The present invention pertains to a method for treating
obesity in a
mammal which comprises reducing the
biological activity of HMGI genes in the
mammal. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for treating a tumor in a patient by reducing the
biological activity of normal HMGI genes which comprises administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor compound active against normal HMGI-C or HMGI(Y) genes. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method of producing a transgenic non-human
mammal, the germ cells and somatic cells of which contain an inactivated HMGI
gene sequence introduced into the mammal at an
embryonic stage. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for screening candidate compounds capable of inhibiting the
biological activity of normal HMGI proteins. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for screening candidate compounds capable of inhibiting the biological activity of normal HMGI genes. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for detecting normal HMGI proteins as a
diagnostic marker for a tumor using a probe. that recognizes normal HMGI proteins, which comprises the steps of (a) contacting normal HMGI proteins from a sample from a patient with a probe which binds to HMGI proteins; and (b) analyzing for normal HMGI proteins by detecting levels of the probe bound to the normal HMGI proteins, wherein the presence of normal HMGI proteins in the sample is positive for a tumor. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a method for detecting antibodies to normal HMGI proteins using a probe that recognizes antibodies to HMGI normal proteins, which comprises the steps of (a) treating a sample from a patient with a probe which binds to antibodies to normal HMGI proteins; and (b) analyzing for antibodies to HMGI proteins by detecting levels of the probe bound to the antibodies to HMGI proteins, wherein the presence of antibodies to normal HMGI proteins in the sample is positive for a tumor. In another embodiment, the invention pertains to HMGI genes and proteins for use as a starting point to isolate downstream target genes regulated by the HMGI genes and proteins.