THE USE OF A COMPLEX OF VEGFR-2 AND NEUROPILIN-1 FOR IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL PRO- AND ANTI-ANGIOGENIC ACTIVES

摘要

Disclosed is a method for determining whether a compound is capable of binding to a receptor protein complex comprising Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and Neuropilin-1 (NP-1), the method comprising introducing a sample comprising the compound to the VEGFR-2 + NP-1 protein complex and allowing the compound to bind to the complex. This method may utilize the full length proteins, the soluble form of either protein or a combination of full length and soluble proteins. Also disclosed is a host cell co-transfected with an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence that codes for the VEGFR-2 protein and an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence that codes for the NP-1 protein. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a complex formed by the interaction of a recombinant VEGFR-2 receptor protein and a recombinant NP-1 receptor protein. Also disclosed is a method for determining whether a test compound produces a signal upon binding to a VEGFR-2 + NP-1 protein complex (i.e., is an agonist for the complex), as well as a method for determining whether a test compound blocks a signal upon VEGF165 binding to the complex (i.e., is an antagonist at the complex).