Patent ID: 6531290
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: C12N,C12Q,C12Y,G01N

Abstract:
A method for identifying a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian TNF-&agr; convertase, comprising:(a) culturing a mammalian host cell comprising a first recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a TNF-&agr; convertase substrate comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 22, and a second recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleic acid that is to be tested to determine whether it encodes a mammalian TNF-&agr; convertase, under conditions in which expression occurs; and (b) measuring the rate of cleavage of the substrate; whereby a nucleic acid encoding a mammalian TNF-&agr; convertase is identified by measuring substantially increased cleavage of the substrate, compared to what would be measured in the absence of such nucleic acid.