US 7,320,785 B2
Compositions and methods for modulation of DARPP-32 phosphorylation
Paul Greengard, New York, N.Y. (US); Per Svenningsson, New York, N.Y. (US); Sergey V. Rakhilin, Yorktown, N.Y. (US); and Natalia Starkova, New York, N.Y. (US)
Assigned to The Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y. (US)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/218,137.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/311641, filed on Aug. 10, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0171255 A1, Sep. 11, 2003
Int. Cl. A61K 49/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/53 (2006.01); G01N 33/567 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 424—9.2  [424/9.1; 435/7.2; 435/7.21] 4 Claims
 
1. A method for identifying an agent for use in treating depression in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
(a) contacting an agent with phosphatase 2C (“PP2C”) and Ser137-phosphorylated Dopamine- and cyclic-AMP-Regulated PhosphoProtein of molecular weight 32,000 Dalton (“DARPP-32”);
(b) detecting the amount of dephosphorylation of Ser137-phosphorylated DARPP-32; and
(c) testing the agent in an animal model of depression,
wherein the agent is identified as an agent for use in treating depression if a decrease in the dephosphorylation of Ser137-phosphorylated DARPP-32 is detected in the presence of the agent in step (b) and if the agent is effective in the animal model tested in step (c).