Patent Publication Number: US-5629163-A

Title: Calcineurin inhibitory compounds and anchoring protein

Description:
This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/344,227, filed Nov. 23, 1994, which is pending. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to regulation of the phosphatase enzymatic activity of calcineurin. More particularly, the present invention relates to inhibition of calcineurin&#39;s phosphatase activity by certain peptides. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Calcineurin is a Ca 2  + /calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase and is an element of many intracellular signaling pathways. Guerini and Klee, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:9183-9187 (1989). The protein has been identified in eukaryotic cells ranging from yeast to mammals. Cyert and Thorner, J. Cell. Biol., 107:841a (1989) and Klee et al., Adv. Enzymol., 61:149-200 (1984). Because calcineurin may affect many signaling pathways in the same cell, some means of specific targeting of calcineurin&#39;s activity is required. One cellular means for specifically targeting enzyme activity in a cell is by compartmentalization. Compartmentalization provides a means for segregation of signaling pathways and contributes to the specificity of cellular responses to different stimuli. Compartmentalization of certain enzymes occurs by interaction of the enzymes with specific anchoring proteins. For example, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is anchored at specific intracellular sites by binding to A-Kinase Anchor Proteins (AKAPs). Hirsch et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:2131-2134 (1992). cAMP activates PKA by binding to the regulatory subunits (R) of the dormant PKA holoenzyme and causes the release of the active catalytic subunit (C). Two classes of R subunit exist; RI and RII which form the type I and type II PKA holoenzymes, respectively. The subcellular distributions of these PKA isoforms appear to be distinct. The RI isoforms (RIα and RI§) are reported to be predominantly cytoplasmic and are excluded from the nuclear compartment, whereas up to 75% of the RII isoforms (RIIα or RII§) are particulate and associated with either the plasma membrane, cytoskeletal components, secretory granules, the golgi apparatus, centrosomes or possibly nuclei. 
     AKAPs have been identified in a variety of organisms. At least 7 proteins that bind the regulatory subunit of PKA in Aplysia californica, a marine invertebrate have been identified. Cheley et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:2911-2920 (1994). One of these proteins is enriched in crude membrane fractions and taxol-stabilized microtubules and may thus anchor microtubules to the cell membrane as well as bind PICA. A mammalian AKAP has been identified that is related to microtubules; microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) attaches PKA to the cytoskeleton. Threurkauf and Vallee, J. Biol. Chem., 257:3284-3290 (1982) and DeCamilli et al., J. Cell Biol., 103:189-203 (1986). The PKA-binding site on MAP2 is a 31-residue peptide in the amino-terminal region of the molecule. Rubino et al., Neuron, 3:631-638 (1989) and Obar et al., Neuron, 3:639-645 (1989). 
     Another AKAP that associates with microtubules, AKAP 150, accumulates in dendrites in close association with microtubules. Glantz et al., Mol. Biol. Cell, 3:1215-1228 (1992). AKAP 150 is present in several neuronal cell types and is a member of a family of AKAPs that are the principal AKAPs from mammalian brains. Other members of this family include AKAP 75 found in bovine brain and AKAP 79 found in human brain. Glantz et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:12796-12804 (1993). AKAP 75 apparently binds cytoskeletal elements through two non-contiguous regions near the N-terminus of AKAP 75. AKAP 79 is predominantly present in postsynaptic densities (PSDs) in the human forebrain. Carr et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:16816-16823 (1992). Inhibition of binding between AKAP 79 and PKA in hippocampal neurons has been shown to inhibit alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid/kainate glutamate receptors. Rosenmund et al., Nature, 368:853-856 (1994). 
     Other AKAPs have also been characterized. Exposure of granulosa cells to follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol has been demonstrated to up-regulate expression of an 80 kDa AKAP. Carr et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:20729-20732 (1993). Another AKAP, Ht31, has been cloned from a human thyroid cDNA library. Carr et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:13376-13382 (1992). Another AKAP, AKAP 95, changes its intracellular location during the cell cycle. AKAP 95 is an integral nuclear protein during interphase, but becomes associated with cytoplasmic PKA when the nuclear membrane breaks down during mitosis. This suggests that AKAP 95 could play a role in targeting activity of certain isoforms of PKA during cAMP-responsive events linked to the cell cycle. Coghlan et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:7658-7665 (1994). Other known AKAPs include an 85 kDa AKAP which links PKA to the Golgi apparatus (Rios et al., EMBO J., 11:1723-1731 (1992)) and a 350 kDa AKAP that binds PKA to centromeres (Keryer et al., Exp. Cell Res., 204:230-240 (1993)). 
     The known AKAPs share a common PKA-binding feature. Although the primary structure of the AKAPs is not conserved, each has a secondary structure motif that includes an amphipathic helix region. Scott and McCartney, Mol. Endo., 8:5-11 (1994). Binding of AKAPs to the regulatory subunit of PKA is blocked by a peptide that mimics this helical structure of the PKA binding region of AKAPs. Disruption of the peptide&#39;s helical structure by an amino acid substitution abolishes the PKA-AKAP binding block (Carr et al., J. Biol. Chem., 266:14188-14192 (1991)), demonstrating that PKA binding occurs in the amphipathic helix of AKAPs and is governed by the secondary structure of the AKAP molecules. This provides a means for segregation of a kinase that, like calcineurin, is common to many signaling pathways yet may act in a pathway-specific manner. 
