G2 CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS AND ASSAY

摘要

Compounds are provided that inhibit the G2 checkpoint in the cell cycle and are useful for sensitizing cells to killing by DNA damaging agents. Also provided is an assay for G2 checkpoint inhibitors which includes applying a DNA damaging agent to cells which are incapable of G1 arrest but will arrest at G2 in response to the DNA damaging agent and determining whether the cells do not arrest at G2 and proceed to mitosis after application of a sample to be tested. The assay may employ mitotic cell specific monoclonal antibodies. Also provided is a method of identifying phosphorylated proteins involved in the mitotic cycle of a cell in which proteins of a cell treated with a G2 checkpoint inhibitor are compared to proteins of a cell not so treated.