MXPA00004916A - Mammalian cytokine-like polypeptide-10 - Google Patents

Abstract

A mammalian cytokine-like polypeptide, called Zcyto10, polynucleotides encoding the same, antibodies which specifically bind to the polypeptide, and anti-idiotypic antibodies which bind to the antibodies. Zcyto10 is useful for promoting the healing of wounds and for stimulating the proliferation of platelets.

Description

MAMMERIAN POLYPEPTIDE-10, SIMILAR TO CYTOKINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The proliferation and differentiation of cells from multicellular organisms is controlled by hormones and polypeptide growth factors. These spreadable molecules allow cells to locate with one another and act together to form cells and organs to repair and regenerate damaged tissue. Examples of hormones and growth factors include steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone), parathyroid hormone, follicle stimulant, interleukins, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), factor granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulator (GM-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO) and calcitonin.

Hormones and growth factors influence cellular metabolism by binding to proteins. Proteins can be integral membrane proteins that bind to signaling pathways within the REF ,: 120255 cell, such as secondary messenger systems. Other kinds of protein or soluble molecules.

Of particular interest are cytokines, which are molecules that promote the proliferation and / or differentiation of cells. Examples of cytokines include erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the development of red blood cells; thrombopoietin (TPO) that stimulates the development of cells of the mega ariocyte lineage; and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) that stimulates the development of neutrophils. These cytokines are useful for restoring normal blood cell novelty in patients suffering from anemia or receiving chemotherapy for cancer. The demonstrated activities of these cytokines illustrate the enormous chemical potential of, and the need for, other cytokines, cytokine agonists, and cytokine antagonists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses this need by providing a novel polypeptide and related compositions and methods. Within one aspect, the present invention provides an isolated polynucleotide that encodes a four-heliced mammalian cytokine called ZcytolO. The human ZcytolO polypeptide is comprised of a sequence of 176 amino acids with the initial Met as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. It is believed that the amino residues 1-24 are signal sequences, and the Mature ZcytolO polypeptide is represented by the amino acid sequence consisting of residues 25, a leucine, up to amino acid residue 176, a glutamic acid residue, "" also defined by SEQ ID NO: 12.

Another embodiment of the present invention is defined by the sequences of SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4. The polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 consists of 151 amino acid residues wherein amino acids 1-24 comprise a signal sequence and the mature sequence consists of amino acid residues 25, a leucine, up to amino acid 151, a glutamic acid, also defined by SEQ ID NO: 13. Another active variant consists of amino acid residues 3, a cystine, up to the amino acid residue 176 of SEQ ID NO: 2. This variant is also defined by SEQ ID NO: 26.

The mouse ZcytolO is also a polypeptide consisting of 176 amino acid residues as defined by SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 19. The mouse ZcytolO has a signal sequence that extends from amino acid residue 1, a methionine , which extends to and also includes amino acid residue 24, a glycine of SEQ ID NO: 19. Thus, mature mouse ZcytolO extends from amino acid residue 25, a leucine up to and including the residue of amino acid 176 a leucine of SEQ ID NO: 19, also defined by SEQ ID NO: 20. Another active variant is believed to extend from amino acid 33, a cystine, to amino acid 176, of SEQ ID NO: 19 This variant is also defined by SEQ ID NO: 25. With a further embodiment, the polypeptide further comprises an affinity tag.

A variant of mouse ZcytolO is defined by SEQ ID NOs: 33 and 34. This variant is 154 amino acid residues in length and has a signal sequence extending from amino acid residue 1, a methionine, up to including amino acid residue 24, a glycine, of SEQ ID NO: 34. Thus, the mature sequence extends from amino acid residue 25, a leucine, up to and including amino acid residue 154, a leucine, of SEQ ID NO: 34. The mature sequence is also defined by SEQ ID NO: 35.

Within a second aspect of the invention is provided an expression vector comprising (a) a transcription promoter; (b) a DNA segment encoding the ZcytolO polypeptide, and (c) a transcription terminator, wherein the promoter, DNA segment, and terminator are operably linked.

Within a third aspect of the invention is provided a cultured eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell in which an expression vector has been introduced as discussed above, wherein this cell expresses for a polypeptide encoded by the DNA segment.

Within another aspect of the invention is provided a chimeric polypeptide consisting essentially of a first portion and a second portion joined by a peptide linkage. The first portion of the chimeric polypeptide consists essentially of (a) a ZcytolO polypeptide as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, (b) allelic variants of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12 , SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35; and protein polypeptides that are at least 90% identical to (a) or (b). The second portion of the chimeric polypeptide consists essentially of another polypeptide such as an affinity tag. Within one embodiment the affinity tag is an immunoglobulin Fe polypeptide. The invention also provides cocTific expression vectors for the chimeric polypeptides and transfected host cells to produce the chimeric polypeptides.

Within a further aspect of the invention is provided an antibody that specifically binds to a ZcytolO polypeptide as described above, and also an anti-idiotype antibody that neutralizes the antibody to a ZcytolO polypeptide.

Within another aspect of the present invention there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a purified polypeptide of ZcytolO in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such compositions may be useful for modulating cell proliferation, cell differentiation or cytokine production in the prevention or treatment of conditions characterized by inadequate cell proliferation, inadequate cell differentiation or inadequate cytokine production, as, moreover, discussed herein. More specifically, the ZcytolO polypeptide can be useful in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases by inhibiting the cellular immune response. Autoimmune diseases that may be treatable when treated with ZcytolO include IDDM, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and whatever it may look like. Also, the ZcytolO polypeptides of the present invention may be useful for inhibiting the growth or proliferation of cancer cells.

The ZcytolO polypeptides of the present invention can also stimulate the immune system to better combat microbial or viral infections. In particular, ZcytolO can be administered systematically to increase the production of platelets by an individual. Moreover, the ZcytolO polypeptides of the present invention may be useful in specific tracheal or tracheobronchial system specific applications, such as maintenance or repair of wounds of the tracheobronchial epithelium or of underlying cells thereof, to regulate mucus production or mucosal depuration of waste or asthma treatment, bronchitis or other tracheobronchial tract diseases. It can also intensify wound healing and promote the regeneration of affected tissues that may be specifically useful in the treatment of periodontal diseases. In addition, ZcytolO polypeptides can be used to treat "skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and dry skin in general." An additional embodiment of the present invention relates to a peptide or polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of a portion. carrier of an epitope of a ZcytolO polypeptide having an amino acid sequence described above: Peptides or polypeptides having the amino acid sequence of a portion carrying an epitope of a ZcytolO polypeptide of the present invention include portions of similar polypeptides with minus nine, preferably at least 15 and even more preferred at least thirty to fifty amino acids, although polypeptides carrying epitopes of any length up to and including the complete amino acid sequence of a polypeptide of the present invention described above also are included in the present invention. Any of these polypeptides that are fused to another polypeptide or carrier molecule are claimed. Such variants of epitopes are included but are not limited to SEQ ID NOs: 25-32. Antibodies that are produced from these epitope-bearing portions of ZcytolO can be used to purify ZcytolO from a cell culture medium.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The teachings of all the references mentioned in this point are incorporated in their entirety for your reference.

Before exposing the invention in detail, it may be useful for understanding this to define the following terms: The term "affinity tag" is used herein to denote a polypeptide segment that can be linked to a second polypeptide to provide for the purification or detection of a second polypeptide, or to provide sites for binding the second polypeptide to a substrate. or protein for which an antibody or other specific agglutination agent is available, can be used as an affinity tag Affinity tags include a tract of poly-histidine, protein A, Nilsson et al., EMBO J. 4: 1075 (1985), Nilsson et al., Methods Enzymol 198: 3 (1991), glutathione S transferase, Smith and Johnson, Gene 67: 31 (1988), Glu-Glu affinity tag, Grussenmeyer et al., Proc. Acad Sci USA 82: 7952-4 (1985), substance P FlagtM peptide, Hopp et al., Biotechnology 5: 1204-1210 (1988), streptavidin peptide agglutinator, or other antigenic epitope or binding domain. in general, Ford et al., Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107 (1991). DNAs encoding affinity tags are available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, NY).

The term "allelic variant" is used herein to denote any of the two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal site. Allelic variation originates naturally through mutation, and can result in a phenotypic polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (without change in the encoded polypeptide) "d can encode for polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences." The term "allelic variant" is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

The terms "terminal-amino" and "terminal carboxyl" are used herein to denote positions within the polypeptides. Wherever the context permits, these terms are used with reference to a particular sequence or portion of a polypeptide to denote proximity or relative position. For example, a certain sequence placed terminally-carboxyl in relation to a reference sequence within a polypeptide is located close to the carboxyl terminus of the referred sequence, but not necessarily at the carboxyl terminus of the complete polypeptide.

The term "complement pair / anticomplement pair" denotes non-identical portions that form a non-covalently associated pair, and stable under appropriate conditions, eg, biotin and avidin (or streptavidin) are prototypic members of a complement / anti-complement pair Other complement / anticomplement-exemplary pairs include receptor / ligand pairs, antigen / antibody (or hapten or epitope), homosense / antisense polynucleotide pairs, and the like, where a subsequent dissociation of the complement / anti-complement pair is desired. , the anticomplement / complement pair preferably has an agglutination affinity of <109M- ?.

The term "complements of a polynucleotide molecule" is a polynucleotide molecule having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation compared to the reference sequence, eg, the 5 'sequence ATGCACGGG 3' is complementary to 5 'CCCGTGCAT 3 The term "contig" denotes a polynucleotide having a contiguous stretch of a sequence identical or complementary to another polynucleotide. The contiguous sequences are said to 'overlap' a given stretch of a polynucleotide sequence either in its entirety or along a partial stretch of the polynucleotide For example, the contigs representative of the 5 'polynucleotide sequence ATGGCTTAGCTT-3' are 5 'TAGCTTgagtct-3' and 3 'gtcgacTACCGA-5. ~ The term "degenerate nucleotide sequence" denotes a sequence of nucleotides that include one or more degenerate codons (as compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that codes for a polypeptide.) Degenerate codons contain different triplets of nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residues (ie, the GAU and GAC triplets each encode Asp).

The term "expression vector" is used to denote a DNA molecule, linear or circular, comprising a segment encoding a polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that provide for transcription, such additional segments include promoter sequences and terminators, and may also include one or more origins of replication, one or more selective markers, an enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, etc. Expression vectors are generally derived from a plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain elements from both.

The term "isolated", when applied to a polynucleotide, denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural genetic environment and is therefore free from other foreign or undesirable coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for its use. Use within genetically engineered protein production systems Such isolated molecules are those that are separated from their natural environment and include cDNAs and genomic clones.The isolated DNA molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with which they are normally associated , but may include naturally occurring 5 'and 3' untranslated regions such as promoters and terminators The identification of associated regions will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan and Tijan, Nature 31 6: 774- 78 (1985).

An "isolated" polypeptide or protein is a polypeptide or protein that is in a condition other than its native environment, such as apart from blood and animal tissue In a preferred form, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly others polypeptides of animal origin.It is preferred to provide the polypeptide in a highly purified form, ie, greater than 95% pure, more preferably more than 99% pure.When used in this context, the term "isolated" does not it excludes the presence of the same polypeptide in alternative physical forms, such as dimers or alternatively glycosylated or derived forms.

The term 'operably linked' when referring to DNA segments, indicates that the segments are shaped in such a way that they work together for their intended purposes, for example, the transcription starts at the promoter and proceeds through the coding segment to the terminator.

The term "Orthotologist" denotes a polypeptide or protein obtained from a species that is the functional counterpart of a polypeptide or protein of a different species.Signal differences between orthologs result from the evolution of the species.

The "paralogos" are different proteins, but structurally related and made by an organism.Paralogs are believed to originate from genetic duplication.For example, a-globin, ß-globin and myoglobin are paralogos of each other.

A 'polynucleotide' is a single or double-stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide bases or ribonucleotide bases that are read from the 5 'end of the 3' . The polynucleotides include .RNA and DNA, and can be isolated from natural sources or synthesized in vi tro, or prepared from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules. The sizes of polynucleotides are expressed as base s (abbreviated 'bp'), nucleotides ('nt ") or kilobases ('kb'). Where the context allows, the last two terms can describe polynucleotides that are applied double-stranded molecules are used to denote the total length and are understood to be equivalent to the term "base pairs." It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the two strands of a double-stranded polynucleotide may differ slightly in the length and that therefore the ends can be winded as a result of an enzymatic cleavage and therefore all nucleotides within a double-stranded nucleotide molecule can not be formed in pairs, such unpaired ends generally do not exceed 20 nt long.

A "polypeptide" is a polymer of amino acid residues linked by peptide bonds, whether produced naturally or synthetically Polypeptides of less than about 10 amino acid residues are commonly referred to as "peptides".

The term "promoter" is used herein for its recognized meaning in the art to denote a portion of a gene that contains .ADN sequences that provide for the agglutination of RNA polymerase and the initiation of transcription. always, they find the 5 'non-coding regions of the genes.

A "protein" is a macromolecule comprising one or more polypeptide chains A protein can also comprise non-peptide components, such as carbohydrate groups Carbohydrates and other non-peptide substituents can be added to a protein by the cell where the protein it occurs, and they vary with the cell type, proteins are defined here in terms of their major amino acid structures, substituents such as carbohydrate groups are generally not specified, but, still, they may be present.

