Gene regulator

Abstract

The invention relates to the modulation of gene expression in a cell, also called gene control, in particular in relation to the treatment of a variety of diseases. The invention provides a method for modulating expression of a gene in a cell comprising providing the cell with a signalling molecule comprising a peptide or functional analogue thereof. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for identifying or obtaining a signalling molecule comprising a peptide or functional derivative or analogue thereof capable of modulating expression of a gene in a cell comprising providing the cell with a peptide or derivative or analogue thereof and determining the activity and/or nuclear translocation of a gene transcription factor.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A peptide for use as a medicament, characterized in that the peptide:
 is isolated and/or synthetically produced, and   consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of AQG, LAG, LQA, LAGV (SEQ ID NO:26), LQAV (SEQ ID NO:52), VLAALP (SEQ ID NO:27), VLPAAP (SEQ ID NO:24), VLPALA (SEQ ID NO:28), VAPALPQ (SEQ ID NO:29), VLAALPQ (SEQ ID NO:30), VLPALPA (SEQ ID NO:31), VVCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPVVSYAVALSCQCAL (SEQ ID NO:35), VVCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPVVSYAVALSCQ (SEQ ID NO:169), SIRLPGCPRGVNPVVS (SEQ ID NO:39), LPGCPRGVNPVVS (SEQ ID NO:40), CPRGVNPVVS (SEQ ID NO:50), LPGC (SEQ ID NO:41), CPRGVNP (SEQ ID NO:170), PGCP (SEQ ID NO:10), RPRCRPINATLAVEKEGCPVCITVNTTICAGYCPT (SEQ ID NO:45), MTRVLQGVPALPQ (SEQ ID NO:171), CALCRRSTTDCGGPKDHPLTC (SEQ ID NO:46), SKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPS (SEQ ID NO:172), TCDDPRFQDSSSSKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPSDTPILPQ (SEQ ID NO:48), CRRSTTDCGGPKDHPLTC (SEQ ID NO:47), and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The peptide of  claim 22 , wherein the peptide or peptide mixture is selected from the group consisting of AQG, LAG, LQA, LAGV, SEQ ID NO:52, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:31, SEQ ID NO:35, SEQ ID NO:169, SEQ ID NO:40, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The peptide of  claim 22 , wherein peptide has a length of from 3 to 7 amino acids. 
     
     
         25 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising:
 an inactive agent, and   an active agent consisting of one or more of the peptides of  claim 22 .   
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical preparation of  claim 25 , comprising at least two of the peptides. 
     
     
         27 . A peptide, wherein the peptide:
 is isolated and/or synthetically produced, and   consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of AQG, LAG, LQA, VAPALPQ (SEQ ID NO:173), VVCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPVVSYAVALSCQCAL (SEQ ID NO: 35), VVCNYRDVRFESIRLPGCPRGVNPVVSYAVALSCQ (SEQ ID NO: 169), SIRLPGCPRGVNPVVS, LPGCPRGVNPVVS, CPRGVNPVVS (SEQ ID NO:50), LPGC, CPRGVNP (SEQ ID NO:170), PGCP (SEQ ID NO:10), RPRCRPINATLAVEKEGCPVCITVNTTICAGYCPT (SEQ ID NO:45), MTRVLQGVPALPQ (SEQ ID NO:171), CALCRRSTTDCGGPKDHPLTC, SKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPS (SEQ ID NO:172), TCDDPRFQDSSSSKAPPPSLPSPSRLPGPSDTPILPQ (SEQ ID NO:48), and CRRSTTDCGGPKDHPLTC (SEQ ID NO:47).