Patent ID: 6436636
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of screening a pharmacological agent suitable for treatment of heart failure caused by down-regulatory activity of an AUF1 polypeptide binding a &bgr; adrenergic receptor mRNA, the method comprising;a) mixing the AUF1 polypeptide with a detectably labeled A+U-rich RNA element of the &bgr;-adrenergic receptor mRNA (ARE-RNA), in the presence or absence of a pharmacological agent suspected of lowering the binding affinity of AUF1 for said ARE-RNA; b) measuring, in the presence, as compared to the absence, of the pharmacological agent, the amount of detectably labeled ARE-RNA complexed with said AUF1 polypeptide, pharmacological agents which decrease said binding affinity of said AUF1 for said ARE-RNA and thereby decrease the anti-&bgr;-AR activity of said polypeptide being suitable for the treatment of heart failure.