The term "receptors" denotes a cell-associated protein that binds to a bioactive molecule (ie, a ligand) and is involved in the effect of the ligand on the cell.Membrane receptors are characterized by a multiple domain structure comprising an agglutinating domain of extracellular ligands and an intracellular effector domain that typically involves signal transduction The agglutination of the ligand to the receptor results in a conformational change in the receptor that causes an interaction between the effector domain and another molecule (s) in the cell This interaction in turn leads to an alteration in the metabolism of the cell.The metabolic events that are associated with receptor-ligand interactions include gene transcription, phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, increases in the production of cyclic AMP, mobilization of cellular calcium, mobilization of membrane lipids, cell adhesion, lipid hydrolysis of inositol and hydrolysis of phospholipids. In general, the receptors can be bound to the membrane, cytosolic or nuclear; monomeric (eg, thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, beta-adrenergic receptor) or multimeric growth hormone_ (eg, PDGF receptor, growth hormone receptor, IL-3 receptor, GM-CSF receptor, G-CSF receptor, erythropoietin receptor and IL-6 receptor).

The term "secretory sequence signal" denotes a DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide (a "secretory peptide") which, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell where it is synthesized.The larger polypeptide is commonly unfolded to remove the secretory peptide during transit through the secretory path.

The term "splice variant" is used here to denote alternative forms of RNA that is transcribed from a gene.Slice variation originates naturally through the use of alternative splicing sites within a transcribed RNA molecule, or less commonly between RNA molecules transcribed separately, and can result in various mRNAs - transcribed from the same gene.The splice variants can code for polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences.The term splice variant is also used here to denote an encoded protein by a splicing variant of a mRNA transcribed from a gene.

The molecular weights and lengths of the polymers determined by analytical and imprecise methods (e.g., gel electrophoresis) will be understood as approximate values. When such a value is expressed as 'approximately' X or 'approximately' X, the indicated value of X will be understood to be accurate by +/- 10%.

The amino acids conserved in helix D of ZcytolO can be used as a tool to identify new family members. Propeller D is the most highly conserved and has approximately 32% identity with helix D of IL-10. For example, the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used to amplify sequences encoding the conserved [domain, region or motif of the above] from the RNA obtained from a variety of sources. Tissues or cell lines. In particular, highly degenerate primers which are designated ZcytolO sequence are useful for this purpose.

Within the preferred embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotides are hybridized to regions of similar size of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 33 or a sequence complementary to this, under rigorous conditions. In general, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5oC lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific sequence at a defined pH and ionic strength. The Tm is the temperature (under a defined ionic strength and pH) where 50% of the target sequence is hybridized to a perfectly matched probe. Typical stringent conditions are those in which the concentration of salts is about 0.02 M or less at a pH of 7 and the temperature is at least about 60 ° C. As previously noted, the isolated polynucleotides of the present invention include DNA and RNA. Methods for isolating DNA and RNA are well known in the art. Total RNA can be prepared using guanidine extraction by HCl followed by isolation by centrifugation in a CsCl gradient [Chirg in et. al , Biochemistry 18: 52-94, (1979)]. Poly (A) + RNA is prepared from total .RNA using the method of Aviv and Leder, Proc. Nati Acad. Sci. Use 6'5; 1408-1412 (1972). Complementary DNA (cDNA) is prepared from poly (A) + RNA using known methods. The polynucleotides encoding the ZcytolO polypeptides are identified and isolated by, for example, hybridization or PCR.

In addition, the polynucleotides of the present invention can be synthesized using a DNA synthesizer. Currently the method of choice is the phosphoramidite method. If the double-stranded DNA is chemically synthesized it is required for an application such as the synthesis of a gene or gene fragment, then each complementary strand is made separately. The production of short genes (from 60 to 80 bp) is technically direct and can occur by synthesizing the complementary strands and then fixing them. For the production of longer genes (> 300 bp), ver, special strategies must be used, due to the coupling efficiency of each cycle during chemical synthesis -DNA is just 100%. To overcome this problem, synthetic (double-stranded) genes are assembled in modular form from single-stranded fragments that are from 20 to 100 nucleotides in length. See Glick, Bi otechnol ogy, Principi is & Appli ca ti ons of Recombinant DNA, (ASM Press, Washington, D.C. 1994), Itakura, K. e t. al , Synthesis and use of synthetic oligonucleotides. Annu. Rev. Bi ochem. 53: 323-356 (1984), and Cumie, S. et. al Chemical synthesis of the thymidylate synthase gene. Proc. Nati Acad. Sci. USA 87: 633-637 (1990).

Those skilled in the art recognize that the sequences disclosed in SEQ ID NOs: 1,2,3 and 4 represent two alleles of human, and SEQ ID NOs: 18,19,33 and 34 represent two mouse alleles. Additional allelic variants of these sequences can be cloned by probing the libraries or cDNAs from different individuals according to conventional procedures. Allelic variants of this DNA sequence s in SEQ ID NO: 1, including those containing the silent mutations and those in which the mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, are within the scope of the present invention, what are the proteins that are allelic variants of SEQ ID NO: 2. The cDNAs that are generated from alternately spliced mRNAs, which retain the properties of the ZcytolO polypeptide are included within the scope of the present invention, as well as the polypeptides encoded by such cDNA and mRNA. Allelic variants and splice variants of these sequences can be cloned by probing cDNA or libraries of different individuals or tissues with conventional procedures known in the art.

The present invention also provides proteins and counterpart polynucleotides from other species ('orthologs species'). Of particular interest are ZcytolO polypeptides from other mammalian species, including murine, porcine, ovine, bovine, canine, feline, equine and other primates.The species orthologs of the human protein ZcytolO can be cloned using the information and compositions provided by the present invention in combination with conventional cloning techniques.For example, a cDNA can be cloned using mRNA obtained from a tissue or cell type that expresses for the protein Suitable sources of pTRNA can be identified by probing the Northern blots with probes designated from the sequence revealed here, then a library is prepared from mRNA from a positive tissue or line cell phone. A protein coding cDNA can then be isolated by a variety of methods, such as by probing with uri complete or partial cDNA of human or mouse, or with one or more sets of degenerate probes based on the disclosed sequences. A cDNA can also be cloned using the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR (Mullis et al, US Patent No. 4,683,202), using assigned primers from the sequences discussed here. Within a further method, the cDNA library can be used to transform or transfect the host cells, expression of the cDNA of interest can be detected with an antibody to the protein. Similar techniques can also be applied for the isolation of genomic clones. As used and claimed, the language 'an isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide, this polynucleotide is defined by SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34 and 35"includes all allelic variants and species orthologs of these polypeptides The present invention also provides isolated protein polypeptides that are substantially identical to the protein polypeptides of SEQ ID NO: 2 and their species orthologs. polypeptide that is in a condition other than its native environment, such as apart from animal blood and tissue. In a preferred form, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly other polypeptides of animal origin. It is preferred to provide the polypeptides in a highly pure form, ie, greater than 95% pure, more preferably greater than 99% pure. The term "substantially identical" is used herein to denote polypeptides having 50%, preferably 60%, more preferably at least 80%, identity in sequence to the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOs : 2, 4, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34 and 35, or other species orthologs Such polypeptides will more preferably be at least 90% identical, and more preferably 95% or more identical to the SEQ ID NO: 2 or its species orthologs The percent identity of sequence is determined by conventional methods, see, for example, Altschul et al., Bull. Ma. Bi., 48: 603-616 (1986) and Henikoff _and Henikoff, Proc. Na ti. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 10915-10919 (1992) Briefly, two amino acid sequences align to optimize the alignment scores using a separation gap penalty of 10, a penalty of separation extension of 1, and the 'flowering 62' of Henikoff's scoring matrix and Henikoff (ibid) as shown in Table 1 (amino acids are indicated by conventional one-letter codes). The percentage identity is then calculated as: Total number of identical equivalents X 100 [length of the longest sequence plus the number of separations that are entered in the longest sequence, in order to align the two sequences] r- rt tn • o ** H rt O. t- H rH rt tx, vt > rt (? n or «rt tr?» rt • r rt rt rt tr K n • H H H rt ort rt rt rt rt > ? n o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o rt or H rt ** • rt rt H rt rt rt rt rt rt rt rt: rt ort rt rt rt rt rt »« 5 • * H o o H H rt o < etí 55 Q U C * w O M • «X Pu CU TO E * Sc X > or Ol The sequence identity of the polynucleotide molecules is determined by similar methods using a ratio as discussed above.

ZcytolO variant polypeptides or substantially identical proteins and polypeptides are characterized by having one or more substitutions, deletions or additions. Preferably these changes are of a minor nature, that is amino acid substitution (see Table 2) and other substitutions that do not significantly affect the doubling or activity of the protein or polypeptide; of small deletions, typically from one to about 30 amino acids; and small amino-or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as a methionine-amino terminal residue, a small peptide linker of up to about 20-25 residues, or a small extension that facilitates purification (an affinity tag), such as a segment of polyhistidine, protein A, Nilsson et. al , EMBO J. 4: 1075 (1985); Nilsson et. al , Methods Enzymol. 198: 3 (1991), gluthathione S transferase, Smith and Johnson, Gene 67: 31 (1988), or other antigenic epitope or agglutination domain. See, in general, Ford et. al , Protein Expressi on and Purifi cati on 2: 95-107 (1991). DNAs encoding affinity tags are available from commercial suppliers (eg, Pharmacia Biotech, Piscata ay, NJ).

Table 2 Conservative Amino Acid Substitutions The present invention, in addition, provides a variety of other mergers of polypeptides [and related multimeric proteins comprising one or more polypeptide fusions]. For example, a ZcytolO polypeptide can be prepared as a fusion to a dimerizing protein as disclosed in US Patent Nos. 5,155,027 and 5,567,584. Preferred dimerizing proteins in this regard include immunoglobulin constant region domains. Fusion of immunoglobulin-ZcytolO polypeptides can be expressed in genetically engineered cells [to produce a diversity of multimeric analogs of ZcytolO]. The helper domains can be fused to ZcytolO polypeptides to be targeted to specific cells, tissues or macromolecules (e.g., collagen). For example, a ZcytolO polypeptide or protein can be targeted to a predetermined cell type by fusing a polypeptide to a ligand that specifically binds to a receptor on the surface of the target cell. In this form, the polypeptides and proteins can be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. A ZcytolO polypeptide can be fused to two or more portions, such as an affinity tag for purification and a targeting domain. Polypeptide fusions can also include one or more cleavage sites, particularly between domains. See, Tuan et. al , Connective Tissue Research 34: 1-9 (1996).

The proteins of the present invention can also comprise amino acid residues that do not occur naturally. Amino acids that do not occur naturally include, without limitation, trans-3-methylproline, 2-4-methanoproline, cis-4-hydroxyproline, trans-4-hydroxyproline, N-methyl glycine, aJio-threonine, methyltreonine, hydroxyethylcystine, hydroxyethylhomocysteine, nitroglutamine, homoglutamine, pipecolic acid, thiazolidine carboxylic acid, dehydroproline, 3- and 4-methylproline, 3,3-dimethylproline, ter-leucine, norvaline, 2-azaphenylalanine, 3-azaphenylalanine, 4-azaphenylalanine and 4-fluorophenylalanine. Various methods are known in the art that incorporate amino acid residues that do not occur naturally in proteins. For example, an in vi tro system can be employed where the missense mutations are suppressed using chemically aminoacylated AR suppressor. Methods are known in the art to synthesize amino acids and amino-reactive tRNA. The essential amino acids in the polypeptides of the present invention can be identified according to methods that are known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or mutagenesis of exploratory alanine [Cunningham and Wells, Science 244: 1081-1085 (1989); Bass et. al., Proc. Nati Acad. Sci. USA 88: 4498-4502 (1991)]. In the subsequent technique, unique alanine mutations are introduced into each residue in the molecule, the resulting mutant molecules are analyzed for their biological activity (e.g., ligand agglutination and signal transduction) to identify the amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. The ligand-protein interaction sites can also be determined by analysis of the crystal structure as determined by similar techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography or photoaffinity labeling. (See, for example, de Vos et al., Science 255: 306-312 (1992), Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904 (1992), Wlodaver et.al. FEBS Lett 309: 59-64 (1992) The identities of the essential amino acids can also be inferred from the analysis of the homologies with the related proteins.

Multiple substitutions of amino acids can be made and analyzed using known methods of mutagenesis and detection, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, Science 241: 53-57 (1988) or Bowie and Sauer Proc. Na ti. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156 (1989). In brief, these authors disclose methods for simultaneously making two or more positions in a polypeptide random, directing for a functional polypeptide, and then sequencing the mutagenized polypeptides to determine the spectrum of allowable substitutions at each position. Other methods that can be used include phage display (eg, Lowman et al., Bi ochem., 30: 10832-10837 (1991); Ladner et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,223,409; Huse, Publication. WIPO WO 92/06204) and region-directed mutagenesis, Derbyshire et al. , Gene 46: 145 (1986); Ner et al. , DNA 7: 127 (1988).

Mutagenesis methods as disclosed above can be combined with high throughput detection methods to detect the activity of cloned proteins, and mutagenized in the host cells. Preferred valuations in this regard include cell proliferation titrations and titers based on ligand agglutination biosensors, which are described below. Mutagenized DNA molecules that code for active proteins or portions thereof (eg, ligand binding fragments) can be recovered from the host cells and sequenced rapidly using modern equipment. These methods allow rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide of interest, and can be applied to polypeptides of unknown structure.

Using the methods discussed above, one of ordinary skill in the art can prepare a variety of polypeptides that are substantially identical to SEQ ID Nos: 2, 4, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34 and 35 or allelic variants of these and retain the properties of wild-type proteins. As expressed and claimed at this point, the language, 'a polypeptide as defined by SEQ ID No. 2' includes all allelic variants and species orthologs of the polypeptide.

