methods for the treatment or diagnosis of diseases or conditions that are associated with an abnormal signal transduction

摘要

Methods for diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition in an organism characterized by an abnormal level of interaction between: (a) a BLM domain and its natural binding partner; or (b) an EGF receptor and an EGF ligand is described. The disease or condition may also be characterized by an abnormality in a signal transduction pathway, wherein the pathway contains a protein with a BLM domain or an EGF receptor. The method includes disrupting or promoting that interaction (or signal) in vivo. The method also involves inhibiting the activity of the complexes formed between the individual molecules. Also, a method for screening for an agent useful for treatment of such a disease or condition by assaying potential agents for the ability to disrupt or promote that interaction is described. The invention also features a peptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a BLM domain or EGF receptor domains 1 or 3.