Claims
- 1. A method of identifying an inhibitor or enhancer of caspase processing activity, comprising:(a) contacting a sample containing an in vitro translated rev-caspase with a candidate inhibitor or candidate enhancer; and (b) detecting the presence of large and small subunits of rev-caspase, and therefrom determining the level of caspase processing activity, wherein a decrease in processing indicates the presence of a caspase inhibitor, and wherein an increase in processing indicates the presence of a caspase enhancer, wherein processed rev-caspase yields large and small subunits.
- 2. A method of identifying an inhibitor or enhancer of caspase processing activity, comprising:(a) contacting a cell transfected with a vector expressing rev-caspase with a candidate inhibitor or candidate enhancer; and (b) detecting the presence of large and small subunits of rev-caspase, and therefrom determining the level of caspase processing activity, wherein a decrease in processing indicates the presence of a caspase inhibitor, and wherein an increase in processing indicates the presence of a caspase enhancer, wherein processed rev-caspase yields large and small subunits.
- 3. A method of identifying an inhibitor or enhancer of caspase-mediated apoptosis, comprising:(a) contacting a cell transfected with a vector expressing rev-caspase with a candidate inhibitor or candidate enhancer or with a reference compound; and (b) detecting cell viability, wherein viability of cells contacted with a candidate is increased in the presence of an inhibitor and is decreased in the presence of an enhancer compared to cells contacted with a reference compound.
- 4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the rev-caspase is selected from the group consisting of rev-caspase-1, rev-caspase-2, rev-caspase-3, rev-caspase-4, rev-caspase-5, rev-caspase-6, rev-caspase-7, rev-caspase-8, rev-caspase-9, rev-caspase-10, rev-caspase-11, rev-caspase-12, rev-caspase-13, and rev-caspase-14.
- 5. The method of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein detecting comprises gel electrophoresis.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the in vitro translated rev-caspase is labeled.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the label is a radioactive label, a peptide tag, an enzyme or biotin.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/227,721, filed Jan. 8, 1999; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,950 which application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/070,987, filed Jan. 9, 1998, now abandoned; all prior applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/070987 |
Jan 1998 |
US |