Patent ID: 7272508

Claim:
A computer-assisted method for identifying potential mimetics of erythropoietin, using a programmed computer comprising a processor, a data storage system, an input device, and an output device, comprising the steps of: (a) inputting into the programmed computer through said input device data comprising the three-dimensional coordinates of a subset of the atoms in the peptide GGTYSCHFGPLTWVCKPQGG (SEQ ID NO:1) when said peptide is co-crystallized with a portion of the erythropoietin receptor comprising amino acids 1 to 225 of said receptor, thereby generating a criteria data set; (b) comparing, using said processor, said criteria data set to a computer database of chemical structures stored in said computer data storage system; (c) selecting from said database, using computer methods, chemical structures having a portion that is structurally similar to said criteria data set; (d) outputting to said output device the selected chemical structures having a portion similar to said criteria data set; (e) providing a compound having a selected chemical structure; and (f) testing the compound in a biological assay to determine whether it stimulates erythrpoiesis.