WO2000012695A1

WO2000012695A1 - Novel therapeutic molecules and uses therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2000012695A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000691
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismail Kola; Jiong Zhou
Original assignee: Monash University
Priority date: 1998-08-27
Filing date: 1999-08-26
Publication date: 2000-03-09

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to novel molecules capable of, inter alia, controlling cellular functional activity such as proliferation, differentiation and/or transcriptional regulation and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel members of the ETS family of proteins, referred to herein as 'ELF5', and to genetic sequences encoding same. The molecules of the present invention are useful, for example, in therapy, diagnosis, antibody generation and as a screening tool for agents capable of modulating transcriptional events during cellular functioning such as in tumorigenesis.

Description

NONEL THERAPEUTIC MOLECULES AND USES THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to novel molecules capable of, inter alia, controlling cellular functional activity such as proliferation, differentiation and/or transcriptional regulation and to genetic sequences encoding same. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel members of the ETS family of proteins, referred to herein as "ELF5", and to genetic sequences encoding same. The molecules of the present invention are useful, for example, in therapy, diagnosis, antibody generation and as a screening tool for agents capable of modulating transcriptional events during cellular functioning such as in tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bibliographic details of the publications referred to by author in this specification are collected at the end of the description.

The ETS family of transcription factors share a conserved DNA binding domain, termed the 'ETS domain' , first identified in the gag-myb-ets fusion protein of avian leukemia virus E26 (Nunn et al, 1983; Watson et al., 1988; Karim et al., 1990; Gutman and Wasylyk, 1991; Seth et al., 1992). The ETS domain recognises and binds to purine rich GGA(A/T) core motifs in the promoters and enhancers of various target genes (Macleod et al , 1992; Wasylyk et al., 1993; Janknecht and Nordheim, 1993; Werner et al., 1995; Kodandapani et al., 1996). The ETS family does not maintain overall similarity outside of the ETS domain, but can be grouped into subfamilies based upon variation within the ETS domain, and also by the arrangement and presence of other domains, such as those involved in transactivation and sites of phosphorylation (Lautenberger et al, 1992; Wasylyk et al, 1993; Janknecht and Nordheim, 1993). Over 30 ETS gene family members have been identified in species ranging from sea urchin to human. Many ETS factors have been implicated in the control of cellular proliferation and tumorigenesis (Seth et al., 1992; Macleod et al., 1992; Wasylyk et al. , 1993; Janknecht and Nordheim, 1993; Scott et al , 1994a; Muthusamy et al , 1995). ETS1, ETS2, ERG2 and PU.1 are proto-oncogenes with mitogenic and transforming activity when 5 overexpressed in fibroblasts (Seth et αl., 1989; Seth and Papas, 1990; Hart et αl., 1995; Moreau-Gachelin et αl., 1996). In addition, chromosomal translocations involving ETS family members are associated with different human cancers. ERG and ERGB/FLI1 are fused to the EWS gene in t(21;22) and t(l l;22) translocations, respectively, in Ewing's sarcoma and other primitive neuroectodermal tumors (Sorensen et αl., 1994; Ida et αl.,

10 1995). FEV is fused to EWS in a subset of Ewing's tumors in t(2;22) (Peter et αl., 1997). TEL is fused to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) gene in t(5;12) translocations of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and to the acute myeloid leukemia 1 (AML1) transcription factor gene in t(12;21) translocations of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Golub et αl., 1994, 1995). Fusion of TEL to the receptor-associated kinase

15 JAK2 results in early pre-B acute lymphoid leukemia in t(9; 12), and in a typical chronic myelogenous leukemia in t(9;15;12) (Peeters et αl., 1997). Expression of Spil and Flil can be activated by position specific integration of the Friend murine leukemia virus in murine erythroleukemias (Ben-David et αl., 1991). Also, ETS1, ETS2 and ERG regulate the expression of metalloproteinase genes, such as stromelysin and collagenase (Buttice

20 and Kurkinen, 1993; Buttice et αl. , 1996; Wasylyk et αl., 1991), which are important for extracellular matrix degradation concomitant with tumor vascularization (angiogenesis) and metastasis.

ETS factors also have important developmental roles. Pointed P2 and yαn play critical 25 roles in Drosophila eye development (O'Neill et al., 1994). ETS2 is involved in skeletal/cartilage development (Sumarsono et al., 1996). PU.l null mutation results in haematopoietic abnormalities (McKercher et al., 1996), and ETS1 is involved in transactivation of genes required for T cell function (Muthusamy et al., 1995; Sun et al., 1995; Thomas et al., 1995; Thomas et al., 1997) and angiogenesis (Wasylyk et al. , 1991; 30 Vandenbunder et α/., 1994; Wernert et al, 1992). The ETS factors are almost all expressed in haematopoietic lineages (Bhat et al., 1989; Bhat et al. , 1990; Kola et al., 1993), and indeed appear to function predominantly in these cells and their related neoplasms. However, the most common solid tumors in humans are carcinomas which arise from the transformation of epithelial cells. Transformed breast 5 epithelial cells, for example, have been shown to express ETS family members GABPα, PEA3, ELFl, ETSl and ELKl (Scott et al, 1994b; Delannoy-Courdent et al, 1996), but expression of these ETS family members is not restricted to epithelial cells. One ETS family member, ELF3/ESX/ESE-1/ERT, has recently emerged with epithelial and epithelial-cancer specific expression (Tymms et al, 1997; Chang et al, 1997; Choi et al, 10 1998; Oettgen et /\ , 1997).

In work leading up to the present invention, the inventors have identified and sequenced a novel member of the ETS family, designated herein "ELF5".

15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or 20 steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The subject specification contains nucleotide and amino acid sequence information prepared using the programme Patentln Version 2.0, presented herein after the bibliography. Each nucleotide or amino acid sequence is identified in the sequence listing

25 by the numeric indicator <210 > followed by the sequence identifier (e.g. <210> 1, <210>2, etc). The length, type of sequence (DNA, protein (PRT), etc) and source organism for each nucleotide or amino acid sequence are indicated by information provided in the numeric indicator fields <211 > , <212 > and < 213 > , respectively. Nucleotide and amino sequences referred to in the specification are defined by the

30 information provided in numeric indictor field < 400 > followed by the sequence identifier (e.g. < 400 > 1 , < 400 > 2 , etc) . One aspect of the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding ELF5 wherein said ELF5 comprises an ETS domain.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 2 or <400>4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or having at least about 45 % or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400 > 2 or <400>4.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic or having at least about 45% or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>7.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 1 or < 400 > 3 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to one of < 400 > 1 or < 400 > 3 under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in one of < 400 > 2 or < 400 > 4 or a sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in one of <400>2 or <400>4.

A further aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides substantially as set forth in <400> 1 or <400> 3.

Another further aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in one of <400> 5 or <400>6 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to one of < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in <400> 7 or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 7.

Yet another further aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides substantially as set forth in <400 > 5 or <400> 6.

Still yet another further aspect of the present invention contemplates a the nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in one of <400> 1 or < 400 > 3 or is a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof including a nucleotide sequence having similarity to one of < 400 > 1 or < 400 > 3 and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in one of < 400 > 2 or <400>4 or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to 10 contiguous amino acids in one or more of <400> 2 or <400>4.

Another further aspect of the present invention provides a nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in one of <400> 5 or <400> 6 or is a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof including a nucleotide sequence having similarity to one of < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence as set forth in < 400 > 7 or a sequence having at least about a 45 % similarity to 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 7.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an isolated protein selected from the list consisting of:

(i) ELF5 wherein said ELF5 comprises an ETS domain or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof.

(ii) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 2 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400> 2 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(iii) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 4 or a derivative, homolog or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400> 4 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(iv) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(v) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 1 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 2 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(vi) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 3 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 4 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(vii) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 5 or <400> 6 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 7 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein. (viii) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in <400> 1 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>2 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2.

(ix) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in <400 > 3 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>4.

(x) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 6.

(xi) a protein as defined in any one of paragraphs (i) to (x) in a homodimeric form.

(xii) a protein as defined in any one of paragraphs (i) to (x) in a heterodimeric form.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating activity of ELF5 in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal a modulating effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to increase or decrease ELF5 activity. Yet another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of a nucleotide sequence encoding ELF5 or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of ELF5 or ELF5.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity, said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of ELF5 or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5 wherein said modulation results in modulation of said cellular functional activity.

Yet another further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity, said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of ELF5 or ELF5 for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate cellular functional activity.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting a cell or extract thereof containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered expression phenotype associated with said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting an epithelial cell containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered proliferation rate.

In yet another aspect the present invention provides a method for detecting an agent capable of binding or otherwise associating with an ELF5 binding site or functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting a cell containing said ELF5 binding site or functional equivalent or derivative thereof with a putative agent and detecting an altered expression phenotype associated with modulation of the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative.

Still yet another further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an agent capable of modulating the expression of ELF5 or modulating the activity of ELF5 in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of ELF5 or ELF5 in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to agents for use in modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity wherein said modulation results in modulation of cellular functional activity.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention relates to ELF5 or ELF5 for use in modulating cellular functional activity.

A further aspect of the present invention contemplates a pharmaceutical composition comprising ELF5, ELF5 or an agent capable of modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents. ELF5, ELF5 or said agent are referred to as the active ingredients. Single and three letter abbreviations used throughout the specification are defined in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Single and three letter amino acid abbreviations

Amino Acid Three-letter One-letter Abbreviation Symbol

Alanine Ala A

Arginine Arg R

Asparagine Asn N

Aspartic acid Asp D

Cysteine Cys C Glutamine Gin Q

Glutamic acid Glu E

Glycine Gly G

Histidine His H

Isoleucine He I Leucine Leu L

Lysine Lys K

Methionine Met M

Phenylalanine Phe F

Proline Pro P Serine Ser S

Threonine Thr T

Tryptophan Trp W

Tyrosine Tyr Y

Valine Val V Any residue Xaa X BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of murine ELF5 cDNA sequence and relationship to mRNA transcripts, (a) The nucleotide sequence of murine ELF 5 is shown. Breaks in the sequence indicate the source of sequence data; the central region (92-1528) was sequenced from lambda clones, and 5 prime and 3 prime were added from sequencing of RACE PCR products. Numbering of the nucleotides, starting with the most 5-prime sequences obtained, are indicated on the right. The open reading frame (ORF) is shown in capital letters, with the initiating start and stop codons underlined. A stop codon, in the same reading frame as the ORF, but 5 prime to the initiating codon, is also underlined. The ETS domain is indicated in a shaded box. Putative polyadenylation signals are underlined with dashed lines. A/T rich tracts in the 3 prime untranslated region are boxed, (b) Northern blot analysis of day 14 mouse placenta: lane 1 , probed with random-prime- labeled 940 bp Styl murine ELF5 cDNA fragment (probe 1); lane 2, probed with random- prime-labeled murine ELF5 696 bp 3 '-RACE PCR product (probe 2). Positions of 28S and 18S markers are indicated. Both lanes were also probed with GAPDH cDNA (lower panels).

