BIOMARKER FOR MELK ACTIVITY AND METHODS OF USING SAME

摘要

The methods of the present invention, relate to the surprising determination that the level of phosphorylation of position 406 (e.g., a serine residue) of human eukaryotic initiation factor 4B (eIF4B), or a corresponding phosphorylatable amino acid of an ortholog thereof, serves as a biomarker for MELK enzymatic (e.g., kinase) and/or oncogenic activity. The methods of the present invention further relate to the surprising determination that the level of phosphorylation of position 3 (e.g., a threonine residue) and/or position 10 (e.g., a serine residue) and/or position 11 (e.g., a threonine residue) of human Histone M3, or a corresponding phosphorylatable amino acid of an ortholog thereof, also serves as a biomarker for MELK enzymatic (e.g., kinase) and/or oncogenic activity.

主权项

1. A method of identifying an agent which inhibits kinase or oncogenic activity of human maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) or an ortholog thereof, comprising:
a) contacting a sample comprising i) human MELK or an ortholog thereof and ii) human eukaryotic initiation factor 4B (eIF4B) or an ortholog thereof, with the agent; and b) determining the ability of the agent to inhibit Ser-406 phosphorylation of human eIF4B or a corresponding phosphorylatable amino acid in the ortholog of human eIF4B, wherein decreased phosphorylation identifies an agent which inhibits kinase or oncogenic activity of human MELK or the ortholog thereof.