Patent ID: 8163503

Claim:
An in vitro method for identifying a compound which binds to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:42; b) a polypeptide comprising amino acids 19 to 290 of SEQ ID NO:42; c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:41; and d) a polypeptide which is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA insert of the plasmid deposited as ATCC® Accession number PTA-438; the method comprising: i) contacting a sample comprising the polypeptide with a test compound under conditions suitable for binding; and ii) detecting binding of the test compound to the polypeptide; thereby identifying a compound which binds to the polypeptide.