     One specific action of calcineurin is participation in T cell activation. Clipstone and Crabtree, Nature, 357:695-697 (1992) and O&#39;Keefe et al., Nature, 357:692-694 (1992). In T cells, calcineurin participates in regulation of IL-2 expression following T cell stimulation. Weiss and Littman, Cell, 76:263-274 (1994). Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT p ) has been shown to be a substrate for calcineurin phosphatase activity. It has been suggested that, following T cell stimulation, calcineurin-mediated NFAT p  dephosphorylation allows translocation of NFAT p  from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where NFAT p  interacts with Fos and Jun to induce expression of the IL-2 gene. Jain et al., Nature, 365:352-355 (1993). 
     Calcineurin&#39;s role in T cell activation provides a target for therapeutic intervention into T cell-mediated disorders and medications have been developed that inhibit calcineurin. Two calcineurin-inhibiting drugs, cyclosporin A (cyclosporin) and FK506, have been used in the clinic. Thomson and Starzl, Immunol. Rev., 136:71-98 (1993). Both cyclosporin and FK506 inhibit calcineurin only after binding to distinct intracellular proteins known as immunophilins (cyclophilin and FKBP 12, respectively). Schreiber and Crabtree, Immunology Today, 13:136-142 (1992). Thus, cyclosporin and FK506 act as prodrugs. Following binding to their respective immunophilins, the drug/immunophilin complexes bind calcineurin, thereby inhibiting the phosphatase activity. 
     Calcineurin inhibition has been most effectively exploited in the treatment of graft rejection following organ transplant. Cyclosporin and FK506 have been employed following renal, hepatic, cardiac, lung, and bone marrow transplants. The Canadian Multicentre Transplant Study Group, N. Engl. J. Med., 314:1219-1225 (1986); Oyer et al., Transplant Proc., 15:Suppl 1:2546-2552 (1983); Starzl et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 305:266-269 (1981); The Toronto Lung Transplant Group, JAMA, 259:2258-2262 (1988); and Deeg et al., Blood, 65:1325-1334 (1985). The use of these medications has significantly prolonged graft survival and lessened morbidity following transplant. Najarian et al., Ann. Surg., 201:142-157 (1985) and Showstack et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 321:1086-1092 (1989). 
     Cyclosporin also has been used in a variety of autoimmune-related diseases. Uveitis generally improves within a few weeks of therapy, but quickly relapses after cyclosporin is discontinued. Nussenblatt et al., Am J. Ophthalmol., 96:275-282 (1983). Similarly, psoriasis generally improves with cyclosporin therapy, but quickly relapses after treatment. Ellis et al., JAMA, 256:3110-3116 (1986). &#34;Honeymoon&#34; periods of insulin independence may be induced and prolonged in both new onset Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus when cyclosporin is administered within two months of insulin therapy. Feutren et al., Lancet, 2:119-124 (1986) and Bougneres et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 318:663-670 (1988). A variety of nephropathies, including minimal-change focal and segmental, membranous, and IgA-mediated nephropathies, may also be sensitive to cyclosporin, although observed reductions in proteinuria may be due to a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and not healing of the basement membrane. Tejani et al., Kidney Intl., 29:206 (1986). Cyclosporin administration also has a dose-dependent effect on rheumatoid arthritis, although such treatment is associated with a high incidence of nephrotoxicity. F.o slashed.rre et al., Arthritis Rheum., 30:88-92 (1987). 
     As mentioned above, cyclosporin has been associated with nephrotoxicity. Mason, Pharmacol. Rev., 42:423-434 (1989). Depressed renal function occurs in virtually all patients treated with cyclosporin. Kahan, N. Engl. J. Med., 321:1725-1738 (1989). This can generally be reversed by cessation of cyclosporin therapy. Unfortunately, in organ graft recipients substitution of other commonly used immunosuppressives for cyclosporin carries a high risk of graft rejection. In renal transplant patients this can require reinstitution of dialysis. In patients that have received hearts, lungs, or livers, graft rejection can be fatal. Although less common than nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity are also associated with cyclosporin therapy. de Groen et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 317:861-866 (1987) and Kahan et al., Transplantation, 43:197-204 (1987). 
     Although there is less clinical experience, significant toxicity has also become apparent in the use of FK506. Like cyclosporin, FK506 is associated with significant nephrotoxicity. Peters et al., Drugs, 4:746-794 (1993). The clinical presentation, lesion morphology, and incidence are approximately equivalent to those of cyclosporin. McCauley, Curr. Op. Nephrol. Hyperten., 2:662-669 (1993). Neurotoxicity has also been associated with FK506. Eidelman et al., Transplant. Proc., 23:3175-3178 (1991) and Fung et al., Transplant. Proc., 23:3105-3108 (1991). In contrast to cyclosporin, FK506 has a hepatotrophic, rather than hepatotoxic, effect. Peters et al., supra. 
     In view of the significant potential toxicity of immunosuppressive agents, such as cyclosporin and FK506, it is clear that there is a need in the art for additional agents that inhibit calcineurin. These agents would preferably be associated with fewer toxic side effects than presently available agents and thus could provide an advance in immunosuppressive therapy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that calcineurin binds AKAP 79. By binding both PKA and calcineurin, AKAP 79 co-localizes a kinase and a phosphatase that may regulate flux through a specific signaling pathway. The present invention accordingly provides compositions and methods for isolating calcineurin as well as for inhibiting calcineurin activity in a cell. The isolation methods comprise contacting a cellular fraction with AKAP 79 or a calcineurin-binding fragment thereof which has been immobilized to a solid substrateand then elutin calcineurin therefrom. The calcineurin inhibiting methods comprise contacting the cell with AKAP 79 or a calcineurin-binding fragment peptide thereof. Preferrably, the calcineurin-binding peptide does not also bind PKA. Preferred peptides comprise the following amino acid sequence: 
     
         Arg-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser-Gln-Ser-Ser-Lys-Glu-Glu-Lys-Pro        (SEQ ID NO:1). 