The protein polypeptides of the present invention, include full-length proteins, protein fragments (e.g., ligand binding fragments), and fusion polypeptides can be produced in genetically engineered host cells according to conventional techniques. Suitable host cells are those cell types that can be transformed or transfected with exogenous DNA and cultured in a culture medium, and include bacteria, fungal cells, and cultured higher eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells, in particular cultured cells of multicellular organisms, are preferred. Techniques for manipulating the cloned DNA molecules and introducing the exogenous DNA into a variety of host cells are disclosed by Sambrook et al. , M ecular C oning: A Labora tory Manual, 2nd ed. (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 1989), and Ausubel et al. , ibid.

The polynucleotides, generally a cDNA sequence of the present invention, code for the polypeptides described above. A DNA sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention comprises a series of codons, each amino acid residue of the polypeptide is encoded by a codon and each codon comprises three nucleotides. The amino acid residues are encoded by their respective codons as follows.

Alanine (Ala) is encoded by GCA, GCC, GCG or GCT; Cystine (Cys) is encoded by TGC or TGT; Aspartic Acid (Asp) is encoded by GAC or GAT; Glutamic Acid (Glu) is encoded by GAA or GAG; Phenylalanine (Phe) is encoded by TTC or TTT; Glycine (Gly) is encoded by GGA, GGC, GGG or GGT; Histidine (His) is encoded by CAC or CAT; Isoleucine (He) is encoded by ATA, ATC or ATT; Lysine (Lys) is encoded by AAA, or AAG; Leucine (Leu) is encoded by TTA, TTG, CTA, CTC, CTG or CTT; Methionine (Met) is encoded by ATG; Asparagine (Asn) is encoded by AAC or AAT; Proline (Pro) is encoded by CCA, CCC, CCG or CCT; Glutamine (Gln) is encoded by CAA or CAG; Arginine (Arg) is encoded by AGA, AGG, CGA, CGC, CGG or CGT; Serine (Ser) is encoded by AGC, AGT, TCA, TCC, TCG or TCT; Threonine (Thr) is encoded by ACA, ACC, ACG or ACT; Valine (Val) is encoded by GTA, GTC, GTG or GTT; Tryptophan (Trp) is encoded by TGG; and Tyrosine (Tir) is coded by TAC or TAT.

It should be recognized that according to the present invention, when a cDNA is claimed as described above, it is understood that what is claimed is both the strand and sense, the antisense strand, and the DNA as double strand has both the strand of sense and antisense fixed together by their respective hydrogen bonds. Messenger RNA (mRNA) is also claimed which codes for the polypeptides of the present invention, and whose mRNA is encoded by the cDNA described above. A messenger RNA (mRNA) codes for a polypeptide using the same codons as those defined above, except that each nucleotide of ti ina (T) is replaced by a nucleotide of uracil (U).

In general, a DNA sequence encoding a ZcytolO polypeptide is freely linked to other genetic elements required for its expression, generally including a promoter and transcription terminator, within an expression vector. Commonly the vector also contains one or more selectable markers and one or more origins of replication, although those skilled in the art recognize that within certain systems the selectable markers can be provided in separate vectors, and the replication of the exogenous DNA can be provided by the integration into the genome of the host cell. The selection of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Many of these elements are described in the literature and are available through commercial providers.

To direct a ZcytolO polypeptide in the secretory pathway of a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre-sequence) is provided in the expression vector. The secretory signal sequence may be that of the protein, or it may be derived from another protein secreted (eg, t-PA) or synthesized de novo. The secretory signal sequence binds to the ZcytolO DNA sequence in the correct reading frame. The secretory signal sequences are commonly placed 5 'to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain signal sequences can be placed elsewhere in the DNA sequence of interest (see, eg, Welch. , et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Patent No. 5, 143, 830).

Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into mammalian host cells include calcium phosphate mediated transfection, Wigler et al. , Cell 14: 725 (1978); Corsaro and Pearson, Soma ti c Cell Genetics 7: 603, 1981: Graham and Van der Eb, Virology 52: 456 (1973), electroporation, Neumann et al. , EMBO J. 1: 841-845 (1982), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, Ausubel et al. , eds., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY, 1987), and liposome-mediated transfection, Ha ley-Nelson et al. , Focus 15: 73 (1993); Ciccarone et al. , Focus 15: 80 (1993). The production of recombinant polypeptides in cultured mammalian cells is disclosed, for example, by Levinson et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,7T3,339; Hagen et al., Patent of E. U. A. No. 4,579,821; and Ringold, U. A. Patent No. 4,656,134. Suitable cultured mammalian cells include cell lines COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL 1650), COS-7 (ATCC No. CRL 1651), BHK (ATCC No. CRL 1652), BHK (ATCC No. CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC No. CRL 1573; Graham et al. , J. Gen. Virol. 36: 59-72 (1977) and Chinese hamster ovary cell lines (eg, CHO-K1; ATCC No. CCL 61). Additional suitable cell lines are known in the art and are available from public depositaries such as American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland. In general, strong promoters of transcription are preferred, such as SV-40 promoters or cytomegalovirus.

See, for example, the Patent of E. U. A. No. 4,956,288. Other suitable promoters include those of the metallothionein genes (U.S. Patent Nos. 4,579,821 and 4,601,978) and the major advanced adenovirus promoter.

Drug selection is used to select cultured mammalian cells in which the foreign DNA has been inserted. It commonly refers to such cells as "transfectants." Cells that have been cultured in the presence of a selective agent and are capable of transmitting the gene of interest to their progeny are referred to as "stable transfectants." A preferred selectable marker is a gene that codes for resistance to the antibiotic neomycin. The selection is carried out in the presence of a neomycin-type drug, such as G-418 or whatever it looks like. Selection systems can also be used to increase the expression levels of the gene of interest, a process referred to as 'amplification.' Amplification is carried out by culturing the transfectants in the presence of a low level of the selective agent and then increasing the Selective agent amount to select cells that produce high levels of the products of the introduced genes A preferred selectable amplifiable marker is dihydrofolate reductase, which confers resistance to methotrexate Other drug resistance genes (e.g. hygromycin, multidrug resistance, puromycin acetyltransferase) can also be used Alternative markers that introduce an altered phenotype, such as green fluorescent protein, or other cell surface proteins such as CD4, CD8, MHC Class I, phos? atase alkaline placenta can be used to classify the cells ansfected from the untransfected cells by such means as FACS sorting or magnetic bead separation technology.

Other higher eukaryotic cells can also be used as hosts, including insect cells, plant cells and bird cells. The transformation of insect cells and the production of foreign polypeptides in these is revealed by Guarino et al. , U.S. Patent No. 5,162,222; Bang et al. , U.S. Patent No. 4,775,624; and WIPO publication WO 94/06463. The use of Agrobacterium um rhi zogenes as a vector for the expression of genes in plant cells has been reviewed by Sinkar et al. , J. Bi osci. (Bangalore) 11: 47-58 (1987). Insect cells can be infected with a recombinant baculovirus, which is commonly derived from nuclear polyhedrosis virus Autographa californi ca (AcNPV). See, King, L.A. and Possee, R.D., The Baculovirus Expression System: A Labora tory Guide (Chapman &Hall, London); O'Reilly, D. R. et al. , Baculovirus Expression Vectors: A Laboratory Manual (University Press., New York, Oxford, 1994); and, Richards "on, C. D. Ed., Baculovirus Expression Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, (Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 1995). A second method for making the ZcytolO recombinant baculovirus utilizes a transposon-based system described by Luckow, V.A., et al. , J. Virol 67: 4566-79 1993). This system, which uses transfer vectors, is sold in the Bac-to-Bac ™ tool kit (Life Technologies, Rockville, MD). This system utilizes a transfer vector, pFastBacl ™ (Life Technologies) containing a Tn7 transposon to remove the DNA encoding the ZcytolO polypeptide in a baculovirus genome that is maintained in E. coli as a large plasmid called 'bacmid'. See, Hill-Perkins, MS and Possee, RD, J Gen Virol 71: 971-6, (1990), Bonning, BC Et al., J Gen Virol 75: 1551-6 (1994), and, Chazenbalk, GD, and Rapoport, B., J Bi ol Chem 270: 1543-9 (1995) .In addition, the transfer vectors may include a frame fusion with the DNA encoding an epitope tag at the C-terminal or N- of the ZcytolO polypeptide that is expressed, for example, a Glu-Glu epitope tag, Grussenmeyer, T. et al. , Proc. Na ti. Acad. Sci. 82: 7952-4 (1985). Using a technique known in the art, a transfer vector containing "ZcytolO that transforms into E. coli, and a detection is made for bacmids containing an interrupted lacZ gene that is indicative of a recombinant baculovirus. bacmid containing the recombinant baculovirus genome is isolated, using common techniques, and used to transfect Spodoptera frugiperda cells, for example, Sf9 cells .. Recombinant viruses expressing for ZcytolO are subsequently produced.Virula recombinant strains are made by commonly used in the art.

The recombinant virus is used to infect host cells, typically a cell line derived from the autumn fighter worm, Spodoptera frugiperda. See, in general, Glick and Pasternak, Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Appli cations on Recombinant DNA, ASM Press, Washington, D.C. (1994). Another suitable cell line is the High FiveO ™ cell line (Invitrogen) derived from Trichoplusia ni (U.S. Patent No. 5,300,435). The commercially available serum free medium is used to maintain and grow the cells. The appropriate medium is Sf900 II ™ (Life Technologies) or ESF 921 ™ (Expression Systems) "for Sf9 cells, and Ex-cellO405 ™ (JRH Biosciences, Lenexa, KS) or Express FiveO ™ (Life Technologies) for T cells. The cells are grown from an inoculation density of about 2-5 X 10 5 cells at a density of 1-2 X 10 6 at which time a recombinant viral strain is added or a variety of infection (MOI) from 0.1 to 10, and more typically close to 3. The procedures used are clearly described in available laboratory manuals (King, LA and Possee, RD, ibid; O'Reilly, DR et al., Ibid; Richardson, CD, ibid.). Subsequent purification of the ZcytolO polypeptide from the supernatant can be saved using methods described herein.

Fungal cells, including yeast cells, and particularly cells of the genus Saccharomyces, can also be used within the present invention, such as for the production of protein fragments or polypeptide fusions. Methods for transforming yeast cells with exogenous DNA and producing recombinant polypeptides therefrom are disclosed by, for example, Kawasaki, E. U. A. No. 4,599,311; Kawasaki et al. , Patent of E. U. A. No. 4,931,373; Brake, U.A. Patent No. 4,870,008; Welch et al. , Patent of? U.A. No. 5,037,743; and Murray et al. , Patent of E. U. A. No. 4,845,075. Transformed cells are selected by phenotype and are determined by the selectable marker, common resistance to the drug or the ability to grow in the absence of a particular nutrient (e.g., leucine). A preferred vector system for use in yeast is the POT1 vector system disclosed by Kawasaki et al. (U.S. Patent No. 4,931,373), which allows transformed cells to be selected by growth in a medium containing glucose. Promoters and terminators suitable for use in yeasts include those of the glycolytic enzyme genes (see, for example, Kawasaki, E. Patent. yeasts include those of the glycolytic enzyme genes (see, for example, Kawasaki, U.S. Patent No. 4,599,311, Kingsman et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,615,974, and Bitter, U.S. Patent No. 4,977,092, and alcohol dehydrogenase genes. See also U.S. Patent Nos. 4,990,446, 5,063,154, 5,139,936 and 4,661,454 Transformation systems for other yeasts, including Hansenul a polymorpha, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kl uyveromyces lactis, Kl uyveromyces fragilis, Ustilago maydis, Pichia pastoris, Pichia methanolTca, Pichia guilermondii and Candida maltose known in the art See, for example, Gl eeson et al., J. Gen. Microbi ol., 132: 3459-3465 (1986) and Cregg, US Pat. No. 4,882,279. Aspergillus cells can be used according to the methods of McKnight et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,935,349 The methods for transforming Acremonium chrysogenum are disclosed by Sumino et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,162. 228. Methods for transforming Neuospora are disclosed by Lambowitz, U.S. Patent No. 4,486,533.

The use of Pichia methanoli ca as a host for the production of recombinant proteins is disclosed in WIPO Publications WO 97/17450, WO 97/17451, WO 98/02536, and WO 98/02565. DNA molecules for use in transforming P. methanoli ca are commonly prepared as double-stranded circular plasmids, preferably they are linearized before the transformation. For the production of polypeptides in P. methanol i ca, he prefers that the promoter and the terminator in the plasmid be those of a P. methanolica gene, such as the gene for the use of alcohol by P. methanoli ca (AUG1 or AUG2 ). Other useful promoters include those of the dihydroxyacetone synthetase (DHAS) genes, dehydrogenase (FMD), and catalase (CAT). To facilitate integration of the DNA into the host chromosome, it is preferred to have the entire expression segment of the plasmid bleached at both ends by host DNA sequences. A preferred selectable marker for use in Pichia methanoli ca is a gene of P. methanoli ca ADE2, which codes for a phosphorylbosyl-5-aminoimidazole carboxylase (AIRC; EC 4.1.1.21), which allows ade2 host cells to grow in the absence of adenine. For large-scale industrial processes, where it is desired to minimize the use of methanol, it is preferred to use host cells in which both methanol utilization genes (AUG1 and AUG2) are suppressed. For production of secreted proteins, host cells deficient in vacuolar protease genes (PEP4 and PRB1) are preferred. Electroporation is used to facilitate the introduction of a plasmid containing a DNA encoding a polypeptide of interest into the cells of P. methanoli ca. It is preferred to transform the P. methanoli ca cells by electroporation using an exponentially decaying electric pulse field having a field strength from 2.5 to 4.5 kV / cm, preferably about 3.75 kV / cm, ~ and the time constant (i) from 1 to 40 milliseconds, more preferably approximately 20 milliseconds.