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of (a) Comparison of human and mouse ORFs. Amino acid sequences present in both human and mouse ELF5 are shaded. The ETS domain is boxed with a solid line and the pointed domain with a dashed line. Putative phosphorylation sites, conserved between the two species are circled and labeled as CKII (casein kinase II), PKC (protein kinase C) or TyP (tyrosine kinase) substrates, (b) Comparison of the ETS domain of human and mouse ELF5 with those of known members of the ETS gene family. The alignment was generated using CLUSTAL W (Thompson et al, 1994) with the default settings, and the result was subsequently adjusted manually. The ETS factors examined are labeled on the left and include hELF3, mELF3, hNERF, dETS4, dE74A, hELFl, hELKl, hTEL, hERM, mER81, mPEA3, mGABP<* mERP, dETS6, mPUl, hPEl, hSAPl, hSPIB, dYAN, hERG, mFLIl, dELG, dETS3, mETSl, mETS2, mER71, where 'h' denotes human, 'm' mouse and 'd' Drosophila. The ETS consensus sequence is a list of the amino acids most often conserved between ETS family members. Shading denotes amino acid identity with human ELF5, and the percent identity of each ETS domain is indicated on the right, (c) Phylogenetic tree of the ETS domain produced by maximum likelihood analysis. The alignment in Figure 2b was analysed using the JTT-F substitution model (Jones et al, 1992) and local bootstrap values were estimated for all internal branches, both by using PROTML in Q mode followed by a second run in R mode (Adachi and Hasegawa, 1996). An underlying assumption of the phylogenetic analysis is that the amino acid content does not vary significantly among the sequences. This assumption was not assessed because tools for doing so are still under development. Therefore, the tree may be the result of both historical and compositional components. The four points at which gene duplications have been inferred are marked A, B, C and D. (d) Comparison of the pointed domain of human and mouse ELF5 with those of other members of the ETS family. The ETS factors examined are labeled on the left and include hERG, hELF3, hTEL, hGABP_°<, hETSl, hETS2, dYAN and dPOINTEDP2. Other labels and conventions are as described for Figure 2b.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the chromosomal localization of human ELF 5. Human chromosomal localization of ELF5 was performed by PCR using gene specific primers and the Genebridge 4 Radiation Hybrid DNA panel (UK HGMP Resource Centre). Diagram based upon PCR results showing localization of ELF5 within chromosome 11, with respect to adjacent marker obtained from mapping data (see text).

Figure 4 is a photographic representation of ELF5 expression in mouse tissues. Positions of 28S and 18S markers are indicated. ELF5a and ELF5b transcripts are indicated, (a) Northern analysis of adult mouse tissues probed with murine ELF5 cDNA (top panels) and GAPDH cDNA (lower panels). Abbreviations; Li: liver; Lu: lung; Br: brain; Ki: kidney; He: heart; Sm: small intestine; Sp: spleen; Th: thymus; St: stomach; Ov: ovary; Pa: pancreas; To: tongue; Sk: skeletal muscle; Bl: bladder; 2Fa: day 2 pregnant fat; 2 Ma: day 2 pregnant mammary gland; 10 Fa: day 10 pregnant fat; 10 Ma: day 10 pregnant mammary gland; Co: colon. Arrow indicates position of brain specific transcript (see text), (b) Northern analysis as above, but using RNA from day 1 neonate mouse tissues. Additional abbreviation; In: intestine. Arrow indicates position of large transcript (see text). (c) Northern analysis as above, but using RNA from day 16, 17 and 19 embryonic tissues, (d) Northern analysis as above, but using RNA from day 9.5 to day 19 placental tissues as indicated.

Figure 5 is a photographic representation of ELF5 expression in human tissues and cell lines, (a) Northern analysis of adult human tissues probed with human ELF5 cDNA (top panels) and β-Actin cDNA (lower panels). The single ELF5 transcript is indicated. Other labels and conventions are as for Figure 4. Abbreviations; He: heart; Br: brain; PI: placenta; Lu: lung; Li: liver; Sk: skeletal muscle; Ki: kidney; Pa: pancreas; Sp: spleen; Th: thymus; Pr: prostate; Te: testis; Ov: ovary; Sm: small intestine; Co: colon mucosa; PBL: peripheral blood lymphocytes, (b) RNAse protection analysis of ELF5 and GAPDH in cell lines; 1: CaOv-3 (ovarian carcinoma); 2: BT-549 (ductal breast carcinoma); 3: ZR- 75-1 (breast carcinoma); 4: T47D (ductal breast carcinoma, progesterone sensitive); 5: 786-O (renal adenocarcinoma); 6: SK-HEP-1 (liver adenocarcinoma); 7: A549 (lung adenocarcinoma); 8: CCL32SK (primary fibroblast); 9: MEL28 (melanoma); 10: WISH (amnion carcinoma); 11: Jurkat (T cell leukemia); 12: DU145 (prostate carcinoma); 13: PC3 (prostate carcinoma); 14: HEC-1 (endometrium carcinoma); 15: K562 (erythroid leukemia), (c) Southern analysis of ELF5 in BgRl digested genomic DNA from cell lines; 1 : normal blood; 2: BT-549 (ductal breast carcinoma); 3: ZR-75-1 (breast carcinoma); 4: T47D (ductal breast carcinoma); 5: NCI-H1299 (large cell lung carcinoma); 6: NCI-HI87 (small cell lung carcinoma); 7: NCI-H322 (bronchioalveolar carcinoma); 8: NCI-H358 (bronchioalveolar carcinoma); 9: NCI-H522 (lung adenocarcinoma); 10: SK-LU-1 (lung adenocarcinoma); 11: NCI-H441 (bronchioalveolar carcinoma); 12: NCI-H460 (large cell lung carcinoma); 13: NCI-H661 (large cell lung carcinoma).

Figure 6 is a photographic representation of ELF5 binding to consensus ETS binding sequences, (a) His-tagged ELF5 recombinant protein, present in E. coli lysates (lane 2), was purified by metal-affinity chromatography to approximately 90 % (lane 3) and eluted with imadazole (lane 4). (b) Specific DNA binding of Elf5 was analysed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMS A), using labeled double-stranded oligonucleotides as probes. E74 contains a consensus binding site for ETS family members (lane 1). E74ml is a mutant oligonucleotide based on E74, but with the core GGAA replaced by AGAA (lane 2). Binding to other consensus ETS sites was analysed by the ability of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled double-stranded oligonucleotide to compete with E74 for Elf5 binding GMETS contains an ETS binding site from the human GM-CSF promoter (lane 6). ERBB2 contains an ETS binding site from the human erbB2/HER2 promoter (lane 7). MSV contains an ETS binding site present in the long terminal repeat of the Moloney sarcoma virus (lane 8). API contains a consensus API binding site used as a negative control ELF5-DNA complexes are marked. Binding of ETSl to E74 was used as a positive control (lane 10).

Figure 7 is a graphical representation of transactivation by ELF5. COS cells were co- transfected with CAT reporter and Elf5 expression constructs. Transcription of the CAT gene was driven by the thymidine kinase (tk) minimal promoter with five copies of the polyomavirus enhancer inserted upstream (p5Xpoly). The polyomavirus enhancer contains adjacent ETS and API binding sites. The ELF5 sense construct (pBOSElf5as) was designed to express ELF5 protein, and the ELF5 anti-s construct (pBOSElf5as) to produce anti-sense transcripts. In the absence of expression construct the equivalent amount of base vector (pEFBOS) was co-transfected. COS cells were processed for CAT assays and the results of at least four replicates are shown as the mean with standard error of the mean (s.e.m.) bars. Statistically significant results are indicated by asterisks. A single asterisk indicates moderate significance (0.05 > P> 0.01) and triple asterisks indicate very high significance (P< 0.001).

Figure 8 is a photographic representation of breast tissue sections from parafin-embedded samples which had been hybridized with ELF5 antisense RNA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is predicated, in part, on the identification of a novel member of the ETS family of molecules, termed ELF5. The identification of this novel molecule permits the identification and rational design of a range of products for use in therapy, diagnosis and antibody generation involving, for example, regulation of cellular functional activity such as cellular proliferation. These therapeutic molecules may also act as either antagonists or agonists of ELF5 function and will be useful, inter alia, in cancer and autoimmune disease therapy.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding ELF5 wherein said ELF5 comprises an ETS domain.

Reference to an "ETS domain" should be understood as a reference to a protein domain which recognises and binds to a purine rich GGA(A/T) motif of a promoter or enhancer (Macleod et al, 1992; Wasylyk et al, 1993; Janknecht and Nordheim, 1993; Werner et al, 1995; Kodandapani et al, 1996). The ETS domain may be continuous, meaning that it is comprised of a continuous sequence of amino acids, or it may be discontinuous, meaning that it is comprised of individual amino acids or sequences of amino acids from two or more separate regions of the protein and which are brought into proximity with one another to form the ETS domain due to the secondary, tertiary or quaternary structure of the protein.

More particularly, the present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 2 or <400>4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or having at least about 45 % or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400 > 2 or <400> 4. Another aspect of the present invention provides a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic or having at least about 45% or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400 > 7.

The term "similarity" as used herein includes exact identity between compared sequences at the nucleotide or amino acid levels. Where there is non- identity of the nucleotide level "similarity" includes differences between sequences which result in different amino acids that are nevertheless related to each other at the structural, functional, biochemical and/or conformational levels. Where there is non-identity at the amino acid level, "similarity" includes amino acids that are nevertheless related to each other at the structural, functional, biochemical and/or conformational levels. In a particular preferred embodiment, nucleotide and sequence comparisons are made at the level of identity rather than similarity. Any number of programs are available to compare nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Preferred programs have regard to an appropriate alignment. One such program is Gap which considers all possible alignment and gap positions and creates an alignment with the largest number of matched bases and the fewest gaps.- Gap uses the alignment method of Needleman and Wunsch. Gap reads * scoring matrix that contains values for every possible GCG symbol match. GAP is available on ANGIS (Australian National Genomic Information Service) at website httpJ/mell. angis.org.au..