    
     Alternative peptides useful in the practice of the calcineurin inhibiting methods of the present invention include: 
     
         Arg-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser-Gln-Ser-Ser-Lys-Glu-Glu-Lys-Pro-Leu-Gln (SEQ ID NO:2) 
    
     
         and 
    
     
         Arg-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser-Gln-Ser-Ser-Lys-Glu-Glu-Lys-Pro-Phe-Lys (SEQ ID NO:3). 
    
     These peptides are homologous to amino acid sequences of AKAP 79 that bind calcineurin. Although the peptides are similar to the calcineurin binding region of FKBP12, unlike calcineurin inhibition by the FK506/FKBP12 complex, the peptides inhibit calcineurin activity without requiring interaction with another molecule. 
     The peptides may be modified to facilitate passage into the cell, such as by conjugation to a lipid soluble moiety. For example, the peptides may be conjugated to myristic acid. Alternatively, the peptides may be packaged in liposomes that may fuse with cell membranes and release the peptides into the cells. 
     Another aspect of the present invention are methods for determining if a cell contains a calcineurin-binding and PKA-binding anchoring protein. The methods generally comprise lysing the cell to form a lysate; incubating the lysate with a solid support, which solid support has calcineurin molecules immobilized thereon; washing the lysate from the solid support; contacting the solid support with a labeled PKA regulatory subunit, washing unbound regulatory subunit from the solid support; detecting label remaining on the solid support; and determining therefrom the presence of a calcineurin-binding and PKA-binding anchoring protein in the cell. Alternatively, the PKA regulatory subunit may immobilized on the solid support and calcineurin may be the labeled molecule. Generally, the PKA regulatory subunit will be an RII subunit. 
     These methods are useful for identifying additional proteins that bind both PKA and calcineurin. Identification of other such proteins may provide tissue specific targets for therapeutic intervention. 
     Also comprehended by the present invention are methods for identifying compounds that modulate binding between calcineurin and a calcineurin anchoring protein. Either calcineurin or the anchoring protein may be bound to a solid substrate. The unbound binding partner is detectably labeled. The binding partners are incubated in the presence of a test compound. The effect of the test compound on binding between calcineurin and the calcineurin anchoring protein is determined by observing the amount of label bound to the immoblized binding partner. A reduction in the amount of label bound in the presence of the test compound compared to the amount of label bound in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is an inhibitor of binding between calcineurin and the calcineurin anchoring protein. Other assays, such as scintillation proximity assays may also be employed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIGS. 1(a-c) illustrate inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity by full-length AKAP 79 and a calcineurin-binding fragment of AKAP 79. 
     FIGS. 2(a-c) illustrate subcellular localization of type II PKA and calcineurin as well as the co-localization of type II PKA and calcineurin. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates homology between clone 11.1 and human calcineurin isoform 11.1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The peptides employed in the methods of the present invention may be synthesized in solution or on a solid support in accordance with conventional techniques as described in Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd ed., Pierce Chemical Company, (1984) or Tam et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 105:6442 (1983), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The peptides may be myristoylated by standard techniques as described in Eichholtz et al., J. Biol. Chem., 268:1982-1986 (1993), incorporated herein by reference. Encapsulation of the peptides in liposomes may also be performed by standard techniques as generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,766,046; 5,169,637; 5,180,713; 5,185,154; 5,204,112; and 5,252,263 and PCT Patent Application No. 92/02244, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not of limitation. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     This example demonstrates the naturally-occurring association of calcineurin with AKAP 79 and PKA. AKAP 79 thus functions to co-localize both a ubiquitous kinase and ubiquitous phosphatase. This co-localization may provide for specific regulation of enzymes in signaling pathways through phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the enzymes. 
     Immunoprecipitation of calcineurin (CaN) from a calmodulin-agarose purified bovine brain extract was achieved using affinity-purified antibodies specific for either CaN A or CaN B as generally described in Harlowe and Lane, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1988), except a final wash using buffer A (10 mM HEPES pH 7.9, 1.5 mM MgCl, 10 mM KCl, 1 mM PMSF and 10 μM IBMX)+0.4M NaCl was included. PKA activity was measured as described in Scott et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82:4379-4383 (1985), incorporated herein by reference, after elution of the immunoprecipitate with 0.1 mM cAMP. Phosphorylation of immunoprecipitated proteins was initiated by addition of 0.1 mM  32  P-ATP (1.5×10 5  cpm/nmol) and, after 30 min at 30° C., reactions were terminated by addition of SDS-loading buffer and subjected to SDS-PAGE. PKA R-subunit was purified from the 30-60% (NH 4 ) 2  SO 4  fraction of brain extract using cAMP-agarose by the methods described in Coghlan et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269:7658-7665 (1994) (incorporated herein by reference), except protein was eluted with 0.5 mM Ht31 peptide (SEQ ID NO:4). Western blots and PKA RII overlays were performed as described in Coghlan et al., supra. 
