Patent ID: 6420122
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of identifying a compound that disrupts the aggregation of polypeptides containing extended polyglutamine regions, the method comprising:providing a fluorescently labeled first polypeptide, wherein the first polypeptide contains an extended polyglutamine region and the fluorescent label is a polypeptide; contacting the first polypeptide with (a) a second polypeptide, wherein the second polypeptide contains an extended polyglutamine region, and (b) a test compound, wherein the first polypeptide, the second polypeptide, and the test compound form a mixture; contacting the mixture with a denaturant; and detecting fluorescence, wherein a decrease in fluorescence in the presence of the test compound, relative to control, indicates that the fluorescently labeled first polypeptide did not aggregate with the second polypeptide and that the test compound is, therefore, a compound that disrupts polypeptide aggregation.