The prokaryotic host cells, include strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, Bacillus and other genera are also useful host cells within the present invention. The techniques for transforming these hosts and expressing for the foreign sequences of .DNA cloned there are well known in the art (see, for example, Sambrook et al., Ibid.). when a ZcytolO polypeptide is expressed in a bacterium such as E. coli, the polypeptide can be retained in the cytoplasm, typically as insoluble granules, or it can be directed to the periplasmic space by a bacterial secretory sequence. In the above case, the cells are lysed, and the granules are recovered and denatured using, for example, guanidine isothiocyanate or urea. The denatured polypeptide can be doubled and dimerized upon dilution of the denaturant, such as by dialysis against a urea solution and a combination of reduced and oxidized glutathione, followed by dialysis against a buffered saline solution. In the latter case, the polypeptide can be recovered from the periplasmic space in soluble and functional form by interrupting the cell (by, for example, sound treatment or osmotic shock) to release the contents of the periplasmic space and recover the protein, so both obviating the need for denaturation and redoubling.

The transformed or transfected host cells are cultured according to conventional procedures in a culture medium containing nutrients and other components required for the growth of the chosen host cells. A variety of suitable media, including defined media and complex media, are known in the art and generally include a carbon source, a nitrogen source, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The medium may also contain components such as growth factors or serum, as required. The growth medium is generally selected for cells containing the exogenous DNA added by, for example, drug selection or deficiency in an essential nutrient that is complemented by the selectable marker carried in the expression vector or co-transfected-in the cell host The P. methanolica cells are grown in a medium comprising suitable sources of carbon, nitrogen and trace nutrients at a temperature of about 25 ° C to 35 ° C. Liquid cultures are provided with sufficient oxygenation by conventional methods, such as stirring small flasks or splashing fermenters. A preferred culture medium for P. methanolica is YEPD (2% D-glucose, 2% Peptone Bacto ™ (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI), 1% Bacto ™ yeast extract (Difco Laboratories), 0.004% adenine and 0.006% L-leucine).

Within one aspect of the present invention, a novel protein is produced by a cultured cell, and the cell is used to detect a receptor or receptors for the protein, including the natural receptor, as well as natural ligand agonists and antagonists.

PROTEIN ISOLATION It is preferred to purify the polypeptides of the present invention to a purity of > 80%, and more preferably at a purity of > 90%, and even more preferably at a purity of > 95%, and particularly preferably is a pharmaceutically pure state, which is greater than 99.9% pure with respect to the contaminating macromolecules, particularly other proteins and nucleic acids, and free of infectious and pyrogenic agents. Preferably, a purified polypeptide is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly other polypeptides of animal origin.

The expressed recombinant polypeptides (or chimeric polypeptides) can be purified using fractionation and / or conditional purification methods and culture media. Precipitation of ammonium sulfate or acid extraction or chaotropa can be used for the fractionation of samples. The exemplary purification steps may include hydroxyapatite. , size exclusion, FPLC and reversible phase high performance liquid chromatography. Suitable media for anion exchange include dextrans derivatives, agarose, cellulose, polyacrylamide, specializing silicas, and what looks like. Preferred are PEI, DEAE, QAE and Q derivatives, and particularly preferably with fast-flowing DEAE Sepharose (Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ). Exemplary chromatographic media include those media that are derivatized with phenyl, butyl or octyl groups, such as Phenyl-Sepharose FF (Pharmacia), Toyopearl butyl 650 (Toso Haas, Montgomeryville, PA), Octyl-Sepharose (Pharmacia) and what is look like; or polyacrylic resins, such as Amberchrom CG 71 (Toso Haas) and what it looks like. Suitable solid supports include glass beads, silica-based resins, cellulosic resins, agarose beads, interconnected agarose beads, polystyrene beads, interconnected polyacrylamide resins, and whatever appears to be insoluble under conditions in which they have been to use These supports can be modified with reactive groups that allow the binding of proteins by amino groups, carboxyl groups, sulfhydryl groups, hydroxyl groups and / or carbohydrate moieties. Examples of coupling chemistries include cyanogenic activation of bromide, N-hydroxysuccinimide activation, epoxide activation, sulfhydryl activation, hydrazide activation, and carboxyl and amino derivatives for carbodiimide coupling chemistry. These and other solid media are well known and widely used in the art, and are available from commercial suppliers. Methods for agglutinating the receptor polypeptides to support the media are well known in the art. The selection of a particular method is a matter of routine design and is determined in part by the properties of the medium of support that is chosen. See, for example, Affini and Chroma tography: Principi is & Methods (Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden, 1988).

The polypeptides of the present invention can be isolated by exploiting their own. For example, immobilized metal ion adsorption chromatography (IMAC) can be used to purify histidine rich proteins. Briefly, a gel is first charged with divalent metal ions to form a chelate (E. Sulkowski, Trends in Biochem 3: 1-7 (1985). Histidine rich proteins are adsorbed to this, matrix with different affinities, depending on the metal ion used, and eluted by competitive elution, lowering the pH, or by the use of strong chelating agents.Other purification methods include the purification of glycosylated proteins by affinity chromatography of the lectin and ion exchange chromatography ( Methods in Enzymol., Vol. 182, "Guide to Protein Purification", M. Deutscher, (ed.), Pp. 529-539 (Acad. Press, San Diego, 1990) Alternatively, a fusion of the polypeptide of iest and an affinity tag (eg, polyhistidine, maltose binding protein, an immunoglobulin domain) can be constructed to facilitate purification.

APPLICATIONS The polypeptide of the present invention has the structural characteristics of a cytokine in the form of a conglomerate of four helices. Generally a protein is characterized as a cytokine by virtue of its solubility and ability to act by cell surface receptors to signal and modulate cell proliferation. Cytokines fall into various tertiary structural fold classes, including cysteine-rich dimer (eg, insulin, PDGF), beta-clover folds (eg, FGF, 11-1), and all four-helix alpha conglomerates. The last ones are characterized by four helices, marked as A, B, C, and D, in a unique top-up-top-down-top, where two rings above link the A and B helices and the helices C and D. See, for example, Manavalan et al. , Journal of Protein Chemi stry 11 (3): 321-31, (1992). The four-helices conglomerate cytokines are sometimes further subdivided into short chain (eg, IL-4, IL-2, GM-CSF) and long chain (eg, TPO, growth hormone, leptin, IL -10), where the latter generally exhibit longer A and D propellers and suspended hoops. From now on we use the term 'cytokine' in synonym with 'cytokine in the form of a conglomerate of four helices'. Helix A of zcytolO includes amino acid residue 35, an isoleucine, up to amino acid residue 49, an isoleucine, also defined by SEQ ID No: 14; helix B includes amino acid 91, a leucine, up to amino acid 105, a threonine, also defined by SEQ ID No: 15; helix C includes amino acid residue 112, a leucine, up to amino acid residue 126, a cystine, also defined by SEQ ID No: 16; helix D includes amino acid residue 158, a valine, up to amino acid residue 172, a methionine, also defined by SEQ ID No: 17.

Human ZcytolO has an intramolecular disulfide bond between Cys33 and Cysl26. The other four cysteines, Cys80, Cysl32, Cys81 and Cysl34, are intuited to form two intramolecular disulfide bonds in the configuration Cys80-Cysl32 and Cys81-Cysl34. The residues that are predicted to be crucial for the structural stability of ZcytolO include Cys33, Cysl26, Cys80, Cysl32, Cysdl and Cysl34. Mutation of any of these residues in any other residue is expected to inactivate the function of ZcytolO.

The structural stability of ZcytolO is also dependent on the maiance of a hydrophobic obverse embedded in the four alpha helices. The residues Ile42, Phe46, Ile49, Leu91, Val94, Phe95, Tyr98, Leull2, Phellß, Ilell9, Leul23, Vall58, Leul62, Leul65, Leul68, Leul69 and Metl72 are ided to be embedded in the protein core and if they are changed, the substituted amino acid residue must be a hydrophobic amino acid.

The residues that are expected to be involved in the agglutination of ZcytolO to the cell surface receptor include Asp57, in the ring suspended between the • helix A and B, and LysldO and G "lul64, of charged residues intended to be exposed on the surface of helix D.

On the surface of the protein, in the .AB ring and areas of the D helix, there is a patch of hydrophobic surface comprising the residues Ile62, Leu71, Ilel67, and Trpl71. These residues can interact with a hydrophobic surface patch on a cell surface receptor.

The human ZcytolO polypeptide of the present invention has approximately 28% Interleukin-10 (IL-10) identity. The ZcytolO mouse polypeptide has approximately 24% identity to human IL-10, and approximately 27% identity to mouse IL-10.

The ZcytolO human polypeptide has approximately 76% identity with the mouse ZcytolO polypeptide.

Helix A of mouse ZcytolO includes an amino acid residue 35, an isoleucine, via amino acid residue 49, an arginine, of SEQ ID NO: 19, also defined by SEQ ID No: 21. Propeller B of ZcytolO of mouse includes an amino acid residue 91, a leucine, by amino acid residue 105, a threonine, of SEQ ID NO: 19, also defined by SEQ ID No: 22. Helix C "of mouse ZcytolO includes a amino acid residue 112, a leucine, by amino acid residue 126, a cysteine, of SEQ ID NO: 19, also defined by SEQ ID No: 23. Helix D of mouse ZcytolO includes an amino acid residue 158, a valine, by amino acid residue 172, a methionine, of SEQ ID NO: 19, also defined by SEQ ID No: 24.

IL-10 is a cytokine that inhibits the production of other cytokines, induces a proliferation and differentiation of activated B lymphocytes, inhibits the replication of HIV-1 and exhibits antagonistic effects on gamma interferon. IL-10 appears to exist as an in-dimer formed from two alpha-helical polypeptide regions related by a 180 ° rotation. See, for example, Znadov et al. , Structure: 3 (6): 591-601 1996). It has been reported that IL-10 is a product of Th2 T-cells, B-cells, keratinocytes and monocytes / macrophages that are capable of modulating a Thl response of T-cells. Such modulation can be achieved by inhibiting cytokine synthesis by Thl-T cells. See, for example, Hus et al. , Int. Immunol. 4: 563 (1992) and D'Andrea et al. , J. Exp. Med. 1 78: H) 42 (1992). It has also been reported that IL-10 inhibits cytokine synthesis by natural killer cells and monocytes / macrophages. See, for example, Hus et al. cited above and Florentino et al. , J. Immunol. 146: 3444 (1991). In addition, it has been found that IL-10 has a protective effect with respect to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In an analysis of the tissue distribution of the mRNA corresponding to this novel DNA, a single transcript is observed at approximately 1.2 kb. Using Multiple Northern blot of Clontech tissue, the human copy is apparent in the trachea, placenta, testes, skin, salivary gland, prostate, thyroid and with less expression is observed in the stomach and pancreas. ZcytolO is expressed in the following mouse tissues: kidney, skeletal muscle, salivary gland, liver and skin.

The tissue specificity of ZcytolO expression suggests that ZcytolO may be a growth and / or maintenance factor in the trachea and salivary glands, stomach, pancreas and muscle; and may be important in local immune responses: Also, the location of the ZcytolO gene on chromosome lq32.2 indicates - that ZcytolO is a growth / differentiation factor or is important in regulating the immune response, such as IL-10.

The present invention also provides reagents that find use in diagnostic applications. A probe comprising the DNA or RNA of ZcytolO or a subsequence thereof can be used to determine if the ZcytolO gene is present on chromosome 1 or if a mutation has occurred.

The present invention also provides reagents with significant therapeutic value. The ZcytolO polypeptide (occurring naturally or recombinantly), fragments thereof, antibodies and anti-idiotype antibodies thereto, together with the compounds identified as having an agglutination affinity to the ZcytolO polypeptide, should be useful in the treatment of conditions associated with an abnormal development or physiology, including an abnormal proliferation, eg, cancerous conditions, or degenerative conditions or altered immunity. ~ Antibodies to the ZcytolO polypeptide can be purified and then administered to the patient. These reagents can be combined for therapeutic use with additional inert or active ingredients, for example, in pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents together with physiologically harmless stabilizers and excipients. These combinations can be sterile filtered and placed in dosage forms by lyophilization in dosing bottles or by storing stabilized aqueous preparations. This invention also contemplates the use of antibodies, agglutinating fragments thereof or single chain antibodies of the antibodies that include forms that are not complement binders.

The amounts of reagents required for effective therapy depend on many different factors, including means of administration, site of action, physiological state of the patient, and other medications that are administered. Therefore, treatment doses should be titrated to optimize, safety and efficacy. Typically, the doses used in vi tro can provide a useful guide to the amounts useful for the intravenous administration of these reagents.The analysis in animals of the effective dose of the treatment of particular disorders provides another predictive indication of the The methods for administration include oral, intravenous, peritoneal, intramuscular, transdermal or administration to the lung or trachea in the form of aerosols by a nebulizer or atomizer.Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include water, saline, buffers to name only The dosage range is ordinarily expected to be from lμg to lOOOμg per kilogram of body weight per day.However, the doses may be higher or lower as can be determined by a medical doctor with ordinary skill in the art. full discussion of the formulations and dosage ranges of the drug or see Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th Ed., (Mack Publishing Co. , Easton, Penn., 1996), and Goodman and Gilman r: The Pharmacological Bases of Therapeutics, 9th Ed. (Pergamon Press 1996).

THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT BASED ON NUCLEIC ACIDS If a mammal has an already mutated ZcytolO gene or lacks it, the ZcytolO gene can be introduced into mammalian cells. In one embodiment, a gene encoding a ZcytolO polypeptide is introduced in vivo into a viral vector. Such vectors include an attenuated or defective DNA virus, such as but not limited to herpes simplex virus (HSV), papillomavirus, Epstein Barr virus (EBV), adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and what looks like. . Defective viruses, which are totally or almost completely devoid of viral genes, are preferred. A defective virus is not ineffective after introduction into a cell. The use of defective viral vectors allows for administration to cells in a specific, localized area, without concern that the vector may infect other cells. Examples of particular vectors include, but are not limited to, defective vector of herpes virus 1 (HSV1) [Kaplitt et al., Molec. Cell. Neurosci. , 2: 320-330 (1991)], an attenuated adenovirus vector, such as the vector described by Stratford-Perricaudet et al., J. Clin. Invest., 90: 626-630 (1992), and an adeno-associated defective viral vector [S mulski et al., J. Virol., 61: 3096-3101 (1987); Samulski et al. J. Virol., 63: 3822-3828 (1989)].

In another embodiment, the gene that can be introduced into a retroviral vector, for example, as described in. Anderson et al., U. U. Patent, A. No. 5,399,346; Mann et al., Cell. 33: 153 (1983); Temin et al., Patent of E. U. A: No. 4,650,764; Temin et al., Patent of E. U. A. No. 4,980,289; Markowitz et al., J. Virol., 62: 1120 (1988); Temin et al., Patent of E. U. A. No. 5,124,263; International Patent Publication No. WO 95/07358, published March 16, 1995 by Dougherty et al., And Blood, 82: 845 (1993). Alternatively, the vector can be introduced by an in vivo liposome using liposomes. Synthetic cationic lipids can be used to prepare liposomes for transfection in vi ve for a gene encoding a marker [Felgner et al. , Proc. Nati Acad. Sci. USA, 84: 7413-7417 (1987); see Mackey et al. , Proc. Na ti. Acad. Sci. USA, 85: 8027-8031 (1988)]. The use of lipofection to introduce exogenous genes into specific organs in vi has certain practical advantages. The action of moving towards the molecular objective of liposomes towards specific cells represents an area of benefit. It is clear that directing transfection to particular cells represents an area of benefit. It is clear that directing transfection to particular cell types is particularly advantageous in a tissue with cellular heterogeneity, such as the pancreas, liver, kidney, and brain. Lipids can be chemically coupled to other molecules for the purpose of going towards the target. The target peptides, eg, hormones or neurotransmitters, and proteins such as antibodies, or non-peptide molecules can be chemically coupled to the liposomes. Other liposomes can also be administered as a spray in the lung or trachea using an atomizer or nebulizer.

It is possible to remove the cells from the body and introduce a vector as a plasmid of naked DNA and then re-implant the transformed cells in the body. The naked vector of DNA for gene therapy can be introduced into the desired host cells by methods known in the art, for example, transfection, electroporation, microinjection, transduction, cell fusion, DEAE dextran, calcium phosphate precipitation, the use of a gene gun or the use of a DNA vector transporter [see, for example, Wu et al. , J. Bi ol. Chem. , 267: 963-967 (1992); Wu et al. , J. Bi ol. Chem. , 263: 14621-14624 (1988)].

The ZcytolO polypeptides can also be used to prepare antibodies that specifically bind ZcytolO polypeptides. These antibodies can then be used to make anti-idiotype antibodies. As used herein, the term "antibodies" includes polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, fragments agglutinating antigens thereof such as F (ab ') 2 and Fab fragments, and what looks like, including genetically engineered antibodies. antibodies to be specifically agglutinating that bind to a ZcytolO polypeptide with a Ka greater than or equal to 107 / M. The affinity of a monoclonal antibody can be readily determined by one skilled in the art (see, for example, Scatchard, ibid.) .

Methods for preparing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are well known in the art (see for example, Sambrook et al., Mol ecul ar Cloning: A-Z.ajbo-rato.ry Manual, Second Edi tion (Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 1989) and Hurrell, JG ~ R. Ed., Monoclonal Hybridoma Antibodies: Techniques and Applications (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL, 1982), which are incorporated herein for reference). As is clear to one skilled in the art, polyclonal antibodies can be generated from a variety of warm-blooded animals such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, dogs, chickens, rabbits, mice, and rats. The immunogenicity of a ZcytolO polypeptide can be increased by the use of an adjuvant or adjuvant such as Freund's complete or incomplete adjuvant. A variety of assays that are known to those of skill in the art can be used to detect antibodies that specifically agglutinate ZcytolO polypeptides. Exemplary titers are described in detail in Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane (Eds.), (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1988).

Representative examples of such evaluations include: concurrent immunoelectrophoresis, radioimmunoassays, radioimmunoprecipitations, titers in an enzyme-linked absorber (ELISA), spot transfer ratings, inhibition or competition ratings, and sandwich ratings.

Antibodies to ZcytolO can be used to label cells expressing for the protein, for purification of affinity, within diagnostic assessments to determine the circulating levels of soluble protein polypeptides, and as antagonists to block ligand agglutination and transduction of the sign in vi tro and in vi vo.

Within another aspect of the present invention there is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a purified ZcytolO polypeptide in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such compositions may be useful for modulating cell proliferation, cell differentiation or cytokine production in the prevention or treatment of conditions characterized by improper cell proliferation, cellular or cell differentiation. Cytokine production, as well as discussed here. Moreover, the ZcytolO polypeptides of the present invention can be used in specific applications of trachea or specific trachea and bronchi, such as in the • Maintenance of repair of tracheobronchial epithelial wounds or underlying cells thereof, in regulating the production of mucus or mucociliary depuration of particles with the treatment of asthma, bronchitis or other diseases of the tracheobronchial tract. It is expected that the ZcytolO polypeptide will be administered at a dose ranging between the same doses used in the ZcytolO-Fc structure at doses 100 times higher, depending on the stability of the ZcytolO polypeptide. The therapeutic doses of ZcytolO have a range from 5 to 5000 μg / kg / day.

The ZcytolO polypeptide of the present invention is highly expressed in the salivary gland and in the trachea and has been found in saliva by Western blot analysis. The salivary glands synthesize and secrete a variety of proteins that have diverse biological functions. Such proteins facilitate the lubrication of the oral cavity (eg, mucins and proline-rich proteins), remineralization (eg, staterin, proline-rich ionic proteins) and digestion (eg emply, amylase, lipase and proteases) and provide antimicrobials (eg, proline-rich proteins, lysozyme, histatins and lactoperoxidase) and maintenance of mucosal integrity (eg, mucins). rich source for growth factors synthesized by the salivary glands For example, it is known that saliva contains an epidermal growth factor (EDF), nerve growth factor (NGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-a) , transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß), insulin, insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) See, for example, Zelles et al., J. Dental, Res. 74 ( 12): 1826-32, 1995. The synthesis of growth factors by the salivary gland is believed to be androgen-dependent and is necessary for the health of the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract.

Therefore, ZcytolO polypeptides, agonists or antagonists thereof may be therapeutically useful in the regeneration of the gastrointestinal tract or oral cavity. To verify this presence of this ability of the ZcytolO polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the present invention, such as ZcytolO polypeptides, agonists or antagonists are evaluated with respect to their ability to unfold starch according to methods that are known in the art. ZcytolO polypeptides, agonists or antagonists thereof may be useful in the treatment of asthma and other diseases of the tracheobronchial tract, such as bronchitis and those that resemble, by intervening in the cross-regulation of Thl and Th2 lymphocytes, regulation of the growth, differentiation and production of cytokines from other cellular mediators of inflammation, such as eosinophils, mast cells, basophils, neutrophils and macrophages ZcytolO polypeptides, agonists or antagonists thereof can also modulate muscle tone in the tracheobronchial tract.

The ZcytolO polypeptides can also be used to treat a variety of skin conditions either systematically or locally when placed in a cream or ointment, eg exema, psoriasis or dry skin conditions in general or skin-related care. The ZcytolO polypeptide can also be injected directly into the muscle to treat muscle atrophy in the elderly, the sick or bedridden.

Hybrid planimetry by "radiation is a genetic technique of somatic cells developed to construct contiguous high-resolution maps of mammalian chromosomes [Cox et al., Sci ence, 250: 245-250 (1990)]. Partial or total knowledge of the The sequence of the gene allows for the design of PCR primers suitable for use with panels for hybrid planimetry by chromosomal radiation.The commercially available radiation hybrid planimetry panels covering the entire human genome, such as the Stanford G3 RH Panel and the GeneBridge 4 RH Panel (Research Genetics, Inc., Hutsville, AL), are available.These panels allow rapid chromosomal and PCR-based locations and gene sorting, tagged sequence sites (STSs), and other polymorphic and non-polymorphic markers. within a region of interest, this includes establishing directly proportional physical distances between the genes just discovered s of interest and previously drawn markers. Accurate knowledge of a position of a gene can be useful in a variety of ways including: 1) determining whether a sequence is part of an existing contig and obtaining additional surrounding genetic sequences in various forms such as YAC-, BAC or cDNA clones , 2) "provide a possible gene candidate for an inheritable disease that shows a binding to the same chromosomal region, and 3) to cross-reference the model organisms such as the mouse that may be beneficial to help, determine which function You can have a particular gene.

The results showed that the gene maps of ZcytolO 889.26 cR_3000 from the top of binding group 1 of the human chromosome on the hybrid WICGR radiation map. The proximal and distal picture markers are D1S504 and WI-9641 (D1S2427), respectively. The use of surrounding markers places the ZcytolO gene in the lq32.2 region on the integrated LDB map of chromosome 1 ((The Genetic Location Datábase, University of Southhampton, WWW Server: http://cedar.genetics.soton.ac.uk / public htlm /). Several genes have been traced to the lq32.2 region of chromosome 1. In particular, mutations in this region have been found to result in the van der Woude syndrome, associated with the malformation of the inferior side that Therefore, the ZcytolO gene, which is expressed in the salivary gland, can be used in the gene therapy of this syndrome.If a mammal has a ZcytolO gene that has mutated or lacks this , the ZcytolO gene can be introduced into the cells of the mammal.

Another aspect of the present invention involves antisense polynucleotide compositions that are complementary to a polynucleotide segment set forth in SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 18 and 33. Such synthetic antisense oligonucleotides are designed to bind to the mRNA encoding the ZcytolO polypeptides. and inhibits the translation of this .ARNm. Such antisense oligonucleotides are useful for inhibiting the expression of the genes encoding the ZcytolO polypeptide in cell cultures or in a subject.

The present invention also provides reagents that find use in diagnostic applications. For example, the ZcytolO gene, a probe comprising a ZcytolO DNA or RNA or a subsequence thereof can be used to determine if the ZcytolO gene is present on chromosome 1 or if a mutation has occurred. Chromosome 1 aberrations that can be detected at the ZcytolO gene site include but are not limited to aneuploidy, changes in the number of gene copies, insertions, deletions (of injuries), changes and reconfigurations in the restriction sites. Such aberrations can be detected using the polynucleotides of the present invention when employing molecular genetic techniques, such as fragment length restriction polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, row repeat (STR) short analysis using PCR techniques, and other genetic binding analysis techniques that are known in the art [Sambrook et al. , ibi d.; Ausubel, et al. , ibid.; Marian A. J., Ches t, 1 08: 255-265, (1995)].Those skilled in the art recognize that the sequences described in SEQ ID Nos: 2, 4, 12, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34 and 35 represent unique alleles of the human and mouse ZcytolO genes and polypeptides, and that allelic variation and alternative splicing are expected to occur. Allelic variants can be cloned by probing the cDNA or libraries from different individuals according to conventional procedures. Allelic variants of the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID Nos: 1, 3, 18 and 33 include those that contain silent mutations and those in which the mutations result in amino acid sequence changes, and which are within of the scope of the present invention.

The sequence of ZcytolO has 7 motifs of message instability and in the 3 'untranslated region of positions 706, 813, 855 and 906 of SEQ ID No: 1. The treatment of cells expressing for ZcytolO with cycloheximide can alleviate this message instability. See Shaw, G. et al. , Cell, 46: 659-667 (1986). In addition, the 3'-untranslated region rich in AT can be genetically altered or removed to further promote stability in the message.

USE OF THE ZCYTO10 TO PROMOTE WOUND HEALING The data of Example 4 show that ZcytolO plays a role in wound healing. Therefore, the ZcytolO can be applied to a wound or burn to promote wound healing. ZcytolO can be administered systemically in a dose from 1 to 100 μg per kilogram of weight of the individual. The ZcytolO can also be applied to a wound by means of a balm or ointment that contains from Ing to Img ZcytolO per gram of balsam or ointment. See Remington 's Pharmaceutical Sci ences, 18th Ed., (Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Penn., 1996). The ZcytolO should be placed in a clean wound daily until the scar has healed.

UTILIZATION OF ZCYTO10 TO INCREASE THE PLATELET COUNTING As can be seen later in Example 7, we have discovered that ZcytolO can be used to increase platelet count. This is especially important for cancer patients who experience thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy or therapy to increase the platelet count. This is especially important for cancer patients who experience thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. ZcytolO can be shown therapeutically within a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention is further illustrated by the non-limiting examples.

Example 1 Cloning of ZcytolO The full-length sequence of ZcytolOxl (the longer form) and Zcytol0x2 (the shortest form) is elucidated by using RACE® in the 3 'direction and subjecting two fragments generated to sequence (SEQ ID No: 10 and SEQ ID No : 11), then artificially splicing together with a computer the sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 5 with the overlapping sequence of the two 3 'race fragments.