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 1 or <400> 3 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to one of <400> 1 or <400> 3 under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in one of < 400 > 2 or < 400 > 4 or a sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in one of <400> 2 or <400>4. More particularly, the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides substantially as set forth in <400> 1 or <400> 3.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in one of < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to one of < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in < 400 > 7 or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400> 7.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates a nucleic acid molecule comprising a sequence of nucleotides substantially as set forth in <400> 5 or <400> 6.

Reference herein to a low stringency at 42 °C includes and encompasses from at least about 1 % v/v to at least about 15% v/v formamide and from at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 1M to at least about 2M salt for washing conditions. Alternative stringency conditions may be applied where necessary, such as medium stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 16% v/v to at least about 30% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.5M to at least about 0.9M salt for washing conditions, or high stringency, which includes and encompasses from at least about 31 % v/v to at least about 50% v/v formamide and from at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for hybridisation, and at least about 0.01M to at least about 0.15M salt for washing conditions. In general, washing is carried out at T_m = 69.3 + 0.41 (G + C) % [19] = -12°C. However, the T_m of a duplex DNA decreases by 1°C with every increase of 1 % in the number of mismatched based pairs (Banner et al, 1973).

The nucleic acid molecule according to this aspect of the present invention corresponds herein to "ELF5". This gene has been determined in accordance with the present invention to encode a protein which displays specific binding to DNA sequences comprising a GGA(A/T) core. The product of the ELF5 gene is referred to herein as ELF5. ELF5 is defined as belonging to the ETS family of transcription factors due to its expression of an ETS domain which recognises and binds the purine rich GGA(A/T) core motifs. ELF5 is a protein for which splice variants exist, thereby resulting in the expression of a variety of isoforms. Human ELF5 and human ELF5 short transcript are examples of 2 isoforms which differ in size due to the splicing out of exon regions from the ELF5 mRNA molecule encoding the ELF5 short transcript. Murine ELF5a and ELF5b are examples of 2 mRNA transcripts which differ in the length of the 3 ' untranslated region. Human ELF5 and ELF5 short transcript are defined by the amino acid sequences set forth in < 400 > 2 and <400>4, respectively and murine ELF5 is defined by the amino acid sequence set forth in <400> 7. The cDNA nucleotide sequences for human ELF5 and ELF5 short transcript are defined by the nucleotide sequences set forth in <400> 1 and <400> 3, respectively, and murine ELF5a and ELFb are defined by the nucleotide sequences set forth in <400> 5 and < 400 > 6, respectively.

The nucleic acid molecules encoding ELF5 are preferably a sequence of deoxyribonucleic acids such as cDNA sequences or genomic sequences. A genomic sequence may also comprise exons and introns. A genomic sequence may also include a promoter region or other regulatory region.

Reference hereinafter to "ELF5" and "ELF 5" should be understood as a reference to all forms of ELF5 and ELF5, respectively, including by way of example the two mRNA transcripts, ELF5a and ELFSb, observed in the mouse. Without limiting the invention in any way, sequence analysis of murine ELF5 has revealed two discrete polyadenylation signals present in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). The first of these (at 1391 bp) appears to be an overlapping poly (A) ⁺ recognition signal AATTAA and ATTAAAA. The second is a consensus polyadenylation signal, AATAAA, at 2181 bp. Sequence analysis of human ELF5 has also revealed two mRNA transcripts arising from the splicing out of part of the exon region. Accordingly, the present invention should be understood to extend to all cDNA and peptide isoforms arising from alternative splicing of ELF5 mRNA. To the extent that it is not specified reference herein to "ELF5" and "ELF5" should be understood to include reference to derivatives, homologues, analogues, chemical equivalents and mimetics thereof.

The protein and/or gene is preferably from a human, primate, livestock animal (eg. sheep, pig, cow, horse, donkey) laboratory test animal (eg. mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig) companion animal (eg. dog, cat), captive wild animal (eg. fox, kangaroo, deer), aves (eg. chicken, geese, duck, emu, ostrich), reptile or fish.

The term "protein" should be understood to encompass peptides, polypeptides and proteins. The protein may be glycosylated or unglycosylated, phosphorylated or dephosphorylated to various degrees and/or may contain a range of other molecules fused, linked, bound or otherwise associated to the protein such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates or other peptides, polypeptides or proteins. Reference hereinafer to a "protein" includes a protein comprising a sequence of amino acids as well as a protein associated with other molecules such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates or other peptides, polypeptides or proteins.

Derivatives include fragments, parts, portions, chemical equivalents, mutants, homologs, mimetics from natural, synthetic or recombinant sources including fusion proteins. Derivatives may be derived from insertion, deletion or substitution of amino acids. Amino acid insertional derivatives include amino and/or carboxylic terminal fusions as well as intrasequence insertions of single or multiple amino acids. Insertional amino acid sequence variants are those in which one or more amino acid residues are introduced into a predetermined site in the protein although random insertion is also possible with suitable screening of the resulting product. Deletional variants are characterized by the removal of one or more amino acids from the sequence. Substitutional amino acid variants are those in which at least one residue in the sequence has been removed and a different residue inserted in its place. Additions to amino acid sequences including fusions with other peptides, polypeptides or proteins. The derivatives of ELF5 include fragments having particular epitopes or parts of the entire ELF5 protein fused to peptides, polypeptides or other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous molecules. For example, ELF5 or derivative thereof may be fused to a molecule to facilitate its entry into a cell. Analogs of ELF5 contemplated herein include, but are not limited to, modification to side chains, incorporating of unnatural amino acids and/or their derivatives during peptide, polypeptide or protein synthesis and the use of crosslinkers and other methods which impose conformational constraints on the proteinaceous molecules or their analogs. Derivatives of nucleic acid sequences may similarly be derived from single or multiple nucleotide substitutions, deletions and/or additions including fusion with other nucleic acid molecules. The derivatives of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention include oligonucleotides, PCR primers, antisense molecules, molecules suitable for use in cosuppression and fusion of nucleic acid molecules.

Examples of side chain modifications contemplated by the present invention include modifications of amino groups such as by reductive alkylation by reaction with an aldehyde followed by reduction with NaBH^ amidination with methylacetimidate; acylation with acetic anhydride; carbamoylation of amino groups with cyanate; trinitrobenzylation of amino groups with 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS); acylation of amino groups with succinic anhydride and tetrahydrophthalic anhydride; and pyridoxylation of lysine with pyridoxal-5-phosphate followed by reduction with NaBH

The guanidine group of arginine residues may be modified by the formation of heterocyclic condensation products with reagents such as 2,3-butanedione, phenylglyoxal and glyoxal.

The carboxyl group may be modified by carbodiimide activation via O-acylisourea formation followed by subsequent derivitisation, for example, to a corresponding amide.

Sulphydryl groups may be modified by methods such as carboxymethylation with iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide; performic acid oxidation to cysteic acid; formation of a mixed disulphides with other thiol compounds; reaction with maleimide, maleic anhydride or other substituted maleimide; formation of mercurial derivatives using 4- chloromercuribenzoate, 4-chloromercuriphenylsulphonic acid, phenylmercury chloride, 2- chloromercuri-4-nitrophenol and other mercurials; carbamoylation with cyanate at alkaline pH.

Tryptophan residues may be modified by, for example, oxidation with N- bromosuccinimide or alkylation of the indole ring with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide or sulphenyl halides. Tyrosine residues on the other hand, may be altered by nitration with tetranitromethane to form a 3-nitrotyrosine derivative.

Modification of the imidazole ring of a histidine residue may be accomplished by alkylation with iodoacetic acid derivatives or N-carboethoxylation with diethy lpy rocarbonate .

Examples of incorporating unnatural amino acids and derivatives during protein synthesis include, but are not limited to, use of norleucine, 4-amino butyric acid, 4-amino-3- hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid, 6-aminohexanoic acid, t-butylglycine, norvaline, phenylglycine, ornithine, sarcosine, 4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid, 2-thienyl alanine and/or D-isomers of amino acids. A list of unnatural amino acid contemplated herein is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2

Non-conventional Code Non-conventional Code amino acid amino acid

α-aminobutyric acid Abu L-N-methylalanine Nmala α-amino-α-methylbutyrate Mgabu L-N-methylarginine Nmarg aminocyclopropane- Cpro L-N-methylasparagine Nmasn carboxylate L-N-rnethylaspartic acid Nmasp aminoisobutyric acid Aib L-N-methylcysteine Nmcys aminonorbornyl- Norb L-N-rnethylglutamine Nmgln carboxylate L-N-rnethylglutamic acid Nmglu cyclohexylalanine Chexa L-N-methylhistidine Nmhis cyclopentylalanine Cpen L-N-methylisolleucine Nmile

D-alanine Dal L-N-methylleucine Nmleu

D-arginine Darg L-N-methyllysine Nmlys

D-aspartic acid Dasp L-N-methylmethionine Nmmet

D-cysteine Dcys L-N-methylnorleucine Nmnle D-glutamine Dgln L-N-methylnorvaline Nmnva

D-glutamic acid Dglu L-N-methylornithine Nmorn

D-histidine Dhis L-N-methylphenylalanine Nmphe

D-isoleucine Dile L-N-methylproline Nmpro

D-leucine Dleu L-N-methylserine Nmser D-lysine Dlys L-N-methylthreonine Nmthr

D-methionine Dmet L-N-methyltryptophan Nmtrp

D-ornithine Dorn L-N-methyltyrosine Nmtyr

D-phenylalanine Dphe L-N-methylvaline Nmval

D-proline Dpro L-N-methylethylglycine Nmetg D-serine Dser L-N-methyl-t-butylglycine Nmtbug

D-threonine Dthr L-norleucine Nle

D-tryptophan Dtrp L-norvaline Nva

D-tyrosine Dtyr α-methyl-aminoisobutyrate Maib D-valine Dval α-methyl-γ-aminobutyrate Mgabu

D-α-methylalanine Dmala α-methylcyclohexylalanine Mchexa

D-α-methylarginine D arg α-methylcylcopentylalanine Mcpen

D-α-methylasparagine Dmasn α-methyl-α-napthylalanine Manap D-α-methylaspartate Dmasp α-methylpenicillamine Mpen

D-α-methylcysteine Dmcys N-(4-aminobutyl)glycine Nglu

D-α-methylglutamine D gln N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine Naeg

