Patent ID: 7045505

Claim:
A method for identifying a candidate compound capable of modulating hematopoiesis, comprising: i) combining a compound to be tested with a sample comprising a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein the polypeptide has Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger activity; and b) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the polypeptide has Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger activity; under conditions suitable for binding of the test compound to the polypeptide; ii) detecting binding of the test compound to the polypeptide to thereby identify a compound which binds to the polypeptide; iii) combining the compound selected in part ii) with hematopoietic cells expressing the polypeptide; and iv) determining the effect of the compound on the proliferation/differentiation of the hematopoietic cells; thereby identifying a compound capable of modulating hematopoiesis.