CA2212985A1 - Mammalian mesoderm induction early response (mier) gene family - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a family of mammalian genes that are transcribed in the immediate early phase following exposure to Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF) during mesoderm induction, termed Mesoderm Induction Immediate Early Response (MIER) genes. Defining features of the members of this family include that these genes are a) transcribed in response to fibroblast growth factors (FGF); b) are expressed within 40 minutes of FGF treatment; and c) do not require protein synthesis for transcription. There are at least eleven members within this family.

The invention relates generally to compositions of and diagnostic methods relating to the MIER
gene family, cDNA, nucleotide fragments, polypeptides coded thereby, recombinant host cells and vectors containing MIER encoding polynucleotide sequences, recombinant MIER
polypeptides, and antibodies. By way of example, the invention discloses the cloning and functional expression of different MIER polypeptides. The invention also includes methods for using the isolated, recombinant polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies directed thereto in assays designed to select substances which interact with MIER polypeptides for use diagnostic and therapeutic applications in addition to drug design and DNA vaccination methodologies.

Description

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 MAMMALIAN MESODERM INDUCTION EARLY RESPONSE (MIER) GENE FAMILY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel family of immediate early response genes, the use of S members of the family in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, in addition to drug design and vaccination protocols.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normal growth and differentiation of all org~ni~m.~ is dependent on cells responding correctly to a variety of internal and external signals. Many of these signals produce their effects by 10 ultimately ch~np~ing the transcription of specific genes. One of the major goals of developmental biologists is to define the interactions of gene products and the role they play in regulating cellular differentiation in time and space. Moreover, it is clear that in~prol~l;ate ~plcs~ion of many genes that control differentiation during embryonic development can lead to oncogenic CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 transformation. Such genes include members of the growth factor families and components of their signal transduction pathways. --Polypeptide growth factors are members of a growing family of regulatory molecules that havebeen conserved throughout evolution and are known to have pleiotrophic effects which range 5 from stimulation of cell proliferation to control of cell differentiation. Growth factors have been linked to oncogenesis as many of the known oncogenes have been identified as overexpressed and/or mutated forms of growth factors, growth factor receptors or components of their intracellular signal transduction pathways. Oncogenes are thought to be altered such that their product escapes the normal control mech~ni~m(s), resulting in the sign~lling pathways being 10 permanently switched on. The overall result is uncontrolled cell growth.

The family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFsl) consists of nine members related by sequence and their ability to bind heparin (1). FGFs are involved in a number of cellular activities, including mitogenesis, cell differentiation and angiogenesis (reviewed in 2). In addition, overexpression of FGF in various cell lines leads to phenotypic transformation (3-5). For 15 example,f&~-3 was identified by its proximity to a preferred integration site of the proviral DNA
of the murine m~mm~ry tumour virus (MMTV) in MMTV induced m~mm~ry carcinomas (Moore, et a/., 1986), whilef~f-4 was isolated from Kaposi's sarcoma by its ability to transform NIH 3T3 cells (Delli-Bovi and Basilico, 1987). Some members of the family were identified by their mitogenic activity such asf~;f-2, which can cause phenotypic transformation when ov~ Lessed in cultured cells (Sasada, et al., 1988; Neufeld, et al., 1988), thus classifying them CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 as potential oncogenes.

Most of the studies to date have focussed on FGF's mitogenic and transforming activities, however, FGF has also been shown to act as a differentiation factor for embryonic cells (Slack et al., 1987). For example, FGFs have been shown to induce mesoderm differentiation inXenopus 5 embryonic tissue (6) and many of the initial events in the cellular response during induction are similar to those previously characterized for the FGF-mediated mitogenic response. During mesoderm induction, FGF binds to high affinity cell surface receptors (7) which in turn become phosphorylated on tyrosine (8). The phosphorylated FGF receptor (FGFR) forms a signalling complex by binding a number of intracellular substrates (9) which results in activation of several 10 well-characterized si~n~lling pathways. For instance, protein kinase C becomes activated during FGF-induced mesoderm differentiation (8) as does MAPK (10).

Previously, growth and differentiation had been thought to be mutually exclusive, i.e. when a cell begins to differentiate, it stops dividing. Thus, the elucidation of the mech~nism~ that regulate 15 the differentiation process may provide may provide valuable information about the molecular signals that are important for arresting cell growth. Further research in this field will contribute to an understanding of how growth factors, such as FGF function during early embryonic development to regulate patterning of mesodermal tissues and highlight differences in the cellular response during growth, differentiation and oncogenesis. It is therefore hoped that by 20 elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which genes regulate developmental processes during embryogenesis, it may be possible to define how misregulation of these genes can lead to cancer.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Recent research has focused on finding means for triggering the immune system to attack cancerous cells, a tactic termed immunotherapy or vaccine therapy. Because hlllllul~i~y is a-systemic reaction, it holds the potential to elimin~te all cancer cells in a patient's body, even when they migrate away from the original tumor site or reappear after years of clinical remission.
5 One challenge is that the immune system does not always recognize cancer cells and single them out for attack. A possible solution is to tag cancer cells with certain genes rendering them more visible to the immune system, which can then destroy them.

The immune response involves many different cells and chemicals that work together to destroy in several ways invading microbes or damaged cells. In general, abnormal cells sport surface 10 proteins, called antigens, that differ from those found on healthy cells. When the immune system is activated, B lymphocytes produce antibodies which circulate through the body and bind to foreign antigens, thereby m~rking the antigen bearers for destruction by other components of the immune system. Other cells, T Iymphocytes, recognize foreign antigens as well; they destroy cells displaying specific antigens of stim~ te other killer T cells to do so. B and T cells 15 colnmul~icate with one another by way of secreted proteins, cytokines. Other accessory cells, antigen-presenting cells and dendritic cells, further help T and B lymphocytes detect and respond to antigens on cancerous or infected cells.

One theory of a means of identifying cancer cells entails the abnormal expression of genes that are normally expressed only very early in development, such as during embryogenesis. If these 20 types of genes are not expressed in normal, healthy adult cells, but are during cancerous growth, then proteins could be expressed that could function as an antigenic marker for immune attack.
Immunizing an organism with DNA coding for this antigen, could train or sensitize the immune system to attack cells expressing these antigens that are only expressed in during cancerous growth. Moreover, sensitive diagnostic means using either labelled polynucleotide probes or 5 antibodies could be developed to detect the polynucleic acid messengers, such as mRNA, indicating the ~les~ion of these genes, hence the transformation into cancerous growth.

SUMl\~ARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention concerns MIER gene family and its polynucleotide sequences which encode proteins, members of this gene family are activated in response to fibroblast growth 10 factor (FGF) in an immediate early sequence. As an exemplary member of the MIER gene family, erl is an early response gene that encodes a transcription factor found in the cell nucleus and is activated in response to FGF.

Embodiments of this invention pertaining to the MIER gene family comprise:

1) genomic sequences, gene sequences and partial sequences of the members of the m~mm~ n MIER gene family;

2) isolated, synthetic MIER gene sequences;

3) polynucleotide sequence probes for diagnostic use;

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 4) polynucleotide sequences for antisense gene therapy;

5) polynucleotide sequences for DNA vaccines; --6) polynucleotide sequences for gene replacement therapy;

7) cloning vectors comprising m~mm~ n MIER gene sequences;
5 8) antibodies to partial m~mm~ n MIER gene sequences;
9) antibodies to peptides encoded by MIER gene sequences;
10) diagnostic kits comprising nucleic acid probes; and 11) diagnostic kits comprising antibodies to MIER proteins.

An object of the present invention is to provide a family of m~mm~ n genes that are transcribed 10 in the immediate early phase of mesoderm induction following exposure to FGF. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there are provided cDNAs encoding members of this MIER gene family.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a probe to identify and isolate similar gene sequences.

15 In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided antisense nucleotides to block expression of gene products.

In one embodiment of the subject invention, the proteins encoded by the genes described herein can be used to raise antibodies which in turn can be used in diagnostic or therapeutic applications.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a member of the MIER gene family: an isolated and purified er-l polypeptide. Preferably, the polypeptide is a recombinant polypeptide, and more preferably comprises the amino acid sequence of FIG. 1.

5 In another aspect, the present invention provides an isolated and purified polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide. Preferably, the polynucleotide is a DNA molecule, such as an isolated and purified polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide base sequence for one member of the MIER family, erl, shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention also contemplates an ~res~ion vector comprising a polynucleotide that 10 encodes a MIER polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide is operatively linked to an enhancer-promoter.

Also contemplated is a recombinant cell transfected with a polynucleotide that encodes a MIER
polypeptide. Preferably, the polynucleotide is under the transcriptional control of regulatory signals functional in the recombinant cell, and the regulatory signals al~pl~liately control 15 expression of the receptor polypeptide in a manner to enable all necessary transcriptional and post-transcriptional modification.

In yet another aspect, the present invention contemplates a process of preparing a MIER

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 polypeptide, by producing a transformed recombinant cell, and miqint~ining the transformed recombinant cell under biological conditions suitable for the expression of the polypeptide. --The present invention also contemplates an antibody immunoreactive with a MIERpolynucleotide and/or polypeptide. The antibody may be either monoclonal or polyclonal.
5 Preferably, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody produced by recovering the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide from a cell host, expressing the polypeptides and then preparing antibody to the polypeptide in a suitable animal host.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a process of detecting a MIER
polynucleotide and/or polypeptide, which process comprises immunoreacting the polynucleotide 10 and/or polypeptide with an antibody of the present invention and a diagnostic assay kit for detecting the presence of a MIER polynucleotide and/or polypeptide in a biological sample, the kit comprising a first container means comprising a first antibody that immunoreacts with the MIER polynucleotide and/or polypeptide. The first antibody is present in an amount sufficient to perform at least one assay.

15 Still further, the present invention provides a process of detecting a DNA molecule or RNA
transcript that encodes a MIER polypeptide by hybridizing the DNA or RNA transcript with a polynucleotide that encodes the polypeptide to form a duplex, and then detecting the duplex.

Still further, the present invention provides a process of screening a substance for its ability to interact with members of the MIER family of proteins.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a diagnostic marker for rapidly proliferating cells. A further aspect of the invention is concerned with a diagnostic kit cont~ining antibodies to the nucleic acid of the invention. Yet a further aspect of the invention is concerned 5 with a diagnostic kit cont~ining antibodies to the protein encoded by the nucleic acid of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The drawings form part of the present specification and are included to demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or 10 more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein:

Figure 1. M~mm~ n nucleotide primer sequence for erl. This is the putative sequence of the probe used to analyze erl expression in cancer cells lines (see Figures 2 - Figure 4). The corresponding amino acid sequence is also presented.

15 Figure 2. Erl is a~livaled in response to FGF. Northern blot showing erl expression at various times during EGF treatment of a breast cancer cell line. Lane 1, untreated; lane 2, 2h after addition of EGF; lane 3, 4h; lane 4, 6h; lane 5, 8h; lane 6, 15h; lane 7, 24h.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Figure 3. Erl is overexpressed in breast carcinoma cell lines. Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of erl from normal breast cell lines and various breast--carcinoma cell lines. Lanes 1-3, normal breast cell lines; lanes 4-11, varius breast carcinoma cell lines.

5 Figure 4. Erl is overexpressed in cervical carcinoma cell lines. RT-PCR of erl from normal cervical cells, HPV-16/-18 immortalized cervical cells and tranformed cervical cells. Lane 1, normal endocervical cells; lane 2 and 4, immortalized endocervical cells; lane 3 and 5, traIlsformed endocervical cells; lane 6, normal ectocervical cells; lane 7, immortalized ectocervical cells; lane 8, transformed ectocervical cells.

Figure 5. Erl is differentially expressed in CD28- T-cells. RT-PCR of erl from CD28+ and CD28- T-cells from AIDS patients. Lanes 1, 3, 5: CD28+ T-cells; lanes 2, 4, 6; CD28- T-cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a family of m~mm~ n genes that are transcribed in the immediate early phase following exposure to FGF during mesoderm induction, termed Mesoderm Induction Early 15 Response (MIER) genes. Defining features of the members of this family include that these genes are a) transcribed in response to FGF; b) are expressed within 40 minutes of FGF
treatment; and c) do not require protein synthesis for transcription. There are at least eleven CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 members within this family.

The unique polynucleotide sequences of the subject invention include MIER gene sequences which encode the MIER proteins, as well as sequences which drive the expression of these proteins.

5 As an exemplary member of the MIER gene family, erl is an early response gene that encodes a transcription factor found in the cell nucleus and is activated in response to FGF. The gene is ov~lc~rt;;ssed in breast carcinoma and cervical carcinoma cell lines and possibly in general in all cancer cell lines. Erl is also ov~lc;~lessed in an abnormal T-cell subset (CD28-) whose numbers increase with disease progression in AIDS patients. This CD28- subset also increases 10 in chronic infl~mm~tory disorders. Therefore this gene and its product are potential targets for diagnosis and treatment of various cancers as well as immune disorders such as AIDS.

The l~ltim~te targets of these signal transduction pathways are the immediate-early genes. To date, very few FGF immediate-early genes have been identified (11, 12). Accordingly, we have utilized the differential display methodology (13) to isolate cDNAs representing such genes 15 Definitions and Abbreviations The term "MIER" refers to Mesoderm Induction Immediate Early Response genes, their nucleic acid transcription products and translated protein products. Defining features of the members of this family include that the genes are a) transcribed in response to fibroblast growth factors -(FGF); b) are expressed within 40 minutes of FGF treatment; and c) do not require protein synthesis for transcription. There are at least eleven members within this family; one member is 5 erl.

The MIER genes and polypeptides of the present invention are not limited to a particular m~mm~ n source. As disclosed herein, the techniques and compositions of the present invention provide, for example, the identification and isolation of sources from m~mm~ 3n cancerous cell lines. Thus, the invention provides for the general detection and isolation of the 10 genus of MIER genes and polypeptides from a variety of sources. It is believed that a number of species of the family of MIER genes and polypeptides are amenable to detection and isolation using the compositions and methods of the present invention.

Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are prepared by standard techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, isolation 15 and purification from tissues known to contain these genes and polypeptides, and e~ression from cloned DNA that encodes such polypeptides using transformed cells.

In one embodiment of the invention, the biological activity of the MIER proteins of the subject CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 invention can be reduced or elimin~te~l by al1mini.~tering an effective amount of an antibody to each of the MIER proteins. Alternatively, the activity of the MIER proteins can be controlled by modulation of expression of the MIER protein. This can be accomplished by, for example, the a-lmini~tration of antisense DNA.

5 As used herein, the terms "nucleic acid" and "polynucleotide sequence" refer to a deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymer in either single- or double-stranded form, and unless otherwise limited, would encompass known analogs of natural nucleotides that can function in a similar manner as naturally-occurring nucleotides. The polynucleotide sequences include both the DNA strand sequence that is transcribed into RNA and the RNA
10 sequence that is translated into protein. The polynucleotide sequences include both full-length sequences as well as shorter sequences derived from the full-length sequences. It is understood that a particular polynucleotide sequence includes the degenerate codons of the native sequence or sequences which may be introduced to provide codon plererellce in a specific host cell. Allelic variations of the exemplified sequences also come within the scope of the subject 15 invention. The polynucleotide sequences falling within the scope of the subject invention further include sequences which specifically hybridize with the exemplified sequences under stringent conditions. The nucleic acid includes both the sense and antisense strands as either individual strands or in the duplex.

The terms "hybridize" or "hybridizing" refer to the binding of two single-stranded nucleic acids 20 via complementary base pairing.

The phrase "hybridizing specifically to" refers to binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule to a nucleotide sequence under stringent conditions when that sequence is present-in a preparation of total cellular DNA or RNA.

The terrn "stringent conditions" refers to conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its S target sub-sequence, but not to sequences having little or no homology to the target sequence.
Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. Iower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. The Tm is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of the target sequence hybridizes to a complementary probe. Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is at least about 0.1 to l.ON Na ion concentration at a pH of about 7.0 to 7.5 and the temperature is at least about 60° C. for long sequences (e.g., greater than about 50 nucleotides) and at least about 42° C. for shorter sequences (e.g., about 10 to 50 nucleotides).

The terms "isolated" or "substantially pure" when referring to polynucleotide sequences encoding 15 the MIER proteins or fragments thereof refers to nucleic acids which encode MIER proteins or peptides and which are no longer in the presence of sequences with which they are associated in nature.

The terms "isolated" or "substantially purified" when referring to the proteins of the subject invention means a chemical composition which is essentially free of other cellular components. It is preferably in a homogenous state and can be in either a dry or aqueous solution. Purity and homogeneity are typically deterrnined using analytical chemistry techniques such as --polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or high performance liquid chromatography. A protein which is the predominant species present in a preparation is substantially purified. Generally, a S substantially purified or isolated protein will comprise more than 80% of all macromolecular species present in the preparation. Preferably, the protein is purified to represent greater than 90% of all macromolecular species present. More preferably, the protein is purified to greater than 95%, and most preferably the protein is purified to essential homogeneity, wherein other macromolecular species are not detected by conventional techniques.

10 The phrase "specifically binds to an antibody" or "specifically immunoreactive with," when referring to a protein or peptide, refers to a binding reaction which is determinative of the presence of the protein in a heterogeneous population of proteins and other biologics. Thus, under designated immunoassay conditions, the specified antibodies bound to a particular protein do not bind in a significant amount to other proteins present in the sample.
15 Specific binding to an antibody under such conditions may require an antibody that is selected for its specificity for a particular protein. A variety of immunoassay formats may be used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a particular protein. For example, solid-phase ELISA immunoassays are routinely used to select antibodies specifically immunoreactive with a protein. See Harlow and Lan (1988) for a description of immunoassay formats and conditions 20 that could be used to det~rmine specific immunoreactivity. The subject invention further concerns antibodies raised against the purified MIER molecules or their fragments.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 The term "biological sample" as used herein refers to any sample obtained from a living organism or from an organism that has died. Examples of biological samples include body f~uids, tissue specimens, and tissue cultures lines taken from patients.

The term "recombinant DNA" or "recombinantly-produced DNA" refers to DNA which has been 5 isolated from its native or endogenous source and modified either chemically or enzymatically to delete naturally-occurring fl~nkin~ nucleotides or provide fl~nking nucleotides that do not naturally occur.

Flanking nucleotides are those nucleotides which are either upstream or downstream from the described sequence or sub-sequence of nucleotides.

10 The term "recombinant protein" or "recombinantly-produced protein" refers to a peptide or protein produced using cells that do not have an endogenous copy of DNA able to express the protein. The cells produce the protein because they have been genetically altered by the introduction of an al~prupl;ate nucleic acid sequence. The recombinant protein will not be found in association with proteins and other subcellular components normally associated with the 15 cells producing the protein.

It is well known that DNA possesses a fim~l~ment~l property called base complementarity. In nature, DNA ordinarily exists in the form of pairs of anti-parallel strands, the bases on each strand projecting from that strand toward the opposite strand. The base adenine (A) on one strand CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 will always be opposed to the base thymine (T) on the other strand, and the base guanine (G) will be opposed to the base cytosine (C). The bases are held in apposition by their ability to hydrogen bond in this specific way. Though each individual bond is relatively weak, the net effect of many adjacent hydrogen bonded bases, together with base stacking effects, is a stable joining of the 5 two complementary strands. These bonds can be broken by treatments such as high pH or high temperature, and these conditions result in the dissociation, or "denaturation," of the two strands.
If the DNA is then placed in conditions which make hydrogen bonding of the bases thermodynamically favorable, the DNA strands will anneal, or "hybridize," and reform the original double stranded DNA. If carried out under a~lo~liate conditions, this hybridization can 10 be highly specific. That is, only strands with a high degree of base complementarity will be able to form stable double stranded structures. The relationship of the specificity of hybridization to reaction conditions is well known. Thus, hybridization may be used to test whether two pieces of DNA are complementary in their base sequences. It is this hybridization mechanism which facilitates the use of probes of the subject invention to readily detect and characterize DNA
15 sequencesofinterest.

As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, any of a number of different nucleotide sequences can be used, based on the degeneracy of the genetic code, to produce the MIER
proteins described herein. Accordingly, any nucleotide sequence which encodes the MIER
proteins described herein comes within the scope of this invention and the claims appended 20 hereto. Also, as described herein, fragments of the MIER proteins are an aspect of the subject invention so long as such fragments retain the biological activity so that such fragments are useful in therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures as described herein. Such fragments can easily and routinely be produced by techniques well known in the art. For example, time-controlled Bal3 1 exonuclease digestion of the full-length DNA followed by ~ ession of the resulting fragments and routine screening can be used to readily identify expression products having the 5 desired activity.

Polynucleotide Probes In addition, PCR-amplified DNA may serve as a hybridization probe. In order to analyze DNA
using the nucleotide sequences of the subject invention as probes, the DNA can first be obtained in its native, double-stranded form. A number of procedures are cllllelllly used to isolate 10 DNA and are well known to those skilled in this art.

One approach for the use of the subject invention as probes entails first identifying by Southern blot analysis of a DNA library all DNA segments homologous with the disclosed nucleotide sequences. Thus, it is possible, without the aid of biological analysis, to know in advance the presence of genes homologous with the polynucleotide sequences described herein. Such 15 a probe analysis provides a rapid diagnostic method.

One hybridization procedure useful according to the subject invention typically includes the initial steps of isolating the DNA sample of interest and purifying it chemically. For example, total fractionated nucleic acid isolated from a biological sample can be used. Cells can be CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 treated using known techniques to liberate their DNA (and/or RNA). The DNA sample can be cut into pieces with an ap~ l;ate restriction enzyme. The pieces can be separated by size --through electrophoresis in a gel, usually agarose or acrylamide. The pieces of interest can be transferred to an immobilizing membrane in a manner that retains the geometry of the pieces.
5 The membrane can then be dried and prehybridized to equilibrate it for later immersion in a hybridization solution. The manner in which the nucleic acid is affixed to a solid support may vary. This fixing of the DNA for later processing has great value for the use of this technique in field studies, remote from laboratory facilities.

The particular hybridization technique is not essential to the subject invention. As improvements 10 are made in hybridization techniques, they can be readily applied.

As is well known in the art, if the probe molecule and nucleic acid sample hybridize by forming a strong non-covalent bond between the two molecules, it can be reasonably assumed that the probe and sample are essentially identical. The probe's detectable label provides a means for deten nining in a known manner whether hybridization has occurred.

15 The nucleotide segments of the subject invention which are used as probes can be synthesized by use of DNA synthesizers using standard procedures. In the use of the nucleotide segments as probes, the particular probe is labeled with any suitable label known to those skilled in the art, including radioactive and non-radioactive labels. Typical radioactive labels include ³² P, ³⁵ S, or the like. A probe labeled with a radioactive isotope can be constructed from a CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 nucleotide sequence complementary to the DNA sample by a conventional nick translation reaction, using a DNase and DNA polymerase. The probe and sample can then be combined-in a hybridization buffer solution and held at an al~plupliate temperature until annealing occurs.
Thereafter, the membrane is washed free of extraneous materials, leaving the sample and bound 5 probe molecules typically detected and quantified by autoradiography and/or liquid scintillation counting. For synthetic probes, it may be most desirable to use enzymes such as polynucleotide kinase or terminal transferase to end-label the DNA for use as probes.

Non-radioactive labels include, for example, ligands such as biotin or thyroxine, as well as enzymes such as hydrolases or perixodases, or the various chemiluminescers such as luciferin, or 10 fluorescent compounds like fluorescein and its derivatives. The probes may be made inherently fluorescent as described in Tnt~rn~tional Application No. WO93/16094. The probe may also be labeled at both ends with different types of labels for ease of separation, as, for example, by using an isotopic label at the end mentioned above and a biotin label at the other end.

The amount of labeled probe which is present in the hybridization solution will vary widely, 15 depending upon the nature of the label, the amount of the labeled probe which can reasonably bind to the filter, and the stringency of the hybridization. Generally, substantial excesses of the probe will be employed to enhance the rate of binding of the probe to the fixed DNA.

Various degrees of stringency of hybridization can be employed. The more severe the conditions, the greater the complementarity that is required for duplex formation. Severity can be controlled CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 by temperature, probe concentration, probe length, ionic strength, time, and the like.
Preferably, hybridization is conducted under stringent conditions by techniques well known~n the art, as described, for example, in Keller and Manak, 1987.

Duplex formation and stability depend on substantial complementarity between the two strands 5 of a hybrid, and, as noted above, a certain degree of mi~m:~tch can be tolerated. Therefore, the nucleotide sequences of the subject invention include mutations (both single and multiple), deletions, insertions of the described sequences, and combinations thereof, wherein said mutations, insertions and deletions permit formation of stable hybrids with the target polynucleotide of interest. Mutations, insertions, and deletions can be produced in a given 10 polynucleotide sequence in many ways, and these methods are known to an ordinarily skilled artisan. Other methods may become known in the future.

The known methods include, but are not limited to:

(1) synthesizing chemically or otherwise an artificial sequence which is a mutation, insertion or deletion of the known sequence;

l S (2) using a nucleotide sequence of the present invention as a probe to obtain via hybridization a new sequence or a mutation, insertion or deletion of the probe sequence; and (3) mllt~ting, inserting or deleting a test sequence in vitro or in vivo.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 It is important to note that the mutational, insertional, and deletional variants generated from a given probe may be more or less efficient than the original probe. Notwithstanding such --differences in efficiency, these variants are within the scope of the present invention.

Thus, mutational, insertional, and deletional variants of the disclosed nucleotide sequences can 5 be readily prepared by methods which are well kno~,vn to those skilled in the art. These variants can be used in the same manner as the instant probe sequences so long as the variants have substantial sequence homology with the probes. As used herein, substantial sequence homology refers to homology which is sufficient to enable the variant to function in the same capacity as the original probe. Preferably, this homology is greater than 50%; more preferably, this 10 homology is greater than 75%; and most preferably, this homology is greater than 90%. The degree of homology needed for the variant to function in its intended capacity will depend upon the intended use of the sequence. It is well within the skill of a person trained in this art to make mutational, insertional, and deletional mutations which are designed to improve the function of the sequence or otherwise provide a methodological advantage.

15 It is well known in the art that the amino acid sequence of a protein is determined by the nucleotide sequence of the DNA. Because of the redundancy of the genetic code, i.e., more than one coding nucleotide triplet (codon) can be used for most of the amino acids used to make proteins, different nucleotide sequences can code for a particular amino acid.

The amino acid sequence of the proteins of the subject invention can be encoded by equivalent CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 nucleotide sequences encoding the same amino acid sequence of the protein. Accordingly, the subject invention includes probes which would hybridize with various polynucleotide sequences which would all code for a given protein or variations of a given protein. In addition, it has been shown that proteins of identified structure and fimction may be constructed by ch~nging the S amino acid sequence if such changes do not alter the protein secondary structure (Kaiser and Kezdy, 1984).

In one aspect, the present invention provides an isolated and purified polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment, a polynucleotide of the present invention is a DNA molecule. Even more preferably, a polynucleotide of the present invention encodes a 10 polypeptide comprising the amino acid residue sequence of Er-1, a member ofthe MIER family (FIG. 1). Most preferably, an isolated and purified polynucleotide of the invention comprises the nucleotide base sequence of FIG. 1.

As used herein, the term "polynucleotide" means a sequence of nucleotides connected by phosphodiester linkages. Polynucleotides are presented herein in a 5' to 3' direction. A
15 polynucleotide of the present invention may comprise about several thousand base pairs.
Preferably, a polynucleotide comprises from about 100 to about 10,000 base pairs. Preferred lengths of particular polynucleotides are set forth hereinafter.

