Further Use of Protein Kinase N Beta

Abstract

The present invention is related to use of protein kinase N beta or a fragment or derivative thereof as a downstream target of the PI 3-kinase pathway, preferably as a downstream drug target of the PI 3-kinase pathway.

1 . A method for identifying an agent suitable for treating a disease or pathological condition associated with dysregulation of the PI-3 kinase pathway, comprising contacting a test system comprising a protein having protein kinase N beta activity with a composition comprising a candidate compound, and determining if protein kinase N beta activity is reduced in the presence of said candidate compound. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein reduction in protein kinase N beta activity is measured by measuring protein kinase N beta enzymatic activity. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein reduction in protein kinase N beta activity is measured by measuring a change in expression of said protein having protein kinase N beta activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said test system comprises a cell that expresses said protein having protein kinase N activity. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said candidate compound is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein, an antibody, an anticaline, a functional nucleic acid, a small molecule drug, an aptamer, an aptazyme, a ribozyme, a spiegelmer, an antisense oligonucleotide and an siRNA. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a plurality of candidate compounds. 
     
     
         7 . A method for diagnosing a disease associated with a dysregulated PI-3 kinase pathway in a subject suspected of suffering from said disease, comprising measuring protein kinase N beta activity in a sample obtained from said subject and comparing said activity with a control level of activity, wherein an increase in protein kinase N beta activity indicates the presence of disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein protein kinase N beta activity is measured by determining expression of protein kinase N beta protein. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein protein kinase N beta activity is measured by determining enzymatic activity of protein kinase N beta. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said control level of activity is measured in a control tissue obtained from said subject and wherein said control tissue is not suspected of having a dysregulated PI-3 kinase pathway. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said control level of activity is taken from a database of control levels. 
     
     
         12 . A method for determining the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment regimen in a subject, comprising:
 measuring protein kinase N beta activity in a first sample obtained from the subject, thereby generating an initial level;   administering the treatment regimen to the subject;   measuring protein kinase N beta activity in a second sample from the patient at a time following administration of the treatment regimen, thereby generating a test level; and   comparing the initial and test levels, wherein a decrease in protein kinase N beta activity in the test level relative to the initial level indicates that the treatment regimen is effective in the patient.   
     
     
         13 . A method for selecting test agents having a therapeutic effect in a subject, comprising:
 measuring protein kinase N beta activity in a first sample obtained from the subject, thereby generating a pre-treatment level;   administering a test agent to the subject;   measuring protein kinase N beta activity in a second sample from the patient at a time following administration of the test agent, thereby generating data for a test level; and   comparing the pre-treatment level to the test level, wherein data showing no decrease in the test level relative to the pre-treatment level indicates that the test agent is not effective in the patient; and   eliminating the test agent from further evaluation or study.   
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one agent that inhibits the activity of protein kinase N beta and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of agents that inhibit the enzymatic activity of protein kinase N beta. 
     
     
         16 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of agents that inhibit the expression of protein kinase N beta. 
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of small molecules that interact with protein kinase N beta, antibodies that specifically bind protein kinase N beta, polypeptides that bind to protein kinase N beta, and functional nucleic acids. 
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 17 , wherein said functional nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of an aptamer, an aptazyme, a ribozyme, a spiegelmer, an antisense oligonucleotide and an siRNA.