Dep2 and its uses in major depressive disorder and other related disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates to DEP2, as well as other proteins, and their uses in connection with the treatment of major depression or related disorders.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method of screening a composition for the ability to modulate the activity of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a composition;   b) simultaneously exposing the protein to the composition and to a substrate, wherein the protein is exposed to the substrate for sufficient time and conditions to allow the substrate to react with the protein in order to produce a reaction product or complex; and   c) measuring presence or absence of said reaction product or complex, wherein a lack of said reaction product or complex indicating a composition having the ability to modulate the activity of said protein.   
     
     
         47 . The method of claim  45 , wherein the protein modifies the phosphorylation of the substrate. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1 has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25 and SEQ ID NO:27. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of: phosphohistidine, phospholysine, phosphodiimide, pyrophosphate and a peptide or protein phosphorylated on histidine or lysine. 
     
     
         50 . A method of screening a composition for the ability to modulate activity of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, in a cell, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) exposing said cell to said composition; and   b) measuring the amount of activity of said protein in said cell, wherein a decreased or increased amount of activity of said protein, as compared to a cell which has not been exposed to said composition, indicates a composition having the ability to modulate the activity of said protein.   
     
     
         51 . The method of claim  45 , wherein a composition having an ability to modulate the activity of a protein can be used to treat major depression or a related disorder in a subject. 
     
     
         52 . A method of screening a composition for the ability to modulate expression of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, in a cell, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) exposing said cell to said composition; and   b) measuring the amount of said protein in said cell, wherein a decreased or increased amount of said protein, as compared to a cell which has not been exposed to said composition, indicates a composition having the ability to modulate the expression of said protein.   
     
     
         53 . A method of screening a composition for the ability to modulate the level of expression of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) exposing an in vitro transcription and translation system comprising a regulatory sequence from SEQ ID NO:1 functionally connected to the open reading frame for a detectable protein, to a composition for a time and under conditions sufficient for said test whether said composition modulates the level of expression of the detectable protein; and   b) detecting the level of expression of the detectable protein, wherein a reduction or an increase in the level of expression of the detectable protein indicates that said composition has the ability to modulate the level of expression of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the composition having an ability to modulate the expression of the protein or the level of expression of the protein can be used to treat major depression or a related disorder in a subject. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1 has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:32 and SEQ ID NO:34. 
     
     
         56 . A method of treating major depression or a related disorder in a subject in need of said treatment comprising the step of administering a composition identified as modulating the activity of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, to said subject, in an amount sufficient to effect said treatment. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said composition inhibits or reduces the activity of the protein. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said composition increases the activity of the protein. 
     
     
         59 . A method of treating major depression or a related disorder in a subject in need of said treatment comprising reducing the amount of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1 in said subject, to a level sufficient to effect said treatment. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said reduction results from complete binding or partial binding of a composition to said protein. 
     
     
         61 . A method of treating major depression or a related disorder in a subject in need of said treatment comprising increasing the amount of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1, to a level sufficient to effect said treatment. 
     
     
         62 . The methods of  claim 56 , wherein said method involves administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the protein translated from SEQ ID NO:1 has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25, SEQ ID NO:27, SEQ ID NO:29, SEQ ID NO:32 and SEQ ID NO:34. 
     
     
         64 - 74 . (canceled)