| 摘要 |
The invention features nucleic acid molecules that are involved with (e.g. activate or regulate) human SR-BI receptor transcription, as well as complements thereto, and homologs thereof. In addition, drug discovery assays are provided for identifying agents which modulate SR-BI promoter activity and thereby modulate the expression of a gene regulated thereby. Such agents can be useful therapeutically for treating or preventing the development of a disease or condition that is caused or contributed to by an aberrant SR-BI activity. In a preferred embodiment, the disease or condition is characterized by inappropriate lipid transfer or metabolism (e.g., atherosclerosis or gallstone formation). Such agents can also be used to modulate expression of a specific gene under the control of the SR-BI promoter in gene therapy. Moreover, the present invention provides diagnostic assays and reagents for determining whether a subject has a disorder involving, for example, aberrant expression of SR-BI genes. |
