Human sodium-dependent bile acid transporter proteins

Abstract

A novel sodium-dependent bile acid transporter protein, an Na + /H + exchange transporter protein, a P-type ATPase protein and a vanilloid receptor protein, and polynucleotides encoding these proteins are useful in screening preventives/remedies for hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, genital diseases or digestive diseases; respiratory diseases, renal diseases or digestive diseases; pancreatic diseases, central nerve diseases, digestive diseases or respiratory diseases; inflammatory diseases, rheumatoid diseases or diabetic neurosis; etc.

1 - 115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . A method of screening for a compound or salt thereof that promotes or inhibits the activity of a protein comprising the amino acid of SEQ ID NO:1, said method comprising the steps of:
 (1) measuring an activity of a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1;   (2) introducing at least one compound or salt thereof;   (3) measuring an activity of a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 again;   (4) comparing said activity measurements of step (1) and step (2); and   (5) designating said compound or salt thereof as promoting or inhibiting the activity of said protein based on said comparing step (4).   
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said protein interacts with a substrate. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 117 , wherein said substrate is a steroid hormone. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein said steroid hormone is selected from the group consisting of estrogen and androgen. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein said estrogen is estrone or metabolites thereof and said androgen is dehydroepiandrosterone or metabolites thereof. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said protein is derived from a cell or said protein is synthetic or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of peptides, proteins, non-peptide compounds, synthetic compounds, fermentation products and extracts. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said measuring is performed without using a cell or cells. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said measuring comprises using a cell. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said steps are performed in vivo, ex vivo, in vitro, or in silico or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said activity is designated as inhibiting, wherein said inhibiting is by at least about 20 percent. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said activity is designated as promoting, wherein said promoting is by at least about 20 percent. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 117 , wherein said activity is selected from the group consisting of activity due to:
 said protein interacting with said substrate;   said protein interacting with said compound;   a molecule or molecules interacting with said protein;   a molecule or molecules interacting with said substrate; and   and a molecule or molecules interacting with a molecule or molecules.   
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein said activity is obtained from a sample obtained from a uterine specimen, mammary specimen, bronchial specimen, lung specimen or kidney specimen.