Screening method for anti-diabetic compounds

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of identifying a compound suitable as a lead compound and/or as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes, the method comprising the steps of (a) contacting a test compound with a cell comprising a protein, wherein said protein (i) comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 29; (ii) is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising or consisting of the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 59 to 87; (iii) is a fragment of the protein according to (i) or (ii) and exhibits Eph-Receptor-Tyrosine-Kinase activity; or (iv) has a sequence at least 75% identical with the protein according to (i) or (ii) or with the fragment according to (iii) and exhibits Eph-Receptor-Tyrosine-Kinase activity; and (b) determining whether said test compound, upon contacting in step (a) inhibits the Eph receptor tyrosine kinase activity of said protein wherein said inhibition indicates a compound suitable as a lead compound and/or as a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of diabetes.