A polynucleotide of the present invention may be a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule or ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule. Where a polynucleotide is a DNA molecule, that molecule may be a gene or a cDNA molecule. Nucleotide bases are indi cated herein by a single letter code: adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T) and cytosine (C).

A polynucleotide of the present invention may be prepared using standard techniques well-known to one of skill in the art. The preparation of a cDNA molecule encoding an erl 5 polypeptide of the present invention is described hereinafter in the examples. A polynucleotide may also be prepared from genomic DNA libraries using, for example, lambda phage technologies In another aspect, the present invention provides an isolated and purified polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide, where the polynucleotide is preparable by a process comprising the 10 steps of constructing a library of cDNA clones from a cell that expresses the polypeptide;
screening the library with a labelled cDNA probe prepared from RNA that encodes the polypeptide; and selecting a clone that hybridizes to the probe.

A further aspect of the claimed invention are antibodies that are raised by immuni~ation of an animal with a purified protein or polynucleotides ofthe subject invention. Both polyclonal and 15 monoclonal antibodies can be produced using standard procedures well known to those skilled in the art using the proteins of the subject invention as an immunogen (see, for example, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, 1983; Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies:

Techniques and Applications, 1982; Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology, 1980;

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Immunological Methods, Vol. II, 1981; Practical Immunology, and Kohler et al., 1975).

The proteins of the subject invention include those which are specifically exemplified herein as well as related proteins which, for example, are immunoreactive with antibodies which are produced by, or are immunologically reactive with, the proteins specifically exemplified S herein.

The proteins described herein can be used in therapeutic or diagnostic procedures.

Probes In another aspect, DNA sequence information provided by the present invention allows for the preparation of relatively short DNA (or RNA) sequences having the ability to specifically 10 hybridize to gene sequences of the selected polynucleotide disclosed herein. In these aspects, nucleic acid probes of an ~pl-)p,iate length are prepared based on a consideration of a selected nucleotide sequence, e.g.~ a sequence such as that shown in FIG. 1. The ability of such nucleic acid probes to specifically hybridize to a polynucleotide encoding a MIER lends them particular utility in a variety of embodiments. Most importantly, the probes may be used in a variety of 15 assays for detecting the presence of complementary sequences in a given sample.

In certain embodiments, it is advantageous to use oligonucleotide primers. The sequence of such primers is designed using a polynucleotide of the present invention for use in detecting, amplifying or mutating a defined segment of a gene or polynucleotide that encodes a MIER
polypeptide from m~mm~lian cells using PCR.TM. technology. --To provide certain of the advantages in accordance with the present invention, a pL~relled nucleicacid sequence employed for hybridization studies or assays includes probe molecules that are 5 complementary to at least an about (14) to an about (70), nucleotide long stretch of a polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide, such as the nucleotide base sequences shown in FIG. 1. A size of at least 14 nucleotides in length helps to ensure that the fragment is of sufficient length to form a duplex molecule that is both stable and selective. Molecules having complementary sequences over stretches greater than 14 bases in length are generally prer~lled, 10 though~ in order to increase stability and selectivity of the hybrid, and thereby improve the quality and degree of specific hybrid molecules obtained, one will generally prefer to design nucleic acid molecules having gene-complementary stretches of 25 to 40 nucleotides, 55 to 70 nucleotides, or even longer where desired. Such fragments may be readily prepared by, for example, directly synth~ci7in~ the fragment by chemical means, by application of nucleic acid reproduction technology, such as the PCR.TM. technology of U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,102, or by excising selected DNA fr~3~nents from recombinant plasmids co~ g a~p~opl;ate inserts and suitable restriction enzyme sites.

In another aspect, the present invention contemplates an isolated and purified polynucleotide comprising a base sequence that is identical or complementary to a segment of at least 14 20 contiguous bases of FIG. 1, wherein the polynucleotide hybridizes to a polynucleotide that CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 encodes a MIER polypeptide. Preferably, the isolated and purified polynucleotide comprises a base sequence that is identical or complementary to a segment of at least 25 to 70 contiguous bases of FIG. 1. For example, the polynucleotide of the invention may comprise a segment of bases identical or complementary to 40 or 55 contiguous bases of the disclosed nucleotide 5 sequences.

Accordingly, a polynucleotide probe molecule of the invention may be used for its ability to selectively form duplex molecules with complementary stretches of the gene. Depending on the application envisioned, one employs varying conditions of hybridization to achieve varying degree of selectivity of the probe toward the target sequence. For applications requiring a high 10 degree of selectivity, one typically employs relatively stringent conditions to form the hybrids.
For example, one selects relatively low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02M to about 0.1 5M NaCl at temperatures of about 50~C to about 70~C. Those conditions are particularly selective, and tolerate little, if any, mi~m~tch between the probe and the template or target strand.

15 In some applications where it is the intention to prepare mllt~nts employing a mutant primer strand hybridized to an underlying template or where one seeks to isolate a MIER polypeptide coding sequence from other cells, functional equivalents, or the like, less stringent hybridization conditions are typically needed to allow formation of the heteroduplex. In these circumstances, one employs conditions such as about 0.1 5M to about O.9M salt, at temperatures ranging from 20 about 20~C C. to about 55~C . Cross-hybridizing species may thereby be readily identified CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 as positively hybridizing signals with respect to control hybridizations. In any case, it is generally appreciated that conditions may be rendered more stringent by the addition of --increasing amounts of formamide, which serves to destabilize the hybrid duplex in the same manner as increased temperature. Thus, hybridization conditions may be readily manipulated, S and thus will generally be a method of choice depending on the desired results.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a isolated and purified polynucleotide comprising a base sequence that is identical or complementary to a segment of at least about 14 contiguous bases of rMIER The polynucleotide ofthe invention hybridizes to rMIER, or a complement of rMIER. Preferably, the isolated and purified polynucleotide 10 comprises a base sequence that is identical or complementary to a segment of at least 25 to 70 contiguous bases of rMIER. For example, the polynucleotide of the invention may comprise a segment of bases identical or complementary to 40 or 55 contiguous bases of rMIER.

Alternatively, the present invention contemplates an isolated and purified polynucleotide that comprises a base sequence that is identical or complement~ry to a segment of at least about 14 15 contiguous bases of MIER.

The polynucleotide of the invention hybridizes to MIER, or a complement of MIER. Preferably, the polynucleotide comprises a base sequence that is identical or complementary to a segment of at least 25 to 70 contiguous bases of MIER. For example, the polynucleotide may comprise a segment of bases identical or complementary to 40 or 55 contiguous bases of MIER.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 In certain embodiments, it is advantageous to employ a polynucleotide of the present invention in combination with an a~propliate label for detecting hybrid formation. A wide variety of al)propliate labels are known in the art, including radioactive, enzymatic or other ligands, such as avidin/biotin, which are capable of giving a detectable signal.

5 In general, it is envisioned that a hybridization probe described herein is useful both as a reagent in solution hybridization as well as in embodiments employing a solid phase. In embodiments involving a solid phase, the test DNA (or RNA) is adsorbed or otherwise affixed to a selected matrix or surface. This fixed nucleic acid is then subjected to specific hybridization with selected probes under desired conditions. The selected conditions will depend on the particular 10 circumstances and criteria required (e.g., the G+C content, type of target nucleic acid, source of nucleic acid, size of hybridization probe, etc.). Following washing of the matrix to remove nonspecifically bound probe molecules, specific hybridization is detected, or even quantified, by means of the label.

Polynucleotide Primers 15 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a repetitive, enzymatic, primed synthesis of a nucleic acid sequence. This procedure is well known and commonly used by those skilled in this art (see Mullis, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195, 4,683,202, and 4,800,159; Saiki et al., 1985). PCR is based on the enzymatic amplification of a DNA fragment of interest that is flanked by two oligonucleotide CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 primers that hybridize to opposite strands of the target sequence. The primers are oriented with the 3' ends pomting towards each other. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the templat~, annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences, and extension of the annealed primers with a DNA polymerase result in the amplification of the segment defined by the 5' ends 5 of the PCR primers. Since the extension product of each primer can serve as a template for the other primer, each cycle essentially doubles the amount of DNA fragment produced in the previous cycle. This results in the exponential accumulation of the specific target fragment, up to several million-fold in a few hours. By using a thermostable DNA polymerase such as Taq polymerase, which is isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus, the 10 amplification process can be completely automated.

The DNA sequences of the subject invention can be used as primers for PCR amplification. In pelîolllling PCR amplification, a certain degree of mi~m~tch can be tolerated between primer and template. Therefore, mutations, deletions, and insertions (especially additions of nucleotides to the 5' end) of the exemplified primers fall within the scope of the subject invention. Mutations, 15 insertions and deletions can be produced in a given primer by methods known to an ordinarily skilled artisan. It is important to note that the mutational, insertional, and deletional variants generated from a given primer sequence may be more or less efficient than the original sequences. Notwithstanding such differences in eff1ciency, these variants are within the scope of the present invention.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 DNA Vaccines and Immunotherapy Tumor Associated Antigens Certain members of the MIER family of proteins are normally expressed during embryogenesis.
Thus, the proteins should not be present in mature or adult cells. Of these proteins that are not 5 present in adult cells, those that do appear can form the basis of a cancer-antigen indicating a cell that has turned cancerous. This can be determined, for example, by screening using a labelled nucleic acid probe indicating the presence of mRNA for the MIER proteins, that is not present at the same level in normal, healthy cells. In the alternative, labelled antibodies can be used to detect MIER protein as an antigenic det~rmin~nt of cancerous growth. These types of results are 10 presented in Figures 2-5.

Vaccines In a pl~r~lled embodiment, the invention relates to specific DNA vaccines and methods of treating cancer using the immune system and/orproviding protective i~ y to m~mm~l~
"Protective immunity" conferred by the method of the invention can elicit humoral and/or 15 cell-mediated immune responses to cancerous growth, but more importantly interferes with the activity, spread, or growth of a cell that has become cancerous and has begun to express MIER
nucleic acids and/or proteins following a subsequent challenge after vaccination.

The DNA vaccines of the invention are transcription units con~ining DNA encoding a MIER

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 polypeptide or protein. In the method of the present invention, a DNA vaccine is ~lministered to an individual as a mode of therapy, and/or in whom protective immunization is desired. Ar~-object of the invention is to provide an immune response and protective i ~ y to an animal using a DNA vaccine encoding a MIER protein as it has the potential of achieving high levels of 5 protection in the virtual absence of side effects. Such DNA vaccines are also stable, easy to ~lmini.ster, and sufficiently cost-effective for widespread distribution.

An object of the invention is to provide protective immunity to an inoculated host. If the inoculated host is a female animal, an object of the invention is to provide protection in the offspring of that female.

10 The invention features a DNA vaccine col~t~ i"g a MI~R DNA transcription unit (i.e., an isolated nucleotide sequence encoding a MIER-encoded protein or polypeptide). The nucleotide sequence is operably linked to transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences for expression of the MIER-coded polypeptide in a cell of a vertebrate. Preferably the polypeptide encoded by the DNA vaccine of the invention is a sequence belonging to MIER. Preferably, the 15 nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide is contained in a plasmid vector.

The DNA vaccines can be ~lmini.stered to m~mm~ls such as hllm~n~s~leS~illg tumor associated antigens, such as the erl protein.

The DNA vaccines of the invention are preferably contained in a physiologically acceptable CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 carrier for in vivo ~mini~tration to a cell of a vertebrate. Administration of the DNA vaccines of the invention provide an immune response or protective immunity. --The invention also features a method of providing an immune response and protective immunityto a m~mm~l against cancerous growth of cells expressing such a tumor associated antigen. The S method includes a-lmini~tering to a cell of a vertebrate a DNA transcription unit encoding a desired MIER-encoded antigen operably linked to a promoter sequence. Expression of the DNA
kanscription unit in the cell elicits a humoral immune response, a cell-mediated immnne response, or both against the cell ~res ,hlg the protein product of the DNA transcription unit, the tumor associated antigen, which in this invention would be a MIER-encoded antigen.

10 The promoter operably linked to the DNA transcription unit is of nonretroviral or retroviral origin. Preferably the promoter is the cytomegalovirus immediate-early enhancer promoter. The desired MIER-encoded antigen encoded by the DNA transcription unit is one of the members of the MIER family, demonstrated to be expressed at significantly high levels only in cancerous cells in the mature org;~ni.~m 15 The DNA transcription unit of the method of the invention is preferably contained in a physiologieally acceptable carrier and is ~-lministered to the vertebrate by routes ineluding, but not limited to, inhalation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intr~derm~l, and subcutaneous ~-lmini~tration. The DNA transcription unit in a physiologically acceptable carrier can also be ~dmini~tered by being contacted with a mucosal surface of the vertebrate.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Preferably, a-lministration is performed by particle bombardment using gold beads coated with the DNA transcription units of the invention. Preferably, the gold beads are 1 µm to 2 .m~.m in diameter. The coated beads are preferably a-lministered intradermally, intramuscularly, by organ transfection, or by other routes useful in particle bombardment and known to those of 5 ordinary skill in the art.

The term "immune response" refers herein to a cytotoxic T cells response or increased serum levels of antibodies to an antigen, or to the presence of neutralizing antibodies to an antigen, such as a MIER-encoded protein. The term "protection" or "protective h~lmulliLy" refers herein to the ability of the serum antibodies and cytotoxic T cell response induced during immunization to 10 protect (partially or totally) against cells expressing such tumor associated antigen. That is, a vertebrate immunized by the DNA vaccines of the invention will experience an immune attack on cancerous cells expressing such tumor associated antigen.

The term "promoter sequence" herein refers to a minim~l sequence sufficient to direct transcription. Also included in the invention is an enhancer sequence which may or may not be ~5 contiguous with the promoter sequence. Enhancer sequences influence promoter-dependent gene s~ion and may be located in the 5' or 3' regions of the native gene. Expression is constitutive or inducible by external signals or agents. Optionally, expression is cell-type specific, tissue-specific, or species specific.