     Kinase activity was detected in the calmodulin purified extract, was enriched 123±3.6 fold (±standard deviation; n=3) in the CaN immunoprecipitate, and was specifically inhibited by a peptide that inhibits PKA kinase activity, PKI peptide (SEQ ID NO:5), indicating that the catalytic (C) subunit of PKA was a component of the isolated complex. The bovine homologue of AKAP 79 (AKAP 75) and RII, both substrates for the C subunit, were also present in the immunoprecipitate and were phosphorylated upon addition of cAMP and  32  P-ATP. In complementary experiments, R subunits of PICA were isolated from crude extracts of bovine brain by affinity chromatography on cAMP-agarose. Treatment of the affinity column with Ht31 peptide specifically eluted AKAP 75 from the cAMP-bound RII and also released both CaN A and B subunits. Approximately 5% of the total CaN present in the lysate was found to be associated with AKAP 75 and RII as detected on western blots. Combined, these results suggest simultaneous association of PKA and CaN with the AKAP. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     This example demonstrates inhibition of calcineurin&#39;s phosphatase activity by peptides from AKAP 79. 
     To determine whether AKAP 79 peptide binding was inhibitory, calcineurin (CaN) activity was assayed in the presence of recombinant AKAP 79. Briefly, recombinant AKAP 79 was expressed in E. coli as described in Carr et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:16816-16823 (1992), incorporated herein by reference. CaN and the constitutively active truncation mutant CaN 420  (a truncated, Ca 2+  /calmodulin independent constitutively active form of CaN (Perrino et al., J. Biol. Chem., in press)) were expressed in Sf9 cells and purified on calmodulin-Sepharose as described in Perrino et al., J. Biol. Chem., 267:15965-15969 (1992), incorporated herein by reference. Phosphatase activity toward  32  P RII peptide substrate was measured as described in Perrino et al., supra. CaN (30 nM), calmodulin (100 nM) and  32  P RII peptide (22 μM) were incubated with AKAP 79 protein and AKAP 79 peptide (SEQ ID NO:1-amino acids 81-102) over the indicated range of concentrations indicated in FIG. 1B. Calmodulin was omitted from CaN 420  assays.  32  P released from the substrate was measured in triplicate samples in three separate experiments by scintillation counting. The inhibition constant (K i ) of recombinant AKAP 79 for CaN was determined by linear regression analysis of data. K i  values for AKAP 79 peptide were estimated by determining the IC 50  using a fixed substrate concentration at K m  (42 μM). 
     FIG. 1A illustrates a Lineweaver-Burk plot of AKAP 79 inhibition of both full-length CaN (Ca 2+  /calmodulin dependent) (circles) and CaN 420  (squares) in a non-competitive manner with respect to phosphorylated RII peptide substrate. The open symbols represent phosphatase activity in the absence of AKAP 79 and the fried symbols represent phosphatase activity in the presence of AKAP 79. The synthetic peptide corresponding to the AKAP 79 peptide inhibited both full-length CaN (filled circles) and CaN 420 , whereas the Ht31 peptide was not an inhibitor of CaN (FIG. 1B). The observed inhibition was specific for calcineurin; the AKAP 79 peptide did not significantly affect the activity of protein phosphatases 1 (open diamonds) or 2A (crosses) at peptide concentrations as high as 0.4 mM. Although CaN-binding sites on AKAP 79 and FKBP-12 are similar, their differences may have functional significance: FK506 (2 μM) did not affect the potency of inhibition and recombinant AKAP 79 did not display peptidyl prolyl isomerase activity toward a fluorescent peptide substrate. Further, the CaN B subunit which is required for FK506/FKBP interaction with the CaN A subunit is not required for interaction of AKAP 79 with the CaN A subunit. Also, while the FK506/FKBP interaction with CaN A is calcium/calmodulin dependent, the AKAP 79 inhibition of calcineurin activity is calcium/calmodulin independent. Collectively, these findings suggest that CaN in its inactive state is localized by AKAP 79 in a manner analogous to AKAP-bound PKA. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     This example demonstrates subcellular distribution of type II PKA and calcineurin in tissue. 
     The subcellular location of many protein kinases and protein phosphatases is defined by association with targeting subunits. AKAP 79 represents a novel member of this class of regulatory proteins as it serves a bifunctional role in localizing both PKA and CaN. 
     Cells were cultured, formalin-fixed, and immunostained as described in Rosenmund et al., Nature, 368:853-856 (1994). FITC-conjugated anti-goat secondary antisera was used for RII staining. Biotinylated anti-rabbit secondary antisera and streptavidin-Texas-Red (Jackson) were used in staining for CaN. Images were obtained using a Biorad MRC-600 confocal laser scanning system (A1 and A2 filters) with a Nikon optiphot 2 microscope equipped with 60× planappo chromat (1.6 NA) oil immersion lens. Confocal sections were between 1.5 and 2 μm absolute thickness. 
     AKAP 79 homologues were observed in bovine, porcine, rabbit, and murine brain. This indicates that co-localization of PKA and CaN may be a universal phenomenon that adapts neurons for specific signal transduction events. Using immunocytochemical methods, the subcellular distribution of type II PKA and CaN was examined in cultured hippocampal neurons. The staining patterns for RII (green label in FIG. 2A) and CaN (red label in FIG. 2B) were regionally dispersed and overlapped in the neurites (RII is red and CaN is green in FIG. 2C). These findings are consistent with co-localization of type II PKA and CaN by the AKAP and suggest a role for the ternary complex in regulating synaptic transmission. This is consistent with experiments demonstrating co-localization of RII and AKAP 79 in these cells, and by studies showing that AKAP 79, type II PKA and CaN are components of postsynaptic densities. Potential substrates for the localized ternary transduction complex may include AMPA/kainate receptors, which are modulated by AKAP-targeted PKA. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     This example demonstrates interaction between AKAP 79 and calcineurin in a yeast dihybrid assay. Employing AKAP 79 as the &#34;bait&#34;, calcineurin encoded by cDNA from a murine T cell library was found to bind to AKAP79. 
