Patent ID: 7358056

Claim:
A method for screening for an agent that modulates BMP-mediated signaling, comprising: (a) contacting (i) a HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WW domain, wherein the domain comprises SEQ ID NOS:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13; (ii) a Smad PY motif, wherein the motif comprises SEQ ID NOS: 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25; and (iii) a candidate agent; under conditions that permit a detectable level of binding of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WW domain to the Smad PY motif in the absence of the candidate agent; and (b) comparing the level of binding of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligate WW domain to the Smad PY motif in the presence of the candidate agent to a control level of binding of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WW domain to the Smad PY motif in the absence of candidate agent, and therefrom determining whether the candidate agent modulates BMP-mediated signaling.