Patent ID: 6730820
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: A01K,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method for selecting a modulator of a gonadal cell migration activity in a nematode having a developing gonadal cell, the nematode being selected from the group consisting of C. elegans and C. briggsae, the migration activity being selected from the group consisting of elongation and expansion, wherein the migration activity is regulated by a protein that comprises a metalloprotease domain and a thrombospondin domain, the method comprising the steps of:treating a nematode, with at least one potential modulator thereby producing a treated nematode; and observing in the treated nematode a change in the migration activity of the cell attributable to the at least one potential modulator, wherein the change is not observed after treatment with the potential modulator of a mutant of the nematode that comprises the cell but does not comprise the protein, wherein the change results in the selection of the modulator, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, a protein encoded by a heterologous polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 introduced under transcriptional control of a promoter functional in the nematode, a chimeric protein that retains a metalloprotease domain and at least one thrombospondin domain of SEQ ID NO:2, marine ADAMTS-1 protein, bovine procollagen-1 N-proteinase, and human aggrecan-degrading metalloprotease.