Patent Document ID: 6159680
Application ID: 08499419
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of identifying a substance that blocks neurofibromin action comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining a substance suspected of blocking neurofibromin action; (b) obtaining a culture of neural cells expressing neurofibromin; (c) determining the survival of said neural cells in the presence of said substance and in the absence of neurotrophic factors; (d) determining the survival of mouse neural cells lacking neurofibromin-1 (NF1) activity under identical conditions as in step (c), except in the absence of said substance; and (e) determining the survival of mouse neural cells lacking neurofibromin-1 (NF1) activity under identical conditions as in step (c); wherein said substance has no effect on survival of neural cells of step (d) and (e); and wherein said substance enhances survival of neural cells of step (c) when compared to survival of said neural cells of step (c) in the absence of said substance, is indicative of blocking neurofibromin action.