By the term "transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences" is meant nucleotide CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 sequences positioned adjacent to a DNA coding sequence which direct transcription or translation of a coding sequence. The regulatory nucleotide sequences include any sequences which promote sufficient e~l~res~ion of a desired coding sequence and presentation of the protein product to the inoculated animal's immune system such that protective immunity is 5 provided.

By the term "operably linked to transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences" is meant that a polypeptide coding sequence and minim~l transcriptional and translational controlling sequences are connected in such a way as to permit polypeptide c~L lcs~ion when the appropliate molecules (e.g., transcriptional activator proteins) are bound to the regulatory sequence(s). In the 10 present invention, polypeptide expression in a target vertebrate cell is particularly preferred.

The term "isolated DNA" means DNA that is free of the genes and other nucleotide sequences that flank the gene in the naturally-occurring genome of the organism from which the isolated DNA of the invention is derived. The term therefore includes, for example, a recombinant DNA
which is incorporated into a vector; into an autonomously replicating plasmid or into the 15 genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote; or which exists as a separate molecule (e.g., a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease digestion) independent of other sequences. It also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequences.

A plcfellcd embodiment of this invention relates to a method of providing protective hl"llulliLy CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 to mamm~l~ Protective immunity of the invention elicits humoral and/or cell-mediated immune responses. According to the present invention, a DNA transcription unit is ~lmini~tered to an individual in whom immunization and protection is desired.

DNA Transcription Units 5 A DNA transcription unit is a polynucleotide sequence, bounded by an initiation site and a termin~tion site, that is transcribed to produce a primary transcript. As used herein, a "DNA
transcription unit" includes at least two components: (1) antigen-encoding DNA, and (2) a transcriptional promoter element or elements operatively linked for expression of the antigen-encoding DNA. Antigen-encoding DNA can encode one or multiple antigens, such as 10 antigens from two or more different proteins. The DNA transcription unit can additionally be inserted into a vector which includes sequences for expression of the DNA transcription unit.

A DNA transcription unit can optionally include additional sequences such as enhancer elements, splicing signals, termin~tion and polyadenylation signals, viral replicons, and bacterial plasmid sequences. In the present method, a DNA transcription unit (i.e., one type of transcription unit) 15 can be a-1mini~tered individually or in combination with one or more other types of DNA
transcription units.

DNA transcription units can be produced by a number of known methods. For example, DNA
encoding the desired antigen can be inserted into an ~ression vector (see, for example, CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989)). With the availability of automated nucleic acid synthesis equipment, DNA ca~ be synthesized directly when the nucleotide sequence is known, or by a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, and fermentation. Moreover, when the sequence of the desired 5 polypeptide is known, a suitable coding sequence for the polynucleotide can be inferred.

The DNA kanscription unit can be atlministered to an individual, or inoculated, in the presence of adjuvants or other substances that have the capability of promoting DNA uptake or recruiting immune system cells to the site of the inoculation. It should be understood that the DNA
transcription unit itself is expressed in the host cell by transcription factors provided by the host 10 cell, or provided by a DNA transcription unit.

The "desired antigen" can be any antigen or combination of antigens from encoded by a MIER
gene. The antigen or antigens can be naturally occurring, or can be mutated or specially modified. The antigen or antigens can represent different forms, such as subgroups (clades), or subtypes. These antigens may or may not be structural components of a protein encoded by a 15 MIER gene. The encoded antigens can be translation products or polypeptides. The polypeptides can be of various lengths, and can undergo normal host cell modifications such as glycosylation, myristoylation, or phosphorylation. ~ addition, they can be designated to undergo intracellular, extracellular, or cell-surface expression. Furthermore, they can be designed to undergo assembly and release from cells.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Administration of DNA Transcription Units An individual can be inoculated through any parenteral route. For example, an individual can be inoculated by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrac~ l, subcutaneous, inhalation, or intramuscular routes, or by particle bombardment using a gene gun. Muscle is a useful site for S the delivery and expression of DNA transcription unit-encoded polynucleotides, because ~nim~l~
have a proportionately large muscle mass which is conveniently accessed by direct injection through the skin. A comparatively large dose of polynucleotides can be deposited into muscle by multiple and/or repetitive injections, for example, to extend therapy over long periods of time.
Muscle cells are injected with polynucleotides encoding immunogenic polypeptides, and these 10 polypeptides are presented by muscle cells in the context of antigens of the major histocompatibihty complex to provoke a selected immune response against the immunogen (see, e.g., Felgner, et al. WO90/11092, herein incorporated by reference).

The epidermis is another useful site for the delivery and e~les~ion of polynucleotides, because it is conveniently accessed by direct injection or particle bombardment. A comparatively large dose 15 of polynucleotides can be deposited in the epidermis by multiple injections or bombardments to extend therapy over long periods of time. In immunization strategies of the invention, skin cells are injected with polynucleotides coding for immllnngenic polypeptides, and these polypeptides are presented by skin cells in the context of antigens of the major histocompatibility complex to provoke a selected immune response against the immunogen.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 In addition, an individual can be inoculated by a mucosal route. The DNA transcription unit can be ~-lmini~tered to a mucosal surface by a variety of methods including DNA-co~ g --nose-drops, inh~l~nf~, suppositories, microsphere encapsulated DNA, or by bombardment with DNA coated gold particles. For example, the DNA transcription unit can be ~mini~tered to 5 a respiratory mucosal surface, such as the nares or the trachea.

Any appLupliate physiologically compatible medium, such as saline for injection, or gold particles for particle bombardment, is suitable for introducing the DNA transcription unit into an individual.

MIER Polypeptides 10 In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates an isolated and purified MIER
polypeptides such as Er- 1 polypeptide. Preferably, a MIER Polypeptide of the invention is a recombinant polypeptide. Preferably, an exemplary MIER polypeptide of the present invention comprises an amino acid sequence of FIG. 1.

Polypeptides are disclosed herein as amino acid residue sequences. Those sequences are written 15 left to right in the direction from the amino to the carboxy terminlls. In accordance with standard nomenclature, amino acid residue sequences are denominated by either a single letter or a three letter code.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Modifications and changes may be made in the structure of a polypeptide of the present invention and still obtain a molecule having MIER-like characteristics. For example, certain--amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids in a sequence without appreciable loss of activity. Because it is the interactive capacity and nature of a polypeptide that defines that 5 polypeptide's biological functional activity, certain amino acid sequence substitutions may be made in a polypeptide se~uence (or, of course, its underlying DNA coding sequence) and nevertheless obtain a polypeptide with like properties.

The importance of the hydropathic amino acid index in conferring interactive biologic function on a polypeptide is generally understood in the art (Kyte and Doolittle, 1982). It is known that 10 certain amino acids may be substituted for other amino acids having a similar hydropathic index or score and still result in a polypeptide with similar biological activity. Each amino acid has been assigned a hydropathic index on the basis of its hydrophobicity and charge characteristics.
Those indices are: isoleucine (+4.5); valine (+4.2); leucine (+3.8); phenylalanine (+2.8);
cysteine/cystine (+2.5); methionine (+1.9); alanine (+1.8); glycine (-0.4); threonine (-0.7); serine (-0.8); tryptophan (-0.9); tyrosine (-1.3); proline (-1.6); histidine (-3.2); ghlt~3m~3te (-3.5);
glutamine (-3.5); aspartate (-3.5); asparagine (-3.5); lysine (-3.9); and arginine (-4.5).

It is believed that the relative hydropathic character of the amino acid determines the secondary structure of the resultant polypeptide, which in turn defines the interaction of the polypeptide with other molecules, such as enzymes, substrates, receptors, antibodies, antigens, and the like. It 20 is known in the art that an amino acid may be substituted by another amino acid having a similar CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 hydropathic index and still obtain a functionally equivalent polypeptide. In such changes, the substitution of amino acids whose hydropathic indices are within ±2 is prefell~d, those which are within ±1 are particularly preferred, and those within ±0.5 are even more particularly l~r~felled.

5 Substitution of like amino acids may also be made on the basis of hydrophilicity, particularly where the biological functional equivalent polypeptide or peptide thereby created is intended for use in immunological embodiments. U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, incorporated herein by reference, states that the greatest local average hydrophilicity of a polypeptide, as governed by the hydrophilicity of its adjacent amino acids, correlates with its immunogenicity and 10 antigenicity, i.e., with a biological property ofthe polypeptide.

As detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,101, the following hydrophilicity values have been assigned to amino acid residues: arginine (+3.0); Iysine (+3.0); aspartate (f3.0±1); glllt~ te (+3.0±1);
serine (+0.3); asparagine (+0.2); ghlt~mine (+0.2); glycine (0); proline (-0.5±1); threonine (-0.4); alanine (-0.5); histidine (-0.5); cysteine (-1.0); methionine (-1.3); valine (-1.5); leucine (-1.8); isoleucine (-1.8), tyrosine (-2.3); phenylalanine (-2.5); tryptophan (-3.4). It is understood that an amino acid may be substituted for another having a similar hydrophilicity value and still obtain a biologically equivalent, and in particular, an immunologically equivalent polypeptide. In such changes, the substitution of amino acids whose hydrophilicity values are within ±2 is plerelled, those which are within ±1 are particularly plerelled, and those within ±0.5 are 20 even more particularly prerelled.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 As outlined above, amino acid substitutions are generally therefore based on the relative similarity of the amino acid side-chain substituents, for example, their hydrophobicity, ~~
hydrophilicity, charge, size, and the like. Exemplar~v substitutions which take various of the foregoing characteristics into consideration are well known to those of skill in the art and 5 include: arginine and lysine; glutamate and aspartate; serine and threonine; glutamine and asparagine; and valine, leucine and isoleucine (See Table 1, below). The present invention thus contemplates functional or biological equivalents of a MIER polypeptide as set forth above.

Biological or functional equivalents of a polypeptide may also be prepared using site-specific mutagenesis. Site-specific mutagenesis is a technique useful in the preparation of second 10 generation polypeptides, or biologically functional equivalent polypeptides or peptides, derived from the sequences thereof, through specific mutagenesis of the underlying DNA. As noted above, such changes may be desirable where amino acid substitutions are desirable. The technique further provides a ready ability to prepare and test sequence variants, for example, incorporating one or more of the foregoing considerations, by introducing one or more nucleotide 15 sequence changes into the DNA. Site-specific mutagenesis allows the production of lllu~
through the use of specific oligonucleotide sequences which encode the DNA sequence of the desired mutation, as well as a sufficient number of adjacent nucleotides, to provide a primer sequence of sufficient size and sequence complexity to form a stable duplex on both sides of the deletion junction being traversed. Typically, a primer of about 14 to 25 nucleotides in length is 20 preferred, with about 5 to 10 residues on both sides of the junction of the sequence being altered.

Original Exemplary Residue Substitutions Ala Gly; Ser Arg Lys Asn Gln; His Asp Glu Cys Ser Gln Asn Glu Asp Gly Ala His Asn; Gln Ile Leu; Val Leu Ile; Val Lys Arg Met Leu; Tyr Ser Thr Thr Ser Trp Tyr Tyr Trp; Phe Val Ile; Leu The techmque of site-specific mutagenesis is generally well-known in the art (Adelman et al., 1983). As will be appreciated, the technique typically employs a phage vector which may exist in both a single stranded and double stranded form. Typical vectors useful in site-directed mutagenesis include vectors such as the M13 phage (Messing et al., 1981). These phage are commercially available and their use is generally known to those of skill in the art.

In general, site-directed mutagenesis in accordance herewith is performed by first obtaining a single-stranded vector which includes within its sequence a DNA sequence which encodes all or a portion of the MIER polypeptide sequence selected. An oligonucleotide primer bearing the desired mutated sequence is prepared, generally synthetically, for example, by the method of Crea, et al., (1978). This primer is then annealed to the singled-stranded vector, and extended by the use of enzymes such as the Klenow fragnient of E. coli polymerase I, to complete the synthesis of the mutation-bearing strand. Thus, a heteroduplex is formed wherein one strand encodes the original non-ml1t~te~1 sequence and the second strand bears the desired mutation.
This heteroduplex vector is then used to transform a~plu~liate cells such as E. coli cells and clones are selected which include recombinant vectors bearing the mutation. Commercially available kits come with all the reagents necessary, except the oligonucleotide primers.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Expression Vectors ln an alternate embodiment, the present invention provides expression vectors comprising a polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide. Preferably, an expression vector of the present invention comprises a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid S residue sequence of one of the members of the MIER gene family, eg. erl as in FIG. 1. More preferably, an ~ression vector of the present invention comprises a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide base sequence of FIG. 1. Even more preferably, an expression vector of the invention comprises a polynucleotide operatively linked to an enhancer-promoter. More preferably still, an expression vector of the invention comprises a polynucleotide operatively 10 linked to a prokaryotic promoter. Alternatively, an e~lession vector of the present invention comprises a polynucleotide operatively linked to an enhancer-promoter that is a eukaryotic promoter, and the ~lession vector further comprises a polyadenylation signal that is positioned 3' of the carboxy-terminal amino acid and within a transcriptional unit of the encoded polypeptide.

15 A promoter is a region of a DNA molecule typically within about 100 nucleotide pairs in front of (upstream of) the point at which transcription begins ~i.e., a transcription start site). That region typically contains several types of DNA sequence elements that are located in similar relative positions in different genes. As used herein, the term "promoter" includes what is referred to in the art as an upstream promoter region, a promoter region or a promoter of a generalized 20 eukaryotic RNA Polymerase II transcription unit.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Another type of discrete transcription regulatory sequence element is an enhancer. An enhancer provides specificity of time, location and expression level for a particular encoding region (e:g., gene). A major function of an enhancer is to increase the level of transcription of a coding sequence in a cell that contains one or more transcription factors that bind to that enhancer.
S Unlike a promoter, an enhancer may function when located at variable distances from transcription start sites so long as a promoter is present.

