MODULATING THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ZO-2/TJP2 AND A SNAIL ZINC FINGER TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR FAMILY MEMBER

摘要

There is provided a method of identifying candidate agents capable of modulating interaction between a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide, wherein the first polypeptide is ZO-2/TJP2 or a functional variant thereof and the second polypeptide is a Snail zinc finger transcription factor family member or a functional variant thereof, the method comprising: a. contacting the first polypeptide with the second polypeptide and a candidate agent; and b. determining whether: i. the binding of the first polypeptide with the second polypeptide is decreased or increased in the presence of said candidate agent when compared with a control; or ii. whether the affinity, extent or amount of the binding between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide is decreased or increased in the presence of said candidate agent when compared with a control. There is also provided a method of predicting the likelihood of tumor metastasis development or the effectiveness of a cancer treatment and a kit using the interaction between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide, and an isolated complex between ZO-2/TJP2 and a Snail zinc finger transcription factor family member. There are also provided methods of treating inhibiting or suppressing tumor growth, inhibiting tumor metastasis and enhancing wound healing.