Patent ID: 6692919
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: A61P,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method for detecting or measuring the form of Notch that mediates Notch signal transduction in a sample of cells comprising detecting or measuring the expression of a Notch heterodimer containing a reducing agent-sensitive linkage on the surface of cells in said cell sample, in which the heterodimer consists of an amino-terminal fragment of full-length Notch terminating between the epidermal growth factor-like repeat domain and the transmembrane domain of full-length Notch, and a carboxy-terminal fragment of full-length Notch with its amino terminus situated between the epidermal growth factor-like repeat domain and the transmembrane domain, and comparing said detected or measured expression to the detected or measured expression of full length Notch in said cells, wherein the presence and amount of Notch on the surface of said cells compared to the presence and amount, respectively, of full length Notch in said cells indicates the relative presence and amount, respectively, of the form of Notch that mediates Notch signal transduction.