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) regulator protein, wherein the heterologous nucleic acid is a mammalian NFAT regulator gene, wherein the NFAT regulator gene is ORAI selected from ORAI1, ORAI2, ORAI3 or a homologue or derivative thereof; and the recombinant cells is an isolated cell.