An oligo, zcl5907 (SEQ ID No: 6) is designed in the area just in the direction (5 ') of the putative methionine for ZcytolO. Further towards the 3 'direction, another oligo, zcl5906 (SEQ ID No: 7), is designed in the area just 5' from the site of the splitting of the signal sequence. These oligos are used in the 3 'RACE reactions in the human trachea marathon cDNA. ZC15907 was used in the primary reaction of the 3 'run and zcl5906 was used in the hosted reaction of the 3' run. The MARATHON cDNA was made using the Amplification Attachment Set of the cDNA Marathon (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions, starting with a human trachea mRNA purchased from Clontech.

PCR reactions were started according to the manufacturer's instructions in the cDNA Marathon Amplification Attachment Kit with some modification in the parameters of the thermal delation. The delation parameters used in the primary PCR reaction are:94 ° C 1 min 30 sec lx 94 ° C 15 sec 68 ° C lmin 30x 72 ° C 7min Ix The parameters of delation that are used in the hosted PCR reaction where: 94 ° C 1 min 30 sec lx, 94 ° C 15 sec 68 ° C Imin 20 sec, 30X 72 ° C 7min Ix.

The resulting products were carried out in a 1.2% agarose gel (Gibco agarose) and two main bands, approximately 80 bp apart, were observed. The bands were trimmed and the gel was purified using QI.AEX ™ resin (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. These fragments were then subjected to sequencing, allowing the total length of the ZcytolO sequence to be distinguished.

Example 2 Northern Transfer Analysis Multiple human tissue transfers I, II, III and a Master Spot Transfer of RNA (Clontech) were probed to determine the distribution of zcytolO in the tissue. A 45-mer antisense oligo, SEQ ID No: 9, is designed using the sequence est (SEQ ID No: 5 bp 100-145) and is used for the probe.

They were labeled at the 15pm end of SEQ ID No: 9 with 32P using a T4 polynucleotide kinase (Gibco-BRL). The labeling reaction contains 2 μl 5X kinase reaction buffer (Gibco-BRL), T4 kinase luí, 15pm SEQ ID No: 9, 6000 Ci / mmol 32r gamma-ATP (Amersham) and water to lOul. The reaction is incubated for 30 minutes at 37 ° C. The unincorporated radioactivity was removed with a NucTrap Purification Probe Column (Stratagene). Northerns multiple tissue transfers and the Master Transfer of .RNA (Clontech) are • pre-hybridized at 50 ° C for 3 hours in lOml of ExpressHyb (Clontech) containing lmg of salmon sperm DNA and 0.3mg of cotin human .ADN (Gibco-BRL), both boiled for 3 minutes, frozen for 2 minutes and then added to ExpressHyb. Hybridization was carried out overnight at 50 ° C. The initial wash conditions were as follows: 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS RT for 40 minutes with several wash solution changes, then IX SSC, 0.1% SDS at 64 ° C (Tm-10) for 30 minutes. Then the filters were exposed to the film for two days.

The expression of zcytolO in the northern blots reveals that approximately a band of 1.2kb in the expression of the zcytolO in the northern blots reveals that approximately a band of 1.2kb in the trachea, a weak band of 1.5kb in the stomach and more bands weak on both sides of the pancreas. Blot blots show the presence of zcytolO in the trachea, salivary gland, placenta, testes, skin, prostate gland, adrenal gland and thyroid gland.

In the mouse it was found in the kidney, skeletal muscle, salivary gland, liver and skin.

Example 3 Subject and Chromosomal Placement of ZcytolO ZcytolO was mapped to chromosome 1 using the commercially available version of the 'Stanford G3 Hybrid Radiation Planimetry Panel' (Research Genetics, Inc., Huntsville, AL) .The 'Stanford G3 RH Panel' contains cDNAs that can be PCR-tested for each one of the 83 hybrid radiation clones of the complete human genome, plus two control DNAs (the RM donor and the A3 receptor). A publicly available WWW server (http; // shgc- www.stanford.edu) allows the chromosomal localization of the markers.

For the ZcytolO planimetry with the 'Stanford G3 RH Panel', 20μl reactions were configured in a 96-well PCRable microtiter plate (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) and used in a 'RoboCycler Gradient 96' thermal cycler (Stratagene ). Each of the 85 PCR reactions consists of 2μl of 10X of a KlenTaq PCR reaction buffer (CLONTECH Laboratories, Inc., Palo Alto, CA), 1.6μl of an NTPs mixture (2.5mM each, PERKIN-ELMER, Foster City, CA), 1 μl of a sense primer, SEQ ID No: 6, 5 'ATT CTT AGC TCC TGT GGT CTC CAG 3', 1 μl of an antisense primer (SEQ ID No. 8) 5 'TCC CAA ATT GAG TGT CTT CAG T 3 ', 2 μl of' RediLoad "(Research Genetics, Inc., _Huntesville, AL), 0. 4 μl of 50X Advantage KlenTaq Polymerase Mix (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), 25ng of DNA from a single hybrid clone or a control and x μl ddH20 for a total volume of 20 μl. the reactions were coated with an equal amount of mineral oil and sealed. The conditions of the PCR cycler were as follows: an initial denaturation of a cycle of 5 minutes at 95 ° C, a denaturation of 35 cycles for 1 minute at 95 ° C, a fixation for 1 minute at 66 ° C and an extension of 1.5 minutes at 72 ° C, followed by a final extension of one cycle for 7 minutes at 72 ° C. The reactions were separated by electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gel (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD).

The results show a ZcytolO ligation to the frame grantor SHGC-36215 with an LOD score > 10 and at a distance of 14.67cR 10000 from the marker. The use of surrounding markers at the ZcytolO positions in the lq32.2 region on the integrated LDB map of chromosome 1 (The Genetic Location Database, University of Southhampton, WWW server: http: // cedar.genetics.soton ac. uk / public html).

Example 4 Use of ZcytolO to Promote Wound Cicatrization Normal adult females of Balb / C mice are used in the present study. They were housed in animal care facilities with a light / dark cycle of 12 hours, were given water and food for laboratory rodents ad libi tum during the study. They were individually caged from the day of surgery.

On the day of surgery, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine (Vetalar, Aveco Inc., Ft. Dodge, IA) 104mg / kg plus Xylazine (Rompun, Mobey Corp., Shawnee, KS) 7 mg / kg in a saline solution sterile phosphate (0.2μ -filtrated) (PBS) by an intraperitoneal injection. The hair was trimmed on their backs and the skin was shaved with NAIR® (Carter-Wallace, New York, NY), and then rinsed with water.A 100% aloe vera gel was applied to counteract the alkaline burn of the skin. treatment with NAIR®, then the animals were placed in thermal pads of circulating water until the surrounding skin and hair was dry.

The animals were then anaesthetized with methophane (Pittman Moore, Mundelein, NJ) and the depilated back was cleaned with 70% ethanol. Four excisions were made, each 0.5-cm square across the skin and the panniculus carnosus over the paravertebral area at the level of the thoracic-lumbar vertebra. The surrounding depilated wounds and skin were covered with an adhesive, a semi-permeable occlusive coating, BIOCLUSIVE® (Johnson &Johnson, Ariington, TX). The cut edge of the excision was plotted with BIOCLUSIVE® in an acetate transparency for a later evaluation of the closure parameters.

The control skin and the injured skin were processed at different time points (7 hours, 15 hours and 24 hours) using the Qiagen RNeasy Midi implement set. In short, the skin (control and wound areas) is peeled and homogenized in an appropriate volume of lysis buffer (RLT). The lysates are rotated to remove the remains of tissue from an equal volume of 70% ethanol is added to the lysed products; they mix well and are loaded in a column.

The samples are centrifuged for 5 minutes and washed once with 3.8 ml of a RW1 buffer, then twice with RPE (2.5 ml each). The total of 7? RN is eluted with Rnasa-free water. The level of expression for the skin samples was quantified using real-time PCR. (Sequence Detector Perkin Elmer 7? BI Prism 7700).

The experiment is designed with a control without template, a conventional arrangement and skin samples. Total mouse kidney RNA is used for the conventional curve. Three sets of total skin RNAs (25 ng) were used in this experiment for seven hours (control and wound); for 15 hours (control and injured), for 24 hours (control and injured). Each sample was made in triplicate by one-step RT-PCR in the 7700 sequence detector. The internal forward primer SEQ ID NO: 36, the reversible primer SEQ ID NO: 37, and the TaqMan probe ~ Perkin Elmer (ZG- 7-F7? M) were used in this experiment. The one-step RT-PCR condition is as follows: (Step RT) 48oC for 30 minutes, (40 cycles PCR step), 95oC for 10 minutes, 95oC for 15 seconds, 60oC for 1 minute.

The level of expression of cytolO in the control skin samples at 7 hours and at 3 hours were comparable to 2.46 ng / ml and 2.61 ng / ml respectively. From the control sample of the skin at 24 hours, the level of expression of ZcytolO was 0. The level of cytolO expression of the wound skin at 7 hours was 5.17 ng / ml (an increase of more than two times compared to the control sample). The level of cytolO expression of the wounded skin at 15 hours was 14.45 ng / ml (an increase of 5.5 times compared to that of the control sample). The cytolO expression level of the wound skin 24 hours was 5.89 ng / ml. A repeated experiment also included a negative control (yeast tRNA) gave a similar result trend of the yeast tRNA was almost zero. The result suggests that the amplification was real and specific for the mouse.

These data suggest that ZcytolO plays a role in wound repair due to the level of expression of ZcytolO in wounded tissue was greater compared to that of the control sample and increased and decreased after a time. Therefore, ZcytolO can be applied to wounds to promote wound healing.

Example 5 Transgenic Mouse Transgenic mice are produced that express ZcytolO, either under the producer of albumin or of etalothionin. At birth, several of the mice had a lustrous appearance and had limited movement.

The skin of these mice was tight and wrinkled, several of them also had a hair like a whisker on the lower lip. The areas of the mouth and nostrils, extremities and tail were swollen.

In the transgenic mouse, in which the albumin promoter was used, it survived until the third day and had a severely retarded growth. There was no development of the ear and the development of the feet was diminished. All animals were sacrificed when they were dying on days 1, 2 or 3. Samples were collected from the tails and the liver, and fixed in situ in 10% neutral formalin embedded in paraffin, and sectioned at 3 microns and were stained with H &E; All mice in this transgenic phenotype have a low or high expression of ZcytolO.

No significant changes were observed in most of the tissues, except in the skin. The skin of the offspring that express for ZcytolO, particularly those mice that had a high level of expression of ZcytolO, tends to be thicker than the offspring that did not express. The stratum granulosus in these pups appears to be reduced in thickness compared to the pups that did not express, while the spiny layer was thicker due to an increase in cell layers and / or increase in cell diameter.

In addition to the changes in the epidermis, the dermis of a mouse that had an average expression of ZcytolO was focally moderately expanded by mucin material.

Example 6 Purification of ZcytolO from a Cell Culture Medium The ZcytolO produced by CHO cells was isolated from the cell culture medium using a two-step method involving cation exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography.

A. Passage of Cationic Exchange Chromatography Used materials.

Column (AMICON) 2.2 cm in diameter (D) x 6 cm high (H) packed with a cation exchange resin SP-650M, which is a TOYOPEARL ion exchange resin that has sulfopropyl groups (SP) bound together covalent Fifteen (15) liters of a culture medium of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells are transfected with a plasmid containing Zcytol O. The pH of the culture medium was adjusted to pH 5 with 2N HCl. The packed column described above was equilibrated with 50 mM sodium acetate, NaAc, pH 5.0. The culture medium was loaded onto the column at a rate of 20 column volumes (cv) / hr at approximately 8 ml / minute. When the load was finished, the column was washed with 10 hp of 50 mM NaAc, pH 5.0. Then the column material was eluted with a gradient of 20 CV NaCl in 50mM NaAc, pH 5.0. The NaCl gradient ranged from 0 to 0.5 M NaCl. This concentrates the material in the culture medium from 15 liters to 170 ml.

The resulting 170 ml crop was further concentrated to about 5 ml with a centrifugal concentrator of a limit of 5 thousand rounds (Millipore, Inc. Bedfore, MA).

B. Gel Filtration Step for size exclusion (S-100).

Used materials. Column of 1.6 cm. (diameter) x 93 cm (height). S-100 Gel (Pharmacia, Piscataway, NJ) The 5 ml crop is then loaded into the column previously described which contains S-100 gel. The column was equilibrated with 5X of buffered phosphate buffered saline to bring the pH of the column to about 7.0. ZcytolO was isolated from the contaminants using IX PBS at a flow rate of 1.5 ml / min. The increments of 2 ml were collected. The ZcytolO polypeptide came out in fractions 52-64 in approximately 90 minutes after the elution had started, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS) which were stained with Coomassie Blue. The gel reveals a predicted molecular weight band of approximately 14 kDa.

Example 7 Cloning of Murine ZcytolO The 5 'PCR primer from MARATHON RACETM is carried out (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) of the set of primers of SEQ ID NO: 38 attached to a MARATHON TM API adapter, housed in SEQ ID NO: 39 attached to the AP2 adapter MARATHON TM with a set of 3 'MARATHON RACE TM primers of SEQ ID NO: 40 attached to the MARATHON RACETM API adapter, housed in SEQ ID NO: 41 housed in the MARATHON RACETM AP2 adapter and 5' and 3 'in the cDNA of mouse skin MARATHON RACETM. Various fragments belong to these reactions, they are purified and sequenced in gel, allowing the elucidation of the total length of the mouse zcytolO coding sequence plus some 5 'and 3' UTR sequences. Two variants of murine ZcytolO are discovered, namely SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 19, and SEQ ID NOs: 33 and 34. The clones are amplified by PCR using primers of SEQ ID NOs: 42 and 43.

