Use of pak4 and crtc1 for treatment or diagnosis of brain degenerative disease

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of PAK4 and CRTC1 for the treatment or diagnosis of a degenerative brain disease. Specifically, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of a degenerative brain disease comprising PAK4 (p21-activated kinase 4) or a PAK4 activator as an effective ingredient. In addition, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of a degenerative brain disease comprising a CRTC1 expression enhancer or activator as an effective ingredient, a diagnostic kit for a degenerative brain disease comprising an agent for detecting CRTC1, and a method for screening a substance for the prevention or treatment of a degenerative brain disease, comprising (a) applying a candidate drug to brain tissue or brain cells containing CRTC1 gene or CRTC1 protein; (b) measuring the degree of phosphorylation in CRTC1; and (c) determining the candidate drug as a substance for the prevention or treatment of a degenerative brain disease when the measurement in step (b) indicates that the phosphorylation in CRTC1 is increased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of a Parkinson's disease comprising a CRTC1 (CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1) expression enhancer or activator as an effective ingredient,
 wherein the CRTC1 expression enhancer or activator is one which phosphorylates the serine 215 residue in the CRTC1 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 by a PAK4 (p21-activated kinase 4).   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the CRTC1 expression enhancer or activator is one which increases the expression or activity of CRTC1 in brain tissue, thereby increasing the expression or activity of CREB (cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate response element-binding protein). 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the CRTC1 expression enhancer or activator is a compound, a peptide, an aptamer or an antibody. 
     
     
         4 . A diagnostic kit for a degenerative brain disease comprising an agent for detecting CRTC1 ((cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate response element-binding protein) regulated transcription coactivator 1). 
     
     
         5 . The diagnostic kit according to claim  9 , wherein the agent is a compound, peptide, probe or antibody, specific for CRTC1. 
     
     
         6 . A method for screening a substance for the prevention or treatment of a Parkinson's disease, comprising:
 (a) applying a candidate drug to brain tissue or brain cells containing CRTC1 gene or CRTC1 protein;   (b) measuring the degree of phosphorylation in CRTC1; and   (c) determining the candidate drug as a substance for the prevention or treatment of a degenerative brain disease when the measurement in step (b) indicates that the phosphorylation in CRTC1 is increased.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the CRTC1 phosphorylation in step (b) is phosphorylation on the serine 215 residue in the CRTC1 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the measurement in step (c) is performed using one selected from the group consisting of Western blot, immunoprecipitation assay, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and immunohistochemical analysis.