D-α-methylhistidine Dmhis N-(3-aminopropyl)gIycine Norn

D-α-methylisoleucine D ile N-amino-α-methylbutyrate Nmaabu D-α-methyl leucine Dmleu α-napthylalanine Anap

D-α-methyllysine Dmlys N-benzylglycine Nphe

D-α-methylmethionine Dmmet N-(2-carbamylethyl)glycine Ngln

D-α-methylornithine D orn N-(carbamylmethyl)glycine Nasn

D-α-methylphenylalanine D phe N-(2-carboxyethyl)glycine Nglu D-α-methylproline Dmpro N-(carboxymethyl)glycine Nasp

D-α-methylserine Dmser N-cyclobutylglycine Ncbut

D-α-methylthreonine Dmthr N-cycloheptylglycine Nchep

D-α-methyltryptophan Dmt N-cyclohexylglycine Nchex

D-α-methyltyrosine Dmty N-cyclodecylglycine Ncdec D-α-methylvaline Dmval N-cylcododecylglycine Ncdod

D-N-methylalanine Dnmala N-cyclooctylglycine Ncoct

D-N-methylarginine Dnmarg N-cyclopropylglycine Ncpro

D-N-methylasparagine Dnmasn N-cycloundecylglycine Ncund

D-N-methylaspartate Dnmasp N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)glycine Nbhm D-N-methylcysteine Dnmcys N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)glycine Nbhe

D-N-methylglutamine Dnmgln N-(3-guanidinopropyl)glycine Narg

D-N-methylglutamate Dnmglu N-( 1 -hydroxyethyl)glycine Nthr

D-N-methylhistidine Dnmhis N-(hydroxyethyl))glycine Nser

D-N-methylisoleucine Dnmile N-(imidazolylethyl))glycine Nhis D-N-methylleucine Dnmleu N-(3-indolylyethyl)glycine Nhtφ

D-N-methyllysine Dnmlys N-methyl-γ-aminobutyrate Nmgabu N-methylcyclohexylalanine Nmchexa D-N-methylmethionine Dnmmet

D-N-methylornithine Dnmorn N-methylcyclopentylalanine Nmcpen N-methylglycine Nala D-N-methylphenylalanine Dnmphe

N-methylaminoisobutyrate Nmaib D-N-methylproline Dnmpro

N-( 1 -methylpropyl)glycine Nile D-N-methylserine Dnmser

N-(2-methylpropyl)glycine Nleu D-N-methylthreonine Dnmthr D-N-methyltryptophan Dnmtφ N-( 1 -methylethyl)glycine Nval

D-N-methyltyrosine Dn tyr N-methyla-napthylalanine N anap

D-N-methylvaline Dnmval N-methylpenicillamine Nmpen γ-aminobutyric acid Gabu N-(_/?-hydroxyphenyl)glycine Nhtyr

L-t-butylglycine Tbug N-(thiomethyl)glycine Ncys L-ethylglycine Etg penicillamine Pen

L-homophenylalanine Hphe L-α-methylalanine Mala

L-α-methylarginine Marg L-α-methylasparagine Masn

L-α-methylaspartate Masp L-α-methyl-t-butylglycine Mtbug

L-α-methylcysteine Mcys L-methylethylglycine Metg L-α-methylglutamine Mgln L-α-methylglutamate Mglu

L-α-methylhistidine Mhis L-α-methylhomophenylalanine Mhphe

L-α-methylisoleucine Mile N-(2-methylthioethyl)glycine Nmet

L-α-methylleucine Mleu L-α-methyllysine Mlys

L-α-methylmethionine Mmet L-α-methylnorleucine Mnle L-α-methylnorvaline Mnva L-α-methylornithine Morn

L-α-methylphenylalanine Mphe L-α-methylproIine Mpro

L-α-methylserine Mser L-α-methylthreonine Mthr

L-α-methyltryptophan Mtφ L-α-methyltyrosine Mtyr

L-α-methylvaline Mval L-N-methylhomophenylalanine Nmhphe N-(N-(2,2-diphenylethyl) Nnbhm N-(N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl) Nnbhe carbamylmethyl)glycine carbamylmethyl)glycine 1 -carboxy- 1 -(2,2-diphenyl-Nmbc ethylamino)cyclopropane

Crosslinkers can be used, for example, to stabilise 3D conformations, using homo- bifunctional crosslinkers such as the bifunctional imido esters having (CH2)_n spacer groups with n= l to n=6, glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters and hetero- bifunctional reagents which usually contain an amino-reactive moiety.

The nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is preferably in isolated form or ligated to a vector, such as an expression vector. By "isolated" is meant a nucleic acid molecule having undergone at least one purification step and this is conveniently defined, for example, by a composition comprising at least about 10% subject nucleic acid molecule, preferably at least about 20%, more preferably at least about 30%, still more preferably at least about 40-50%, even still more preferably at least about 60-70% , yet even still more preferably 80-90% or greater of subject nucleic acid molecule relative to other components as determined by molecular weight, encoding activity, nucleotide sequence, base composition or other convenient means. The nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may also be considered, in a preferred embodiment, to be biologically pure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the nucleotide sequence corresponding to ELF5 is a cDNA sequence comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in one of < 400 > 1 or <400> 3 or is a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof including a nucleotide sequence having similarity to one of < 400 > 1 or < 400 > 3 and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in one of < 400 > 2 or < 400 > 4 or a sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to 10 contiguous amino acids in one or more of <400>2 or <400>4.

In another particularly preferred embodiment, the nucleotide sequence corresponding to ELF5 is a cDNA sequence comprising a sequence of nucleotides as set forth in one of < 400> 5 or <400> 6 or is a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof including a nucleotide sequence having similarity to one of < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 and which encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence as set forth in <400> 7 or a sequence having at least about a 45% similarity to 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 7. A derivative of the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention also includes nucleic acid molecules capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequences as set forth in one of <400> 1 or <400> 3 or <400 >5 or < 400 > 6 under low stringency conditions. Preferably said low stringency is at 42 °C. 5

The nucleic acid molecule may be ligated to an expression vector capable of expression in a prokaryotic cell (eg. E. coli) or a eukaryotic cell (eg. yeast cells, fungal cells, insect cells, mammalian cells or plant cells). The nucleic acid molecule may be ligated or fused or otherwise associated with a nucleic acid molecule encoding another entity such as, for 10 example, a signal peptide, a cytokine or other member of the ETS family.

The expression product is ELF5 having an amino acid sequence set forth in one of <400 2 or <400>4 or <400 >7 or is a derivative or homologue as hereinbefore defined or is a mammalian homologue having an amino acid sequence of at least about 15 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence set forth in one of <400>2 or <400 >4 or <400>7.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an isolated protein selected from the list consisting of: 20

(ii) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 2 or 25 a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about

45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(iii) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 4 or 30 a derivative, homolog or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400 > 4 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(iv) a protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about

45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in < 400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(v) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 1 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400 > 2 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(vi) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 3 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400> 4 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(vii) a protein encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 5 or <400> 6 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or a sequence encoding an amino acid sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>7 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

(viii) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in <400 > 1 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400> 2 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45 % similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2.

(ix) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in <400> 3 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400 >4.

(x) a protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridising to the nucleotide sequence as set forth in < 400 > 5 or < 400 > 6 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof under low stringency conditions and which encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in < 400 > 7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or an amino acid sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>6.

(xii) a protein as defined in any one of paragraphs (i) re (x) in a heterodimeric form.

The ELF5 of the present invention may be in multimeric form meaning that two or more molecules are associated together. Where the same ELF5 molecules are associated together, the complex is a homomultimer. An example of a homomultimer is a homodimer. Where at least one ELF5 is associated with at least one non-ELF5 molecule, then the complex is a heteromultimer such as a heterodimer. A heteromultimer may include a molecule of another member of the ETS family or other molecule capable of modulating transcription.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed that ELF5 is a molecule which regulates cellular functional activity. Reference to cellular "functional activity" should be understood as a reference to the functions which a cell is capable of performing such as, but in no way limited to, one or more of proliferation, differentiation, cell surface molecule expression, antigen presentation, maintenance of viability, apoptosis, metabolism, signal transduction and molecular mechanisms such as transcription and translation. In one embodiment, the functional actvity is proliferation. Without limiting this invention to any one theory or mode of action, human ELF5 has been mapped to human chromosome llpl3-15 which is a region that frequently undergoes loss of heterozygocity in several types of carcinoma, including breast, kidney and prostate carcinomas. The expression pattern of ELF5 and ELF5 in normal and diseased tissues also supports a role for these molecules in the regulation of cellular functional activity and, in particular, in the direct or indirect regulation of tumorigenesis. Even more particularly, it is proposed that ELF5 functions as a transcription factor.

The cloning and sequencing of this gene and its expression product now provides an additional gene for use in the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of diseases such as those involving aberrant cellular functional activity such as aberrant cellular proliferation. Examples of diseases involving aberrant cellular proliferation include diseases caused by excessive cellular proliferation, such as in tumorigenesis, or diseases caused by inadequate cellular proliferation. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates therapeutic and prophylactic uses of ELF5 amino acid and nucleic acid molecules, in addition to ELF5 agonistic and antagonistic agents, for the regulation of cellular functional activity, such as for example, regulation of proliferation, differentiation and/or regulation of gene expression by transcriptional regulation.

Still without limiting the present invention in any way, ELF5 maps to a chromosomal region known to harbour tumour suppressor genes. Further, its epithelial cell expression is lost in epithelial tumour cell lines and in the epithelial cells comprising primary breast carcinomas. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the up-regulation of ELF5 expression or ELF5 functional actvity in neoplastic epithelial cells is desired for the purpose of down-regulating cellular proliferation. With respect to the modulation of cell proliferation, although the preferred method is to up-regulate ELF5 activity in order to inhibit or reduce neoplastic cell proliferation, the down-regulation of ELF5 expression or ELF5 functional activity may also be desirable in certain circumstances. For example, to enhance cell proliferation in cellular senescence, ageing or tissue regeneration.

The present invention contemplates, therefore, a method for modulating expression of ELF5 in a subject, said method comprising contacting ELF5 gene with an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to up-regulate or down- regulate or otherwise modulate expression of ELF5. For example, ELF5 antisense sequences such as oligonucleotides may be introduced into a cell to up-regulate epithelial cell proliferative activity. Conversely, a nucleic acid molecule encoding ELF5 or a derivative thereof may be introduced to down-regulate proliferation of epithelial cells not expressing the endogenous ELF5 gene.

