Inventors:
Xu Cao - Birmingham AL, US
Xingming Shi - Birmingham AL, US
Shuting Bai - Birmingham AL, US
International Classification:
C12Q 1/68, A61K 39/395, A61K 48/00, A61K 38/17
US Classification:
424143100, 435006000, 514012000, 514044000
Abstract:
The present invention describes a novel interaction between Smad6 and the Hox genes in nuclear transcriptional regulation following BMP signal transduction. The present invention further provides methods of using this novel Smad6/Hox protein interaction to regulate gene expression, regulate bone formation and control osteoporosis. Further provided are methods of screening for compounds that interfere with the novel Smad6/Hox protein interaction, thereby resulting in expression of a Hox protein-repressed gene and/or stimulating bone formation.