EP1021531A2 - Proteines humaines comportant des domaines transmembranaires et adn codant ces proteines - Google Patents

Proteines humaines comportant des domaines transmembranaires et adn codant ces proteines

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Publication number
EP1021531A2
EP1021531A2 EP98945602A EP98945602A EP1021531A2 EP 1021531 A2 EP1021531 A2 EP 1021531A2 EP 98945602 A EP98945602 A EP 98945602A EP 98945602 A EP98945602 A EP 98945602A EP 1021531 A2 EP1021531 A2 EP 1021531A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
protein
proteins
cells
present
cell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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EP98945602A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Seishi Kato
Shingo Sekine
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Sagami Chemical Research Institute
Protegene Inc
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Sagami Chemical Research Institute
Protegene Inc
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Publication of EP1021531A2 publication Critical patent/EP1021531A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to human proteins having transmembrane domains and cDNAs coding for these proteins as well as eucaryotic cells expressing said cDNAs .
  • the proteins of the present invention can be employed as pharmaceuticals or as antigens for preparing antibodies against said proteins .
  • the human cDNAs of the present invention can be utilized as probes for the gene diagnosis and gene sources for the gene therapy.
  • the cDNAs can be utilized as gene sources for large-scale production of the proteins encoded by said cDNAs .
  • Cells, wherein these membrane protein genes are introduced and membrane proteins are expressed m large amounts, can be utilized for detection of the corresponding ligands, screening of novel low-molecular pharmaceuticals, and so on.
  • Membrane proteins play important roles, as signal receptors, ion channels, transporters, etc. in the material transportation and the information transmission which are mediated by the cell membrane. Examples thereof include receptors for a variety of cytokines, ion channels for the sodium ion, the potassium ion, the chloride ion, etc., transporters for saccharides an ammo acids, and so on, where the genes of many of them have been cloned already.
  • a general method is the so-called expression cloning which comprises transfection of a cDNA library m eucaryotic cells to express cDNAs and then detection of the cells expressing the target membrane protein on the membrane by an lmmunological technique using an antibody or a physiological technique on the change m the membrane permeability.
  • this method is applicable only to cloning of a gene of a membrane protein with a known function.
  • membrane proteins possess hydrophobic transmembrane domains inside the proteins, wherein, after synthesis thereof m the ⁇ bosome, these domains remain in the phospholipid membrane to be trapped m the membrane. Accordingly, the evidence of the cDNA for encoding the membrane protein is provided by determination of the whole base sequence of a full-length cDNA followed by detection of highly hydrophobic transmembrane domains in the ammo acid sequence of the protein encoded by said cDNA.
  • the object of tne present invention is to provide novel human proteins having transmembrane domains and DNAs coding for said proteins as well as transformation eucaryotic cells that are capable of expressing said cDNAs .
  • the present inventors have been successful m cloning of cDNAs coding for proteins having transmembrane domains from the human full-length cDNA bank, thereby completing the present invention.
  • the present invention provides human proteins having transmembrane domains, namely proteins containing any of the ammo acid sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 1 to 6.
  • the present invention provides DNAs coding for the above-mentioned proteins, exemplified by cDNAs containing any of the base sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 7 to 12, as well as transformation eucaryotic cells that are capable of expressing said cDNAs.
  • Figure 1 A figure depicting the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP00956.
  • Figure 2 A figure depicting the nydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP01535.
  • Figure 3 A figure depicting the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP10089.
  • Figure 4 A figure depicting the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP10216.
  • Figure 5 A figure depicting the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP10420.
  • Figure 6 A figure depicting the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile of the protein encoded by clone HP10441.
  • the proteins of the present invention can be obtained, for example, by a method for isolation from human organs, cell lines, etc., a method for preparation of peptides by the chemical synthesis, or a method for production with the recombinant DNA technology using the DNAs coding for the transmembrane domains of the present invention, wherein the method for obtance by the recombinant DNA technology is employed preferably.
  • m vitro expression of the proteins can be achieved by preparation of an RNAby m vitro transcription from a vector having one of cDNAs of the present invention, followed by vitro translation using this RNA as a template.
  • recombination of the translation region into a suitable expression vector by the method known in the art leads to production of a large amount of the encoded protein by using prokaryotic cells such as Escherichia coli , Bacill us subtili s, etc., and eucaryotic cells such as yeasts, insect cells, mammalian cells, etc.
  • prokaryotic cells such as Escherichia coli , Bacill us subtili s, etc.
  • eucaryotic cells such as yeasts, insect cells, mammalian cells, etc.
  • a recombinant expression vector bearing the translation region the cDNA of the present invention is constructed in an expression vector having an origin, a promoter, a nbosome-bindmg site, a cDNA-cloning site, a terminator etc., which can be replicated in the microorganism, and, after transformation of the host cells with said expression vector, the thus-obtained transformant is incubated, whereby the protein encoded by said cDNA can be produce ⁇ on a large scale in the microorganism.
  • a protein fragment containing an optional region can be obtained by carrying out the expression with inserting an initiation codon and a termination codon m front of and behind an optional translation region.
  • a fusion protein with another protein can be expressed. Only a protein portion coding for said cDNA can be obtained by cleavage of said fusion protein with a suitable protease .
  • the protein of the present invention can be produced as a transmembrane protein on the cell-membrane surface, when the translation region of said cDNA is subjected to recombination to an expression vector for eucaryotic cells that has a promoter, a splicing region, a poly(A) insertion site, etc., followed by introduction into the eucaryotic cells.
  • the expression vector is exemplified by pKAl, pED6dp2, pCDM8, pSVK3, pMSG, pSVL, pBK-CMV, pBK-RSV, EBV vector, pRS, pYES2, and so on.
  • eucaryotic cells to be used in general include mammalian culture cells such as simian kidney cells COS7, Chinese hamster ovary cells CHO, etc., budding yeasts, fission yeasts, silkworm cells, Xenopus laevi s egg cells, and so on, but any eucaryotic cells may be used, provided that they are capable of expressing the present proteins on the membrane surface.
  • the expression vector can be introduced in the eucaryotic cells by methods known in the art such as the electroporation method, the potassium phosphate method, the liposome method, the DEAE-dextran method, and so on. After one of the proteins of the present invention is expressed in prokaryotic cells or eucaryotic cells, the objective protein can be isolated from the culture and purified by a combination of separation procedures known in the art.
  • Such examples include treatment with a denaturing agent such as urea or a surface-active agent, sonication, enzymatic digestion, salting-out or solvent precipitation, dialysis, centrifugation, ultrafiltration, gel filtration, SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing, ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, affinity chromatography, reverse phase chromatography, and so on.
  • the proteins of the present invention include peptide fragments (more than 5 amino acid residues) containing any partial amino acid sequence in the amino acid sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 1. to 6. These peptide fragments can be utilized as antigens for preparation of antibodies.
  • those having the signal sequence are secreted in the form of maturation proteins on the surface of the cells, after the signal sequences are removed. Therefore, these maturation proteins shall come within the scope of the present invention.