The term "expression" refers to the transcription and translation of a nucleic acid molecule. Reference to "expression product" is a reference to the product produced from the transcription and translation of a nucleic acid molecule. Reference to "modulation" should be understood as a reference to up-regulation or down-regulation.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating activity of ELF5 in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal a modulating effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to increase or decrease ELF5 activity.

An "effective amount" means an amount necessary to at least partly attain the desired response.

Modulation of said activity by the administration of an agent to a mammal can be achieved by one of several techniques, including but in no way limited to introducing into said mammal a proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous molecule which: (i) modulates expression of ELF5;

(ii) functions as an antagonist of ELF5;

(iii) functions as an agonist of ELF5 (including administration of ELF5 or functional equivalent, derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof).

Said proteinaceous molecule may be derived from natural or recombinant sources including fusion proteins or following, for example, natural product screening. Said non- proteinaceous molecule may be, for example, a nucleic acid molecule or may be derived from natural sources, such as for example natural product screening or may be chemically synthesised. The present invention contemplates chemical analogs of ELF5 capable of acting as agonists or antagonists of ELF5. Chemical agonists may not necessarily be derived from ELF5 but may share certain conformational similarities. Alternatively, chemical agonists may be specifically designed to mimic certain physiochemical properties of ELF5. Antagonists may be any compound capable of blocking, inhibiting or otherwise preventing ELF5 from carrying out its normal biological functions. Antagonists include monoclonal antibodies specific for ELF5, or parts of ELF5, and antisense nucleic acids which prevent transcription or translation of ELF5 genes or mRNA in mammalian cells.

Said proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous molecule may act either directly or indirectly to modulate the expression of ELF5 or the activity of ELF5. Said molecule acts directly if it associates with ELF5 or ELF5 to modulate the expression or activity of ELF5 or ELF5. Said molecule acts indirectly if it associates with a molecule other than ELF5 or ELF5 which other molecule either directly or indirectly modulates the expression or activity of ELF 5 or ELF5. Accordingly, the method of the present invention encompasses the regulation of ELF5 or ELF5 expression or activity via the induction of a cascade of regulatory steps which lead to the regulation of ELF5 or ELF5 expression or activity. Another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of a nucleotide sequence encoding ELF5 or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5.

Preferably, said cellular functional activity is proliferation and even more preferably said modulation is down-regulation.

Yet another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of ELF5 or ELF5.

The ELF5, ELF5 or agent used may also be linked to a targeting means such as a monoclonal antibody, which provides specific delivery of the ELF5, ELF5 or agent to the target cells.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ELF5, ELF5 or agent used in the method is linked to an antibody specific for said target cells to enable specific delivery to these cells.

Administration of the ELF5, ELF5 or agent, in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, may be performed by any convenient means. ELF5, ELF5 or agent of the pharmaceutical composition are contemplated to exhibit therapeutic activity when administered in an amount which depends on the particular case. The variation depends, for example, on the human or animal and the ELF5, ELF5 or agent chosen. A broad range of doses may be applicable. Considering a patient, for example, from about 0.1 mg to about 1 mg of ELF5 or agent may be administered per kilogram of body weight per day. Dosage regimes may be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, several divided doses may be administered daily, weekly, monthly or other suitable time intervals or the dose may be proportionally reduced as indicated by the exigencies of the situation. The ELF5 or agent may be administered in a convenient manner such as by the oral, intravenous (where water soluble), intranasal, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal or suppository routes or implanting (e.g. using slow release molecules). With particular reference to use of ELF5 or agent, these peptides may be administered in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable nontoxic salts, such as acid addition salts or metal complexes, e.g. with zinc, iron or the like (which are considered as salts for purposes of this application). Illustrative of such acid addition salts are hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulphate, phosphate, maleate, acetate, citrate, benzoate, succinate, malate, ascorbate, tartrate and the like. If the active ingredient is to be administered in tablet form, the tablet may contain a binder such as tragacanth, corn starch or gelatin; a disintegrating agent, such as alginic acid; and a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the invention in relation to the therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of mammalian disease conditions involving aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity. For example, the present invention is particularly useful, but in no way limited to, use in cancer therapy and in particular epithelial cancer therapy. For example, the method of the present invention may be used to treat epithelial tumours of the prostate, breast or lung.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of ELF5 or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5 wherein said modulation results in modulation of said cellular functional activity. Preferably said condition is an epithelial cell tumour and said modulation is down- regulation of the proliferation of said epithelial cells. More preferably said tumour is malignant. Still more preferably said epithelial tumour is a tumour of the prostate, breast or lung.

In another aspect the present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of ELF5 or ELF5 for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate said cellular functional activity.

Preferably said condition is an epithelial cell tumour and said modulation is down- regulation of the proliferation of said epithelial cells. More preferably said tumour is malignant. Still more preferably said epithelial tumour is a tumour of the prostate, breast or lung.

Reference to "aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate" cellular functional activity should be understood as a reference to over-activity, under-activity or to physiologically normal functional activity which is inappropriate in that it is unwanted or insufficient.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of an agent capable of modulating the expression of ELF5 or modulating the activity of ELF5 in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to the use of ELF5 or ELF5 in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

Still yet another aspect of the present invention relates to agents for use in modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity wherein said modulation results in modulation of cellular functional activity. Another aspect of the present invention relates to ELF5 or ELF5 for use in modulating cellular functional activity.

Administration of the agent, ELF5 or functional equivalent, derivative, homologue, analogue or mimetic thereof, or ELF5 nucleic acid molecule (herein referred to as

"modulatory agent"), in the form of a pharmaceutical composition, may be performed by any convenient means. The modulatory agent of the pharmaceutical composition are contemplated to exhibit therapeutic activity when administered in an amount which depends on the particular case. The variation depends, for example, on the human or animal and the modulatory agent chosen. A broad range of doses may be applicable. Considering a patient, for example, from about 0.1 mg to about 1 mg of modulatory agent may be administered per kilogram of body weight per day. Dosage regimes may be adjusted to provide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, several divided doses may be administered daily, weekly, monthly or other suitable time intervals or the dose may be proportionally reduced as indicated by the exigencies of the simation. The modulatory agent may be administered in a convenient manner such as by the oral, intravenous (where water soluble), intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal or suppository routes or implanting (e.g. using slow release molecules). The modulatory agent may be administered in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable nontoxic salts, such as acid addition salts or metal complexes, e.g. with zinc, iron or the like (which are considered as salts for purposes of this application). Illustrative of such acid addition salts are hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulphate, phosphate, maleate, acetate, citrate, benzoate, succinate, malate, ascorbate, tartrate and the like. If the active ingredient is to be administered in tablet form, the tablet may contain a binder such as tragacanth, corn starch or gelatin; a disintegrating agent, such as alginic acid; and a lubricant, such as magnesium stearate.

In a related aspect of the present invention, the mammal undergoing treatment may be human or an animal in need of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment. Reference herein to "treatment" and "prophylaxis" is to be considered in its broadest context. The term "treatment" does not necessarily imply that a mammal is treated until total recovery. Similarly, "prophylaxis" does not necessarily mean that the subject will not eventually contract a disease condition. Accordingly, treatment and prophylaxis include amelioration of the symptoms of a particular condition or preventing or otherwise reducing the risk of developing a particular condition. The term "prophylaxis" may be considered as reducing the severity of onset of a particular condition. "Treatment" may also reduce the severity of an existing condition or the frequency of acute attacks.

In accordance with these methods, the modulatory agent defined in accordance with the present invention may be coadministered with one or more other compounds or molecules. By "coadministered" is meant simultaneous administration in the same formulation or in two different formulations via the same or different routes or sequential administration by the same or different routes. By "sequential" administration is meant a time difference of from seconds, minutes, hours or days between the administration of the two types of molecules, These molecules may be administered in any order.

In yet another further aspect the present invention contemplates a pharmaceutical composition comprising ELF5, ELF5 or an agent capable of modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity together with one or more pharmaceuii lly acceptable carriers and/or diluents. ELF5, ELF5 or said agent are referred to as the active ingredients.

The pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. In all cases the form must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propylene gly col and liquid polyethylene gly col, and the like), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating such as licithin, by the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of superfactants. The preventions of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thirmerosal and the like. In many cases, it will be preferable to include isotonic agents, for example, sugars or sodium chloride. Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought about by the use in the compositions of agents delaying absorption, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin.

Sterile injectable solutions are prepared by incorporating the active compounds in the required amount in the appropriate solvent with various of the other ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredient into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from those enumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation are vacuum drying and the freeze-drying technique which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

When the active ingredients are suitably protected they may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an assimilable edible carrier, or it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, or it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be incorporated directly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the active compound may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions and preparations should contain at least 1 % by weight of active compound. The percentage of the compositions and preparations may, of course, be varied and may conveniently be between about 5 to about 80% of the weight of the unit. The amount of active compound in such therapeutically useful compositions in such that a suitable dosage will be obtained. Preferred compositions or preparations according to the present invention are prepared so that an oral dosage unit form contains between about 0.1 μg and 2000 mg of active compound.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain the following: A binder such as gum tragacanth, acacia, corn starch or gelatin; excipients such as dicalcium phosphate; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; and a sweetening agent such a sucrose, lactose or saccharin may be added or a flavouring agent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen, or cherry flavouring. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir may contain the active compound, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye and flavouring such as cherry or orange flavour. Of course, any material used in preparing any dosage unit form should be pharmaceutically pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the active compound may be incorporated into sustained-release preparations and formulations.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents and the like. The use of such media and agents for pharmaceutical active substances is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional media or agent is incompatible with the active ingredient, use thereof in the therapeutic compositions is contemplated. Supplementary active ingredients can also be incorporated into the compositions.

It is especially advantageous to formulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the mammalian subjects to be treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the novel dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on (a) the unique characteristics of the active material and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and (b) the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active material for the treatment of disease in living subjects having a diseased condition in which bodily health is impaired as herein disclosed in detail.

The principal active ingredient is compounded for convenient and effective administration in effective amounts with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in dosage unit form as hereinbefore disclosed. A unit dosage form can, for example, contain the principal active compound in amounts ranging from 0.5 μg to about 2000 mg. Expressed in proportions, the active compound is generally present in from about 0.5 μg to about 2000 mg/ml of carrier. In the case of compositions containing supplementary active ingredients, the dosages are determined by reference to the usual dose and manner of administration of the said ingredients.

