SCREENING PROCESSES FOR AGENTS MODULATING CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

摘要

Methods for identifying agents that modulate the extent of phosphorylation of the protein product of the ABC1 gene through increase in the activity of ABCA1 phosphorylating enzymes, especially protein kinases, including protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) or by decreasing the activity of ABCA1 dephosphorylases, or phosphatases, especially Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) are disclosed. These processes include both in vitro and cell based assays. Also disclosed are processes for preventing diseases linked to the activity of ABCA1 activity by administering to a patient at risk of such diseases an amount of an agent that inhibits ABCA1 phosphatases or increases the activity of ABCA1 kinases.