     The assay was performed as generally described in Durfee, et al., Genes and Development 7:555-567 (1993), incorporated herein by reference. The &#34;target&#34; and &#34;bait&#34; were two plasmids, each containing part of the Gal-4 transcription factor. The &#34;bait&#34; plasmid (pAS1) was a 2 micron based plasmid with an ADH promoter linked to the Gal-4 DNA binding subunit [bp 1-147 as described in Keegan et al., Science, 231:699-704 (1986), incorporated herein by reference], followed by a hemagglutin (HA) tag, polyclonal site and an ADH terminator. Selection was maintained using SC-Trp media. The &#34;target&#34; construct was a leu2, 2 micron based plasmid containing an ADH promoter and terminator with the Gal-4 transcription activation domain II [amino acids 768-881 as described in Ma and Ptashne, Cell, 48:847-853 (1987), incorporated herein by reference] followed by a multiple cloning site. This vector, pACT, was utilized in the construction of a mouse T cell cDNA fusion library. Saccharomyces cerevisiae y190 used in the screening was designed with two reporter genes integrated into its genome. The reporter genes are under control of a Gal-1 promoter containing Gal-4 binding sites. If the proteins encoded by the bait plasmid and the target plasmid associate, the Gal-4 transcription factor subunits are brought together and function to initiate transcription of the reporter genes. 
     A 1.3 Kb Nco1/BamH1 fragment containing the coding region of AKAP 79 was isolated from a pET11d backbone and ligated to pAS1 to act as &#34;bait&#34; for the screen. One μg of this construct was transformed into y190 MATa and y190 MATα using a standard lithium acetate-PEG transformation protocol. Four isolates of each mating type (y190A pASI AKAP 79 1-4 and y190α pAS1 AKAP 79 1-4) were tested for their ability to interact with a fusion construct pACT-RII which contains the regulatory subunit (RII amino acids 1-89) of PKA. This was achieved by mating the strains on YEPD (1% Bacto-yeast extract, 2% Bacto-peptone, 2% dextrose, and 2% Bacto agar) overnight at 30° C. and then selecting for diploids on SC-Leu-Trp plates. The E. coli lac Z gene acting as the reporter could then be assayed for β-galactosidase activity. The mated strains were replicated to SC-Leu-Trp plates that had been overlayed with Hybond-N filters (Amersham) and grown overnight. The filters were placed in liquid nitrogen for one minute to crack open the yeast. A 3MM paper disc was saturated with approximately 3 ml 0.1% X-gal in 60 mM Na 2  HPO 4 , 40 mM NaH 2  PO 4 , 10 mM KCl and 10 mM MgSO 4 . The lysed yeast filter was placed on top of the disc and allowed to develop at 30° C. for approximately 1-2 hours. Diploid strains containing both pAS1 AKAP 79 and pACT RII fusions that were positive for β-gal activity were indicated by mining the yeast patch a blue color. As a control, the bait AKAP 79 plasmid remained white when mated with an empty pACT control. 
     Detection of the Gal-4 AKAP 79 fusion protein was achieved by growing y190A AKAP 79 (isolates 1 and 2) and y190a AKAP 79 (isolates 1 and 2) to a density of 2×10 7  cells/ml in 50 ml SC-Trp media. Cells were pelleted at 3000×g for 10 minutes and lysed with 200 μl glass beads (size 425-600 microns) in 25 mM Tris pH8, 5 mM EDTA, 5 mM EGTA, 2 mM O-phenanthroline, 1 mM DTT, 25 μM AEBSF, 1 mM Benzanidine, 1 μg/ml PLACC (Pepstalin, Leupeptin, Aprotinin, Calpain I and ID, and 20 μg/ml Bestantin lysis buffer. Cells were alternately vortexed for one minute and iced for one minute for a total of 24 minutes (12 cycles). Protein concentrations were determined and 30 μg of total protein was loaded onto 10% SDS-PAGE gel. The gel was wet transferred to Immobilon-P (Millipore) and detected by standard procedures using an anti-HA monoclonal antibody 12CA5 (Bab Co., Berkeley, Calif.) and goat anti-mouse IgG alkaline phosphatase conjugated secondary antiserum (Biorad, Hercules, Calif.). A Gal-4 AKAP 79 fusion protein of approximately 100 kDa was readily detectable indicating the correct size product was present within these strains. 
     y190A pAS1 AKAP 79 isolate 1 was chosen to screen a pACT murine T cell cDNA library. A 500 ml SC-Trp culture (OD 600  =0.6-0.8) was harvested, washed with 100 ml distilled water, and repelleted. The pellet was brought up in 50 ml LiSORB (100 mM lithium acetate, 10 mM Tris pH8, 1 mM EDTA pH8, and 1M Sorbitol), transferred to a 1 liter flask and shaken at 220 RPM for an incubation of 30 min at 30° C. The cells were then pelleted and resuspended with 625 μl LiSORB, and held on ice while preparing the DNA. 