Example 8 Administration with ZcytolO-Adenovirus to Normal Mouse ZcytolO is administered by an adenovirus containing the Zcytol O gene. There are three groups of mice as described below. The adenovirus is injected intravenously into female and male C57B1 / 6 mice. All mice received bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in their drinking water for three days before slaughter. This would allow the detection of cell proliferation by cytological methods. The parameters that are quantified include weight change, total blood counts, serum chemistry, histology, organ weight and cell proliferation by BrdU. Ex erimental Design Results The most dramatic effect was a significant increase in platelet count observed in female and male mice treated with ZcytolO adenovirus compared to the control lacking adenovirus. This is accompanied in male mice by a decrease in hematocrit and an increase in the weight of the spleen and liver. The weight of the thymus was also decreased in males. In contrast, females treated with ZcytolO-adenovirus showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts which consisted primarily of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts compared to the control lacking the virus. These results suggest that hematopoiesis is carried out by means of treatment with ZcytolO, but except for the increased platelet count carried out by both sexes, other effects are specific to sex.

Other effects include the following: The glucose levels in the females were lower in the treated groups while those in the males did not show a significant change.

The blood nitrogen of urea (BUN) was higher in both the males and the females of the treated groups.

The alkaline phosphatase in the females was higher in the treated group, while the males did not show a significant change. ~~ The platelet counts were higher, both in the females and males of the treated groups.

The total counts of white blood cells in the females (WBC) were higher in the treated groups, while the males did not show a significant change.

LIST OF SEQUENCES < 110 > ZymoGenetics. Inc. < 120 > POLYPEPTIDE-10 OF MAMMALS SIMILAR TO THE CITO < 130 > 97-72PC < 160 > 43 < 170 > FastSEQ for • Windows Version 3. 0 < 210 > 1 < 211 > 926 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 220 > < 221 > CDS < 222 > (Four. Five) . (572) < 400 > 1 ctttgaattc ctagctcctg tggtctccag atttcaggcc taag atg aaa gcc tet 56 Met Lys Ala Ser 1 agt ett gcc ttc age ett ctc tet gct gcg ttt tat ctc cta tgg act 104 Ser Leu Ala Phe Ser Leu Leu Ser Ala Ala Phe Tyr Leu Leu Trp Thr 5 10 15 20 cct tcc act gga ctg aag a ctc aat ttg gga age-tgt gtg atc gcc 152 Pro Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Wing 25 30 35 here aac ett cag gaa ata cga aat gga ttt tet gac ata cgg ggc agt 200 Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He Arg Gly Ser 40 45 50 gtg ca gcc aaa gat gga aac att gac atc aga atc tta agg agg act 248 Val Gln Ala L? s Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg Arg Thr 55 60 65 gag tet ttg caa gac here aag cct gcg aat cga tgc tgc ctc ctg cgc 296 Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu Leu Arg 70 75 80 cat ttg cta aga ctc tat ctg gac agg gta ttt aaa aac tac cag acc 344 His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr 85 90 95 100 cct gac cat tat act ctc cgg aag atc age age ctc gcc aat tcc ttt 392 Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys lie Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe 105 110 115 ett acc atc aag aag gac ctc cgg ctc tgt cat gcc cac atg here tgc 440 Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys His Wing His Met Thr Cys 120 125 130 cat tgt ggg gag gaa gca atg aag aaa tac age cag att ctg agt cac 488 His Cys Gly Glu Glu Wing Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln He Leu Ser His 135 140 145 ttt gaa aag ctg gaa cct cag gca gca gtt gtg aag gct ttg ggg gaa 536 Phe Glu Lys Leu Glu Pro Gln Wing Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly Glu 150 155 160 cta gac att ett ctg cag tgg atg gag gag here gaa taggaggaaa 582 Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp Met Glu Glu Thr Glu 165 170 175 gtgatgctgc tgctaagaat attcgaggtc aagageteca gtcttcaata cctgcagagg 642 aggcatgacc ccaaaccacc atetetttac tgtactagtc ttgtgctggt cacagtgtat 702 cttatttatg cattacttgc tteettgeat gattgtettt atgcatcccc aatettaatt 762 gagaccata c ttgtataaga tttttgtaat atctttctgc tattggatat atttattagt 822 taatatattt atttattttt tgetattaat gtatttaatt ttttaettgg gcatgaaact 882 ttaaaaaaaa ttcacaagat tatatttata acctgactag agea 926 < 210 > 2 < 211 > 176 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 2 Met Lys Wing Ser Ser Leu Wing Phe Ser Leu Leu Wing Wing Phe Tyr 1 5 '10 15 Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser 20 25 30 Cys Val He Wing Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp 35 40 45 He Arg Gly Ser Val Gln Wing Lys Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He 50 55 60 Leu Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn • »* £ Arg Cys 65 70 75 80 Cys Leu Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys 85 90 95 Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys lie Ser Ser Leu - 100 105 110 Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys His Wing 115 120 125 His Met Thr Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln 130 135 140 He Leu Ser His Phe Glu Lys Leu Glu Pro Gln Ala Ala Val Val Lys 145 150 155 160 Wing Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp Met Glu Glu Thr Glu 165 170 175 < 210 > 3 < 211 > 793 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 220 > < 221 > CDS < 222 > (45) ... (497) < 400 > 3 ctttgaattc ctagctcctg tggtctccag atttcaggcc taag atg aaa gcc tet 56 Met Lys Ala Ser 1 agt ett gcc ttc age ett ctc tet gct gcg ttt tat.ctc cta tgg act 104 Be Leu Wing Phe Be Leu Leu Be Wing Wing Phe Tyr Leu Leu Trp Thr 5 10 15 20 cct tcc act gga ctg aag here ctc aat ttg gga age tgt gtg atc gcc 152 Pro Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Ala 25 30 35 here aac ett cag gaa ata cga aat gga ttt tet gac ata cgg ggc agt 200 Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He Arg Gly Ser 40 45 50 gtg ca gcc aaa gat gga aac att gac atc aga atc tta agg agg act 248 Val Gln Wing Lys Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg Arg Thr 55 60 65 gag tet ttg caa gac here aag cct gcg aat cga tgc tgc ctc ctg cgc 296 Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu Leu Arg 70 75 80 cat ttg cta aga ctc tat ctg gac agg gta ttt aaa aac tac cag acc 344 His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr 85 90 95 100 cct gac cat tat act ctc cgg aag atc age age ctc gcc aat tcc ttt 392 Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe 105 110 115 ett acc atc aag aag gac ctc cgg ctc tgt ctg gaa cct cag gca gca 440 Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Glu Pro Gln Ala Wing 120 125 130 gtt gtg aag gct ttg ggg gaa cta gac att ett ctg cag tgg atg gag 488 Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp Met Glu 135 140 145 gag here gaa taggaggaaa gtgatgctgc tgctaagaat attcgaggtc 537 Glu Glu Thr 150 gtcttcaata aagageteca cctgcagagg aggcatgacc ccaaaccacc atetetttac 597 tgtactagtc ttgtgctggt cacagtgtat cttatttatg cattacttgc tteettgeat 657 gattgtettt atgcatcccc aatettaatt gagaccatac 'ttgtataaga tttttgtaat 717 atctttctgc tattggatat atttattagt taatatattt atttattttt tgetattaat gtatttaatt ttttac 777 793 < 210 > 4 < 211 > 151 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 4 Met Lys Wing Being Ser Leu Wing Phe Being Leu Leu Being Wing Wing Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser 20 25 30 Cys Val He Wing Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp 35 40 45 He Arg Gly Ser Val Gln Ala Lys Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He 50 55 60 Leu Arg Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys 65 70 75 80 Cys Leu Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys 85 90 95 Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu 100 105 110 Wing Asn Being Phe Leu Thr lie Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Glu 115 120 125 Pro Gln Wing Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu 130 135 140 Gln Trp Met Glu Glu Thr Glu 145 150 < 210 > 5 < 211 > 253 • < 2i2 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens - < 400 > 5 atttcaggcc ctttgaattc ctagctcctg tggtctccag taagatgaaa gcctctagtc 60 ttgccttcag ccttctctct gctgcgtttt atctcctatg gactccttcc actggactga 120 agacactcaa tttgggaagc tgtgtgatcg ccacaaacct tcaggaaata cgaaatggat 180 tttctgagat acggggcagt gtgcaagcca aagatggaaa cattgacatc agaatettaa ggaggactga 240 253 gtc < 210 > 6 < 211 > ? 4 < 212 > - ^ N < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 6 attectaget cctgtggtct ccag 24 < 210 > 7 < 211 > 25 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 7 ctctgctgcg ttttatctcc tatgg 25 < 210 > 8 < 211 > 22 < 212 > DNA! < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 8 tcccaaattg agtgtcttca gt 22 < 210 > 9 < 211 > 45 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 9 cacagcttcc caaattgagt gtcttcagtc cagtggaagg agtcc 45 < 210 > 10 < 211 > 747 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 10 ttttctgaca tacggggcag tgtgcaagcc aaagatggaa acattgacat cagaatetta 60 aggaggactg agtctttgca agacacaaag cctgcgaatc gatgctgcct cctgcgccat 120 ttgctaagac tctatctgga cagggtattt aaaaactacc agacccctga ccattatact 180 ctccggaaga tcagcagcct cgccaattcc tttettacca tcaagaagga cctccggctc 240 tgtcatgccc acatgacatg ccattgtggg gaggaageaa tgaagaaata cagccagatt 300 ctgagtcact ttgaaaagct ggaacctcag gcagcagttg tgaaggcttt gggggaacta 360 gacattette tgcaatggat ggaggagaca gaataggagg aaagtgatgc tgctgctaag 420 aatattcgag gtcaagaget ccagtcttca atacctgcag aggaggcatg accccaaacc 480 accatctctt tactgtacta gtcttgtgct ggtcacagtg tatettattt atgcattact '540 tgcttccttg catgattgtc tttatgeate attgagacca cccaatctta tacttgtata 600 agatttttgt aatatctttc tgctattgga tatatttatt agttaatata tttatttatt 660 ttttgctatt aatgtattta tgggcatgaa attttttact actttaaaaa aaatteacaa 720 747 gattatattt ataacctgac tagagea < 210 > 11 < 211 > 614 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 11 ttttctgaca tacggggcag tgtgcaagcc aaagatggaa acattgacat cagaatetta 60 aggaggactg agtctttgca agacacaaag cctgcgaatc gatgctgcct cctgcgccat 120 ttgctaagac tctatctgga cagggtattt aaaaactacc agacccctga ccattatact 180 ctccggaaga tcagcagcct cgcéaattcc tttcttacca tcaagaagga cctccggctc 240 tgtctggaac ctcaggcagc agttgtgaag gctttggggg aactagacat tcttctgcaa 300 tggatggagg agacagaata ggaggaaagt gatgctgctg ctaagaatat tcgaggtcaa 360 gagctccagt cttcaatacc tgcagaggag gcatgacccc aaaccaccat ctctttactg 420 tactagtctt gtgctggtca cagtgtatct tatttatgca ttacttgctt ccttgcatga 480 ttgtctttat gcatccccaa tcttaattga gaccatactt gtataagatt tttgtaatat 540 ctttctgcta ttggatatat ttattagtta atatatttat ttattttttg ctattaatgt 600 atttaatttt ttac 614 < 210 > 12 < 211 > 152 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 12 Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Wing Thr Asn Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Be Asp He Arg Gly Be Val Gln Wing Lys 20 25 30 Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu Glri 35 40-45 Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg 50 55 60 Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Arg Lys He Be Ser Leu Wing Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys 85 90 95 Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys His Wing His Met Thr Cys His Cys Gly Glu 100 105 110 Glu Wing Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln He Leu Ser His Phe Glu Lys Leu 115 120 125 Glu Pro Gln Wing Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu 130 135 140 Leu Gln Trp Met Glu Glu Thr Glu 145 150 <; 210 > 13 < 211 > 127 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 13 Leu Lys Thr Leu Asn Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Wing Thr Asn Leu G n 1"5 10 15 Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He Arg Gly Ser Val Gln Ala Lys20 25 30 Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg Arg Thr Glu Be Leu Gln 40 45 Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg 50 55 60 Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Arg Lys I Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys 85 90 95 Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys Leu Glu Pro Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys Wing 100 105 110 Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp Met Glu Glu Thru Glu 115 120 125 < 210 > 14 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 14 He Ala Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 15 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 15 Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 16 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 16 Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 17 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 17 Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp Met 1 '5 10 15 < 210 > 18 < 211 > 824 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus musculus < 220 > < 221 > CDS < 222 > (71) ... (598) < 400 > 18 tgggagacat cgatagccct gattgatctc tttgaatttt cgcttctggt ctccaggatc 60 taggtgtaag atg aaa ggc ttt ggt ett gcc ttt gga ctg ttc tcc gcc 109 Met Lys Gly Phe Gly Leu Ala Phe Gly Leu Phe Ser Ala 1 5 10 gtg gtt ttt ett ctc tgg act cct tta act ggg ctc aag acc ctc cat 157 Val Gly Phe Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Leu Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu His 15 20 25 ttg gga age tgt gtg att act gca aac cta cag gca ata caa aag gaa 205 Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln Wing He Gln Lys Glu 30 35 40 45 ttt tet gag att cgg gat agt gtg ca gct gat gat aat att gac 253 Phe Ser Glu He Arg Asp Ser Val Gln Ala Glu Asp Thr Asn He Asp 50 55 60 atc aga att tta agg acg act gag tet ttg aaa gac ata aag tet ttg 301 He Arg He Leu Arg Thr Thr Glu Ser Leu Lys Asp He Lys Ser Leu 65 70 75 gat agg tgc tgc ttc ett cgt cat cta gtg aga ttc tat ctg gac agg 349 Asp Arg Cys Cys Phe Leu Arg His Leu Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg 80 85 90 gta ttc aaa gtc tac cag acccct gac cac cat acc aga t a tc atga 397 Val Phe Lys Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He 95 100 105 age age ctc gcc aac tcc ttt ett atc atc aag aag gac ctc tea gtc 445 Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu He He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val 110 115 120 125 tgt cat tet cac tg gca tgt cat tgt ggg gaga gaa gca atg gag aaa 493 Cys His Ser His Met Wing Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Wing Met Glu Lys 130 135 140 tac aac ca ata att ctg agt cac ttc ata gag ttg gaa ett cag gca gcg 541 Tyr Asn Gln He Leu Ser His Phe He Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing 145 150 155 gtg gta aag gct ttg gga gaa cta ggc att ett ctg aga tgg atg gag 589 Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met Glu 160 165 170 gag atg cta tagatgaaag tggagaggct gctgagaaca ctcctgtcca 638 Glu Met Leu 175 agaatctcag acctcagcac catgaagaca tggccccagg tgctggcatt tetaetcaag 698 agttccagtc ctcagcacca cgaagatggc ctcaaaccac cacccctttg tgatetaact 758 tagtgctagc tatgtgtata ttatttctac attattggct cccttatgtg aatgccttca 818 tgtgtc 824 < 210 > 19 < 211 > 176 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus usculus < 400 > 19 Met Lys Gly Phe Gly Leu Wing Phe Gly Leu Phe Ser Wing Val Gly Phe 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Leu Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu His Leu Gly Ser 20 25 30 Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln Wing He Gln Lys Glu Phe Ser Glu 35 40 45 He Arg Asp Ser Val Gln Wing Glu Asp Thr Asn He Asp He Arg He 50 55 60 Leu Arg Thr Thr Glu Ser Leu Lys Asp He Lys Ser Leu Asp Arg Cys 65 70 75 80 Cys Phe Leu Arg His Leu Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys 85 90 95 Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu 100 105 110 Wing Asn Ser Phe Leu He ile Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys His Ser 115 120 125 His Met Ala Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Lys Tyr Asn Gln 130 135 140 He Leu Ser His Phe He Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys 145 150 155 160 Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met Glu Glu Met Leu 165 170 175 < 210 > 20 < 211 > 152 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus musculus 400 > 20 Leu Lys Thr Leu His Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Ala He Gln Lys Glu Phe Ser Glu He Arg Asp Ser Val Gln Ala Glu 20 25 30 Asp Thr Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg Thr Thr Glu Ser Leu Lys 40-45 Asp He Lys Ser Leu Asp Arg C Cyyss C Cyyss Phe Leu Arg His Leu Val Arg 50 55 60 Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Arg Lys I Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu He He Lys 85 90 95 Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys His Ser His Met Ala Cys His Cys Gly Glu 100 105 110 Glu Wing Met Glu Lys Tyr Asn Gln He Leu Ser His Phe He Glu Leu 115 120 .125 Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu 130 135 140 Leu Arg Trp Met Glu Glu Met Leu 145 150 < 210 > 21 < 211 > 16 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus musculus < 400 > 21 He Thr Ala Asn Leu Gln Al a H e Gln Lys Glu Phe Ser Glu He Arg 1 5 10 '15 < 210 > 22 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus musculus < 400 > 22 Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His Thr 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 23 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus musculus < 400 > 23 Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu He He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 24 < 211 > 15 < 212 > PRT - < 213 > Mus uculus < 400 > 24 Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met 1 5 10 15 < 210 > 25 < 211 > 144 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus muculus < 400 > 25 Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln Wing He Gln Lys Glu Phe Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 He Arg Asp Ser Val Gln Ala Glu Asp Thr Asn He Asp He Arg He 25 30 Leu Arg Thr Thr Glu Ser Leu Lys Asp He Lys Ser Leu Asp Arg Cys 40 45 Cys Phe Leu Arg His Leu Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys 50 55 60 Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu 65 70 75 80 Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu He He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys His Ser 85 90 95 His Met Ala Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Lys Tyr Asn Gln 100 105 110 He Leu Ser His Phe He Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys 115 120 125 Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met Glu Glu Met Leu 130 135 140 < 210 > 26 < 211 > 144 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 26 Cys Val He Wing Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 He Arg Gly Ser Val Gln Wing L Lyyss AAsspp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He 2 255 30 Leu Arg Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu G Gnnn A Asspp Thr Lys Pro Al a Asn Arg Cys 35 40 45 Cys Leu Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys 50 55 60 Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp Hi s Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu 65 70 75 80 Wing Asn Being Phe Leu Tnr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys His Wing 85 90 95 His Met Thr Cys His Cys Gly Gl u Glu Al a Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln 100 105 110 He Leu Ser His Phe Glu Lys Leu Glu Pro Gln Ala Ala Val Val Lys 115 120 125 Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gl n Trp Met Glu Glu Thr Gl u 130 135 140 < 210 > 27 < 211 > 38 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 27 Cys Gly Glu Glu Al a Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln He Leu Ser His Phe 1. 5 10 15 Glu Lys Leu Glu Pro Gln Al a Al a Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu 20 25 30 Asp He Leu Leu Gln Trp 35 < 210 > 28 < 211 > 71 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Hoo sapiens < 400 > 28 He Ala Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He Arg 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Val Gln Ala Lys Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg 25 30 Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu 40 45 Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr 50 55 60 Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr 65 70 < 210 > 29 < 211 > 92 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 29 He Ala Thr Asn Leu Gln Glu He Arg Asn Gly Phe Ser Asp He Arg 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Val Gln Ala Lys Asp Gly Asn He Asp He Arg He Leu Arg 25 30 Arg Thr Glu Ser Leu Gln Asp Thr Lys Pro Wing Asn Arg Cys Cys Leu 40 45 Leu Arg His Leu Leu Arg Leu Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr 50 55 60 • Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn 65 70 75 80 Be Phe Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys 85 90 < 210 > 30 < 211 > 82 < 212 > PRT • < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 30 Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Arg Lys I Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp 25 30 Leu Arg Leu Cys His Wing His Met Thr Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Wing 40 45 Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser Gln He Leu Ser His Phe Glu Lys Leu Glu Pro 50 55 60 Gln Ala Ala Val Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp He Leu Leu Gln 65 70 75 80 Trp Met < 210 > 31 < 211 > 36 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Homo sapiens < 400 > 31 Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Asn Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His Tyr Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr He Lys Lys Asp ~ 25 30 Leu Arg Leu Cys 35 < 210 > 32 < 211 > 61 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Ho or sapiens < 400 > 32 Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu Thr H e Lys Lys Asp Leu Arg Leu Cys His 1 5 10 15 Ala His Met Thr Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Lys Lys Tyr Ser 25 - 30 Gln He Leu Ser Hi s Phe Gl u Lys Leu Gl u Pro Gl n Al to Ala Val Val 40 45 Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Asp H e Leu Leu Gln Trp Met 50 55 60 < 210 > 33 < 211 > 756 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus muscul us < 220 > < 221 > CDS < 222 > (71) ... (532) < 400 > 33 tgggagacat cgatagccct gattgatctc tttgaatttt cgcttctggt ctccaggatc 60 taggtgtaag atg aaa ggc ttt ggt ett gcc ttt gga ctg ttc tcc gcc 109 Met Lys Gly Phe Gly Leu Ala Phe Gly Leu Phe Ser Ala 1 5 10 gtg gtt ttt ett ctc tgg act cct tta act ggg ctc aag acc ctc cat 157 Val Gly Phe Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Leu Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu His 15 20 25 ttg gga age tgt gtg att act gca aac cta cag gca ata caa aag gaa 205 Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Glp Wing He Gln Lys Glu 30 35 40 45 ttt tet gag att cgg gat agt gtg tet ttg gat agg tgc tgc ttc ett 253 Phe Ser Glu He Arg Asp Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Arg Cys Cys Phe Leu 50 55 60 cgt cat cta gtg aga ttc tat ctg gac agg gta ttc aaa gtc tac cag 301 Arg His Leu Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Val Tyr Gln 65 70 75 acc cct gac cac cat acc ctg aga aag atc age age ctc gcc aac tcc 349 Thr Pro Asp His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser 80 85 90 ttt ett atc atc aag aac gac ctc tea gtc tgt cat tet cac atg gca 397 Phe Leu He He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys His Ser His Met Wing 95 100 105 tgt cat tgt ggg gaa gaa gca atg gag aaa tac aac ca t att ctg agt 445 Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Lys Tyr Asn Gln He Leu Ser 110 115 120 125 cac ttc ata gag ttg gaa ett cag gca gcg gtg gta aag gct ttg gga 493 His Phe He Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly 130 135 140 gaa cta ggc att ett ctg aga tgg atg gag gag atg cta tagatgaaag 542 Glu Gly Leu Leu Arg Trp Leu He Met Leu Met Glu Glu 145 150 gctgagaaca tggataggct ctcctgtcca agaatctcag acctcagcac catgaagaca 602 tggccccagg tgctggcatt tctactcaag agttccagtc ctcagcacca cgaagatggc 662 ctcaaaccac cacccctttg tgatataact tagtgctagc tatgtgtata ttatttctac 722 attattggct cccttatgtg aatgccttca tgtg 756 < 210 > 34 < 211 > 154 < 212 > PRT < 213 Mus musculus < 400 > 34 Met Lys Gly Phe Gly Leu Wing Phe Gly Leu Phe Ser Wing Val Gly Phe 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Trp Thr Pro Leu Thr Gly Leu Lys Thr Leu Hi s Leu Gly Ser 20 25 30 Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln Ala He Gln Lys Gl u Phe Ser Glu 35 40 45 He Arg Asp Ser Val Ser Leu Asp Arg Cys Cys Phe Leu Arg Hi s Leu 50 55 60 Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val Phe Lys Val Tyr Gl n Thr Pro Asp 65 70 _ 75 80 His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser Ser Leu Ala Asn Ser Phe Leu He 85 90 95 He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys His Ser His Met Al a Cys Hi s Cys 100 105 110 Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Lys Tyr Asn Gln He Leu Ser Hi s Phe He 115 120 125 Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Wing Val Val Lys Wing Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly 130 135 140 He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met Glu Glu Met Leu 145 150 <; 210 > 35 < 211 > 130 < 212 > PRT < 213 > Mus musculus < 400 > 35 Leu Lys Thr Leu His Leu Gly Ser Cys Val He Thr Wing Asn Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Wing He Gln Lys Glu Phe Ser Glu He Arg Asp Ser Val Ser Leu Asp 20 25 30 Arg Cys Cys Phe Leu Arg His Leu Val Arg Phe Tyr Leu Asp Arg Val 35 40 45 Phe Lys Val Tyr Gln Thr Pro Asp His His Thr Leu Arg Lys He Ser 50 55 '60 Ser Leu Wing Asn Ser Phe Leu He He Lys Lys Asp Leu Ser Val Cys 65 70 75 80 His Ser His Met Ala Cys His Cys Gly Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Lys Tyr 85 90 95 Asn Gln He Leu Ser His Phe He Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Ala Ala Ala 100 105 110 Val Lys Ala Leu Gly Glu Leu Gly He Leu Leu Arg Trp Met Glu Glu 115 120 125 Met Leu 130 < 210 > 36 < 211 > 27 < 212 > • DNA < 213 > Hoo sapiens < 400 > 36 agattctatc tggacagggt attcaaa 27 < 210 > 37 211 > 17 < 400 > 37 gcgaggctga 1 L-CtttCt 17 < 210 > 38 < 211 > 25 < 212 > .ADN < 213 > Mus uscullis < 400 > 38 tggcgaggct gctgatcttt ctcag 25 < 210 > 39 < 211 > 25 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus muscul i s < 400 > 39 ctttatgtct ttcaaagact cagtc 25 < 210 > 40 < 211 > 26 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus musculis < 400 > 40 catcagaatt ttaaggacga ctgagt 26 < 210 > 41 < 211 > 25 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus muscul < 400 > 41 ggtggtcagg ggtctggtag acttt 25 < 210 > 42 < 211 > 23 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus muscul is < 400 > 42 ggtgcatatt cctggtggct aga 23 < 210 > 43 < 211 > 25 < 212 > DNA < 213 > Mus muscul i s < 400 > 43 attgeagtgt aagggaatac agaga 25