As used herein, the phrase "enhancer-promoter" means a composite unit that contains both enhancer and promoter elements. An enhancer-promoter is operatively linked to a coding sequence that encodes at least one gene product. As used herein, the phrase "operatively linked"
10 means that an enhancer-promoter is connected to a coding sequence in such a way that the transcription of that coding sequence is controlled and regulated by that enhancer-promoter.
Means for operatively linking an enhancer-promoter to a coding sequence are well known in the art. As is also well known in the art, the precise orientation and location relative to a coding sequence whose kanscription is conkolled, is dependent inter alia upon the specific nature of the 15 enhancer-promoter. Thus, a TATA box minim~l promoter is typically located from about 25 to about 30 base pairs upstream of a transcription initiation site and an upstream promoter element is typically located from about 100 to about 200 base pairs upstream of a transcription initiation site. In conkast, an enhancer may be located downstream from the initiation site and may be at a considerable distance from that site.

20 An enhancer-promoter used in a vector construct of the present invention may be any CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 enhancer-promoter that drives expression in a cell to be transfected. By employing an enhancer-promoter with well-known properties, the level and pattern of gene product expression may be optimized.

A coding sequence of an expression vector is operatively linked to a transcription termin~ting 5 region. RNA polymerase transcribes an encoding DNA sequence through a site where polyadenylation occurs. Typically, DNA sequences located a few hundred base pairs downstream of the polyadenylation site serve to tçrmin:~te transcription. Those DNA sequences are referred to herein as transcription-termination regions. Those regions are required for efficient polyadenylation of transcribed messenger RNA (RNA). Transcription-termin~ting regions are 10 well-known in the art. A prer~ d transcription-tennin~ting region used in an adenovirus vector construct of the present invention comprises a polyadenylation signal of SV40 or the protamine gene.

An expression vector comprises a polynucleotide that encodes a MIER polypeptide. Such a polynucleotide is meant to include a sequence of nucleotide bases encoding a MIER polypeptide 15 sufficient in length to distinguish said segment from a polynucleotide segment encoding a non-M-erl polypeptide. A polypeptide of the invention may also encode biologically functional polypeptides or peptides which have variant amino acid sequences, such as with changes selected based on considerations such as the relative hydropathic score of the amino acids being exchanged. These variant sequences are those isolated from natural sources or induced in the 20 sequences disclosed herein using a mutagenic procedure such as site-directed mutagenesis.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 An expression vector of the present invention comprises a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid residue sequence of FIG. 1. An expression vector may include a MIER polypeptide-coding region itself or any of the MIER polypeptides noted above or it may contain coding regions bearing selected alterations or modifications in the basic coding 5 region of such a MIER polypeptide.

Alternatively, such vectors or fragments may code larger polypeptides or polypeptides which nevertheless include the basic coding region. In any event, it should be appreciated that due to codon redlln-l~ncy as well as biological functional equivalence, this aspect of the invention is not 10 limited to the particular DNA molecules corresponding to the polypeptide sequences noted above.

Exemplary vectors include the m~mm~ n expression vectors of the pCMV family including pCMV6b and pCMV6c (Chiron Corp., Emeryville, Calif.). In certain cases, and specifically in the case of these individual m~mm~lian ~plession vectors, the resulting constructs may require 15 co-transfection with a vector cont~ining a selectable marker such as pSV2neo. Via co-transfection into a dihydrofolate reductase-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cell line, such as DG44, clones expressing opioid polypeptides by virtue of DNA incorporated into such expression vectors may be detected.

A DNA molecule of the present invention may be incorporated into a vector using standard 20 techniques well known in the art. For instance, the vector pUCl 8 has been demonstrated to be of CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 particular value. Likewise, the related vectors M13mpl8 and M13mpl9 may be used in certain embodiments of the invention, in particular, in performing dideoxy sequencing. --An expression vector of the present invention is useful both as a means for preparing quantitiesof the MIER polypeptide-encoding DNA itself, and as a means for preparing the encoded 5 polypeptide and peptides. It is contemplated that where MIER polypeptides of the invention are made by recombinant means, one may employ either prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression vectors as shuttle systems. However, in that prokaryotic systems are usually incapable of correctly processing precursor polypeptides and, in particular, such systems are incapable of correctly processing membrane associated eukaryotic polypeptides, and since eukaryotic MIER
10 polypeptides are anticipated using the teaching ofthe disclosed invention, one likely expresses such sequences in eukaryotic hosts. However, even where the DNA segment encodes a eukaryotic MIER polypeptide, it is contemplated that prokaryotic expression may have some additional applicability. Therefore, the invention may be used in combination with vectors which may shuttle between the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Such a system is described herein 15 which allows the use of bacterial host cells as well as eukaryotic host cells.

Where expression of recombinant MIER polypeptides is desired and a eukaryotic host is contemplated, it is most desirable to employ a vector such as a plasmid, that incorporates a eukaryotic origin of replication.

Additionally, for the purposes of t;2~l~res~ion in eukaryotic systems, one desires to position the CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 MIER encoding sequence adjacent to and under the control of an effective eukaryotic promoter such as promoters used in combination with Chinese hamster ovary cells. To bring a coding-sequence under control of a promoter, whether it is eukaryotic or prokaryotic, what is generally needed is 5 to position the 5' end of the translation initiation side of the proper translational reading frame of the polypeptide between about 1 and about 50 nucleotides 3' of or downstream with respect to the promoter chosen. Furthermore, where eukaryotic expression is anticipated, one would typically desire to incorporate into the transcriptional unit which includes the MIER polypeptide, an appLo~liate polyadenylation side.

10 The pCMV plasmids are a series of m~nnm~ n expression vectors of particular utility in the present invention. The vectors are designed for use in essentially all cultured cells and work extremely well in SV40-transformed simian COS cell lines. The pCMV1, pCMV2, pCMV3, and pCMV5 vectors differ from each other in certain unique restriction sites in the polylinker region of each plasmid. pCMV4 differs from the other four plasmids in cont~ining a translation 15 enhancer in the sequence prior to the polylinker. While they are not directly derived from the pCMV1-pCMV5 series of vectors, the functionally similar pCMV6b and pCMV6c vectors are commercially available (Chiron Corp., Emeryville, Calif.) and are identical except for the orientation of the polylinker region which is reversed in one relative to the other.

The universal components of the pCMV vectors are as follows: The vector backbone is pTZ1 8R
20 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.), and contains a bacteriophage fl origin of replication for CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 production of single stranded DNA and an ampicillin (amp)-resistance gene. The CMV region consists of nucleotides -760 to +3 of the powerful promotor-regulatory region of the --human cytomegalovirus (Towne stain) major immediate early gene (Thomsen et al., 1984;
Boshart et al., 1985). The human growth hormone fragment (hGH) contains transcription termin~tion and poly-adenylation signals representing sequences 1533 to 2157 of this gene (Seeber-lg, 1982). There is an Alu middle repetitive DNA sequence in this fragment. Finally, the SV40 origin of replication and early region promoter-enhancer derived from the pcD-X plasmid (HindIII to PstI fragment) described in (Okayama et al., 1983). The promoter in this fragment is oriented such that transcription proceeds away from the CMV/hGH expression cassette.

The pCMV plasmids are distinguishable from each other by differences in the polylinker region and by the presence or absence of the translation enhancer. The starting pCMV1 plasmid has been progressively modified to render an increasing number of unique restriction sites in the polylinker region. To create pCMV2, one of two EcoRI sites in pCMV1 were destroyed.
To create pCMV3, pCMV1 was modified by deleting a short segment from the SV40 region (StuI to EcoRI), and in so doing made unique the PstI, SalI, and BamHI sites in the polylinker.
To create pCMV4, a synthetic fragment of DNA corresponding to the 5'- untranslated region of a mRNA trarlscribed from the CMV promoter was added C'. The sequence acts as a translational enhancer by decreasing the requirements for initiation factors in polypeptide synthesis (Jobling et al., 1987; Browning et al., 1988). To create pCMV5, a segment of DNA (HpaI to EcoRI) was deleted from the SV40 origin region of pCMV1 to render unique all sites in the starting CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 polylinker.

The pCMV vectors have been successfully expressed in simian COS cells, mouse L cells, CHO
cells, and HeLa cells. In several side by side comparisons they have yielded 5- to 10-fold higher expression levels in COS cells than SV40-based vectors. The pCMV vectors have been used to 5 express the LDL receptor, nuclear factor 1, G_s .alpha. polypeptide, polypeptide phosphatase, synaptophysin, synapsin, insulin receptor, influenza hemagglutinin, androgen receptor, sterol 26-hydroxylase, steroid 17- and 21-hydroxylase, cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase, .beta.-adrenergic receptor, folate receptor, cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, and a host of other cDNAs. It should be noted that the SV40 promoter in these plasmids may be used 10 to express other genes such as dominant selectable markers. Finally, there is an ATG sequence in the polylinker between the HindIII and PstI sites in pCMU that may cause sper-lious translation initiation. This codon should be avoided if possible in expression plasmids. A paper describing the construction and use of the parenteral pCMV1 and pCMV4 vectors has been published (Anderson et al., 1989b).

15 Transfected Cells In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides recombinant host cells transformed or transfected with a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER polypeptide, as well as transgenic cells derived from those transformed or transfected cells. Preferably, a recombinant host cell of the present invention is transfected with a polynucleotide of FIG. 1 C or FIG. lD. Means of transforrning or transfecting cells with exogenous polynucleotide such as DNA molecules are well known in the art and include techniques such as calcium-phosphate- or DEAE-dextran- -mediated transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation, liposome mediated transfection, direct microinjection and adenovirus infection (Sambrook et al., 1989).

5 The most widely used method is transfection mediated by either calcium phosphate or DEAE-dextran. Although the mechanism remains obscure, it is believed that the transfected DNA enters the cytoplasm of the cell by endocytosis and is transported to the nucleus.
Depending on the cell type, up to 90% of a population of culter-led cells may be transfected at any one time. Because of its high efficiency, transfection mediated by calcium phosphate or 10 DEAE-dextran is the method of choice for studies requiring transient expression of the foreign DNA in large numbers of cells. Calcium phosphate-mediated transfection is also used to establish cell lines that integrate copies of the foreign DNA, which are usually arranged in head-to-tail tandem arrays into the host cell genome.

In the protoplast fusion method~ protoplasts derived from bacteria carrying high numbers of 15 copies of a plasmid of interest are mixed directly with culter-led m~mm~ n cells. After fusion of the cell membranes (usually with polyethylene glycol), the contents of the bacterium are delivered into the cytoplasm of the m~mm~ cells and the plasmid DNA is transported to the nucleus. Protoplast fusion is not as efficient as transfection for many of the cell lines that are commonly used for transient ~ es ,ion assays, but it is useful for cell lines in which 20 endocytosis of DNA occurs inefficiently. Protoplast fusion frequently yields multiple copies of CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 the plasmid DNA tandomly integrated into the host chromosome.

The application of brief, high-voltage electric pulses to a variety of m~mm~ n and plant cells leads to the formation of nanometer-sized pores in the plasma membrane. DNA is taken directly into the cell cytoplasm either through these pores or as a consequence of the redistribution of 5 membrane components that accompanies closer-le of the pores. Electroporation may be extremely efficient and may be used both for transient ~ ssion of cloned genes and for establishment of cell lines that carry integrated copies of the gene of interest. Electroporation, in contrast to calcium phosphate-mediated transfection and protoplast fusion, frequently gives rise to cell lines that carry one, or at most a few, integrated copies of the foreign DNA.

10 Liposome transfection involves encapsulation of DNA and RNA within liposomes, followed by fusion of the liposomes with the cell membrane. The mechanism of how DNA is delivered into the cell is unclear but transfection efficiencies may be as high as 90%.

Direct microinjection of a DNA molecule into nuclei has the advantage of not exposing DNA to cellular compartments such as low-pH endosomes. Microinjection is therefore used primarily as 15 a method to establish lines of cells that carry integrated copies of the DNA of interest.

The use of adenovirus as a vector for cell transfection is well known in the art. Adenovirus vector-mediated cell transfection has been reported for various cells (Stratford-Perricaudet et al., 1992).

A transfected cell may be prokarvotic or eukaryotic. Preferably, the host cells of the invention are eukaryotic host cells. More preferably, the recombinant host cells of the invention are COS-l cells. Where it is of interest to produce a human MIER polypeptides, culter-led m~mm~lian or human cells are of particular interest.

5 In another aspect, the recombinant host cells of the present invention are prokaryotic host cells.
Preferably, the recombinant host cells of the invention are bacterial cells of the DH5.alpha..TM.
(GelBCa BRL, Gaithersber-lg, Md.) strain of E. coli. In general, prokaryotes are preferred for the initial cloning of DNA sequences and constructing the vectors useful in the invention. For example, E. coli K12 strains may be particularly useful. Other microbial strains which may be used include E. coli B, and E. coli X1776 (ATCC No. 31537). These examples are, of coer-l se, intended to be illustrative rather than limiting.

In general, plasmid vectors cont~ining replicon and control sequences which are derived from species compatible with the host cell are used in connection with these hosts. The vector ordinarily carries a replication site, as well as m~rking sequences which are capable of providing 15 phenotypic selection in transformed cells. For example, E. coli may be transformed using pBR322, a plasmid derived from an E. coli species (Bolivar et al., 1977). pBR322 contains genes for amp and tetracycline resistance and thus provides easy means for identifying transformed cells.

The pBR322 or other microbial plasmid or phage must also contain, or be modified to contain, CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 promoters which may be used by the microbial organism for expression of its own polypeptides.

Those promoters most commonly used in recombinant DNA construction include the .beta.-lactamase (penicillinase) and .beta.-galactosidase (.beta.-Gal) promoter systems (Chang et al., 1978; Itaker-la et al., 1977; Goeddel et al., 1979; Goeddel et al., 1980) and a tryptophan S (TRP) promoter system (EPO Appl. Publ. No. 0036776; Siebwenlist et al., 1980). While these are the most commonly used, other microbial promoters have been discovered and utilized, and details concerning their nucleotide sequences have been published, enabling a skilled worker to introduce promoters functional into plasmid vectors (Siebwenlist et al., 1980).