  • the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the maturation proteins can be easily identified by using the method for the cleavage-site determination in a signal sequence Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No.1996-187100].
  • some membrane proteins undergo the processing on the cell surface to be converted to the secretory forms.
  • Such proteins or peptides in the secretory forms shall come within the scope of the present invention.
  • sugar chain-binding sites are present in the amino acid sequences, expression in appropriate eucaryotic cells affords proteins wherein sugar chains are added. Accordingly, such proteins or peptides wherein sugar chains are added shall come within the scope of the present invention.
  • the DNAs of the present invention include all DNAs coding for the above-mentioned proteins. Said DNAs can be obtained by using a method by chemical synthesis, a method by cDNA cloning, and so on.
  • the cDNAs of the present invention can be cloned, for example, from cDNA libraries of the human cell origin. These cDNA are synthesized by using as templates poly (A) " RNAs extracted from human cells.
  • the human cells may be cells delivered from the human oody, for example, by the operation or may be the culture cells.
  • the cDNAs can be synthesized by using any method selected from the Okayama-Berg method [Okayama, H. and Berg, P., Mol. Cell. Biol.
  • the primary selection of one of the cDNAs coding for the human proteins having transmembrane domains is carried out by sequencing of a partial base sequence of a cDNA clone selected at random from cDNA libraries, sequencing of the ammo acid sequence encoded by the base sequence, and recognition of the presence or absence of a hydrophobic site m the resulting N- termmal am o acid sequence region.
  • the secondary selection is carried out by determination of the whole sequence by the sequencing and the protein expression by in vitro translation.
  • Ascertainment of cDNAs of the present invention for encoding the proteins having secretory signal sequences is carried out by using the signal sequence detection method [Yokoyama-Kobayashi, M. et al., Gene 163: 193-196 (1995)].
  • the ascertainment for a coding portion of an inserted cDNA fragment to function as a signal sequence is provided by fusing a cDNA fragment coding for the N-terminus of the target protein with a cDNA coding for the protease domain of urokinase and then expressing the resulting cDNA in COS7 cells to detect the urokinase activity in the cell culture medium.
  • the N-terminal region is judged to remain in the membrane.
  • the cDNAs of the present invention are characterized by containing either of the base sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 7 to 12 or the base sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23.
  • Table 1 summarizes the clone number (HP number) , the cells affording the cDNA, the total base number of the cDNA, and the number of the amino acid residues of the encoded protein, for each of the cDNAs .
  • the same clones as the cDNAs of the present invention can be easily obtained by screening of the cDNA libraries constructed from the human cell lines and human tissues utilized in the present invention by the use of an oligonucleotide probe synthesized on the basis of the cDNA base sequence described in any of Sequence Nos. 7. to 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23.
  • the polymorphism due to the individual difference is frequently observed in human genes. Accordingly, any cDNA that is subj ected to insertion or deletion of one or plural nucleotides and/or substitution with other nucleotides in Sequence Nos. 7 to 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 shall come within the scope of the present invention.
  • any protein that is formed by these modifications comprising insertion or deletion of one or plural amino acids and/or substitution with other amino acids shall come within the scope of the present invention, as far as the protein possesses the activity of any protein having the amino acid sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 1 to 6.
  • the cDNAs of the present invention include cDNA fragments (more than 10 bp) containing any partial base sequence in the base sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 7 to 12 or in the base sequences represented by Sequence Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23. Also, DNA fragments consisting of a sense chain and an anti-sense chain shall come within this scope. These DNA fragments can be utilized as the probes for the gene diagnosis.
  • the polynucleotides and proteins of the present invention may exhibit one or more of the uses or biological activities (including those associated with assays cited herein) identified below. Uses or activities described for proteins of the present invention may be provided by administration or use of such proteins or by administration or use of polynucleotides encoding such proteins (such as, for example, in gene therapies or vectors suitable for introduction of DNA) .
  • the polynucleotides provided by the present invention can be used by the research community for various purposes.
  • the polynucleotides can be used to express recombinant protein for analysis, characterization or therapeutic use; as markers for tissues m which the corresponding protein is preferentially expressed (either constitutively or at a particular stage of tissue differentiation or development or m disease states); as molecular weight markers on Southern gels; as chromosome markers or tags (when labeled) to identify chromosomes or to map related gene positions; to compare with endogenous DNA sequences in patients to identify potential genetic disorders; as probes to hybridize and thus discover novel, related DNA sequences; as a source of information to derive PCR primers for genetic fingerprinting; as a probe to "subtract-out" known sequences in the process of discovering other novel polynucleotides; for selecting and making oligomers for attachment to a "gene chip” or other support, including for examination of expression patterns; to raise anti-protem antibodiesusmg DNA im
  • the polynucleotide encodes a protein which binds or potentially binds to another protein (such as, for example, m a receptor-ligand interaction)
  • the polynucleotide can also be used in interaction trap assays (such as, for example, that described m Gyu ⁇ s et al . , Cell 75:791-803 (1993) ) to identify polynucleotides encoding the other protein with which binding occurs or to identify inhibitors of the binding interaction.
  • the proteins provided by the present invention can similarly be used m assay to determine biological activity, including m a panel of multiple proteins for high-throughput screening; to raise antibodies or to elicit another immune response; as a reagent (including the labeled reagent) in assays designed to quantitatively determine levels of the protein (or its receptor) m biological fluids; as markers for tissues m which the corresponding protein is preferentially expressed (either constitutively or at a particular stage of tissue differentiation or development or m a disease state) ; and, of course, to isolate correlative receptors or ligands.
  • the protein binds or potentially binds to another protein (such as, for example, in a receptor-ligand interaction)
  • the protein can be used to identify the other protein with which binding occurs or to identify inhibitors of the binding interaction. Proteins involved in these binding interactions can also be used to screen for peptide or small molecule inhibitors or agonists of the binding interaction. Any or all of these research utilities are capable of being developed into reagent grade or kit format for commercialization as research products.
  • Polynucleotides and proteins of the present invention can also be used as nutritional sources or supplements. Such uses include without limitation use as a protein or ammo acid supplement, use as a carbon source, use as a nitrogen source and use as a source of carbohydrate.
  • the protein or polynucleotide of the invention can be added to the feed of a particular organism or can be administered as a separate solid or liquid preparation, such as m the form of powder, pills, solutions, suspensions or capsules .
  • the protein or polynucleotide of the invention can be added to the medium in or on which the microorganism is cultured. Cytokme and Cell Prolif ration/Di f renti ation Activity
  • a protein of the present invention may exhibit cytokme, cell proliferation (either inducing or inhibiting) or cell differentiation (either inducing or inhibiting) activity or may induce production of other cytokines certain cell populations.
  • the activity of a protein of the present invention is evidenced by any one of a number of routine factor dependent cell proliferation assays for cell lines including, without limitation, 32D, DA2, DA1G, T10, B9, B9/11, BaF3, MC9/G, M+ (preBM+), 2E8, RB5, DAI, 123, T1165, HT2, CTLL2, TF-1, Mo7e and CMK.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for T-cell or thymocyte proliferation include without limitation those described in: Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J. E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 3, In Vitro assays for Mouse Lymphocyte Function 3.1-3.19; Chapter 7, Immunologic studies in Humans); Takai et al . , J. Immunol. 137:3494-3500, 1986; Bertagnolli et al. , J. Immunol.
