Human MEKK proteins, corresponding nucleic acid molecules and uses therefor

Abstract

Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding human MEKK proteins, and isolated MEKK proteins, are provided. The invention further provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced and non-human transgenic animals carrying a human MEKK transgene. The invention further provides human MEKK fusion proteins and anti-human MEKK antibodies. Methods of using the human MEKK proteins and nucleic acid molecules of the invention are also disclosed, including methods for detecting human MEKK activity in a biological sample, methods of modulating human MEKK activity in a cell, and methods for identifying agents that modulate the activity of human MEKK.

1 . Antibodies that specifically bind human MEKK protein.  
     
     
         2 . The antibodies of  claim 1 , which are polyclonal antibodies.  
     
     
         3 . The antibodies of  claim 1 , which are monoclonal antibodies.  
     
     
         4 . The antibodies of  claim 1 , which are coupled to a detectable substance.  
     
     
         5 . A nonhuman transgenic animal that contains cells carrying a transgene encoding a human MEKK protein.  
     
     
         6 . A method for detecting the presence of human MEKK in a biological sample comprising contacting the biological sample with an agent capable of detecting an indicator of human MEKK activity such that the presence of human MEKK is detected in the biological sample.  
     
     
         7 . A method for modulating human MEKK activity in a cell comprising contacting the cell with an agent that modulates human MEKK activity such that human MEKK activity in the cell is modulated.  
     
     
         8 . A cell in which expression of a signal transduction polypeptide is lacking due to targeted disruption of a gene encoding the signal transduction polypeptide.  
     
     
         9 . A cell in which mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular response kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase kinase1 (MEKK1) is lacking due to at least one mutation having been introduced into each allele of the gene encoding MEKK1.  
     
     
         10 . A method for regulating a human MEKK-dependent process in a human cell comprising contacting the cell with an agent that modulates human MEKK activity such that human MEKK activity in the cell is modulated.