The pharmaceutical composition may also comprise genetic molecules such as a vector capable of transfecting target cells where the vector carries a nucleic acid molecule capable of modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity. The vector may be, for example, a viral vector. The present invention should be understood to extend to the use of such vectors in gene therapy.

Screening for the modulatory agents hereinbefore defined can be achieved by any one of several suitable methods including, but in no way limited to, contacting a cell comprising the ELF5 gene or functional equivalent or derivative thereof with an agent and screening for the modulation of ELF5 protein production or functional activity, modulation of the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding ELF5 or modulation of the activity or expression of a downstream ELF5 cellular target. Detecting such modulation can be achieved utilising techniques such as Western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and/or the readout of reporters of ELF5 activity such as luciferases, CAT and the like. It should be understood that the ELF5 gene or functional equivalent or derivative thereof may be naturally occurring in the cell which is the subject of testing or it may have been transfected into a host cell for the purpose of testing. Further, the naturally occurring or transfected gene may be constitutively expressed - thereby providing a model useful for, inter alia, screening for agents which down regulate ELF5 activity, at either the nucleic acid or expression product levels, or the gene may require activation - thereby providing a model useful for, inter alia, screening for agents which up regulate ELF5 expression. Further, to the extent that an ELF5 nucleic acid molecule is transfected into a cell, that molecule may comprise the entire ELF5 gene or it may merely comprise a portion of the gene such as the portion which regulates expression of the ELF5 product. For example, the ELF5 promoter region may be transfected into the cell which is the subject of testing. In this regard, where only the promoter is utilised, detecting modulation of the activity of the promoter can be achieved, for example, by ligating the promoter to a reporter gene. For example, the promoter may be ligated to luciferase or a CAT reporter, the modulation of expression of which gene can be detected via modulation of fluorescence intensity or CAT reporter activity, respectively.

In another example, the subject of detection could be a downstream ELF5 regulatory target, rather than ELF5 itself or the reporter molecule ligated to the ELF5 promoter or the reporter gene ligated to the promoter of the gene which ELF5 regulates. Yet another example includes ELF5 binding sites ligated to a minimal reporter. For example, modulation of ELF5 activity can be detected by screening for the modulation of the functional activity in an epithelial cell. This is an example of an indirect system where modulation of ELF5 expression, per se, is not the subject of detection. Rather, modulation of the molecules which ELF5 regulates the expression of, are monitored. Where the cell which is the subject of the screening system is an epithelial cell, modulation of ELF5 expression could be detected by screening for modulation of the proliferative activity of that cell.

These methods provide a mechanism for performing high throughput screening of putative modulatory agents such as the proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous agents comprising synthetic, combinatorial, chemical and natural libraries. These methods will also facilitate the detection of agents which bind either the ELF5 nucleic acid molecule or expression product itself or which modulate the expression of an upstream molecule, which upstream molecule subsequently modulates ELF5 expression or expression product activity. Accordingly, these methods provide a mechanism of detecting agents which either directly or indirectly modulate ELF5 expression and/or activity.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting a cell or extract thereof containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered expression phenotype associated with said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative.

Reference to "ELF5" should be understood as a reference to either the ELF5 expression product or a nucleic acid molecule encoding ELF5. It should also be understood as a reference to a portion or fragment of the ELF5 molecule such as the regulatory region of the ELF5 nucleic acid molecule. Alternatively, the molecule may comprise the binding portion of the ELF5 expression product. In this regard, the ELF5 nucleic acid molecule and/or expression product is expressed in a cell. The cell may oe a host cell which has been transfected with the ELF5 nucleic acid molecule or it may be a cell, such as an epithelial cell, which naturally contains the ELF5 gene. Reference to "extraction thereof" should be understood as a reference to a cell free transcription system.

Reference to detecting an "altered expression phenotype associated with said ELF5" should be understood as the detection of cellular changes associated with modulation of the activity of ELF5. These may be detectable for example as intracellular changes or changes observable extracellular ly. For example, this includes, but is not limited to, detecting changes in expression product levels, or, to the extent that the ELF5 regulatory region is ligated to a reporter molecule such as luciferase or CAT, detecting changes in reporter molecule expression. Alternatively, this screening system may be established to detect changes in the expression of downstream molecules which are regulated by the ELF5 expression product. For example, detecting changes in mRNA or expression product levels of down-stream molecule or alteration to proliferation rates.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting an epithelial cell containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered proliferation rate.

As detailed earlier, the method of this aspect of the present invention should be understood to extend to screening for agents which modulate the expression of ELF5 either directly or indirectly. An example of indirect modulation of ELF5 would be modulation of the expression of a first nucleic acid molecule, which first nucleic acid molecule expression product modulates the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding ELF5 or functional equivalent or derivative thereof.

Reference to "ELF5 binding site" should be understood as a reference to the nucleic acid sequence to which the ELF5 expression product can bind.

Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to antibodies to ELF5 including catalytic antibodies. Such antibodies may be monoclonal or polyclonal and may be selected from naturally occurring antibodies to ELF5 or may be specifically raised to ELF5. In the case of the latter, ELF5 may first need to be associated with a carrier molecule. The antibodies and/or recombinant ELF5 of the present invention are particularly useful as therapeutic or diagnostic agents. Alternatively, fragments of antibodies may be used such as Fab fragments. Furthermore, the present invention extends to recombinant and synthetic antibodies and to antibody hybrids. A "synthetic antibody" is considered herein to include fragments and hybrids of antibodies. The antibodies of this aspect of the present invention are particularly useful for immunotherapy and may also be used as a diagnostic tool for assessing apoptosis or monitoring the program of a therapeutic regime.

For example, ELF5 can be used to screen for naturally occurring antibodies to ELF5.

For example, specific antibodies can be used to screen for ELF5 proteins. The latter would be important, for example, as a means for screening for levels of ELF5 in a cell extract or other biological fluid or purifying ELF5 made by recombinant means from culmre supernatant fluid. Techniques for the assays contemplated herein are known in the art and include, for example, sandwich assays, ELISA and flow cytometry.

It is within the scope of this invention to include any second antibodies (monoclonal, polyclonal or fragments of antibodies) directed to the first mentioned antibodies discussed above. Both the first and second antibodies may be used in detection assays or a first antibody may be used with a commercially available anti-immunoglobulin antibody. An antibody as contemplated herein includes any antibody specific to any region of ELF5.

Both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are obtainable by immunization with the protein or peptide derivatives and either type is utilizable for immunoassays. The methods of obtaining both types of sera are well known in the art. Polyclonal sera are less preferred but are relatively easily prepared by injection of a suitable laboratory animal with an effective amount of ELF5, or antigenic parts thereof, collecting serum from the animal, and isolating specific sera by any of the known immunoadsorbent techniques. Although antibodies produced by this method are utilizable in virtually any type of immunoassay, they are generally less favoured because of the potential heterogeneity of the product.

The use of monoclonal antibodies in an immunoassay is particularly preferred because of the ability to produce them in large quantities and the homogeneity of the product. The preparation of hybridoma cell lines for monoclonal antibody production derived by fusing an immortal cell line and lymphocytes sensitized against the immunogenic preparation can be done by techniques which are well known to those who are skilled in the art. (See, for example Douillard and Hoffman, Basic Facts about Hybridomas, in Compendium of Immunology Vol II, ed. by Schwartz, 1981; Kohler and Milstein, Nature 256: 495-499, 1975; European Journal of Immunology 6: 511-519, 1976).

In another aspect of the present invention, the molecules of the present invention are also useful as screening targets for use in applications such as the diagnosis of disorders which are regulated by ELF5. For example, screening for the levels of ELF5 protein or ELF5 mRNA transcripts in breast or prostate tissue as an indicator of a predisposition to, or the development of, breast or prostate cancer.

Yet another aspect of the present invention contemplates a method of diagnosing or monitoring a disease condition in a mammal, which disease condition is characterised by aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity, said method comprising screening for ELF5 and/or ELF5 in a biological sample isolated from said mammal.

Screening for ELF5 or ELF5 in a biological sample can be performed by any one of a number of suitable methods which are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of suitable methods include, but are not limited to, in situ hybridisation of biopsy sections to detect mRNA transcript or DNA, Northern blotting, RT-PCR of specimens isolated from tissue biopsies or bodily fluid samples (such as blood), antibody screening of tissue sections or bodily fluid samples. To the extent that antibody based methods of diagnosis are used, the presence of ELF5 or ELF5 may be determined in a number of ways such as by Western blotting, ELISA or flow cytometry procedures. These, of course, include both single-site and two-site or "sandwich" assays of the non-competitive types, as well as in the traditional competitive binding assays. These assays also include direct binding of a labelled antibody to a target.

Sandwich assays are among the most useful and commonly used assays and are favoured for use in the present invention. A number of variations of the sandwich assay technique exist, and all are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Briefly, in a typical forward assay, an unlabelled antibody is immobilized on a solid substrate and the sample to be tested brought into contact with the bound molecule. After a suitable period of incubation, for a period of time sufficient to allow formation of an antibody-antigen complex, a second antibody specific to the antigen, labelled with a reporter molecule capable of producing a detectable signal is then added and incubated, allowing time sufficient for the formation of another complex of antibody-antigen-labelled antibody. Any unreacted material is washed away, and the presence of the antigen is determined by observation of a signal produced by the reporter molecule. The results may either be qualitative, by simple observation of the visible signal, or may be quantitated by comparing with a control sample containing known amounts of hapten. Variations on the forward assay include a simultaneous assay, in which both sample and labelled antibody are added simultaneously to the bound antibody. These techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, including any minor variations as will be readily apparent. In accordance with the present invention the sample is one which might contain ELF5 including cell extract, tissue biopsy or possibly serum, saliva, mucosal secretions, lymph, tissue fluid and respiratory fluid. The sample is, therefore, generally a biological sample comprising biological fluid but also extends to fermentation fluid and supernatant fluid such as from a cell culture.

In the typical forward sandwich assay, a first antibody having specificity for the ELF5 or antigenic parts thereof, is either covalently or passively bound to a solid surface. The solid surface is typically glass or a polymer, the most commonly used polymers being cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene. The solid supports may be in the form of tubes, beads, discs of microplates, or any other surface suitable for conducting an immunoassay. The binding processes are well-known in the art and generally consist of cross-linking covalently binding or physically adsorbing, the polymer-antibody complex is washed in preparation for the test sample. An aliquot of the sample to be tested is then added to the solid phase complex and incubated for a period of time sufficient (e.g. 2-40 minutes) and under suitable conditions (e.g. 25 °C) to allow binding of any subunit present in the antibody. Following the incubation period, the antibody subunit solid phase is washed and dried and incubated with a second antibody specific for a portion of the hapten. The second antibody is linked to a reporter molecule which is used to indicate the binding of the second antibody to the hapten.