  • Assays for cytokine production and/or proliferation of spleen cells, lymph node cells or thymocytes include, without limitation, those described in: Polyclonal T cell stimulation, Kruisbeek, A.M. and Shevach, E.M. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp.
  • Assays for proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic and lymphopoietic cells include, without limitation, those described in: Measurement of Human and Murine Interleukin 2 and Interleukin 4, Bottomly, K., Davis, L.S. and Lipsky, P.E. In Current Protocols in Immunology. J.E.e.a. Coligan eds. Vol 1 pp. 6.3.1-6.3.12, John Wiley and Sons, Toronto. 1991; deVries et al., J. Exp. Med. 173:1205-1211, 1991; Moreau et al., Nature 336:690-692, 1988; Greenberger et al . , Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
  • Assays for T-cell clone responses to antigens include, without limitation, those described in: Current Protocols in Immunology, Ed by J. E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 3, In Vitro assays for Mouse Lymphocyte Function; Chapter 6, Cytokines and their cellular receptors; Chapter 7, Immunologic studies in Humans) ; Weinberger et al. , Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci.
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit immune stimulating or immune suppressing activity, including without limitation the activities for which assays are described herein.
  • a protein may be useful in the treatment of various immune deficiencies and disorders (including severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) ) , e.g., m regulating (up or down) growth and proliferation of T and/or B lymphocytes, as well as effecting the cytolytic activity of NK cells and other cell populations.
  • These immune deficiencies may be genetic or be caused by viral (e.g., HIV) as well as bacterial orfungal infections, or may result from autoimmune disorders. More specifically, infectious diseases causes by viral, bacterial, fungal or other infection may be treatable using a protein of the present invention, including infections by HIV, hepatitis viruses, herpesviruses, mycobacte ⁇ a, Leishmama spp . , malaria spp. and various fungal infections such as candidiasis.
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful where a boost to the immune system generally may be desirable, i.e., m the treatment of cancer.
  • Autoimmune disorders which may be treated using a protein of the present invention include, for example, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune pulmonary inflammation, Guillam-Barre syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitis, myasthenia gravis, graft-versus- host disease and autoimmune inflammatory eye disease.
  • a protein of the present invention may also to be useful m the treatment of allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularly allergic asthma) or other respiratory problems.
  • Other conditions, in which immune suppression is desired may also be treatable using a protein of the present invention.
  • Down regulation may be m the form of inhibiting or blocking an immune response already m progress or may involve preventing the induction of an immune response.
  • the functions of activated T cells may be inhibited by suppressing T cell responses or dy inducing specific tolerance in T cells, or both.
  • Immunosuppression of T cell responses is generally an active, non-antigen-specific, process which requires continuous exposure of the T cells to the suppressive agent.
  • Tolerance which involves inducing non-responsiveness or anergy m T cells, is distinguishable from immunosuppression m that it is generally antigen-specific and persists after exposure to the tolerizmg agent has ceased. Operationally, tolerance can be demonstrated by the lack of a T cell response upon reexposure to specific antigen in the absence of the tolerizmg agent.
  • Down regulating or preventing one or more antigen functions (including without limitation B lymphocyte antigen functions (such as , for example, B7)), e.g., preventing high level lymphokme synthesis by activated T cells, will be useful m situations of tissue, skin and organ transplantation and m graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) .
  • B lymphocyte antigen functions such as , for example, B7
  • GVHD m graft-versus-host disease
  • blockage of T cell function should result m reduced tissue destruction m tissue transplantation.
  • rejection of the transplant is initiated through its recognition as foreign by T cells, followed by an immune reaction that destroys the transplant.
  • a molecule which inhibits or blocks interaction of a B7 lymphocyte antigen with its natural l ⁇ gand(s) on immune cells such as a soluble, monomeric form of a peptide having B7-2 activity alone or m conjunction with a monomeric form of a peptide having an activity of another B lymphocyte antigen (e.g., B7-1, B7-3) or blocking antibody)
  • a B7 lymphocyte antigen such as B7-1, B7-3 or blocking antibody
  • Blocking B lymphocyte antigen function m prevents cytokme synthesis by immune cells, such as T cells, and thus acts as an lmmunosuppressant Moreover, the lack of costimulation may also be sufficient to anergize the T cells, thereby inducing tolerance m a subject. Induction of long-term tolerance by B lymphocyte antigen-blocking reagents may avoid the necessity of repeated administration of these blocking reagents. To achieve sufficient immunosuppression or tolerance in a subject, it may also be necessary to block the function of a combination of B lymphocyte antigens .
  • the efficacy of particular blocking reagents m preventing organ transplant rejection or GVHD can be assessed using animal models that are predictive of efficacy m humans.
  • Examples of appropriate systems which can be used include allogeneic cardiac grafts m rats and xenogeneic pancreatic islet cell grafts m mice, both of which have been used to examine the immunosuppressive effects of CTLA4Ig fusion proteins in vivo as described m Lenschow et al., Science 257:789-792 (1992) and Turka et al . , Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci USA, 89:11102-11105 (1992).
  • murine models of GVHD see Paul ed., Fundamental Immunology, Raven Press, New York, 1989, pp. 846-847) can oe used to determine the effect of blocking B lymphocyte antigen function in vivo on the development of that disease.
  • Blocking antigen function may also be therapeutically useful for treating autoimmune diseases.
  • Many autoimmune disorders are the result of inappropriate activation of T cells that are reactive against self tissue and which promote the production of cytokines and autoantibodies involved in the pathology of the diseases. Preventing the activation of autoreactive T cells may reduce or eliminate disease symptoms.
  • Administration of reagents which block costimulation of T cells by disrupting receptor : ligand interactions of B lymphocyte antigens can be used to inhibit T cell activation and prevent production of autoantibodies or T cell-derived cytokines which may be involved m the disease process. Additionally, blocking reagents may induce antigen-specific tolerance of autoreactive T cells which could lead to long-term relief from the disease.
  • the efficacy of blocking reagents m preventing or alleviating autoimmune disorders can be determined using a number of well-characterized animal models of human autoimmune diseases. Examples include murine experimental autoimmune encephalitis, systemic lupus erythmatosis MRL/lpr/lpr mice or NZB hybrid mice, murine autoimmune collagen arthritis, diabetes mellitus m NOD mice and BB rats, and murine experimental myasthenia gravis (see Paul ed., Fundamental Immunology, Raven Press, New York, 1989, pp. 840-856) .
  • Upregulation of an antigen function (preferably a B lymphocyte antigen function) , as a means of up regulating immune responses, may also be useful in therapy. Upregulation of immune responses may be in the form of enhancing an existing immune response or eliciting an initial immune response. For example, enhancing an immune response through stimulating B lymphocyte antigen function may be useful m cases of viral infection. In addition, systemic viral diseases such as influenza, the commoncold, and encephalitis might de alleviated by the administration of stimulatory forms of B lymphocyte antigens systemically .