     The DNA was prepared for transformation by boiling 400 μl 10 mg/ml Salmon sperm DNA for 10 min after which 500 μl LiSORB was added and allowed to slowly cool to room temperature. DNA from the Mu T cell library was added (40-50 μg) from a 1 mg/ml stock. The iced yeast culture was dispensed into 10 Eppendorf tubes with 120 μl of prepared DNA. The tubes were incubated at 30° C. at 220 RPM. After 30 minutes, 900 μl of 40% PEG 3350  in 100 mM Li acetate, 10 mM Tris pH 8 and 1 mM EDTA pH 8 was mixed with each culture and returned to incubate for an additional 30 min. The samples were then pooled and a small aliquot (5 μl) was removed to test for transformation efficiency and plated on SC-Leu-Trp plates. The remainder of the cells were added to 100 ml SC-Leu-Trp-His media and grown for 1 hr at 30° C. with shaking at 220 RPMS. Harvested cells were resuspended in 5.5 ml SC-Leu-Trp-His+50 mM 3AT (3-amino triazole) media and 300 μl aliquots plated on 150 mm SC-Leu-Trp-His+50mM 3AT and left to grow for 1 week at 30° C. 
     After four days, titer plates were counted and 1.1×10 5  colonies were screened. Large scale β-gal assays were performed on library plates and ten positive clones were isolated for single colonies. One of these colonies grew substantially larger than the rest, and was termed clone 11.1. Total yeast DNA was prepared from these strains and leu2 plasmid DNA was isolated. The &#34;rescued&#34; plasmid was used to retransform the original y190A pAS1 AKAP 79 bait strain and y190a. Only clone 11.1 remained positive for β-galactosidase activity in y190A pAS1 AKAP 79. y190a containing pACT clone 11.1 remained white serving as a negative control. 
     Restriction digestion with endonuclease Xho1 released a 2.3 Kb insert and the plasmid was sequenced in the forward and reverse directions. Reactions from the Dye Deoxy Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit (Applied Biosystems, Inc. Foster City, Calif.) using symmetric polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on double stranded templates were analyzed on an ABI 373A automated sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Inc.). Sequence from clone 11.1 revealed an open reading frame 487 aa long (SEQ ID NO:6) which was correctly fused to the Gal-4 activation domain of pACT. The NIH sequence database was searched and the sequence was found to be closely homologous to the human calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin. Computer analysis between clone 11.1 and the human isoform A1 showed an 80% identity on the nucleic acid level and 93% identity on the amino acid level (FIG. 3). The first 10aa and an 18aa insert in the human sequence are not present in the mouse 11.1 sequence. Clone 11.1 is closely related to the mouse calcineurin A b sequence, but is distinctly dissimilar at the carboxy-terminus. Likewise the human calcineurin A1 and human calcineurin A2 isoforms are closely homologous but are distinct from each other at their 3&#39; ends. 
     Specificity of the AKAP 79-calcineurin interaction was demonstrated by mating the calcineurin pACT containing strain with other unrelated bait strains. Crosses were performed as described above with strains containing pAS1 fused to RII (1-89), casein kinase 1, phosphodiesterase 32 (HDUN2) and AKAP Ht31. β-galactosidase activity was negative in all of these diploid strains. 
     All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All publications, patents, and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications are within the level of skill in the an and are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     
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SEQUENCE LISTING                                                          
(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                  
(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 7                                              
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 13 amino acids                                                
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                   
ArgArgLysArgSerGlnSerSerLysGluGluLysPro                                   
1510                                                                      
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 15 amino acids                                                
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                   
ArgArgLysArgSerGlnSerSerLysGluGluLysProLeuGln                             
151015                                                                    
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 15 amino acids                                                
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                   
ArgArgLysArgSerGlnSerSerLysGluGluLysProPheLys                             
151015                                                                    
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 24 amino acids                                                
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                   
AspLeuIleGluGluAlaAlaValSerArgIleValAspAlaValIle                          
151015                                                                    
GluGluValLysAlaAlaGlyAla                                                  
20                                                                        
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 9 amino acids                                                 
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                   
GlyArgArgAsnAlaIleHisAspIle                                               
15                                                                        
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 2257 base pairs                                               
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                  
(ix) FEATURE:                                                             
(A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                         
(B) LOCATION: 1..1461                                                     
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                   
CCGCCCCCGCCCCCGCCCCCACCGCCCCCTCTCGGGGCCGACCGCGTC48                        
ProProProProProProProProProProLeuGlyAlaAspArgVal                          
151015                                                                    
