| 摘要 |
<p>There are disclosed protein condensation inhibitors which are useful in the treatment of phase transition disease states associated with the phase transition of proteins from a soluble to a condensed state. Methods of identifying compounds for their ability to function as protein condensation inhibitors, as well as the use of such protein condensation inhibitors to treat phase transition disease states, are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of identifying compounds comprises assaying the compound in an aqueous protein solution to determine whether the sign of δE is positive. In this method, the assaying may include the steps of measuring a change in phase separation temperature and determining whether protein condensation occurs upon raising or lowering the temperature of the aqueous protein solution. Preferably, the aqueous protein solution comprises a protein associated with a phase transition disease state, such as sickle hemoglobin. In another embodiment, a method of identifying compounds involves assaying the compound in at least two distinct aqueous protein solutions for its ability to prevent or delay a temperature dependent phase transition to a condensed state in each of the distinct aqueous protein solutions. Examples of suitable proteins for the distinct aqueous protein solutions include lysozyme and sickle hemoglobin.</p> |
