Novel response element

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a novel Afx response element comprising the nucleotide sequence AACATGTT, said nucleotide sequence having a DNA binding site for the human fork head transkription factor Afx. The invention also relates to the use of the Afx response element in the screening for genes as diabetes drug targets and in the bioinformatic analysis of the human genome, said genes in turn being useful in other screening methods for compounds modifying the insulin receptor signaling pathway. A further aspect of the invention is a vector construct comprising the novel nucleotide sequence, a host cell transformed with said vector construct as well as the fusion protein expressed by said host cell.

1 . A nucleotide sequence AACATGTT, said nucleotide sequence comprising a DNA binding site for the human fork head transcription factor Afx.  
     
     
         2 . An Afx response element comprising the nucleotide sequence AACATGTT.  
     
     
         3 . An Afx response element according to  claim 2 , which is a cytokine response element.  
     
     
         4 . An Afx response element according to  claim 3 , which is an insulin response element.  
     
     
         5 . A vector construct comprising the nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . The vector construct according to  claim 5 , which is pGEX-DBD.  
     
     
         7 . A host cell transformed with the vector construct of  claim 5  or  6 .  
     
     
         8 . A fusion protein expressed by the host cell of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         9 . A fusion protein according to  claim 8 , which is the protein expressed by GST/AfxDBD.  
     
     
         10 . Use of a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , in the screening for genes.  
     
     
         11 . Use of a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1 , in bioinformatic analysis.  
     
     
         12 . A gene identified by the use of a nucleotide sequence according to  claim 1.