Patent ID: 7320785

Claim:
A method for identifying an agent for use in treating depression in a patient in need thereof, comprising: (a) contacting an agent with phosphatase 2C (“PP2C”) and Ser137-phosphorylated Dopamine- and cyclic-AMP-Regulated PhosphoProtein of molecular weight 32,000 Dalton (“DARPP-32”); (b) detecting the amount of dephosphorylation of Ser137-phosphorylated DARPP-32; and (c) testing the agent in an animal model of depression, wherein the agent is identified as an agent for use in treating depression if a decrease in the dephosphorylation of Ser137-phosphorylated DARPP-32 is detected in the presence of the agent in step (b) and if the agent is effective in the animal model tested in step (c).