Method for the identification and use of substances that modulate POD function and/or structure

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein comprises assay methods for identifying substances useful for treating pathogenic disorders. The assay methods disclosed herein are based on the discovery that POD function and structure are key elements in normal transcriptional processes. Disruption of POD function and/or structure contributes to the creation and/or maintenance of a variety of pathogenic disorders.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a pathogenic disorder, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a substance that modulates POD structure and/or function.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a viral infection.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the viral infection is hepatitis virus infection, herpes virus infection, human T-cell leukemia virus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, varicella virus infection, papilloma virus infection or adenovirus infection.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is a cancer.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the cancer is a leukemia.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is an inflammatory disorder.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is an autoimmune disorder.  
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a pathogenic disorder, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a substance that increases the level of a POD-localized protein.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is a viral infection.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the viral infection is hepatitis virus infection, herpes virus infection, human T-cell leukemia virus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, varicella virus infection, papilloma virus infection or adenovirus infection.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is a cancer.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the cancer is a leukemia.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is an inflammatory disorder.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the disorder is an autoimmune disorder.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a viral infection, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a substance that disrupts the interaction of a viral protein with a POD-localized protein.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the viral infection is hepatitis virus infection, herpes virus infection, human T-cell leukemia virus infection, human immunodeficiency virus infection, varicella virus infection, papilloma virus infection or adenovirus infection.  
     
     
         17 . A method of testing viral vectors to eliminate candidate vectors that are not useful for gene therapy, said method comprising: 
 (a) transfecting a test cell with a test viral vector or infecting a test cell with a virus; and    (b) assaying for the ability of the vector or virus to modulate POD function and/or structure,    wherein a vector or virus that modulates POD function and/or structure is not useful for gene therapy.    
     
     
         18 . A method of treating a pathogenic disorder, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a nucleic acid construct comprising an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic polypeptide and a nucleic acid fragment encoding a POD-localized protein or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the POD-localized protein or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of PML, Sp-100, CBP, PIF13, PIF31, ND52, ND55, Isp20, and DipA.  
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a pathogenic disorder, said method comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising a therapeutic polypeptide and a POD-localized protein or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the POD-localized protein or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of PML, Sp-100, CBP, PIF13, PIF31, ND52, ND55, Isp20, and DipA.  
     
     
         22 . A method of delivering an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic polypeptide to a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject a nucleic acid construct comprising said exogenous nucleic acid and a nucleic acid fragment encoding a POD-localized protein or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the POD-localized protein or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of PML, Sp-100, CBP, PIF13, PIF31, ND52, ND55, Isp20, and DipA.  
     
     
         24 . A method of delivering a therapeutic polypeptide to a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising said polypeptide and a POD-localized protein or fragment thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the POD-localized protein or fragment thereof is selected from the group consisting of PML, Sp-100, CBP, PIF13, PIF31, ND52, ND55, Isp20, and DipA.