  • anti-viral immune responses may be enhanced an infected patient by removing T cells from the patient, costimulatmg the T cells in vitro with viral antigen-pulsed APCs either expressing a peptide of the present invention or together with a stimulatory form of a soluble peptide of the present invention and remtroducmg the m vitro activated T cells into the patient.
  • Another method of enhancing anti-viral immune responses would be to isolate infected cells from a patient, transfect them with a nucleic acid encoding a protein of the present invention as described herein such that the cells express all or a portion of the protein on their surface, and re troduce the transfected cells into the patient.
  • tumor cells e.g., sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, leukemia, neuroblastoma, carcinoma
  • a nucleic acid encoding at least one peptide of the present invention can be administered to a subject to overcome tumor-specific tolerance m the subject. If desired, the tumor cell can be transfected to express a combination of peptides .
  • tumor cells obtained from a patient can be transfected ex vivo with an expression vector directing the expression of a peptide having B7-2-l ⁇ ke activity alone, or m conjunction with a peptide having B7-l-l ⁇ ke activity and/or B7-3-l ⁇ ke activity.
  • the transfected tumor cells are returned to the patient to result in expression of the peptides on the surface of the transfected cell.
  • gene therapy techniques can be used to target a tumor cell for transfection in vivo.
  • tumor cells which lack MHC class I or MHC class II molecules, or which fail to reexpress sufficient amounts of MHC class I or MHC class II molecules, can be transfected with nucleic acid encoding all or a portion of (e.g., a cytoplasmic-domam truncated portion) of an MHC class I chain protein and ⁇ , microglobulm protein or an MHC class Il ⁇ chain protein and an MHC class Il ⁇ chain protein to thereby express MHC class I or MHC class II proteins on the cell surface.
  • nucleic acid encoding all or a portion of (e.g., a cytoplasmic-domam truncated portion) of an MHC class I chain protein and ⁇ , microglobulm protein or an MHC class Il ⁇ chain protein and an MHC class Il ⁇ chain protein to thereby express MHC class I or MHC class II proteins on the cell surface.
  • a gene encoding an antisense construct which blocks expression of an MHC class II associated protein, such as the invariant chain can also be cotransfected with a DNA encoding a peptide having the activity of a B lymphocyte antigen to promote presentation of tumor associated antigens and induce tumor specific immunity.
  • a T cell mediated immune response in a human subject may be sufficient to overcome tumor-specific tolerance in the subject.
  • Suitable assays for thymocyte or splenocyte cytotoxicity include, without limitation, those described m: Current Protocols m Immunology, Ed by J. E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (Chapter 3, In Vitro assays for Mouse Lymphocyte Function 3.1-3.19; Chapter 7, Immunologic studies Humans); Herrmann et al . , Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2488-2492, 1981; Herrmann et al . , J. Immunol.
  • T-cell-dependent immunoglobulin responses and isotype switching include, without limitation, those described in: Maliszewski, J. Immunol.
  • MLR Mixed lymphocyte reaction
  • Dendritic cell-dependent assays (which will identify, among others, proteins expressed by dendritic cells that activate naive T-cells) include, without limitation, those described in: Guery et al . , J. Immunol. 134:536-544, 1995; Inaba et al . , Journal of Experimental Medicine 173:549-559, 1991; Macatoma et al . , Journal of Immunology 154:5071-5079, 1995; Porgador et al., Journal of Experimental Medicine 182:255-260, 1995; Nair et al .
  • lymphocyte survival/apoptosis (which will identify, among others, proteins that prevent apoptosis after superantigen induction and proteins that regulate lymphocyte homeostasis) include, without limitation, those described in: Darzynkiewicz et al . , Cytometry 13 : 795-808, 1992 ; Gorczyca et al . , Leukemia 7:659-670, 1993; Gorczyca et al . , Cancer Researcn 53:1945-1951, 1993; Itohet al .
  • Assays for proteins that influence early steps of T-cell commitment and development include, without limitation, those described m: Antica et al. , Blood 84: 111-117, 1994 ; Fine et al . , Cellular Immunology 155:111-122, 1994; Galy et al . , Blood 85:2770-2778, 1995; Toki et al . , Proc. Nat. Acad Sci. USA 88 : 7548- 7551 , 1991 .
  • a protein of the present invention may be useful m regulation of hematopoiesis and, consequently, m the treatment of myeloid or lymphoid cell deficiencies. Even marginal biological activity in support of colony forming cells or of factor-dependent cell lines indicates involvement m regulating hematopoiesis, e.g.
  • erythroid progenitor cells alone or m combination with other cytokines, thereby indicating utility, for example, m treating various anemias or for use in conjunction with irradiation/chemotherapy to stimulate the production of erythroid precursors and/dr erythroid cells; m supporting the growth and proliferation of myeloid cells such as granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages (i.e., traditional CSF activity) useful, for example, m conjunction with chemotherapy to prevent or treat consequent myelo-suppression; m supporting the growth and proliferation of megakaryocytes and consequently of platelets thereby allowing prevention or treatment of various platelet disorders such as thrombocytopenia, and generally for use m place of or complimentary to platelet transfusions; and/or in supporting the growth and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells which are capable of maturing to any and all of the above-mentioned hematopoietic cells and therefore find therapeutic utility m various stem cell disorders
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for proliferation and differentiation of various hematopoietic lines are cited above.
  • Assays for embryonic stem cell differentiation include, without limitation, those described in: Johansson et al . Cellular Biology 15:141- 151, 1995; Keller et al . , Molecular and Cellular Biology 13:473-486, 1993; McClanahan et al., Blood 81:2903-2915, 1993.
  • Assays for stem cell survival and differentiation include, without limitation, those described in:
  • Methylcellulose colony forming assays Freshney, M.G. In Culture of Hematopoietic Cells . R. I . Freshney, et al . eds . Vol pp.265-268, Wiley-Liss, Inc., New York, NY. 1994; Hirayama et al . , Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5907-5911, 1992; Primitive hematopoietic colony forming cells with high proliferative potential, McNiece, I.K. and B ⁇ ddell, R.A. In Culture of Hematopoietic Cells. R.I. Freshney, et al. eds. Vol pp.
  • a protein of the present invention also may have utility in compositions used for bone, cartilage, tendon, ligament and/or nerve tissue growth or regeneration, as well as for wound healing and tissue repair and replacement, and m the treatment of burns, incisions and ulcers.
  • a protein of the present invention which induces cartilage and/or bone growth m circumstances where bone is not normally fdrmed, has applicaticn the healing of bone fractures and cartilage damage or defects m humans and other animals.
  • Such a preparation employing a protein of the invention may have prophylactic use in closed as well as open fracture reduction and also m the improved fixation of artificial joints. De novo bone formation induced by an osteogenic agent contributes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or oncologic resection induced craniofacial defects, and also is useful m ccsmetic plastic surgery.