GTCAAAGCTGTTCCTTTTCCCCCAACTCATCGGCTGACATCTGAAGAA96                        
ValLysAlaValProPheProProThrHisArgLeuThrSerGluGlu                          
202530                                                                    
GTGTTTGATATGGATGGGATACCCAGGGTTGATGTTCTGAAGAACCAC144                       
ValPheAspMetAspGlyIleProArgValAspValLeuLysAsnHis                          
354045                                                                    
TTGGTAAAAGAAGGGCGGGTGGATGAAGAAATTGCACTAAGAATTATC192                       
LeuValLysGluGlyArgValAspGluGluIleAlaLeuArgIleIle                          
505560                                                                    
AATGAGGGTGCTGCCATACTTCGGCGGGAGAAAACCATGATAGAAGTA240                       
AsnGluGlyAlaAlaIleLeuArgArgGluLysThrMetIleGluVal                          
65707580                                                                  
GAAGCTCCAATTACAGTGTGTGGTGACATCCATGGCCAATTTTTTGAT288                       
GluAlaProIleThrValCysGlyAspIleHisGlyGlnPhePheAsp                          
859095                                                                    
CTGATGAAACTTTTTGAAGTAGGAGGATCACCTGCTAATACACGATAC336                       
LeuMetLysLeuPheGluValGlyGlySerProAlaAsnThrArgTyr                          
100105110                                                                 
CTTTTTCTTGGTGATTATGTGGACAGAGGTTATTTTAGTATAGAGTGT384                       
LeuPheLeuGlyAspTyrValAspArgGlyTyrPheSerIleGluCys                          
115120125                                                                 
GTCTTATATTTATGGGTCTTGAAGATTCTATACCCAAGCACATTATTC432                       
ValLeuTyrLeuTrpValLeuLysIleLeuTyrProSerThrLeuPhe                          
130135140                                                                 
CTTCTGAGAGGCAACCATGAATGCAGACACCTTACTGAATATTTTACC480                       
LeuLeuArgGlyAsnHisGluCysArgHisLeuThrGluTyrPheThr                          
145150155160                                                              
TTTAAGCAGGAATGTAAAATTAAATATTCAGAAAGAGTCTATGAAGCT528                       
PheLysGlnGluCysLysIleLysTyrSerGluArgValTyrGluAla                          
165170175                                                                 
TGTATGGAGGCTTTTGACAGCTTGCCCCTTGCTGCACTTCTAAACCAA576                       
CysMetGluAlaPheAspSerLeuProLeuAlaAlaLeuLeuAsnGln                          
180185190                                                                 
CAATTTCTTTGTGTTCATGGTGGACTTTCACCAGAAATACACACACTG624                       
GlnPheLeuCysValHisGlyGlyLeuSerProGluIleHisThrLeu                          
195200205                                                                 
GATGATATTAGGAGATTAGATAGATTTAAAGAGCCACCTGCATTTGGA672                       
AspAspIleArgArgLeuAspArgPheLysGluProProAlaPheGly                          
210215220                                                                 
CCAATGTGTGACTTGCTATGGTCTGATCCTTCTGAAGACTTTGGAAAT720                       
ProMetCysAspLeuLeuTrpSerAspProSerGluAspPheGlyAsn                          
225230235240                                                              
GAAAAATCACAAGAACATTTTAGTCATAATACAGTTCGAGGATGTTCT768                       
GluLysSerGlnGluHisPheSerHisAsnThrValArgGlyCysSer                          
245250255                                                                 
TATTTTTATAACTATCCAGCAGTGTGTGAATTTTTGCAAAACAATAAT816                       
TyrPheTyrAsnTyrProAlaValCysGluPheLeuGlnAsnAsnAsn                          
260265270                                                                 
TTGTTATCGATTATTAGAGCTCATGAAGCTCAAGATGCAGGCTATAGA864                       
LeuLeuSerIleIleArgAlaHisGluAlaGlnAspAlaGlyTyrArg                          
275280285                                                                 
ATGTACAGAAAAAGTCAAACTACAGGGTTTCCTTCATTAATAACAATT912                       
MetTyrArgLysSerGlnThrThrGlyPheProSerLeuIleThrIle                          
290295300                                                                 
TTTTCGGCACCTAATTACTTAGATGTCTACAATAATAAAGCTGCTGTA960                       
PheSerAlaProAsnTyrLeuAspValTyrAsnAsnLysAlaAlaVal                          
305310315320                                                              
CTAAAGTATGAAAATAATGTGATGAACATTCGACAGTTTAATTGCTCT1008                      
LeuLysTyrGluAsnAsnValMetAsnIleArgGlnPheAsnCysSer                          
325330335                                                                 
CCACATCCTTATTGGTTGCCCAATTTTATGGATGTCTTTACATGGTCC1056                      
ProHisProTyrTrpLeuProAsnPheMetAspValPheThrTrpSer                          
340345350                                                                 
TTACCATTTGTTGGAGAAAAAGTGACAGAAATGTTGGTAAATGTTCTG1104                      
LeuProPheValGlyGluLysValThrGluMetLeuValAsnValLeu                          
355360365                                                                 
AGTATTTGTTCTGATGATGAACTAATGACAGAAGGTGAAGACCAGTTT1152                      
SerIleCysSerAspAspGluLeuMetThrGluGlyGluAspGlnPhe                          
370375380                                                                 
GATGTAGGTTCAGCTGCAGCCCGGAAAGAAATCATAAGAAACAAGATC1200                      
AspValGlySerAlaAlaAlaArgLysGluIleIleArgAsnLysIle                          
385390395400                                                              
CGAGCAATTGGCAAGATGGCAAGAGTCTTCTCTGTTCTCAGGGAGGAG1248                      
ArgAlaIleGlyLysMetAlaArgValPheSerValLeuArgGluGlu                          
405410415                                                                 
AGTGAAAGCGTGCTGACACTCAAGGGCCTGACTCCCACAGGGATGTTG1296                      
SerGluSerValLeuThrLeuLysGlyLeuThrProThrGlyMetLeu                          
420425430                                                                 
CCTAGTGGAGTGTTGGCTGGAGGACGGCAGACCTTGCAAAGTGGTAAT1344                      
ProSerGlyValLeuAlaGlyGlyArgGlnThrLeuGlnSerGlyAsn                          
435440445                                                                 
GATGTTATGCAACTTGCTGTGCCTCAGATGGACTGGGGCACAACTCAC1392                      
AspValMetGlnLeuAlaValProGlnMetAspTrpGlyThrThrHis                          
450455460                                                                 
TCTTTTGCTAACAATACACATAATGCATGCAGGGAACTCCTTCTGCTT1440                      
SerPheAlaAsnAsnThrHisAsnAlaCysArgGluLeuLeuLeuLeu                          