In addition to prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes, such as yeast may also be used. Saccharomyces cerevisiae or common baker's yeast is the most commonly used among eukaryotic microorg~ m.c, although a number of other strains are commonly available. For expression in Saccharomyces, the plasmid YRp7, for example, is commonly used (Stinchcomb et al., 1979;
Kingsm~n et al., 1979; Tschemper et al., 1980). This plasmid already contains the trpL gene which provides a selection marker for a mutant strain of yeast lacking the ability to grow in tryptophan, for example ATCC No. 44076 or PEP4-1 (Jones, 1977). The presence of the trpL
lesion as a characteristic of the yeast host cell genome then provides an effective environment for detecting transformation by growth in the absence of tryptophan.

Suitable promotor sequences in yeast vectors include the promoters for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (Hitzeman et al., 1980) or other glycolytic enzymes (Hess et al., 1968; Holland et al., CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 1978) such as enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, 3-phosphoglycerate --mutase, pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, and glucokinase. In constructing suitable ~ s~ion plasmids, the termination sequences associated 5 with these genes are also introduced into the expression vector downstream from the sequences to be expressed to provide polyadenylation of the mRNA and termin~tion. Other promoters, which have the additional advantage of transcription controlled by growth conditions are the promoter region for alcohol dehydrogenase 2, isocytochrome C, acid phosphatase, degradative enzymes associated with nitrogen metabolism, and the aforementioned 10 glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and enzymes responsible for maltose and galactose utilization. Any plasmid vector cont~ining a yeast-compatible promoter, origin or replication and t~rmin~tion sequences is suitable.

In addition to microorg~ni~m~, cultures of cells derived from multicellular or~ni~m~ may also be used as hosts. In principle, any such cell culture may be employed, whether from vertebrate or 15 invertebrate culture. However, interest has been greatest in vertebrate cells, and propagation of vertebrate cells in tissue culture has become a routine procedure in recent years (Kruse and Peterson, 1973). Examples of such useful host cell lines are AtT-20, VERO and HeLa cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, and W138, BHK, COSM6, COS-7, 293 and MDCK cell lines. Expression vectors for such cells ordinarily include (if necessary) an origin of replication, a 20 promoter located upstream of the gene to be expressed, along with any necessary ribosome binding sites, RNA splice sites, polyadenylation site, and transcriptional termin~tor sequences.

For use in m~mm~ n cells, the control functions on the e~les~ion vectors are often derived from viral material. For example, commonly used promoters are derived from polyoma, --Adenovirus 2, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and most frequently Simian Virus 40 (SV40). The early and late promoters of SV40 virus are particularly useful because both are obtained easily 5 from the virus as a fragment which also contains the SV40 viral origin of replication (Fiers et al., 1978). Smaller or larger SV40 fragments may also be used, provided there is included the approximately 250 bp sequence extending from the HindIII site toward the BglI site located in the viral origin of replication. Further, it is also possible, and often desirable, to utilize promoter or control sequences normally associated with the desired gene sequence, provided such control 10 sequences are compatible with the host cell systems.

An origin of replication may be provided with by construction of the vector to include an exogenous origin, such as may be derived from SV40 or other viral (e.g., Polyoma, Adeno, VSV, BPV, CMV) source, or may be provided by the host cell chromosomal replication mech~nism. If the vector is integrated into the host cell chromosome, the latter is often sufficient.

15 Preparing a Recombinant MIER Polypeptide In yet another embodiment, the present invention describes a process of pl~palhlg an MIER
polypeptide comprising transfecting cells with a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER
polypeptide to produce a transformed host cell; and m~inf:~ining the transformed host cell under biological conditions sufficient for ~p~es~ion of the polypeptide. Preferably, the transformed CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 host cell is a eukaryotic cell. Even more preferably, the polynucleotide transfected into the transformed cells comprises a nucleotide base sequence of FIGI . Most preferably transfection is accomplished using a hereinbefore disclosed expression vector.

A host cell used in the process is capable of expressing a functional, recombinant MIER
5 polypeptide. A variety of cells are amenable to a process of the invention, for instance, yeasts cells, human cell lines, and other eukaryotic cell lines known well to those of the art.

Following transfection, the cell is m~int~ined under culture conditions for a period of time sufficient for expression of an MIER polypeptide. Culture conditions are well known in the art and include ionic composition and concentration, temperature, pH and the like. Typically7 10 transfected cells are m~int~ined under culture conditions in a culture medium. Suitable medium for various cell types are well-known in the art. In a pler~ d embodiment, temperature is from about 20~C. to about 50~C, more preferably from about 30~C. to about 40~C, and even more preferably, about 37~C.

pH is preferably from about a value of 6.0 to a value of about 8.0, more preferably from about a value of about 6.8 to a value of about 7.8, and most preferably, about 7.4. Osmolality is preferably from about 200 milliosmols per liter (mosm/L) to about 400 mosm/l and, more preferably from about 290 mosm/L to about 310 mosm/L. Other biological conditions needed for transfection and expression of an encoded protein are well-known in the art.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Transfected cells are m~int~ined for a period of time sufficient for expression of an MIER
polypeptide. A suitable time depends inter alia upon the cell type used and is readily --detenmin~hle by a skilled artisan. Typically, maintenance time is from about 2 to about 14 days.

Recombinant MIER polypeptide is recovered or collected either from the transfected cells or the S medium in which those cells are cultured. Recovery comprises isolating and purifying the MIER
polypeptide. Isolation and purification techniques for polypeptides are well-known in the art and include such procedures as precipitation, filtration, chromatography, electrophoresis and the like.

Antibodies In still another embodiment, the present invention provides an antibody immunoreactive with an 10 MIER polypeptide (e.g., one which is specific for MIER polypeptide). Preferably, an antibody of the invention is a monoclonal antibody. Preferably, an MIER polypeptide comprises an amino acid residue sequence of FIG. . Means for preparing and characterizing antibodies are well-known in the art (See, e.g., "Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual", E. Howell and D. Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988).

15 Briefly, a polyclonal antibody is prepared by immunizing an animal with an immunogen comprising a polypeptide or polynucleotide of the present invention, and collecting antisera from that immunized animal. A wide range of animal species may be used for the production of antisera. Typically an animal used for production of anti-antisera is a rabbit, a mouse, a rat, a CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 hamster or a guinea pig. Because of the relatively large blood volume of rabbits, a rabbit is a preferred choice for production of polyclonal antibodies. --As is well-known in the art, a given polypeptide or polynucleotide may vary in its immnnogenicity. It is often necessary therefore to couple the immunogen (e.g., a polypeptide or 5 polynucleotide) of the present invention) with a carrier. Exemplary and preferred carriers are keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Other albumins such as ovalbumin, mouse serum albumin or rabbit serum albumin may also be used as carriers.

Means for conjugating a polypeptide or a polynucleotide to a carrier protein are well-known in the art and include glutaraldehyde, m-maleimidobencoyl-N- hydroxysuccinimide ester, 10 carbodiimide and bis-biazotized benzidine.

As is also well-known in the art, immunogencity to a particular immunogen may be enhanced by the use of non-specific stimulators of the immune response known as adjuvants. Exemplary and pre~lled adjuvants include complete Freund's adjuvant, incomplete Freund's adjuv~ll~ and alll.llillu.~- hydroxide adjuvant.

15 The amount of immunogen used of the production of polyclonal antibodies varies inter alia, upon the nature of the immunogen as well as the animal used for immunization. A variety of routes may be used to a(lmini~ter the immunogen (subcutaneous, intramuscular, inka~lerm~l, intravenous and intraperitoneal. The production of polyclonal antibodies is monitored by CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 sampling blood of the h~ lized animal at various points following immllni7:~tion When a desired level of immunogenicity is obtained, the im~ ized animal may be bled and the sen~m isolated and stored.

In another aspect, the present invention contemplates a process of producing an antibody 5 immunoreactive with an MIER polypeptide comprising the steps of (a) transfecting a recombinant host cell with a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER polypeptide; (b) culturing the host cell under conditions sufficient for expression of the polypeptide; (c) recovering the polypeptide; and (d) preparing an antibody to the polypeptide. Preferably, the host cell is transfected with a polynucleotide of FIG 1. The present invention also provides an antibody 10 prepared according to the process described above.

A monoclonal antibody of the present invention may be readily prepared through use of well-known techni~ues such as those exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,265. Typically, a technique involves first immlmi~ing a suitable animal with a selected antigen (e.g., a polypeptide or polynucleotide of the present invention) in a manner sufficient to provide an immune 15 response. Rodents such as mice and rats are pler~"ed animals. Spleen cells from the immlmi~ed animal are then fused with cells of an immortal myeloma cell. Where the immllni7ed animal is a mouse, a prefelTed myeloma cell is a murine NS-l myeloma cell.

The fused spleen/myeloma cells are cultured in a selective medium to select fused spleen/myeloma cells from the parental cells. Fused cells are separated from the mixture of CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 non-fused parental cells, for example, by the addition of agents that block the de novo synthesis of nucleotides in the tissue culture media. Exemplary and p~ ed agents are aminopterin, --methotrexate, and azaserine. Aminopterin and methotrexate block de novo synthesis of both pMIERines and pyrimidines, whereas azaserine blocks only purine synthesis. Where aminopterin 5 or methotrexate is used, the media is supplemented with hypoxanthine and thymidine as a soMIERce of nucleotides. Where azaserine is used, the media is supplemented with hypoxanthine.

This culturing provides a population of hybridomas from which specific hybridomas are selected.
Typically, selection of hybridomas is performed by culturing the cells by single-clone dilution in 10 microtiter plates, followed by testing the individual clonal supernatants for reactivity with an antigen-polypeptides. The selected clones may then be propagated indefinitely to provide the monoclonal antibody.

By way of specific example, to produce an antibody of the present invention, mice are injected intraperitoneally with between about 1 to about 200 ,ug of an antigen comprising a polypeptide of 15 the present invention. B lymphocyte cells are stimulated to grow by injecting the antigen in association with an adjuvant such as complete Freund's adjuvant (a non-specific stimulator of the immune response cont~ining killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis). At some time (e.g., at least two weeks) after the first injection, mice are boosted by injection with a second dose of the antigen mixed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 A few weeks after the second injection, mice are tail bled and the sera titered by immunoprecipitation against radiolabeled antigen. Preferably, the process of boosting and ~-titering is repeated until a suitable titer is achieved. The spleen of the mouse with the highest titer is removed and the spleen lymphocytes are obtained by homogenizing the spleen with a syringe.
Typically, a spleen from an immunized mouse contains approximately 5 x 107 to 2 x 108 lymphocytes.

Mutant lymphocyte cells known as myeloma cells are obtained from laboratory ~nim~ in which such cells have been induced to grow by a variety of well-known methods. Myeloma cells lack the salvage pathway of nucleotide biosynthesis. Because myeloma cells are tumor cells, they may be propagated indefinitely in tissue culture, and are thus denominated immortal. Numerous cultured cell lines of myeloma cells from mice and rats, such as murine NS-1 myeloma cells, have been established.

Myeloma cells are combined under conditions a~plopliate to foster fusion with the normal antibody-producing cells from the spleen of the mouse or rat injected with the antigen/polypeptide of the present invention. Fusion conditions include, for example, the presence of polyethylene glycol. The resulting fused cells are hybridoma cells. Like myeloma cells, hybridoma cells grow indefinitely in culture.

Hybridoma cells are separated from unfused myeloma cells by culturing in a selection medium such as hypox~nthine-aminopterin-thymidine (HAT) medium. Unfused myeloma cells lack the CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 enzymes necessary to synthesize nucleotides from the salvage pathway because they are killed in the presence of aminopterin, methotrexate, or azaserine. Unfused lymphocytes also do not --continue to grow in tissue culture. Thus, only cells that have successfully fused (hybridoma cells) may grow in the selection media.

5 Each of the surviving hybridoma cells produces a single antibody. These cells are then screened for the production of the specific antibody immunoreactive with an antigen/polypeptide of the present invention. Single cell hybridomas are isolated by limiting dilutions of the hybridomas.
The hybridomas are serially diluted many times and, after the dilutions are allowed to grow, the supern~t~nt is tested for the presence of the monoclonal antibody. The clones producing that 10 antibody are then cultured in large amounts to produce an antibody of the present invention in convenient quantity.

By use of a monoclonal antibody of the present invention, specific polypeptides and polynucleotide of the invention may be recognized as antigens, and thus identified. Once identified, those polypeptides and polynucleotide may be isolated and purified by techniques 15 such as antibody-affinity chromatography. In antibody-affinity chromatography, a monoclonal antibody is bound to a solid substrate and exposed to a solution collL;~ g the desired antigen.
The antigen is removed from the solution through an immunospecific reaction with the bound antibody. The polypeptide or polynucleotide is then easily removed from the substrate and purified.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Pharmaceutical Compositions In a ~ felled embodiment, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an MIER polypeptide and a physiologically acceptable carrier. More preferably, a pharmaceutical composition comprises an MIER polypeptide comprising an amino acid residue S sequence of FIG. . Alternatively, pharmaceutical compositions include a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER polypeptide and a physiologically acceptable carrier. An example of a useful pharmaceutical composition includes a polynucleotide that has the nucleotide sequence of FIG.

A composition of the present invention is typically ~lministered parenterally in dosage unit formulations cont~ining standard, well-known nontoxic physiologically acceptable carriers, 10 adjuvants, and vehicles as desired. The term parenteral as used herein includes intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial injection, or infusion techniques.

Injectable preparations, for example sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions, are formulated according to the known art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or 15 suspension in a nontoxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol.

Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution, and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono- or di-glycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid find use in the preparation of injectables.