  • Aprote of this invention may also be used m the treatment of pe ⁇ odontal disease, and other tooth repair processes .
  • Such agents may provide an environment to attract bone-forming cells, stimulate growth of bone-forming cells or induce differentiation of progenitors of bone-forming cells .
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful m the treatment of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis, such as through stimulation of bone and/or cartilage repair or by blocking inflammation or processes of tissue destruction (collagenase activity, osteoclast activity, etc.) mediated by inflammatory processes.
  • tissue regeneration activity that may oe attributable to the protein of the present invention is tendon/ligament formation.
  • a protein of the present invention which induces tendon/ligament-like tissue or other tissue formation in circumstances where such tissue is not normally formed, has application the healing of tendon or ligament tears, deformities and other tendon or ligament defects in humans and other animals.
  • Such a preparaticn employing a tendon/ligament-like tissue inducing protein may have prophylactic use in preventing damage to tendon or ligament tissue, as well as use m the imprdved fixation of tendon or ligament to bone or other tissues, and in repairing defects to tendon or ligament tissue.
  • compositions of the present invention contributes to the repair of congenital, trauma induced, or other tendon or ligament defects of other origin, and is also useful n cosmetic plastic surgery for attachment or repair of tendons or ligaments.
  • the compositions of the present invention may provide an environment to attract tendon or ligament-forming cells, stimulate growth of tendon- or ligament-forming cells, induce differentiation of progenitors of tendon- or ligament-forming cells, or induce growth of tendon/ligament cells or progenitors ex vivo for return m vivo to effect tissue repair.
  • the compositions of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other tendon or ligament defects.
  • compositions may also include an appropriate matrix and/or sequestering agent as a carrier as is well known m the art .
  • the protein of the present invention may also be useful for proliferation of neural cells and for regeneration of nerve and brain tissue, i.e. for the treatment of central and peripheral nervous system diseases and neuropathies, as well as mechanical and traumatic disorders, which involve degeneration, death or trauma to neural cells or nerve tissue. More specifically, a protein may be used the treatment of diseases of the peripheral nervous system, such as peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy and localized neuropathies, and central nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer ' s, Parkinson' s disease, Hunt gton's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome.
  • Further conditions which may be treated m accordance with the present invention include mechanical and traumatic disorders, such as spinal cord disorders, head trauma and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.
  • Peripheral neuropathies resulting from chemotherapy or other medical therapies may also be treatable using a protein of the invention.
  • Proteins of the invention may also be useful to promote better or faster closure of non-healmg wounds, including without limitation pressure ulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical and traumatic wounds, and the like.
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit activity for generation or regeneration of other tissues, such as organs (including, for example, pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium) , muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac) and vascular (including vascular endcthelium) tissue, or for promoting the growth of cells comprising such tissues .
  • organs including, for example, pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium
  • muscle smooth, skeletal or cardiac
  • vascular including vascular endcthelium
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful for gut protection or regeneration and treatment of lung or liver fibrosis, reperfusion injury m various tissues, and conditions resulting from systemic cytokme damage.
  • a protein of the present invention may also be useful for promoting or inhibiting differentiation of tissues described above from precursor tissues or cells; or for inhibiting the growth of tissues described above.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for tissue generation activity include, without limitation, those described m: International Patent Publication No. WO95/16035 (bone, cartilage, tendon); International Patent
  • Patent Publication Nc WO91/07491 (skin, enddthelium ) .
  • Assays for wound healing activity include, without limitation, those described in: Winter, Epidermal Wound Healing, pps . 71-112 (Maibach, HI and Rovee, DT, eds.), Year Book Medical
  • a protein of the present invention may also exhibit activin- or mhib -related activities. Inhibms are characterized by their ability to inhibit the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), while activms and are characterized by their ability to stimulate the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) .
  • FSH follicle stimulating hormone
  • a protein of the present invention alone or m heterodimers with a member of the inhibin ⁇ family, may be useful as a contraceptive based on the ability of mhibms to decrease fertility in female mammals and decrease spermatogenesis m male mammals. Administration of sufficient amounts of other mhibms can induce infertility m these mammals.
  • the protein of the invention may be useful as a fertility inducing therapeutic, based upon the ability of activin molecules in stimulating FSH release from cells of the anterior pituitary. See, for example, United States Patent 4,798,885.
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful for advancement of the onset of fertility in sexually immature mammals, sd as td increase the lifetime reprcductive perfcrmance of domestic animals such as cows, sheep and pigs.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for activm/mhibm activity include, without limitation, those described in: Vale et al . , Endocrinology
  • a protein of the present invention may have chemotactic or chemokmetic activity (e.g., act as a chemokine) for mammalian cells, including, for example, monocytes, fibroblasts, neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosmophils, epithelial and/or endothelial cells.
  • Chemotactic and chemokmetic proteins can be used to mobilize or attract a desired cell population to a desired site of action. Chemotactic or chemokmetic proteins provide particular advantages in treatment of wounds and other trauma to tissues, as well as in treatment of localized infections.
  • a protein or peptide has chemotactic activity for a particular cell population if it can stimulate, directly or indirectly, the directed crientatidn or movement of such cell population.
  • the protein or peptide has the ability to directly stimulate directed movement of cells. Whether a particular protein has chemotactic activity for a population of cells can be readily determined by employing such protein or peptide m any known assay for cell chemotaxis.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assays for chemotactic activity consist of assays that measure the ability of a protein to induce the migration of cells across a membrane as well as the ability of a protein to induce the adhesion of one cell population to another cell population.
  • Suitable assays for movement and adhesion include, without limitation, those described in: Current Protocols m Immunology, Ed by J.E. Coligan, A.M. Kruisbeek, D.H. Margulies, E.M. Shevach, W. Strober, Pub. Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley- Interscience (Chapter 6.12, Measurement of alpha and beta Chemokmes 6.12.1-6.12.28; Taub et al . J. Clm.
  • a protein of the invention may also exhibit hemostatic or thrombolytic activity. As a result, such a protein is expected to be useful m treatment of various coagulation disorders (mclud ghereditary disorders, such as hemophilias) or to enhance coagulation and other hemostatic events m treating wounds resulting from trauma, surgery or other causes.
  • a protein of the invention may also be useful for dissolving or inhibiting formation of thromboses and for treatment and prevention of conditions resulting therefrom (such as, for example, infarction of cardiac and central nervous system vessels (e.g., stroke).
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods:
  • Assay for hemostatic and thrombolytic activity include, without limitation, those described in: Linet et al., J. Clin.
  • a protein of the present invention may also demonstrate activity as receptors, receptor ligands or inhibitors or agonists of receptor/ligand interactions.
  • receptors and ligands include, withcut limitatidn, cytckine receptors and their ligands, receptor kinases and their ligands, receptor phosphatases and their ligands, receptors involved in cell-cell interactions and their ligands (including without limitation, cellular adhesion mdlecules (such as selectins, integrins and their ligands) and receptor/ligand pairs involved in antigen presentation, antigen recognition and development of cellular and humoral immune responses) .
