Protein biopolymer markers predictive of insulin resistance

Abstract

The instant invention involves the use of a combination of preparatory steps in conjunction with mass spectroscopy and time-of-flight detection procedures to maximize the diversity of biopolymers which are verifiable within a particular sample. The cohort of biopolymers verified within such a sample is then viewed with reference to their ability to evidence at least one particular disease state; thereby enabling a diagnostician to gain the ability to characterize either the presence or absence of said at least one disease state relative-to recognition of the presence and/or the absence of said biopolymer, predict disease risk assessment, and develop therapeutic avenues against said disease.

1 . A method for screening for efficacy of disease process modulating agents for insulin resistance comprising: 
 (a) providing a sample of bodily fluid containing a biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3;    (b) adding a quantity of said agent sufficient to interact with said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3; and    (c) determining the presence of an interaction between said agent and said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1; amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3;    wherein said interaction is determinative of efficacy of said disease process modulating agent.    
     
     
         2 . A method for diagnosing insulin resistance by determining the presence of a biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 comprising: 
 (a) conducting mass spectrometric analysis on a sample obtained from a patient to elucidate peptide fragments contained therein;    (b) comparing a mass spectral profile of said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 to mass spectral profiles of peptides elucidated from said sample; and    (c) confirming the presence of said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:l, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 in said sample by identifying a mass spectral profile having an ion peak at about 1209 daltons for amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, an ion peak at about 1212 daltons for amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and an ion peak at about 1447 daltons for amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3; wherein the presence of said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:l, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 is diagnostic for insulin resistance.    
     
     
         3 . A method for diagnosing insulin resistance comprising: 
 (a) providing a sample; and    (b) determining the presence of a biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:l, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 in said sample;    wherein the presence of said biopolymer marker selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues 2-11 of SEQ ID NO:1, amino acid residues 2-12 of SEQ ID NO:2 and amino acid residues 2-13 of SEQ ID NO:3 is diagnostic for insulin resistance.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said sample is an unfractionated body fluid or a tissue sample.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said sample is selected from the group consisting of blood, blood products, urine, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, and lymph.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said sample is obtained from a human.