NUCLEIC ACIDS AND PROTEINS CONFERRING A 5 FOLD INCREASE IN CISPLATIN RESISTANCE IN SENSITIVE CELLS AND THEIR USE

摘要

Isolated nucleic acids which can confer on a cell at least a 5-fold increase in cisplatin resistance relative to a cisplatin sensitive cell are disclosed. The nucleic acids of the invention can further confer on a cell resistance to heavy metals such as cadmium and copper. Isolated proteins encoded by the nucleic acids of the invention are also disclosed. The isolated nucleic acids and proteins of the invention are useful for conferring cisplatin resistance on a cell, for example non-malignant cells in a tumor bearing subject being treated with cisplatin. Alternatively, the cisplatin resistance of a cell can be inhibited by contacting the cell with an agent which inhibits the activity of the protein of the invention, for example to reverse the cisplatin resistance of a tumor cell. The invention also discloses methods for identifying substances which inhibit cisplatin resistance in a cell or which are chemosensitizers of cisplatin. The invention further discloses methods for identifying cisplatin resistant tumor cells using the nucleic acids and proteins of the invention.