Patent ID: 6602710
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A screening method for inhibitors specific for sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) pathway, which comprises the steps of:a) culturing each of (i) mutant cells in which SCAP has lost ability to respond to sterol levels, and (ii) normal cells in which SCAP has not lost ability to respond to sterol levels â€ƒin the presence and absence of a test inhibitor of SREBP pathway, and b) measuring both cholesterol synthesis and LDL receptor synthesis of the cells, wherein, in cells (i), if cholesterol synthesis or LDL receptor synthesis is not decreased in cells cultured in the presence of the test inhibitor compared with cells cultured in the absence of the test inhibitor, while in cells (ii), if both cholesterol synthesis and LDL receptor synthesis are decreased in cells cultured in the presence of the test inhibitor compared with cells cultured in the absence of the test inhibitor, then the test inhibitor inhibits the SREBP pathway.