METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SEARCHING FOR REGULATORS OF THE FER PROTEIN AND FOR MONITORING THE EFFECTS OF THE FER PROTEIN

摘要

The invention provides a method for modulating a Fer mediated pathway in a cell, for monitoring the effect of a Fer protein in a cell, for altering and inhibiting one or more effects of a Fer protein in a cell. The invention involves modulating, monitoring, altering or inhibiting any one or more or of the association of the Fer protein to PP1; the phosphorylation of PP1, the phosphatase activity of PP1, and the tumor suppressive activity of the retinoblastoma protein (RB). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, modulating a Fer mediated pathway in a cell, monitoring the effect of a Fer protein in a cell, for altering and inhibiting one or more effects of a Fer protein in a cell involves administrating to a cell compound having a molecular weight of up to 1000 Dalton capable of modulating, altering or inhibiting an effect of Fer. The invention further provides a method for determining whether a substance is capable of altering or inhibiting an effect of a Fer protein in a cell. The method includes presenting the substance to a first cell expressing an exogenous Fer gene or Fer cDNA; and measuring a rate of proliferation of the cell. A significant difference between the growth rate of the first cell and the growth rate of a second cell not expressing an exogenous Fer gene or Fer cDNA indicates that the substance is capable of altering a fer mediated pathway.