Preferred carriers include neutral saline solutions buffered with phosphate, lactate, Tris, and the S like. Of course, one purifies the vector sufficiently to render it essentially free of undesirable cont~min~nt, such as defective interfering adenovirus particles or endotoxins and other pyrogens such that it does not cause any untoward reactions in the individual receiving the vector construct. Means of purifying the vector may involve the use of buoyant density gradients, such as cesium chloride gradient centrifugation.

10 A carrier may also be a liposome. Means for using liposomes as delivery vehicles are well-known in the art (See, e.g., Gabizon et al., 1990; Ferruti and Tanzi, 1986; Ranade, 1989).

A transfected cell may also serve as a carrier. By way of example, a liver cell may be removed from an or3~ni~m, transfected with a polynucleotide of the present invention using methods set forth above and then the transfected cell returned to the organism (e.g., injected intravascularly).

15 Detecting MIER Encoding Polynucleotides and MIER Polypeptides Alternatively, the present invention provides a process of detecting an MIER polypeptide, wherein the process comprises immunoreacting the polypeptide with an antibody prepared CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 according to a process described above to form an antibody-polypeptide conjugate, and detecting the conjugate. --In yet another embodiment, the present invention contemplates a process of detecting amessenger RNA transcript that encodes an MIER polypeptide, wherein the process comprises (a) 5 hybridizing the messenger RNA transcript with a polynucleotide sequence that encodes an MIER
polypeptide to form a duplex; and (b) detecting the duplex. Alternatively, the present invention provides a process of detecting a DNA molecule that encodes an MIER polypeptide, wherein the process comprises (a) hybridizing a DNA molecule with a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER
polypeptide to form a duplex; and (b) detecting the duplex.

10 Screening Assays In yet another aspect, the present invention contemplates a process of screening substances for their ability to interact with an MIER polypeptide comprising the steps of providing an MIER
polypeptide, and testing the ability of selected substances to interact with the MIER polypeptide.

Utilizing the methods and compositions of the present invention, screening assays for the testing 15 of candidate substances such as agonists and antagonists of MIERs may be derived. A candidate substance is a substance which potentially may interact with or modulate, by binding or other intrarnolecular interaction, an MIER polypeptide. In some instances, such a candidate substance will be an agonist of the polypeptide and in other instances may exhibit antagonistic attributes CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 when interacting with the polypeptide. In other instances, such substances may have mixed agonistic and antagonistic properties or may modulate the MIER in other ways. --Recombinant polypeptide expression systems of the present invention possess definiteadvantages over tissue-based systems. Such a method of the present invention makes it possible 5 to produce large quantities of MIERs for use in screening assays. More important, however, is the relative purity of the polypeptides provided by the present invention. A relatively pure polypeptide preparation for assaying a protein-protein interaction makes it possible to use elutive methods without invoking competing, and unwanted, side-reactions.

Cloned expression systems such as those of the present invention are also useful where there is 10 difficulty in obtaining tissue that satisfactorily expresses a particular polypeptide. Cost is another very real advantage, at least with regard to the microbial expression systems of the present invention. For antagonists in a primary screen, microorganism expression systems of the present invention are inexpensive in comparison to prior art tissue-screening methods.

Traditionally, screening assays employed the use of crude polypeptide preparations. Typically, 15 animal tissue slices thought to be rich in the polypeptide of interest was the source of the polypeptide. Alternatively, investigators homogenized the tissue and used the crude homogenate as a polypeptide source. A major difficulty with this approach is the provision that the tissue contain only a single polypeptide type being expressed. The data obtained therefore could not be definitively correlated with a particular polypeptide. With the recent cloning of polypeptide CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 sub-types and sub-sub-types, this difficulty is highlighted. A second fundamental difficulty with the traditional approach is the unavailability of human tissue for screening potential drugs. Fhe traditional approach almost invariably utilized animal polypeptides. With the cloning of human polypeptides, there is a need for screening assays which utilize human polypeptides.

5 With the availability of cloned polypeptides, recombinant polypeptide screening systems have several advantages over tissue based systems. A major advantage is that the investigator may now control the type of polypeptide that is utilized in a screening assay. Specific polypeptide sub-types and sub-sub-types may be l~le~lelllially expressed and its interaction with a ligand may be identified. Other advantages include the availability of large amounts of polypeptide, the 10 availability of rare polypeptides previously unavailable in tissue samples, and the lack of expenses associated with the maintenance of live animals.

Screening assays of the present invention generally involve detçrrnining the ability of a candidate substance to bind to the polypeptide and to affect the activity of the polypeptide, such as the screening of candidate substances to identify those that inhibit or otherwise modify the 15 polypeptide's function. Typically, this method includes preparing recombinant polypeptide polypeptide, followed by testing the recombinant polypeptide or cells expressing the polypeptide with a candidate substance to determine the ability of the substance to affect its physiological function. In preferred embodiments, the invention relates to the screening of candidate substances to identify those that affect the enzymatic activity of the human polypeptide, and thus 20 can be suitable for use in humans.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 A screening assay provides a polypeptide under conditions suitable for the binding of an agent to the polypeptide. These conditions include but are not limited to pH, temperature, tonicity, th-e presence of relevant cofactors, and relevant modifications to the polypeptide such as glycosylation or prenylation. It is contemplated that the polypeptide can be expressed and S utilized in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell. The host cell e~les~ g the polypeptide can be used whole or the polypeptide can be isolated from the host cell. The polypeptide can be membrane bound in the membrane of the host cell or it can be free in the cytosol of the host cell. The host cell can also be fractionated into sub-cellular fractions where the polypeptide can be found. For example, cells ~ eS:jillg the polypeptide can be fractionated into the nuclei, the endoplasmic 10 reticulum, vesicles, or the membrane surfaces of the cell.

pH is preferably from about a value of 6.0 to a value of about 8.0, more preferably from about a value of about 6.8 to a value of about 7.8, and most preferably, about 7.4. In a plerelled embodiment, temperature is from about 20~C to about 50~C, more preferably, from about 30~C to about 40~C, and even more preferably about 37~C. Osmolality is preferably from about 5 milliosmols per liter (mosm/L) to about 400 mosm/l, and more preferably, from about 200 milliosmols per liter to about 400 mosm/l and, even more preferably from about 290 mosm/L to about 310 mosm/L. The presence of cofactors can be required for the proper functioning of the polypeptide. Typical cofactors include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride. In addition, small, non-peptide molecules, known as prosthetic groups may also be required. Other 20 biological conditions needed for polypeptide function are well-known in the art.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 It is well-known in the art that proteins can be reconstituted in artificial membranes, vesicles or liposomes. (Danboldt et al., 1990). The present invention contemplates that the polypeptide-can be incorporated into artificial membranes, vesicles or liposomes. The reconstituted polypeptide can be utilized in screening assays.

5 It is further contemplated that a polypeptide of the present invention can be coupled to a solid support, e.g., to agarose beads, polyacrylamide beads, polyacrylic beads or other solid matrices capable of being coupled to polypeptides. Well-known coupling agents include cyanogen bromide (CNBr), carbonyldiimidazole, tosyl chloride, and glutaraldehyde.

In a typical screening assay for identifying candidate substances, one employs the same 10 recombinant expression host as the starting source for obtaining the polypeptide, generally prepared in the form of a crude homogenate. Recombinant cells expressing the polypeptide are washed and homogenized to prepare a crude polypeptide homogenate in a desirable buffer such as disclosed herein. In a typical assay, an amount of polypeptide from the cell homogenate, is placed into a small volume of an appropliate assay buffer at an applopliate pH. Candidate 15 substances, such as agonists and antagonists, are added to the adllli~lule in convenient concentrations and the interaction between the candidate substance and the polypeptide is monitored.

Where one uses an appl-opliate known substrate for the polypeptide, one can, in the foregoing manner, obtain a baseline activity for the recombinantly produced polypeptide. Then, to test for CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 inhibitors or modifiers of the polypeptide function, one can incorporate into the admixture a c~n~ te substance whose effect on the polypeptide is unknown. By comparing reactions which are carried out in the presence or absence of the candidate substance, one can then obtain information regarding the effect of the candidate substance on the normal function of the 5 polypeptide.

Accordingly, this aspect of the present invention will provide those of skill in the art with methodology that allows for the identification of candidate substances having the ability to modify the action of MIER polypeptides in one or more manner.

Additionally, screening assays for the testing of candidate substances are designed to allow the 10 determin~tion of structure-activity relationships of agonists or antagonists with the polypeptides, e.g., comparisons of bindmg between naturally-occurring hormones or other substances capable of interacting or otherwise modnl~tin~ with the polypeptide; or comparison of the activity caused by the binding of such molecules to the polypeptide.

In certain aspects, the polypeptides of the invention are crystallized in order to carry out x-ray 15 crystallographic studies as a means of evaluating interactions with candidate substances or other molecules with the MIER polypeptide. For instance, the purified recombinant polypeptides of the invention, when crystallized in a suitable form, are amenable to detection of intra-molecular interactions by x-ray crystallography.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 The recombinantly-produced MIER polypeptide may be used in screening assays for the identification of substances which may inhibit or other~vise modify or alter the function of the polypeptide. The use of recombinantly-produced polypeptide is of particular benefit because the naturally-occurring polypeptide is present in only small quantities and has proven difficult to 5 purify. Moreover, this provides a ready source of polypeptide, which has heretofore been unavailable.

A screening assay of the invention, in preferred embodiments, conveniently employs an MIER
polypeptide directly from the recombinant host in which it is produced. This is achieved most preferably by simply ~ples~ g the selected polypeptide within the recombinant host, typically a 10 eukaryotic host, followed by pl~illg a crude homogenate which includes the enzyme. A
portion of the crude homogenate is then admixed with an appropliate effector of the polypeptide along with the candidate substance to be tested. By comparing the binding of the selected effector to the polypeptide in the presence or absence of the candidate substance, one may obtain information regarding the physiological properties of the candidate substance.

15 There are believed to be a wide variety of embodiments which may be employed to determine the effect of the candidate substance on the polypeptides of the invention, and the invention is not int~n(1ed to be limited to any one such method. However, it is generally desirable to employ a system wherein one may measure the ability of the polypeptide to bind to and or be modified by the effector employed in the presence of a particular substance.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 The detection of an interaction between an agent and a polypeptide may be accomplished through techniques well-known in the art. These techniques include but are not limited to --centnfilg~tion, chromatography, electrophoresis and spectroscopy. The use of isotopically labeled reagents in conjunction with these techniques or alone is also contemplated. Commonly used radioactive isotopes include 3H, l4C, 22Na, 32p, 35S, 45Ca, 60Co, ~25I, and ~3'I. Commonly used stable isotopes include 2H, '3C, '5N, and '80.

For example, if an agent binds to the polypeptide of the present invention, the binding may be detected by using radiolabeled agent or radiolabeled polypeptide. Briefly, if radiolabeled agent or radiolabeled polypeptide is utilized, the agent-polypeptide complex may be detected by liquid scintillation or by exposure to x-ray film.

When an agent modifies the polypeptide, the modified polypeptide may be detected by differences in mobility between the modified polypeptide and the unmodified polypeptide through the use of chromatography, electrophoresis or centrifugation. When the technique utilized is centrifugation, the differences in mobility is known as the sedimentation coefficient.
The modification may also be detected by differences between the spectroscopic properties of the modified and unmodified polypeptide. As a specific example, if an agent covalently modifies a polypeptide, the difference in retention times between modified and unmodified polypeptide on a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) column may easily be detected. Alternatively, the spectroscopic differences between modified and unmodified polypeptide in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra may be detected. Or, one may focus on the agent and detect the differences in the spectroscopic properties or the difference in mobility between the free agent and the agent after modification of the polypeptide. --When a secondary polypeptide is provided, the agent-polypeptide-secondary polypeptide complex or the polypeptide-secondary polypeptide complex may be detected by differences in S mobility or differences in spectroscopic properties as described above. The interaction of an agent and a polypeptide may also be detected by providing a reporter gene. Well-known reporter genes include ,~-Gal, chloramphenicol (Cml) transferase (CAT) and luciferase. The reporter gene is expressed by the host and the enzymatic reaction of the reporter gene product may be detected.

In one example, a mixture co~ g the polypeptide, effector and candidate substance is 10 allowed to incubate. The unbound effector is separable from any effector/polypeptide complex so formed. One then simply measures the amount of each (e.g., versus a control to which no candidate substance has been added). This measurement may be made at various time points where velocity data is desired. From this, one determines the ability of the candidate substance to alter or modify the function of the polypeptide.

15 Numerous techniques are known for separating the effector from effector/polypeptide complex, and all such methods are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. Use of thin layer chromatographic methods (TLC), HPLC, spectrophotometric, gas chromatographic/mass spectrophotometric or NMR analyses. It is contemplated that any such technique may be employed so long as it is capable of differentiating between the effector and complex, and may CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 be used to determine enzymatic function such as by identifying or quantifying the substrate and product.

Screening Assays for MIER Polypeptides The present invention provides a process of screening a biological sample for the presence of an 5 MIER polypeptide. A biological sample to be screened may be a biological fluid such as extracellular or intracellular fluid, a cell, a tissue extract, a tissue homogenate or a histological section. A biological sample may also be an isolated cell (e.g., in culture) or a collection of cells such as in a tissue sample or histology sample. A tissue sample may be suspended in a liquid medium or fixed onto a solid support such as a microscope slide.

10 In accordance with a screening assay process, a biological sample is contacted with an antibody specific for a MIER polypeptide whose presence is being assayed. Typically, one mixes the antibody and the MIER polypeptide, and either the antibody or the sample with the MIER
polypeptide may be affixed to a solid support (e.g., a column or a microtiter plate). Optimal conditions for the reaction may be accomplished by adjusting temperature, pH, ionic 15 concenkation, etc.

