A method of activating serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase (SGK) is provided wherein the SGK is phosphorylated. The SGK may be phosphorylated by PDK1 and/or a preparation containing PDK2 activity. A method of identifying a compound that modulates the activity of SGK is provided, wherein the activity of SGK is measured by measuring the phosphorylation by SGK of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to the consensus sequence (Arg/Lys; preferably Arg)-X-(X/Arg)-X-X-Ser/Thr)-Z wherein X indicates any amino acid, X/Arg indicates any amino acid, with a preference for arginine, and Z indicates that the amino acid residue is preferably a hydrophobic residue. The SGK may be activated by phosphorylation.
The present application is a national stage filing of PCT/GB99/04232, filed Dec. 14, 1999, which claims priority to GB 9919676.8, filed August 19, 1999. The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/112,217, filed Dec. 14, 1998.