  • Receptors and ligands are also useful for screening of potential peptide or small molecule inhibitors of the relevant receptor/ligand interaction.
  • a protein of the present invention (including, without limitation, fragments of receptors and ligands) may themselves be useful as inhibitors of receptor/ligand interactions.
  • the activity of a protein of the invention may, among other means, be measured by the following methods: Suitable assays for receptor-ligand activity include without limitation those described m: Current Protocols m
  • Proteins of the present invention may also exhibit anti-mflammatory activity.
  • the anti-mflammatory activity may be achieved by providing a stimulus to cells involved in the inflammatory response, by inhibiting or promoting cell-cell interactions (such as, for example, cell adhesion), by inhibiting or promoting chemotaxis of cells involved m the inflammatory process, inhibiting or promoting cell extravasation, or by stimulating or suppressing production of other factors which more directly inhibit or promote an inflammatory response.
  • Proteins exhibiting such activities can be used to treat inflammatory conditions including chronic or acute conditions) , including without limitation inflammation associated with infection (sucn as septic shock, sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) ) , ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotox lethality, arthritis, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokme or chemokme- prised lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease or resulting from over production of ytokmes such as TNF or IL-1. Proteins of the invention may also be useful to treat anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity to an antigenic substance or material .
  • a protein of the invention may exhibit other anti-tumor activities.
  • a protein may inhibit tumor growth directly or indirectly (such as, for example, via ADCC) .
  • a protein may exhibit its tumor inhibitory activity by acting on tumor tissue or tumor precursor tissue, by inhibiting formation of tissues necessary to support tumor growth (such as, for example, oy inhibiting angiogenesis) , by causing production of other factors, agents or cell types which inhibit tumor growth, or by suppressing, eliminating or inhibiting factors, agents or cell types which promote tumor grdwth
  • a protein of the invention may also exhibit one or more of the following additional activities or effects: inhibiting the growth, infection or function of, or killing, infectious agents, including, without limitation, bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites; effecting (suppressing or enhancing) bodily characteristics, including, without limitation, height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin, fat to lean ratio or other tissue pigmentation, or organ or body part size or shape (such as, for example, breast augmentation or diminution, change m bone form or shape) ; effecting biorhythms or caricadic cycles or rhythms; effecting the fertility of male or female subjects; effecting the metabolism, catabolism, anabolism, processing, utilization, storage or elimination of dietary fat, lipid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors or other nutritional factors or component (s) ; effecting behavioral characteristics, including, without limitation, appetite, libido, stress, cognition (including cognitive disorders) , depression (including depressive disorders) and violent behaviors; providing analgesic effects or other pain
  • the present invention is embodied in more detail by the following examples, but this embodiment is not intended to restrict the present invention.
  • the basic operations and the enzyme reactions with regard to the DNA recombination are carried out according to the literature ["Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1989] . Unless otherwise stated, restrictive enzymes and a variety of modification enzymes to be used were those available from TAKARA SHUZO. The manufacturer's instructions were used for the buffer compositions as well as for the reaction conditions, in each of the enzyme reactions.
  • the cDNA synthesis was carried out according to the literature [Kato, S. et al . , Gene 150: 243-250 (1994)].
  • the fibrosarcoma cell line HT-1080 (ATCC CCL 121), the osteosarcoma cell line U-2 OS (ATCC HTB 96) , tissues of stomach cancer delivered by the operation, and the liver were used for human cells to extract RNAs.
  • the cell lines were incubated by a conventional procedure.
  • the decapped poly (A) ⁇ RNA and 3 nmol of a chimeric DNA- RNA oligonucleotide ( 5' -dG-dG-dG-dG-dA-dA-dT-dT-dC-dG-dA-G-G- A-3' ) were dissolved in a solution containing 50 mM T ⁇ s- hydrochloride buffer solution (pH 7.5), 0.5 mM ATP, 5 mM MgCl,, 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, and 25% polyethylene glycol, whereto was added 50 units of T4RNA ligase and a total 30 ⁇ l volume of the resulting mixture was reacted at 20°C for 12 hours. After the reaction solution was subjected to phenol extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation, the resulting pellet was dissolved in water to obtain a chimeric-oligd-capped poly (A) + RNA.
  • the reaction solution was subjected to phenol extraction, followed by ethanol precipitation, the resulting pellet was dissolved m a solution containing 50 mM T ⁇ s- hydrochloride buffer solution (pH 7.5) , 100 mM NaCl, 10 mM MgCl , and 1 mM dithiothreitol. Thereto were added 100 units of EcoRI and a total 20 ⁇ l volume of the resulting mixture was reacted at 37°C for one hour.
  • the resulting pellet was dissolved in a solution containing 20 mM Tris-hydrochloride buffer solution (pH7.5), lOOmMKCl, 4mMMgCl->, 10 mM (NH 4 ) 2 S0 3 , and 50 ⁇ g/ml of the bovine serum albumin. Thereto were added 60 units of an Escheri chia coli DNA ligase and the resulting mixture was reacted at 16°C for 16 hours .
  • the cDNA-synthesis reaction solution was used for transformation of Escheri chia coli DH12S (GIBCO-BRL) .
  • the transformation was carried out by the electroporation method. A portion of the transformant was sprayed on the 2xYT agar culture medium containing 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin and the mixture was incubated at 37°C overnight. A colony formed on the agar medium was picked up at random and inoculated on 2 ml of the 2xYT culture medium containing 100 ⁇ g/ml ampicillin. After incubation at 37°C overnight, the culture mixture was centrifuged to separate the mycelia, from which a plasmid DNA was prepared by the alkaline lysis method.
  • the plasmid DNA was subjected to double digestion with EcoRI and NotI, followed by 0.8% agarose gel electrophoresis, to determine the size of the cDNA insert. Furthermore, using the thus-obtained plasmid as a template, the sequence reaction was carried out by using an M13 universal primer labeled with a fluorescent dye and a Taq polymerase (a kit of Applied Biosystems) and then the product was examined with a fluorescent DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems) to determine an about 400-bp base sequence at the 5' -terminus of the cDNA. The sequence data were filed as the homo/protein cDNA bank database. (3) Selection of cDNAs Encoding Proteins Having Transmembrane Domains
  • a base sequence registered m the homo/protein cDNA bank was converted to three frames of ammo acid sequences and the presence or absence of an open reading frame (ORF) beginning from the initiation codon was examined. Then, the selection was made for the presence of a signal sequence that is characteristic to a secretory protein at the N-termmus of the portion encoded by the ORF. These clones were sequenced from the both 5' and 3' directions by the use of the deletion method using exonuclease III to determine the whole base sequence.
  • the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profiles were obtained for proteins encoded by the ORF by the Kyte-Doolittle method [Kyte, J. & Doolittle, R. F., J. Mol.
  • the N-termmal hydrophobic region m the secretory protein clone candidate obtained m the above-mentioned steps functions as a secretory signal sequence.
  • the plasmid containing the target cDNA was cleaved at an appropriate restriction enzyme site existing at the downstream of the portion expected for encoding the secretory signal sequence. In the case in which this restriction site was a protruding terminus, the site was blunt-ended by the Klenow treatment or treatment with the mung-bean nuclease.
