Patent ID: 8431119
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for determining whether a nucleic acid antagonizes the activity of the p53 protein, comprising the steps of: (a) generating a recombinant defective virus selected from the group consisting of adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and herpes virus comprising said nucleic acid; wherein said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a nucleic acid encoding a mutated form of p53 which antagonizes wild-type p53-mediated neuronal cell degradation in vitro; and (ii) a nucleic acid that reproduces the site of binding of p53 to DNA; (b) treating a culture of neuronal cells sensitive to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity with said defective virus so that said defective virus enters said neuronal cells, (c) adding an excitotoxic amount of glutamate to the culture medium of said neuronal cells; (d) comparing the amount of excitotoxicity measured in said neuronal cells with the amount of excitotoxicity measured in neuronal cells which were not treated with said nucleic acid, wherein a decrease in excitotoxicity measured in the neuronal cells treated with said nucleic acid as compared to the excitotoxicity measured in the neuronal cells not treated with said nucleic acid is indicative that said nucleic acid at least partially inhibits the activity of the p53 protein.