Patent ID: 7943296
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: A61P,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
1. An assay for identifying an agent that increases biological activity of natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA) or natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPRB), decreases deleterious soluble natriuretic peptide receptor-related fragment (sNRF)-mediated growth factor activity, or increases biological activity of NPRA or NRPB and decreases deleterious sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, comprising: contacting a test agent with a cell, wherein the cell comprises a reporter, a NPRA or NPRB, and a sNRF that interferes with binding of cGMP-dependent kinase I (PKG) to the NPRA or NPRB, wherein the sNRF comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6; contacting the cell with a growth factor; contacting the cell with a natriuretic peptide (NP); measuring biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB, measuring sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, or measuring biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB and sNRF-mediated growth factor activity; comparing the biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB, the sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, or the biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB and sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, in the presence of the test agent to the biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB, the sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, or the biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB and sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, in the absence of the test agent; and determining whether the test agent increases biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB, decreases deleterious sNRF-mediated growth factor activity, or increases biological activity of the NPRA or NPRB and decreases sNRF-mediated growth factor activity.