Tumor suppressor killin
The present invention relates to a new tumor suppressor, designated Killin. Also described are diagnostic and therapeutic uses of the Killin protein and the killin gene, alone or in combination with traditional cancer therapies.
1. A method of screening for an activator of Killin expression comprising:
(i) providing a cell comprising a Killin promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid segment encoding expressable marker;
(ii) contacting said cell with a candidate substance; and
(iii) assessing the expression of said marker,
wherein an increase in expression of said marker, as compared to expression in a cell not contacted with said candidate substance, identifies said candidate substance as an activator of Killin expression.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell is a eukaryotic cell.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said candidate substance is a protein, a peptide, an organopharmaceutical, a lipid, a carbohydrate or a nucleic acid.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expressable marker is an, enzyme or a fluorescent or chemiluminescent protein.