| abstract |
A novel protein having a ceramide kinase activity which would be usable as a target of preventives or remedies for nerve diseases, inflammation, HIV, type 2 diabetes, obesity, sepsis, arteriosclerosis and cancer. More particularly, a protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by amino acid nos. 1 to 537 in SEQ ID NO:2 in Sequence Listing; a DNA encoding this protein; a recombinant DNA vector containing this DNA; a host transformed by this recombinant DNA vector; a process for producing the above ceramide kinase and use of this protein. Use of this process makes it possible to search for novel compounds having an activity of specifically activating or inhibiting ceramide kinase and being useful as remedies for nerve diseases, anti-inflammatory agents, remedies for HIV, anti-type 2 diabetic agents, antiobestic agents, antiseptic agents, antiarteriosclerotic agents and carcinostatic agents. |