An alternative method involves immobilizing the target molecules in the biological sample and then exposing the immobilized target to specific antibody which may or may not be labelled with a reporter molecule. Depending on the amount of target and the strength of the reporter molecule signal, a bound target may be detectable by direct labelling with the antibody. Alternatively, a second labelled antibody, specific to the first antibody is exposed to the target-first antibody complex to form a target-first antibody- second antibody tertiary complex. The complex is detected by the signal emitted by the reporter molecule.

By "reporter molecule" as used in the present specification, is meant a molecule which, by its chemical nature, provides an analytically identifiable signal which allows the detection of antigen-bound antibody. Detection may be either qualitative or quantitative.

The most commonly used reporter molecules in this type of assay are either enzymes, fluorophores or radionuclide containing molecules (i.e. radioisotopes) and chemiluminescent molecules. In the case of an enzyme immunoassay, an enzyme is conjugated to the second antibody, generally by means of glutaraldehyde or periodate. As will be readily recognized, however, a wide variety of different conjugation techniques exist, which are readily available to the skilled artisan. Commonly used enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, glucose oxidase, beta-galactosidase and alkaline phosphatase, amongst others. The substrates to be used with the specific enzymes are generally chosen for the production, upon hydrolysis by the corresponding enzyme, of a detectable color change. Examples of suitable enzymes include alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. It is also possible to employ fluorogenic substrates, which yield a fluorescent product rather than the chromogenic substrates noted above. In all cases, the enzyme-labelled antibody is added to the first antibody hapten complex, allowed to bind, and then the excess reagent is washed away. A solution containing the appropriate substrate is then added to the complex of antibody-antigen-antibody. The substrate will react with the enzyme linked to the second antibody, giving a qualitative visual signal, which may be further quantitated, usually spectrophotometrically, to give an indication of the amount of hapten which was present in the sample. "Reporter molecule" also extends to use of cell agglutination or inhibition of agglutination such as red blood cells on latex beads, and the like.

Alternately, fluorescent compounds, such as fluorecein and rhodamine, may be chemically coupled to antibodies without altering their bin ing capacity. When activated by illumination with light of a particular wavelength, the fluorochrome-labelled antibody adsorbs the light energy, inducing a state to excitability in the molecule, followed by emission of the light at a characteristic color visually detectable with a light microscope. As in the El A, the fluorescent labelled antibody is allowed to bind to the first antibody- hapten complex. After washing off the unbound reagent, the remaining tertiary complex is then exposed to the light of the appropriate wavelength the fluorescence observed indicates the presence of the hapten of interest. Immunofluorescene and El A techniques are both very well established in the art and are particularly preferred for the present method. However, other reporter molecules, such as radioisotope, chemiluminescent or bioluminescent molecules, may also be employed. Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following non- limiting examples.

SUMMARY OF SEQ ID Nos.

Sequence SEQ ID NO.

nucleotide sequence of human ELF5 < 400 > 1 amino acid sequence of human ELF5 < 400 > 2 nucleotide sequence of human ELF5 short transcript < 400 > 3 amino acid sequence of human ELF5 short transcript < 400 > 4 nucleotide sequence of murine ELF5a < 400 > 5 nucleotide sequence of murine ELF5b < 400 > 6 amino acid sequence of murine ELF5 < 400 > 7 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 8 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 9 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 10 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 11 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 12 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 13 oligonucleotide primer < 400 > 14 oligonucleotide primer < 400> 15

EXAMPLE 1 ISOLATION OF MOUSE AND HUMAN ELF5 cDNAs

The murine ELF5 cDNA was isolated from an adult mouse lung cDNA library. Amalgamation of sequence data revealed a 1437 bp sequence with a maximum open reading frame (ORF) of 759 bp, predicted to encode a 253 amino acid protein of approximately 31 kD (Figure la). An upstream, in-frame ston codon suggests that this ORF represents the full-length coding sequence of ELF5. Additional 91 bp of 5', and 696 bp of 3 ' sequences were obtained by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), using day 14 mouse placental RNA. Sequence analysis revealed two discrete polyadenylation signals present in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). The first of these (at 1391 bp) appears to be an overlapping poly (A) ⁺ recognition signal, AATTAA and ATTAAAA. The second is a consensus polyadenylation signal, AATAAA, at 2181 bp. These polyadenylation signals are found close to the 3' termination of the original clone and the 3' RACE product, respectively, suggesting that these represent polyA signals for two separate mRNA products. Thus, the two predicted ELF5 cDNAs are 2224 bp and 1528 bp long. Northern blot analysis, using the ELF5 coding sequence as a probe, confirmed the presence of two predominant ELF5 transcripts in placental tissue, ELF5a and ELF5b, of approximately 2.5 kb and 1.5 kb respectively. Only ELF5a was identified using a 3' UTR fragment from between the polyadenylation signals as a probe (Figure lb), indicating that the transcripts differ in 3' UTR sequences.

A human ELF5 cDNA fragment was isolated from a human lung cDNA library following screening with a cDNA probe containing the coding sequence of mouse ELF5. The full coding sequence of human ELF5 was then obtained by reverse transcriptase PCR and RACE using human placental RNA. Analysis revealed that the ELF5 sequence is predicted to encode a 255 residue amino acid protein. EXAMPLE 2 COMPARISON OF HUMAN AND MOUSE ELF5 AMINO ACID SEQUENCES

The predicted amino acid sequences of human and mouse ELF5 are highly conserved, 5 with approximately 95% identity (Figure 2a). Only a single amino acid substitution was observed within the putative ETS domain of human and mouse ELF5, and most of the other differing amino acid residues in the full-length sequences are conservative substitutions (8/13), suggesting that the two proteins are homologs (i.e. having an inferred common ancestry). Interestingly, human ELF5 does, however, contain an

10 additional two amino acid insertion compared to mouse ELF5. In addition to the ETS domain, other features appear to be conserved between these two sequences. These include a putative 'pointed' domain (Seth et al , 1992; Lautenberger et al, 1992) and several consensus casein kinase II (CKII) (Pinna, 1990), protein kinase C (PKC) (Kishimoto et al, 1985; Woodget et al, 1986) and tyrosine kinase (Patschinsky et al,

15 1982; Hunter, 1982; Cooper et al, 1984) phosphorylation sites.

The ETS domain found within all members of the ETS family is responsible for sequence-specific DNA binding (Seth et al, 1992; Lautenberger et al, 1992; Wasylyk et al, 1993). The putative ETS domain of human/mouse ELF5, situated at the carboxyl

20 terminal of the protein, is similar to that of human/mous 'iLFS, with amino acid identity being 67% . However, this domain is only moderately similar to that of other ETS family members, with the highest amino acid identity being 49% to human NERF, 48% to Drosophila ETS4 and E74A, and 46% to human ELFl and ELKl (Figure 2b). Sequence identity to other family members is in the range of 44-36% . However, amino acids

25 highly conserved amongst ETS family members (Janknecht and Nordheim, 1993) are well conserved in ELF5 (23/38). Some of these highly conserved residues, such as the three tryptophan residues in the carboxyl half of the ETS domain, have been demonstrated to be structurally critical for DNA binding of other ETS family members (Wang et al, 1992; Wasylyk et al, 1992). Based on ETS domain similarities, a recent phylogenetic analysis (Graves and Petersen, 1998) has proposed the grouping of ETS factors into subfamilies, one of which is the ELF (E-74-like-factor) subfamily. The ELF subfamily includes Drosophila E74A, human ELFl and NERF. A phylogenetic tree was generated including ELF5 and recently isolated ELF3, by maximum likelihood analysis of the ETS domain (Figure 2c). It shows that the human and mouse ELF5 sequences group most closely with the human and mouse ELF3 sequences, and that both ELF3 and ELF5 are most closely related to Drosophila ETS4, E74A and human ELFl and NERF within the ETS family. Thus, Drosophila ETS4, and human/mouse ELF3 and ELF5 may also fall into the ELF subfamily of ETS factors.

The phylogency in Figure 2c shows the unrooted relationship among 28 ETS domains.

EXAMPLE 3 HUMAN CHROMOSOMAL MAPPING OF ELF5

Human chromosomal localization of ELF5 was performed by PCR, using gene specific primers and the Genebridge 4 Radiation Hybrid DNA panel (UK HGMP Resource Centre). With these primers, a single product of the expected size (234 bp) was amplified from total human DNA. The PCR reactions were then performed separately for each of the individual hybrids. The amplification results from the 93 hybrids were submitted to the Radiation Hybrid Mapping server at Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research for analysis. The result demonstrated that ELF5 is localised to chromosome 11. The markers most tightly linked to ELF5 were D11S3990 (6.5cR) and D11S3998 (15.9 cR) (lod score > 3.0), and these markers are located in the region of llpl3-15 (Figure 3). This chromosomal region frequently undergoes loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in several types of carcinoma (Baffa et al, 1996; Dahiya et al, 1997; Hirose et al, 1996; Iizuka et al, 1995; Kawana et al, 1997; Lichy et al, 1998; Wilson et al, 1996). EXAMPLE 4 EXPRESSION PATTERN OF ELF5 IN MOUSE TISSUES

Poly (A) ⁺ mRNA material derived from various mouse tissues were analysed by Northern blot hybridization using the murine ELF5 cDNA as a probe. A GAPDH probe was then used to control for RNA loading.

Analysis of ELF5 expression in adult mouse tissues revealed that ELF5 has a restricted expression pattern. Expression of two ELF5 transcripts, ELF5-a (2.5 kb) and ELF5-b (1.5 kb), were observed in lung (Lu), kidney (Ki), stomach (St), ovary (Ov), tongue (To), bladder (Bl), and day 2 pregnant (2 Ma) and day 10 pregnant (10 Ma) mammary glands, but no expression was observed in liver (Li), heart (He), small intestine (Sm), spleen (Sp), thymus (Th), pancreas (Pa), skeletal muscle (Sk), colon (Co) or fat (2 Fa and 10 Fa) (Figure 4a). Fat from day 2 (2 Fa) and day 10 (10 Fa) pregnant mice was used as a control for mammary expression, since the mammary gland contains much fat tissue. A single transcript was observed in brain (arrow - approximately 2.1 kb), but of a different size to either of the two ELF5 transcripts in other organs.

