Patent ID: 8304182

Claim:
A method of identifying an agent that can activate PARP and induce cell death by necrosis comprising: i) performing a test assay comprising: a) contacting an immortalized cell that is deficient in Bax gene expression and Bak gene expression with a test compound, b) measuring PARP activation, and c) determining if the cell has undergone necrosis; and ii) performing a positive control assay comprising: a) contacting an immortalized cell that is deficient in Bax gene expression and Bak gene expression with a positive control compound, b) measuring PARP activation, and c) determining if the cell has undergone necrosis; wherein the activation of PARP and induction of cell death by necrosis in said test assay indicates that the test compound can activate PARP and induce cell death by necrosis.