465470475480                                                              
TTTAGTTCCTGTCTTAGCAGCTGACATATGCAGGGTATTATGTGATAGGCA1491                   
PheSerSerCysLeuSerSer                                                     
485                                                                       
TCTGATTAGTACCTGGCCAGGGCATAATATTGATAGAACAAGTTGTCTTTTAACTGAAAA1551          
TAACAATCAGTTTCCCAGATTTTCATAAGGTGATATGGGGAGCAGCTCATGTCATAATTC1611          
CGAAATATTTATTCATTTGTTTAATGCACCCCTTTCTTTCAAAAGCCTCAGTCAAGAATG1671          
TGAATCAGGGATATATCTATATATCTATTTACACACATACATAAATATATATAACTAAAA1731          
TGGAAATGTAATTCCGAGTTTCTTACTTTTAAAATTTACGTAATTGTATTAGATTTTGCT1791          
TATGTTTTCAAGTATTTATTTTTTGAGTTAAAATTCTGCTTAGGCCCCAAAACTTCCTTT1851          
ATGCACTCATTTGCCAAAAGATTTATGCTAAATTTTGTACCCTGGTAAATGATTAGAGTT1911          
TGTTTTCTGTGGTGTTTGTCAAACGTTCTATGTATAATTGACTGTCTGTAACATGCTGTT1971          
TCCTTCCTCTGCAGATATAGCTGCTTTCCTAAATCTGTCTGTCTTTCTTTAGGATAGCTG2031          
TATGTCTGTAAATATATGTTCAATTAAATTACTCTATCAGACGCTTGTCTGTCTTTTGAT2091          
GTAGAAGCAACTTTGTAGCACCTTGATTTTAGGTTTGCTGCATTTGTTGCTGCACTTGGT2151          
TCAGTCTGAATATGAATGTAACATTAGATATTGAGCTATTGTTATAAAGGGTTGAATTTA2211          
AATCATGTAAGTCAAAATTGAAAGGGTGTTATAAAGTGTGCCTTTA2257                        
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                          
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                             
(A) LENGTH: 487 amino acids                                               
(B) TYPE: amino acid                                                      
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                               
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                   
ProProProProProProProProProProLeuGlyAlaAspArgVal                          
151015                                                                    
ValLysAlaValProPheProProThrHisArgLeuThrSerGluGlu                          
202530                                                                    
ValPheAspMetAspGlyIleProArgValAspValLeuLysAsnHis                          
354045                                                                    
LeuValLysGluGlyArgValAspGluGluIleAlaLeuArgIleIle                          
505560                                                                    
AsnGluGlyAlaAlaIleLeuArgArgGluLysThrMetIleGluVal                          
65707580                                                                  
GluAlaProIleThrValCysGlyAspIleHisGlyGlnPhePheAsp                          
859095                                                                    
LeuMetLysLeuPheGluValGlyGlySerProAlaAsnThrArgTyr                          
100105110                                                                 
LeuPheLeuGlyAspTyrValAspArgGlyTyrPheSerIleGluCys                          
115120125                                                                 
ValLeuTyrLeuTrpValLeuLysIleLeuTyrProSerThrLeuPhe                          
130135140                                                                 
LeuLeuArgGlyAsnHisGluCysArgHisLeuThrGluTyrPheThr                          
145150155160                                                              
PheLysGlnGluCysLysIleLysTyrSerGluArgValTyrGluAla                          
165170175                                                                 
CysMetGluAlaPheAspSerLeuProLeuAlaAlaLeuLeuAsnGln                          
180185190                                                                 
GlnPheLeuCysValHisGlyGlyLeuSerProGluIleHisThrLeu                          
195200205                                                                 
AspAspIleArgArgLeuAspArgPheLysGluProProAlaPheGly                          
210215220                                                                 
ProMetCysAspLeuLeuTrpSerAspProSerGluAspPheGlyAsn                          
225230235240                                                              
GluLysSerGlnGluHisPheSerHisAsnThrValArgGlyCysSer                          
245250255                                                                 
TyrPheTyrAsnTyrProAlaValCysGluPheLeuGlnAsnAsnAsn                          
260265270                                                                 
LeuLeuSerIleIleArgAlaHisGluAlaGlnAspAlaGlyTyrArg                          
275280285                                                                 
MetTyrArgLysSerGlnThrThrGlyPheProSerLeuIleThrIle                          
290295300                                                                 
PheSerAlaProAsnTyrLeuAspValTyrAsnAsnLysAlaAlaVal                          
305310315320                                                              
LeuLysTyrGluAsnAsnValMetAsnIleArgGlnPheAsnCysSer                          
325330335                                                                 
ProHisProTyrTrpLeuProAsnPheMetAspValPheThrTrpSer                          
340345350                                                                 
LeuProPheValGlyGluLysValThrGluMetLeuValAsnValLeu                          
355360365                                                                 
SerIleCysSerAspAspGluLeuMetThrGluGlyGluAspGlnPhe                          
370375380                                                                 
AspValGlySerAlaAlaAlaArgLysGluIleIleArgAsnLysIle                          
385390395400                                                              
ArgAlaIleGlyLysMetAlaArgValPheSerValLeuArgGluGlu                          
405410415                                                                 
SerGluSerValLeuThrLeuLysGlyLeuThrProThrGlyMetLeu                          
420425430                                                                 
ProSerGlyValLeuAlaGlyGlyArgGlnThrLeuGlnSerGlyAsn                          
435440445                                                                 
AspValMetGlnLeuAlaValProGlnMetAspTrpGlyThrThrHis                          
450455460                                                                 
SerPheAlaAsnAsnThrHisAsnAlaCysArgGluLeuLeuLeuLeu                          
465470475480                                                              
PheSerSerCysLeuSerSer                                                     
485                                                                       
__________________________________________________________________________