Patent ID: 8859197
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: A01K,A61K,C07K,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting a compound having potential contraceptive activity, the method comprising: (a) contacting a candidate compound with a cell expressing a CatSper3 protein, the CatSper3 protein comprising at least 90% similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and wherein the CatSper3 protein has CatSper3 activity; (b) measuring an indicator of CatSper3 activity in said cell, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of the level of mRNA encoding the CatSper3 protein, the level of CatSper3 protein, cation flux across a membrane of the cell, whole cell currents of the cell, and channel currents of the cell; (c) determining whether said candidate compound caused a decrease in CatSper3 activity in said cell relative to CatSper3 activity prior to contact with the candidate compound; and (d) selecting said candidate compound that causes a decrease in CatSper3 activity as having potential contraceptive activity.