Ionic composition and concentration may range from that of distilled water to a 2 molar solution of NaCl. Preferably, osmolality is from about 100 mosmols/l to about 400 mosmols/l, and more preferably, from about 200 mosmols/l to about 300 mosmols/l. Temperature preferably is from CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 about 4~C. to about 100~C, more preferably from about 15~C to about 50~C, and even more preferably from about 25~C to about 40~C. pH is preferably from about a value of 4.0 to a value of about 9.0, more preferably from about a value of 6.5 to a value of about 8.5, and even more preferably, from about a value of 7.0 to a value of about 7.5. The only limit on biological 5 reaction conditions is that the condihons selected allow for antibody-polypeptide conjugate formation and that the conditions do not adversely affect either the antibody or the MIER
polypeptide.

Incubation time varies with the biological conditions used, the concentration of antibody and polypeptide and the nature of the sample (e.g., fluid or tissue sample). Means for determining 10 exposure time are well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Typically, where the sample is fluid and the concentration of polypeptide in that sample is about 10-~~ M, exposure time is from about 10 min to about 200 min.

MER polypeptide in the sample is determined by detecting the formation and presence of antibody-MIER polypeptide conjugates. Means for detecting such antibody-antigen (e.g., l S polypeptide) conjugates or complexes are well-known in the art and include such procedures as centrifugation, affinity chromatography and the like, binding of a secondary antibody to the antibody-candidate polypeptide complex. Detection may be accomplished by me~slllin~ an indicator affixed to the antibody. Exemplary and well-known such indicators include radioactive labels (e.g., 32p, 125I, 14C), a second antibody or an enzyme such as horse radish peroxidase.
20 Methods for ~ffixin~ indicators to antibodies are well-known in the art. Commercial kits are available.

Screening Assay for MIER Antibody The present invention provides a process of screening a biological sarnple for the presence of antibodies immunoreactive with a MIER polypeptide (i.e., MIER antibody). In accordance with 5 such a process, a biological sample is exposed to an MIER polypeptide under biological conditions and for a period of time sufficient for antibody-polypeptide conjugate formation and the formed conjugates are detected.

Screening Assay for a Polynucleotide Encoding A MIER Polypeptide A DNA molecule and, particularly a probe molecule, may be used for hybridizing as 10 oligonucleotide probes to a DNA source suspected of posces.cing an MIER polypeptide encoding polynucleotide or gene. The probing is usually accomplished by hybridizing the oligonucleotide to a DNA source suspected of possessing such a polypeptide gene. In some cases, the probes constitute only a single probe, and in others, the probes constitute a collection of probes based on a certain amino acid sequence or sequences of the MIER polypeptide and account in their 15 diversity for the redundancy inherent in the genetic code.

A suitable source of DNA for probing in this manner is capable of expressing MIER
polypeptides and may be a genomic library of a cell line of interest. Alternatively, a soer- 1 ce of CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 DNA may include total DNA from the cell line of interest. Once the hybridization process of the invention has identified a candidate DNA segment, one confirms that a positive clone has been obtained by fer-lther hybridization, restriction enzyme mapping, sequencing and/or expression and testing.

5 AltP.rn~tively, such DNA molecules may be used in a number of techniques including their use as: (I) diagnostic tools to detect normal and abnormal DNA sequences in DNA derived from patient's cells; (2) means for detecting and isolating other members of the MIER family and related polypeptides from a DNA library potentially co.l~;.ini~-g such sequences; (3) primers for hybri(li7ing to related sequences for the per-lpose of amplifying those sequences; and (4) primers 10 for altering the native MIERDNA sequences; as well as other techniques which rely on the similarity of the DNA sequences to those of the MIER DNA segrnents herein disclosed.

As set forth above, in certain aspects, DNA sequence information provided by the invention allows for the preparation of relatively short DNA (or RNA) sequences (e.g., probes) that specifically hybridize to encoding sequences of the selected MIER gene. In these aspects, nucleic 15 acid probes of an applopliate length are prepared based on a consideration of the selected MIER
encoding sequence (e.g., a nucleic acid sequence such as shown in FIG. . The ability of such nucleic acid probes to specifically hybridize to MIER encoding sequences lend them particular utility in a variety of embodiments.

Most importantly, the probes are useful in a variety of assays for detecting the presence of CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 complementary sequences in a given sample. These probes are useful in the preparation of mutant species primers and primers for preparing other genetic constructions. ~~

To provide certain of the advantages in accordance with the invention, a preferred nucleic acid sequence employed for hybridization studies or assays includes probe sequences that are 5 complementary to at least an about 14 to about 40 or so long nucleotide stretch of the MIER
encoding sequence, such as shown in FIG. A size of at least 14 nucleotides in length helps to ensMIERe that the fragment is of sufficient length to form a duplex molecule that is both stable and selective. Molecules having complementary sequences over stretches greater than 14 bases in length are generally preferred, though, to increase stability and selectivity of the hybrid, and 10 thereby improve the quality and degree of specific hybrid molecules obtained. One will generally prefer to design nucleic acid molecules having gene-complementary stretches of about 14 to about 20 nucleotides, or even longer where desired. Such fragments may be readily prepared by, for example, directly synthesizing the fragment by chemical means, by application of nucleic acid reproduction technology, such as the PCR.TM. technology of U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,102" or 15 by introducing selected sequences into recombinant vectors for recombinant production.

Accordingly, a nucleotide sequence of the present invention may be used for its ability to selectively form duplex molecules with complementary stretches of the gene. Depending on the application envisioned, one employs varying conditions of hybridization to achieve varying degrees of selectivity of the probe toward the target sequence. For applications requiring a high 20 degree of selectivity, one typically employs relatively stringent conditions to form the hybrids.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 For example, one selects relatively low salt and/or high temperature conditions, such as provided by about 0.02M to about 0. l5M NaCl at temperatures of about 50~C to about 70~C. Such ~-conditions are particularly selective, and tolerate little, if any, mi~m~teh between the probe and the template or target strand.

S Of course, for some applications, for example, where one desires to prepare ~ ;.llL!i employing a mutant primer strand hybridized to an underlying template or where one seeks to isolate MIER
coding sequences from related species, functional equivalents, or the like, less stringent hybridization conditions are typically needed to allow formation of the heteroduplex. Under such circumstances, one employs conditions such as from about O.l5M to about O.9M salt, at 10 temperatures ranging from about 20~C to about 55~C. Cross-hybridizing species may thereby be readily identlfied as positively hybri~ ing signals with respect to control hybridizations. In any case, it is generally appreciated that conditions may be rendered more stringent by the addition of increasing amounts of formamide, which serves to destabilize the hybrid duplex in the same manner as increased temperature. Thus, hybridization conditions may be readily 15 manipulated, and thus will generally be a method of choice depending on the desired results.

In certain embodiments, it is advantageous to employ a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention in combination with an a~pl~liate means, such as a label, for determinin~
hybridization. A wide variety of a~prol,liate indicator means are ~nown in the art, including radioactive, enzymatic or other ligands, such as avidinlbiotin, which are capable of giving a 20 detectable signal. In preferred embo~liments, one likely employs an enzyme tag such a urease, CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 alkaline phosphatase or peroxidase, instead of radioactive or other environmentally undesirable reagents. In the case of enzyme tags, calorimetric indicator substrates are known which may be employed to provide a means visible to the human eye or spectrophotometrically, to identify specific hybridization with complementary nucleic acid-cont~ining samples.

S In general, it is envisioned that the hybridization probes described herein are useful both as reagents in solution hybridization as well as in embodiments employing a solid phase. In embodiments involving a solid phase, the sample co,lt;.;~ test DNA (or RNA) is adsorbed or otherwise affixed to a selected matrix or surface. This fixed, single-stranded nucleic acid is then subjected to specific hybridization with selected probes under desired conditions. The selected 10 conditions depend inter alia on the particular circumstances based on the particular criteria required (depending, for example, on the G~C content, type of target nucleic acid, source of nucleic acid, size of hybridization probe, etc.). Following washing of the hybridized surface so as to remove nonspecifically bound probe molecules, specific hybridization is detected, or even quantified, by means of the label.

15 Assay Kits In another aspect, the present invention contemplates a diagnostic assay kit for detecting the presence of MIER polypeptide in a biological sample, where the kit comprises a first container cont~ining a first antibody capable of immunoreacting with MIER polypeptide, with the first antibody present in an amount sufficient to perform at least one assay. An assay kit of the CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 invention further optionally includes a second container co~ g a second antibody that immunoreacts with the first antibody. The antibodies used in the assay kits of the present --invention may be monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. For convenience, one may also provide the first antibody affixed to a solid support. Additionally, the first and second antibodies may be 5 combined with an indicator, (e.g., a radioactive label or an en~yme).

The present invention also contemplates a diagnostic kit for screening agents for their ability to interact with an MIER. Such a kit will contain an MIER of the present invention. The kit may further contain reagents for detecting an interaction between an agent and a polypeptide of the present 10 invention. The provided reagent may be radiolabeled. The kit may also contain a known radiolabeled agent that binds or interacts with a polypeptide of the present invention.

The present invention provides a diagnostic assay kit for detecting the presence, in a biological sample, of a polynucleotide that encodes an MIER polypeptide, the kits comprising a first container that contains a second polynucleotide identical or complementary to a segment of at 15 least about 14 contiguous nucleotide bases of a polynucleotide of FIG.

In another embodiment, the present invention contemplates a diagnostic assay kit for detecting the presence, in a biological sample, of an antibody immunoreactive with an MIER polypeptide, the kits comprising a first container colll~ini"g an MIER polypeptide that immunoreacts with the antibody, with the polypeptide present in an amount sufficient to perform at least one assay. The reagents of the kit may be provided as a liquid solution, attached to a solid support or as a dried powder. When the reagent is provided in a liquid solution, the liquid solution is an aqueous~-solution. When the reagent provided is attached to a solid support, the solid support may be chromatograph media or a microscope slide. When the reagent provided is a dry powder, the S powder may be reconstituted by the addition of a suitable solvent. The solvent may also be included in the kit.

Process of Modifying the Function of a Nuclear Polypeptide using MIER

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process of altering the function of a nuclear polypeptide. In accordance with that process, a nuclear polypeptide is exposed to an MIER of the 10 present invention. A preferred nuclear polypeptide used in such a process is the same as set forth above and includes nuclear polypeptides for thyroid hormone, vitamin D, retinoic acid and the like. Preferred MIERs and their corresponding DNA sequences are shown in FIG.

The present invention provides DNA segments, purified polypeptides, methods for obtaining antibodies, methods of cloning and using recombinant host cells necessary to obtain and use 15 MIERs. Accordingly, the present invention concerns generally compositions and methods for the prepal~lion and use of MIERs.

MIER Genes and Isoforms in Other Organisms CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 Er-1 may be considered as a member of a subfamily of early response polypeptides that may include Mtal. It is probable that Er-1 isoforms are also encoded by multiple genes. Since nuclear polypeptides usually have a high homology, the sequences of MIER may be used as probes to screen cDNA libraries. Considering the fact that different isoforms of nuclear polypeptides may 5 have different tissue distribution patterns and may be expressed to different extents in different tissues, the MIER may used as a probe to screen genomic libraries for genes encoding MIER isoforms.

The present invention also provides cDNA libraries which are useful for screening of additional MIER isoforms. Using the nucleotide sequences of the present invention, it is possible to 10 determine structural and genetic information (including restriction enzyme analysis and DNA
sequencing) concerning these positive clones. Such information will provide important information concerning the role of these isoforms in vivo and in vitro. MIER sequence information may be used to analyze MIER cDNAs and MIER-like gene sequences in other org~ni~m.~. Using PCR.TM. techniques, restriction enzyme analysis, and DNA sequencing, the 15 structure of these MIER-like isoform genes may be determined with relative facility.

The following examples illustrate prere,led embodiments ofthe invention. Certain aspects ofthe following examples are described in terms of techniques and procedures found or contemplated by the present inventors to work well in the practice of the invention. These examples are exemplified through the use of standard laboratory practices of the inventor.

CA 0221298~ 1997-10-10 It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practic~- of the invention, and thus may be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice.
However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many 5 changes may be made in the specific embo(liment~ which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

(I) GENERAL INFORMATION:
(i) APPLICANT:
(A) NAME: SEABRIGHT COORPORATION LTD
(B) STREET: MEMORL~L UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND
(C) CITY: ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY
(D) STATE: NEWFOUNDLAND
(E) COUNTRY: CANADA
(F) POSTAL CODE (ZIP): AlC 5S7 (G) TELEPHONE: -(709)-737-4527 (H) TELEFAX: -(709)-737-4029 (ii) TITLE OF INVENTION: MAMMALIAN MESODERM INDUCTION EARLY
RESPONSE
(MIER) GENE FAMILY
(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 1 (iv) COMPUTER READABLE FORM:
(A) MEDIUM TYPE: Floppy disk (B) COMPUTER: IBM PC compatible (C) OPERATING SYSTEM: PC-DOS/MS-DOS
(D) SOFTWARE: PatentIn Release #1.0, Version #1.30 (EPO) (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 503 base pairs (B) TYPE: nucleic acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA
(iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO
(iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO
(vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:
(A) ORGANISM: Homo sapiens (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO: 1:
GCTGAAATTC CAGTTGGTAT TTGTAGATAC AAAGAAAATG AAAAAGTATA

GATCAGCTCC TGTGGGACCC TGAGTACTTA CCAGAAGATA AAGTGATTAT

GATGCATCTA GAAGAACAGG TGATGAGAAG GGTGTAGAAG CAATTCCTGA

ATAAAAGACA ATGAACAGGC TTTATATGAA TTGGTTAATG CAATTTTGAT

GCATTGAGAA GATTAGATTT ATGTAAAGCA GCTAGAGAGA TATCTGTTTG

GAGTGTAGAA ATTTTGAACA AGGGCTGAAG GCCTATGGAG AGGATTTTCA

TTCAGGCTTA ATAAAGTCCG AACAAGGTCA GTTGGTGAAT GTGTAGCATT

TGGAAAAAAT CTGAACGTTA TGATTTCTTT GCTCAGCAAA CACGATTTGG

Claims

Claims Not Yet Available