System and method for identifying proteins involved in force-initiated signal transduction
First Claim
1. A system for the identification of proteins involved in mechanotransduction comprising:
- a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins,exogenous proteins in contact with the cytoskeleton network,means for applying a force to the cytoskeleton network; and
means for identifying any of the exogenous proteins that bind to the cytoskeleton network when a force is applied to the cytoskeleton network,wherein exogenous proteins identified as being bound to the cytoskeleton network with the force applied thereto are identified as proteins involved in mechanotransduction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a cytoskeletal system composed of purified components which allow for the identification of key proteins involved in mechanotransduction. The system comprises a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins, exogenous proteins in contact with the cytoskeleton network, a means for applying a force to the cytoskeleton network, and a means for identifying any of the exogenous proteins that bind to the cytoskeleton network when a force is applied to the cytoskeleton network, wherein proteins identified are involved in mechnotransduction. The invention further relates to a method for identifying proteins involved in mechanotransduction using the cytoskeletal system of the present invention. The identification of key players involved in mechanotransduction allows for the identification of agents capable of inhibiting or enhancing mechanotransduction.
37 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system for the identification of proteins involved in mechanotransduction comprising:
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a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins, exogenous proteins in contact with the cytoskeleton network, means for applying a force to the cytoskeleton network; and means for identifying any of the exogenous proteins that bind to the cytoskeleton network when a force is applied to the cytoskeleton network, wherein exogenous proteins identified as being bound to the cytoskeleton network with the force applied thereto are identified as proteins involved in mechanotransduction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of identifying proteins involved in mechanotransduction comprising:
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providing a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins; contacting the cytoskeleton network with exogenous proteins, applying a force to the cytoskeleton network, and identifying the exogenous proteins that bind to the cytoskeleton network when the force is applied thereto, wherein the exogenous proteins that bind to the cytoskeleton network are identified as proteins involved in mechanotransduction. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of identifying an agent that inhibits or enhances mechanotransduction comprising:
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a) providing a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins; b) contacting the cytoskeleton network with exogenous proteins in the absence of the agent; c) applying a force to the cytoskeleton network; d) measuring an extent of binding of each of the exogenous proteins to the cytoskeleton network having the force applied thereto in the absence of the agent; and e) contacting the cytoskeleton network with the exogenous proteins in the presence of the agent; f) measuring the extent of binding of each of the exogenous proteins to the cytoskeleton network having the force applied thereto in the presence of the agent; and g) determining from the measurements in steps d) and f) whether the presence of the agent increases or decreases the extent to which each of the exogenous proteins bind to the cytoskeleton network so as to determine whether the agent inhibits or enhances mechanotransduction. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for identifying an agent capable of inhibiting or enhancing mechanotransduction comprising:
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a) providing a cytoskeleton network deficient in force-dependent proteins; b) contacting the cytoskeleton network with an identified force-dependent protein in the absence of an agent; c) applying a force to the cytoskeleton network; d) measuring an extent of binding of the identified force-dependent protein to the cytoskeleton network having the force applied thereto in the absence of the agent; e) contacting the cytoskeleton network with the identified force-dependent protein in the presence of the agent; f) measuring an extent of binding the identified force-dependent protein to the cytoskeleton network having the force applied thereto in the presence of the agent; and g) determining from the measurements in steps d) and f) whether the presence of the agent increases or decreases the extent the identified force-dependent protein binds to the cytoskeleton network having the force applied thereto so as to determine whether the agent inhibits or enhances mechanotransduction.
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Specification