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BSA 01-02: DNA PK Assay

BNL Reference Number: BSA 01-02

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 6,803,203 was issued on October 12, 2004

Summary

DNA Dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PK) is a tyrosine protein kinase that requires DNA as an activating co-factor for maximal activity. This patent provides sequences of substrate peptides that are useful for determination of the levels of DNA-PK in vitro.

Description

The ability of DNA-PK to phosphorylate regulatory proteins provides a means for elucidating important regulatory pathways. DNA-PK may be useful for studying the extent to which phosphorylation regulates gene expression and cell growth. Additionally, DNA-PK may be an important cellular enzyme in that it may play a role in transcription regulation, DNA replication, and/or DNA repair. DNA-PK may be a regulatory kinase which may be useful in detecting damaged DNA. The phosphorylation of cellular protein substrates by DNA-PK may activate cell cycle checkpoint mechanisms that arrest cell cycle progression in response to DNA damage. DNA-PK may also regulate processes involved in the development of cellular immunity. These and other properties suggest that DNA-PK may be extremely important for regulating the state or utilization of cellular DNA, especially in primate cells. Quanitfying the levels of DNA PK is enabled by the peptides and kits of the present invention.

Benefits

The DNA PK peptides and kits for assessing the levels of DNA PK in cells provides insight into the nature of the cells. Because this enzyme appears to play a role in cell cycle progression, this enzyme may be key to monitoring and assessing cancer therapies.

Applications and Industries

Research laboratories and diagnositcs developers may have use for assays designed to assess the levels of DNA-PK activity of various cell types. The assays may provide a viable measure of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic compounds.