Claims (9)

. CLAIMS
1. An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide, characterized in that this polypeptide is at least 90% identical to one or more of the polypeptides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO.-26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
2. An isolated polynucleotide according to claim 1 characterized in that the polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
3. An isolated polynucleotide according to claim 1, characterized in that this polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 18 and SEQ ID NO: 33.
4. A polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequences of a portion that houses an epitope of a polypeptide, characterized in that it has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 , SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID N0: 2β, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
5. The polynucleotide isolated or in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that this polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID N0: 16, SEQ ID N0: 17 , SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID N0: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31 and SEQ ID NO: 32.
6. The isolated polynucleotide according to claim 4, characterized in that polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that is at least 80% identical to one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NQ: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4 , SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
7. 7. An isolated polypeptide that is at least 90% identical to one or more polypeptides selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO : 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
8. 8. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 7, characterized in that this polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35.
9. 9. A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of a portion harboring an epitope of a polypeptide characterized in that it has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12 , SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 2β, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35. . A polypeptide according to claim 9, characterized in that this polypeptide is selected from a group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO : 31 and SEQ ID NO: 32. . The polypeptide according to claim 9, characterized in that this polypeptide is at least 80% identical to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 2β, SEQ ID NO: 34 and SEQ ID NO: 35. . An antibody that selectively agglutinates a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO. : 20, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID N0: 24, SEQ ID N0: 27, SEQ ID N0: 28, SEQ ID N0: 29, SEQ ID NO : 30, SEQ ID NO: 31 and SEQ ID NO: 32. . An anti-idiotype antibody that binds to an antibody according to claim 12.