Members of the capsaicin/vanilloid receptor family of proteins and uses thereof
View Patent ↗The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel members of the Capsaicin/Vanilloid receptor family. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which an hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-hVR-1, anti-hVR-2, and anti-rVR-2 antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
1. A method for identifying a compound which modulates the activity of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, the method comprising:
a) contacting a cell expressing the polypeptide with a test compound; and
b) determining the effect of the test compound on the activity of the polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound which modulates the activity of the polypeptide.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activity is a hVR-2 activity.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of membrane depolarization.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of intracellular calcium levels.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell expressing the polypeptide is a neuronal cell.
6. A method for identifying a compound which modulates the activity of a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, the method comprising:
a) contacting a cell expressing the polypeptide with a test compound; and
b) determining the effect of the test compound on the activity of the polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound which modulates the activity of the polypeptide.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the activity is a hVR-2 activity.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of membrane depolarization.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of intracellular calcium levels.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cell expressing the polypeptide is a neuronal cell.
11. A method for identifying a compound which modulates the activity of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, the method comprising:
a)contacting a sample comprising the polypeptide with a test compound; and
b)determining the effect of the test compound on the activity of the polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound which modulates the activity of the polypeptide.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sample comprises an isolated polypeptide or a membrane-bound form of an isolated polypeptide.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the activity is a hVR-2 activity.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of membrane depolarization.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of intracellular calcium levels.
16. A method for identifying a compound which modulates the activity of a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, the method comprising:
a)contacting a sample comprising the polypeptide with a test compound; and
b)determining the effect of the test compound on the activity of the polypeptide, thereby identifying a compound which modulates the activity of the polypeptide.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sample comprises an isolated polypeptide or a membrane-bound form of an isolated polypeptide.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the activity is a hVR-2 activity.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of membrane depolarization.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the hVR-2 activity is modulation of intracellular calcium levels.