FACTORS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF A MULTIMERIC PROTEIN AND METHODS OF SCREENING THEREFOR

摘要

Factors and methods for disrupting or inhibiting the association of protomers of a multimeric protein are described. Such inhibition reduces the biological activit y of the target protein, which is desirable in the case of certain physiological disorder s. Methods of screening candidate factors that mimic the interface between protomer s of a multimeric protein, so as to identify a factor that disrupts or inhibits assoc iation of the protomers, are also described. In particular, peptides that inhibit the associat ion of protomers of a growth factor having a cysteine knot, such as a neurotrophin, are described.