Patent ID: 8957020
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: A61K,A61P,C12N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of screening for a candidate inhibitor of obesity that decreases the kinase activity of the Mitogen Activating Protein Kinase Interacting Kinase (Mnk) polypeptide selected from Mnk2a and Mnk2b, wherein said kinase activity is associated with obesity, said method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying an inhibitor of the kinase activity of Mnk2a or Mnk2b by steps: (i) determining a first level of kinase activity of Mnk2a or Mnk2b in the absence of a candidate Mnk2 inhibitor; (ii) determining a second level of kinase activity of Mnk2a or Mnk2b in the presence of a candidate Mnk2 inhibitor; (iii) comparing the first and the second levels of the kinase activity of the Mnk2a or Mnk2b, wherein if the second level of the kinase activity is less than the first level then the candidate inhibitor is identified as an Mnk2 inhibitor; and (b) determining if the Mnk2 inhibitor identified from step (iii) increases synthesis of lipids during adipogenesis in a preadipocyte cell thereby identifying the Mnk2 inhibitor as a candidate for screening the inhibitor of obesity.