Patent ID: 7462460

Claim:
A method for identifying an agent that increases human or chimpanzee p44 function, comprising: (i) contacting at least one candidate agent with a p44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: (a) a human p44 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:36; (b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising SEQ ID NO:34; (c) a chimpanzee p44 polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:33; (d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising SEQ ID NO:31; (e) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising nucleotides 1-457 of SEQ ID NO:34 or SEQ ID NO:31; and (f) a polypeptide, having a p44 function, having at least one amino acid change at positions 36, 68, 71, 72, 84, 95, and 106, but is otherwise identical to SEQ ID NO:36 or SEQ ID NO:34; and (ii) detecting a p44 polypeptide function, wherein said agent is identified by its ability to increase the human or chimpanzee p44 polypeptide function relative to the function of the p44 polypeptide in the absence of the candidate agent, and wherein the p44 function is selected from the group consisting of microtubule assembly and resistance to HCV infection.