F-box proteins and genes

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for gene identification, as well as drug discovery and assessment. In particular, the present invention provides components of an E3 complex involved in ubiquitination of cell cycle regulators and other proteins, as well as members of a class of proteins that directly function in recognition of ubiquitination targets. The present invention also provides sequences of multiple F-box proteins.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for the detection of one or more NF-κB regulatory factors comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a slimb protein, and a sample suspected of containing one or more NF-κB regulatory factors; and  
 b) exposing said slimb protein to said sample under conditions such that said slimb protein binds to said one or more NF-κB regulatory factors to form a slimb/regulatory factor complex.  
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting said slimb/regulatory factor complex.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of observing said slimb/regulatory factor complex for degradation of said one or more NF-κB regulatory factors.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of exposing said slimb protein and one or more NF-κB regulatory factors to an F-box protein antagonist.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said F-box protein antagonist prevents the formation of said slimb/regulatory factor complex.  
     
     
         6 . A method for the detection of a slimb protein complex, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a slimb protein and a sample suspected of containing one or more proteins capable of forming a complex with said slimb protein; and    b) exposing said slimb protein to said one or more proteins capable of forming a complex with said slimb protein under conditions such that said slimb protein binds to said one or more proteins capable of forming a complex with said slimb protein to form a slimb protein complex.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of detecting said slimb protein complex.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step b) further comprises exposing said slimb protein and said one or more proteins capable of forming a complex with said slimb protein to an F-box protein antagonist.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said F-box protein antagonist prevents the formation of said slimb protein complex.  
     
     
         10 . An isolated nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotide sequence encoding at least one functionally active fragement of an F-box protein, wherein said sequence consists of a least a portion of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 54 and 56.