The present invention relates generally to a nucleic acid molecule which
is expressed in at least red gastrocnemius muscle or its equivalent under
particular physiological conditions. It is proposed that the nucleic acid
molecule is differentially expressed under differing conditions of
healthy state, myopathy, obesity, anorexia, weight maintenance, diabetes,
disorders associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, genetic disorders,
cancer, heart disease, inflammation, disorders associated with the immune
system, infertility, disease associated with the brain and/or metabolic
energy levels. The subject nucleic acid molecule and/or its expression
product is proposed to be used in therapeutic and diagnostic protocols
for conditions such as healthy state, myopathy, obesity, anorexia, weight
maintenance, diabetes, disorders associated with mitochondrial
dysfunction, genetic disorders, cancer, heart disease, inflammation,
disorders associated with the immune system, infertility, disease
associated with the brain and/or metabolic energy levels or as targets
for the design and/or identification of modulators of their activity
and/or function.