Inventors:
Steven H. Hinrichs - Omaha NE
Dana Jo Orten - Crescent IA
Assignee:
Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln NE
International Classification:
A61K 39395
Abstract:
The present invention relates to members of the cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein/activating transcription factor 1 (CREB/ATF1) family of transcription factors. An embodiment of this invention constitutes an inhibitory agent (e. g. , an antibody, small molecule or polypeptide) which binds to a fragment, spanning from about position 167 to about 181 of the amino acid sequence of the ATF1 protein bound to the target gene, with sufficient binding affinity to cause disassociation of ATF1 from the DNA of the target gene and/or prevent ATF1 from binding thereto through a currently unknown mechanism. As a result, transcription is prevented or, at least, inhibited, resulting in events of consequence to a virus or cell.