Patent ID: 7820397
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: A61P,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying an agent that modulates calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store, comprising: (a) contacting a recombinant cell that expresses a recombinant polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of a human, mouse or rat STIM 1 protein (SEQ ID NOS:4, 10 and 52, respectively), with (i) an exogenous agent that provides for reduction of calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store, the reagent selected from the group consisting of: an antagonist of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase pump, an agonist of a G-protein coupled receptor that activates phospholipase C, IP3 (inositol triphosohate), an agonist of a ryanodine receptor, phospholipase C, an ionophore, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), 1,2-bis(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA); or a substantially calcium-free extracellular solution; and (ii) a test agent; and (b) identifying the test agent as an agent that modulates intracellular calcium levels in an intracellular calcium store if refilling of intracellular calcium stores in the presence of the test agent is greater than or lower than refilling of intracellular calcium stores in the absence of the test agent.