  • Hindlll Digestion with Hindlll was further carried out and a DNA fragment containing the SV40 promoter and a cDNA encoding the secretory signal sequence at the downstream of the promoter was separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The resulting fragment was inserted between Hmdlll in pSSD3 (DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Registration No. AB007632) and a restriction enzyme site selected so as to match with the urokmase-codmg frame, thereby constructing a vector expressing a fusion protein of the secretory signal sequence of the target cDNA and the urokinase protease domain.
  • pSSD3 DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank Registration No. AB007632
  • Escheri chia coli (host: JM109) bearing the fusion-protein expression vector was incubated at 37°C for 2 hours in 2 ml of the 2xYT culture medium containing 100 ⁇ g/ml of ampicillin, the helper phage M13K07 (50 ⁇ l) was added and the incubation was continued at 37 °C overnight.
  • a supernatant separated by centrifugation underwent precipitation with polyethylene glycol to obtain single-stranded phage particles. These particles were suspended in 100 ⁇ l of 1 mM Tris-0.1 mM EDTA, pH 8 (TE) .
  • DMEM Dulbecco' s modified Eagle's culture medium
  • the culture medium was removed the cell surface was washed with a phosphate buffer solution and then washed again with DMEM containing 50 mM Tris-hydrochloric acid (pH 7.5) (TDMEM) .
  • the plasmid vector bearing the cDNA of the present invention was used for m vitro transcription/translation with a T M T rabbit reticulocyte lysate kit (Promega) .
  • T M T rabbit reticulocyte lysate kit Promega
  • [S] methionine was added to label the expression product with a radioisotope .
  • Each of the reactions was carried out according to the protocols attached to the kit.
  • Two micrograms of the plasmid was reacted at 30 " C for 90 minutes a total 25 ⁇ l volume of the reaction solution containing 12.5 ⁇ 1 of TT rabbit reticulocyte lysate, 0.5 ⁇ l of a buffer solution (attached to kit) , 2 ⁇ l of an ammo acid mixture (methionme-free) , 2 ⁇ l of [ J S] methionine (Amersham) (0.37 MBq/ ⁇ l), 0.5 ⁇ l of T7RNA polymerase, and 20 U of RNasin.
  • Escherichia coli bearing the expression vector of the protein of the present invention was infected with helper phage M13K07 and smgle-stranded phage particles were obtained by the above-mentioned procedure.
  • the thus-obtained phage was used for introducing each expression vector in the culture cells originating from the simian kidney, COS7. After incubation at 37°C for 2 days m the presence of 5* CO_, the incubation was continued for one hour in the culture medium containing [ " S]cystme or [ ⁇ S] methionine .
  • GenBank using the base sequences of the present cDNA has revealed the presence of sequences that possessed a homology of 90% or more (for example, Accession Nc . AA478132) in EST, but, since they are partial sequences, it can not be judged whether or not any of these sequences codes for the same protein as the protein of the present invention.
  • the human H-revl07 protein is one of proteins which are specifically expressed in H-ras resistant fibroblast cells [Hajnal, A. et al., Oncogene 9: 479-490 ( 1994 )]. Accordingly, the present protein has been considered to be associated with phenotypic expression of cancer cells.
  • ⁇ HP01535> Sequence Nos. 2, 8, and 15
  • Table 3 shows the comparison of the ammo acid sequence between the human protein of the present invention
  • HP human H-revl07 protein homologue
  • HR human H-revl07 protein homologue
  • Both proteins possessed a homology of 51.2 -in the entire region.
  • the human H-revl07 protein is one of proteins which are specifically expressed in H-ras resistant fibroblast cells [Ha nal, A. etal., Oncogene 9: 479-490 ( 1994 )]. Accordingly, the present protein has been considered to be associated with phenotypic expression of cancer cells.
  • ⁇ HP10089> Sequence Nos. 3, 9, and 17
  • the search of the protein data base using the ammo acid sequence of the present protein has not revealed the presence of any known protein having an analogy. Also, the search of the GenBanK using the base sequences of the present cDNA has revealed the presence of sequences that possessed a homology of 90% or more and contained an initiation codon (for example, Accession No. N56722) in EST, but, since they are partial sequences, it can not be judged whether or not any of these sequences codes for the same protein as the protein of the present invention.
  • ⁇ HP10216> Sequence Nos. 4, 10, and 19
  • Determination of the whole base sequence cf the cDNA insert of clone HP10216 obtained from cDNA libraries of the human fibrosarcoma cell line HT-1080 revealed the structure consisting of a 4-bp 5' -nontranslation region, a 429-bp ORF, and a 645-bp 3' -nontranslation region.
  • the ORF codes for a protein consisting of 142 amino acid residues and there existed one transmembrane domain.
  • Figure 4 depicts the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity profile, obtained by the Kyte-Doolittle method, of the present protein. In vitro translation resulted in formation of a translation product of 22 kDa that was larger than the molecular weight of 15,521 predicted from the ORF.
  • the search of the protein data base using the amino acid sequence of the present protein has not revealed the presence of any known protein having an analogy. Also, the search of the GenBank using the base sequences of the present cDNA has revealed the presence of sequences that possessed a homology of 90% or more and contained an initiation codon (for example, Accession No. AA316462) in EST, but any of the sequences was shorter than the present cDNAs and was not found to contain the initiation codon. ⁇ HP10420> (Sequence Nos.
  • the search of the protein data base using the ammo acid sequence of the present protein has not revealed the presence of any known protein having an analogy. Also, the search of the GenBank using the base sequences of the present cDNA has revealed the presence of sequences that possessed a homology of 90% or more and contained an initiation codon (for example, Accession No. T70513) in EST, but, since they are partial sequences, it can not be judged whether or not any of these sequences codes for the same protein as the protein of the present invention.
  • ⁇ HP10441> Sequence Nos.
  • the search cf the GenBank using the base sequences cf the present cDNA has revealed the presence cf sequences that pcssessed a hdiridlogy of 90% or more and contained the initiation codon. (for example, Accession No. AA232459) in EST, but many sequences were not distinct and the same ORF as that m the present cDNA was not found.
  • the present invention provides human proteins navmg transmembrane domains and cDNAs coding for these proteins as well as eucaryotic cells expressing said cDNAs .
  • All of the proteins of the present mventidn exist m the cell membrane, sc that they are considered to be proteins controlling the proliferation and the differentiation of the cells. Accordingly, the proteins of the present invention can be employed as pharmaceuticals such as carcmostatic agents relating to the control of the proliferation and the differentiation of the cells or as antigens for preparing antibodies against said proteins.
  • the cDNAs of the present invention can be utilized as probes for the gene diagnosis and gene sources for the gene therapy. Furthermore, the cDNAs can be utilized for large-scale expression of sa d proteins. Cells, wherein these membrane protein genes are introduced and membrane proteins are expressed m large amounts, can be utilized for detection of the corresponding ligands, screening of novel low-molecular pharmaceuticals, and so on.
