Compositions, kits and assays containing reagents directed to cortactin and an ARG/ABL protein kinase

1 . A method for identifying a molecule that modulates an interaction between an ARG/ABL protein or fragment and a Cortactin protein or fragment, comprising:

contacting the ARG/ABL protein or fragment and the Cortactin protein or fragment with a test molecule, wherein the ARG/ABL protein or fragment and the Cortactin protein or fragment interact in the absence of the test molecule; and

detecting the presence, absence or amount of an interaction between the ARG/ABL protein or fragment and the Cortactin protein or fragment,

whereby a difference in the interaction in the presence of the test molecule versus the absence of test molecule identifies the test molecule as a molecule that modulates the interaction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction is phosphorylation of the Cortactin protein or fragment.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interaction is binding of the ARG/ABL protein or fragment to the Cortactin protein or fragment.

4 . A method for identifying a molecule that modulates a biological activity in a system containing an ARG/ABL reagent and a Cortactin reagent, comprising:

contacting the ARG/ABL reagent, the Cortactin reagent and a test molecule in the system; and

detecting the presence, absence or amount of the biological activity,

whereby a difference in the biological activity in the presence of the test molecule versus the absence of test molecule identifies the test molecule as a molecule that modulates the biological activity.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the biological activity is cellular localization of a Cortactin protein or fragment.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the biological activity is phosphorylation of Cortactin.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the biological activity is synthesis of a transcription factor.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the biological activity is interaction of an ARG/ABL protein or fragment with a binding partner.

9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the biological activity is interaction of a Cortactin protein or fragment with a binding partner.

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is an isolated protein or fragment.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the protein or fragment is in association with a detectable label.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the detectable label is covalently linked to the protein or fragment.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the detectable label is a fluorescent protein.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the detectable label is a fluorescent molecule.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluorescent molecule interacts with another fluorescent molecule in the system in a fluorescence-resonance energy transfer (FRET) interaction.

16 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is a molecule that specifically binds to an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the molecule is an antibody.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the antibody is in association with a detectable label.

19 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is an isolated binding partner of ARG/ABL or Cortactin, respectively, or portion thereof.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the binding partner or portion thereof is in association with a detectable label.

21 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

22 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is an inhibitor of a biological function of an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

23 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is an inhibitor of a nucleic acid that encodes an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the inhibitor is a siRNA, RNAi, antisense or ribozyme nucleic acid.

25 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is a cell that over-expresses an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

26 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the ARG/ABL reagent and/or Cortactin reagent is a cell that under-expresses an ARG/ABL protein or fragment or a Cortactin protein or fragment, respectively.

27 . A kit comprising a Cortactin reagent and an ARG/ABL reagent.

28 . The kit of claim 27 , wherein Cortactin reagent and/or ARG/ABL reagent is a Cortactin protein or fragment or an ARG/ABL protein or fragment, respectively.

29 . A composition comprising a Cortactin reagent and an ARG/ABL reagent.

30 . The composition of claim 29 , wherein Cortactin reagent and/or ARG/ABL reagent is a Cortactin protein or fragment or an ARG/ABL protein or fragment, respectively.