| abstract |
The present invention relates to novel SH3 domain binding protein, referred to herein a DEF polypeptides. The DEF polypeptides comprise several motifs including a src SH3 consensus binding sequence, four ankyrin repeats, one zinc finger domain and six copies of a proline-rich tandem repeat. DEF polypeptides may function as mediators of SH3 domain-dependent signal transduction pathways and, thus may mediate multiple signaling events such as cellular gene expression, cytoskeletal architecture, protein trafficking and endocytosis, cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Described herein are isolated and antisense nucleic acids molecules, recombinant expression vectors, host cells and non-human transgenic animals containing an insertion or a disruption of the DEF gene. Diagnostic, screening and therapeutic methods utilizing the compositions of the invention are also provided |