  • the present invention also provides genes corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein.
  • “Corresponding genes” are the regions of the genome that are transcribed to produce the mRNAs from which cDNA polynucleotide sequences are derived and may include contiguous regions of the genome necessary for the regulated expression of such genes. Corresponding genes may therefore include but are not limited to coding sequences, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, alternatively spliced exons, mtrons, promoters, enhancers, and silencer or suppressor elements . The corresponding genes can be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequence information disclosed herein.
  • Such methods include the preparation of probes or primers from the disclosed sequence information for identification and/or amplification of genes appropriate genomic libraries or other sources of genomic materials.
  • An "isolated gene” is a gene that has been separated from the adjacent coding sequences, if any, present in the genome of the organism from which the gene was isolated.
  • Organisms that have enhanced, reduced, or modified expression of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein are provided.
  • the desired change m gene expression can be achieved through the use of antisense polynucleotides or ribozymes that bind and/or cleave the mRNA transcribed from the gene (Albert and Morris, 1994, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 15(7): 250-254; Lavarosky et al . , 1997, Biochem. Mol. Med. 62(1): 11-22; and Hampel, 1998, Prog. Nucleic Acid Res . Mol. Biol. 58: 1-39; all of which are incorporated by reference herein) .
  • Transgemc animals that have multiple copies of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein, preferably produced by transformation of cells with genetic constructs that are stably maintained within the transformed cells and their progeny, are provided.
  • organisms are provided in which the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein nave been partially or completely inactivated, through insertion of extraneous sequences into the corresponding gene(s) or through deletion of all or part of the corresponding gene(s) .
  • Partial or complete gene mactivation can be accomplished through insertion, preferably followed by imprecise excision, of transposable elements (Plasterk, 1992, Bioessays 14 (9) : 629-633 Zwaal et al . , 1993, Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci. USA 90 (16) : 7431-7435 Clark et al . , 1994, Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci.
  • Such organisms are useful for the development of non-human models for the study of disorders involving the corresponding gene(s), and for the development of assay systems for the identification of molecules that interact with the protein product (s) of the corresponding gene(s) .
  • the protein of the present invention is membrane-bound (e.g., is a receptor)
  • the present invention also provides for soluble forms of such protein. In such forms part or all of the intracellular and transmembrane domains of the protein are deleted such that the protein is fully secreted from the cell m which it is expressed.
  • the intracellular and transmembrane domains of proteins of the invention can be identified in accordance with known techniques for determination of such domains from sequence information.
  • Proteins and protein fragments of the present invention include proteins with ammo acid sequence lengths that are at least 25% (mere preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75%) of the length of a disclosed protein and have at least 60- sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% or 95% identity) with that disclosed protein, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the am o acid sequences of the proteins when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.
  • Alsc included m the present invention are proteins and protein fragments that contain a segment preferably comprising 8 or more
  • Species homologs of the disclosed polynucleotides and proteins are also provided by the present invention.
  • a "species homologue” is a protein or polynucleotide with a different species of origin from that of a given protein or polynucleotide, but with significant sequence similarity to the given protein or polynucleotide, as determined by those of skill m the art.
  • Species homologs may be isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from the sequences provided nerem and screening a suitable nucleic acid source from the desired species.
  • the invention also encompasses allelic variants of the disclcsed pdlynucleotides or proteins; that is, naturally- occurring alternative forms of the isolated polynucleotide which also encode proteins which are identical, homologous, or related to that encoded by the polynucleotides.
  • the invention also includes polynucleotides with sequences complementary to those of the polynucleotides disclosed herein.
  • the present invention also includes polynucleotides capable of hybridizing under reduced stringency conditions, more preferably stringent conditions, and most preferably highly stringent conditions, to polynucleotides described herein.
  • stringency conditions are shown m the table below: highly stringent conditions are those that are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions A-F; stringent conditions are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions G-L; and reduced stringency conditions are at least as stringent as, for example, conditions M-R.
  • the hybrid length is that anticipated for the hybridized reg ⁇ on(s) of the hybridizing polynucleotides When hybridizing a polynucleotide to a target polynucleotide of unknown sequence the hybrid length is assumed to be that of the hybridizing polynucleotide When polynucleotides of known sequence are hybridized the hybrid length can be determined by aligning the sequences of the polynucleotides and identifying the region or regions of optimal sequence complementarity f SSPE (lxSSPE is 0 15M NaCl lOmM NaH 2 P0 4 , and 1 25mM EDTA pH7 4) can be substituted for SSC (lxSSC is 0 15M NaCl and 15mM sodium citrate) m the hybridization and wash buffers washes are performed for 15 minutes after hybridization is complete *T B - T R The hybridization temperature for hybrids anticipated to be less than 50 base pairs in length should be 5-10°C less than the melting temperature (T m
  • each such hybridizing polynucleotide has a length that is at least 25% (more preferably at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75%) of the length of the polynucleotide of the present invention to which it hybridizes, and has at least 60% sequence identity (more preferably, at least 75% identity; most preferably at least 90% or 95% identity) with the polynucleotide of the present invention to which it hybridizes, where sequence identity is determined by comparing the sequences of the hybridizing pdlynucleotides when aligned so as to maximize overlap and identity while minimizing sequence gaps.

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Abstract

Cette invention concerne des protéines humaines comportant des domaines transmembranaires et des ADNc codant ces protéines ainsi que des cellules eucaryotes exprimant lesdits ADNc. Toutes les protéines existent dans la membrane cellulaire de sorte qu'on les considère comme des protéines contrôlant la prolifération et la différenciation des cellules. Par conséquent, ces protéines peuvent être utilisées en tant que substances pharmaceutiques telles que des agents cancérostatiques liés au contrôle de la prolifération et de la différenciation des cellules ou en tant qu'antigènes utiles pour préparer des anticorps dirigés contre lesdites protéines. Les ADNc peuvent être utilisés en tant que sonde pour le diagnostic génique et en tant que source de gène pour la thérapie génique. En outre, les ADNc peuvent être utilisés pour l'expression à grande échelle desdites protéines. Les cellules dans lesquelles ces gènes de protéines membranaires sont introduits et dans lesquelles les protéines membranaires sont exprimées en grande quantité, peuvent être utilisées pour la détection des ligands correspondants, le criblage de nouvelles substances pharmaceutiques à bas poids moléculaire et autres.
EP98945602A 1997-10-08 1998-10-05 Proteines humaines comportant des domaines transmembranaires et adn codant ces proteines Withdrawn EP1021531A2 (fr)

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WO2001023553A2 (fr) * 1999-09-29 2001-04-05 Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts C4.4a, un nouvel antigène associée à la métastase
GB0004576D0 (en) * 2000-02-25 2000-04-19 Oxford Glycosciences Uk Ltd Proteins

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Title
See references of WO9918202A3 *

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AU9283198A (en) 1999-04-27
CA2308120A1 (fr) 1999-04-15
WO1999018202A2 (fr) 1999-04-15
WO1999018202A3 (fr) 1999-08-05

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