The expression of ELF5 was examined in the neonatal mouse (Figure 4b) and during embryogenesis on days 19, 17 and 16 (Figure 4c), and observed a similar expression pattern compared to that of the adult. However, at day 16 stage of embryogenesis low levels of ELF5 expression were detected in brain (regular sized transcripts) and small intestine, in addition to the expression pattern observed in the adult.

Placental expression of ELF5 displayed an interesting pattern during stages of embryogenesis (Figure 4d). Both transcripts were increasingly expressed from day 9.5 to day 13 before an overall decrease observed from day 14 to day 19, although some expression was observed at day 17.

The two predominant ELF5 mRNA transcripts were observed in variable ratios in different tissues, suggesting that polyadenylation sites may be utilized differentially, or the two transcripts are subject to differential degradation. ELF5-a was expressed more strongly in neonatal and embryonic lung and kidney (Figures 4b and c), and adult ovary (Figure 4a), compared to ELF5-b. Conversely, ELF5-b was stronger in adult tongue (Figure 4a), and in all developmental stages of stomach (Figures 4a, b and c), compared to ELF5-a. In some RNA samples a further large (> 10 kb) transcript was variably observed.

EXAMPLE 5 EXPRESSION PATTERN OF ELF5 IN HUMAN TISSUES AND CANCER CELL LINES

Expression of ELF5 in adult human organs was also analysed by Northern blot of poly(A)⁺ mRNA probed with the human ELF5 cDNA (Figure 5a). A single transcript of approximately 2.5 kb was strongly expressed in kidney (Ki) and prostate (Pr). However, much longer exposures of blots demonstrated just detectable expression of ELF5 in placenta (PI) and lung (Lu). Further, ELF5 was cloned from human lung and placenta cDNA libraries, confirming that it is expressed in these tissues, albeit probably at very low levels.

ELF5 expression in human cancers was examined. A panel of cancer cell lines, including carcinomas of the ovary (CaOv-3), breast (BT-549, ZR-75-1, T47D), kidney (786-0), liver (SK-HEP-1), lung (A549), amnion (WISH), prostate (DU145, PC3) and endometrium (HEC-1), and melanoma (MEL28), T-cell leukemia (Jurkat) and erythroid leukemia (K562), were analysed for ELF5 expression by RNAse protection assay (Figure 5b). A primary fibroblast cell line (CCL32SK) was also included as a sample of non- transformed cells. Of all these cell lines only T47D, a progesterone sensitive ductal breast carcinoma, was observed to express ELF5.

To evaluate the possibility that lack of ELF5 expression in carcinoma was due to genomic alterations, a panel of breast and lung carcinoma derived cell lines were analysed by Southern blot (Figure 5c). ELF5 gene dosage was compared to that present in DNA from normal human blood (based on the 6.5 kb BgHl fragment) and controlled by hybridization with a $-actin cDNA probe. These results are summarized in the lower panel, where '2' represents a normal allele complement. No evidence was found for allelic loss or gene rearrangement in the two breast carcinoma cell lines that did not 5 express ELF5 (BT-549 - lane 2, ZR-75-1 - lane 3). However, of nine lung carcinoma cell lines, evidence for loss of an ELF5 allele was observed in two (NCI-H358 - lane 8, NCI-H441 - lane 11). Hybridization with an ELF3 cDNA probe, which is localised to the long arm of chromosome 1 (Tymms et al, 1997), helped to confirm the specific loss of ELF5 alleles. Two other lung carcinoma lines (SK-LU-1 - lane 10, NCI-H661 - lane

10 13) displayed hybridization with multiple fragments (shaded arrows) in addition to those observed in normal DNA (solid arrows), possibly indicating that at least one ELF5 allele has been rearranged in these lines. Confirmation of rearrangement, rather than restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), was made by additional restriction digests. Some cell lines appeared to have amplification or additional copies of the ELF5

15 gene. One of these, T47D (lane 4), was the only cell line demonstrated to express ELF5, and another, SK-LU-1 (lane 10), appeared to have rearranged alleles.

EXAMPLE 6 SEQUENCE-SPECIFIC BINDING OF ELF5 TO DNA SEQUENCES 20 CONTAINING CONSENSUS ETS SITES

Although ELF5 displays similarity to the consensus ETS domain, characterising it as an ETS family member, this sequence is still quite divergent from most other ETS family members. The hallmark of ETS factors to bind DNA sites containing a GGAA-core in a

25 sequence-specific manner is however shared by ELF5, demonstrating an additional functional similarity to the ETS family. A recombinant ELF5 HIS-tag protein of approximately 29 kD, expressed in E. coli and purified by metal-affinity chromatography (Figure 6a, lane 4), displayed strong binding to consensus ETS binding sites, as analysed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) (Figure 6b). ELF5 bound the E74

30 oligonucleotide (containing a GGAA-core) (lane 1), but not to the E74ml oligonucleotide (which had been mutated to an AGAA-core) (lane 2). The first G-residue of the core has been demonstrated to be a physical point of DNA contact for ETSl, and consequently essential for DNA binding (Fisher et al, 1991; Nye et al, 1992). Thus, ELF5 displays sequence specific binding to a consensus ETS binding site, binding that is disrupted by a mutation known to similarly affect other ETS family members. These results were confirmed through competition analysis. The ELF5-E74 complex (lane 3) was efficiently competed by the addition of a 100-fold excess of unlabeled E74 (lane 4), but not by E74ml (lane 5).

ELF5 also displayed sequence specific binding to different consensus ETS binding sequences, and did so with differential affinity (Figure 6b). Competition of the ELF5- E74 complex (lane 3) was achieved by consensus ETS sites from the GM-CSF promoter (lane 6), erb-B2 promoter (lane 7) and moloney sarcoma virus (MSV) long terminal repeat (LTR) (lane 8). The relative ability of ELF5 to bind these sequences occurred in the order: E74 > erbB2 > MSV > GM-CSF. ELF5 did not appear to be competed at all by an oligonucleotide containing a consensus API binding site (lane 9). ETSl binding to E74 was used as a positive control (lane 10).

EXAMPLE 7 MOUSE ELF5 ACTS AS A TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATOR

In addition to DNA binding, another characteristic of most ETS factors is their ability to transactivate from binding sites in promoters and enhancers.

A reporter construct, containing the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) driven by a minimal TK promoter and multiple ETS/ API binding sites (from the polyomavirus enhancer), was co-transfected into COS cells together with an ELF5 expression construct (Figure 7). Analysis of CAT activities revealed that ELF5 expression resulted in an average five-fold transactivation of the reporter. Further, this transactivation was inhibited by addition of an anti-sense ELF5 mRNA expression vector, indicating that ELF5 transactivation was due specifically to the product translated from the sense construct. EXAMPLE 8 ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FULL-LENGTH MURINE ELF5

CDNA

The murine Elf5 cDNA was isolated from an adult lung cDNA library in Lambda ZAPII (Stratagene) following screening with a cDNA probe containing the ETS domain region of human ELF3. Additional 5' sequence and 3' sequence were obtained by RT-PCR using a Marathon cDNA synthesis Kit (Clontech) and RACE (Rapid Amplification using day 14 murine of cDNA Ends) placental Poly(A)^" RNA. The murine EtJ5-specific PCR products were cloned into pGΕM-T vector (Promega Corp. , Madison, WI, USA). All cDNA sequences were confirmed by sequencing both strands at least once. 5 'RACE gene-specific primer l:5'GCCAGTCTTG-GTCTCTTCAGCATC-3' ( < 400 > 8); 5'- RACE nested-gene-specific primer 2: 5'-AGGAGATGCAGTTGGCATCAAGCT-3' ( < 400> 9); 3'-RACE gene-specific primer 1: 5'-AGCCAGTGTTATGGGTGCTG-3' ( <400> 10); 3 '-RACE nested-gene-specific primer 2: 5'- ACAGTCACTTGATCCACGGCCAATCC-3' ( <400> 11).

EXAMPLE 9 ISOLATION OF HUMAN ELF5 CODING SEQUENCE

A human ELF5 cDNA fragment was isolated from a human lung cDNA library (GIBCO BRL) following screening with a cDNA probe containing the coding sequence of mouse Elf5. The coding sequence was then obtained by RT-PCR using a Marathon cDNA synthesis Kit (Clontech) and RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) using human placental Poly(A)⁺ RNA. The human ELE5-specific PCR products were cloned into pGEM-T vector (Promega Corp. , Madison, WI, USA). All cDNA sequences were confirmed by sequencing both strands at least once. EXAMPLE 10 STS CONTENT MAPPING

The following sequence specific primers for human ELF5 were used for PCR. Forward primer: 5'-CCTGTGACTCATACTGGACATC-3' ( <400> 12); Reverse primer: 5'- CTTGTGTGCGGATGTTCTGG-3' ( <400> 13). The PCR reactions were performed in Opti-Primer™ 10 x buffer #3 (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.3, 35 mM MgCl₂, 250 mM Kcl) with 1 μl of Master Mix 50 x buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl pH 8.0, 250 nM EDTA) (Opti- Primer™ PCR Optimization Kit, Stratagene), 50 ng of template DNA, 0.2 μg of each primer, 1 l of 10 mM dNTPs and 0.25 U of Taq DNA polymerase in a total volume of 50 μl. PCR parameters were an initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 1 min, followed by 30 cycles of 94°C (1 min), 60°C (1 min), 72°C (1 min). For Genebridge 4 Radiation Hybrid DNA panel (UK GHMP Resource Centre), PCR reactions were performed separately for each of the individual hybrids. The PCR results from the 93 hybrids were submitted to the Radiation Hybrid Mapping server at Whitehead Institute/MIT Center for Genome Research (http://www.genome.wi.mit.edu/cgibin/contig/rhmapper.pl). The STS content mapping experiment was performed in duplicate and included PCR reactions with no DNA, total human DNA and total hamster DNA as controls.

EXAMPLE 11

SOUTHERN AND NORTHERNBLOT ANALYSIS

Northern analysis of ELF5 expression in human adult organs was performed with commercially available blots containing 2 μg of Poly (A) ⁺ RNA (Clontech). For other Northern blots POLY(A)⁺ mRNA was isolated by a modification of Gonda et al. (1992). Genomic DNA was isolated by standard techniques (Sambrook et al, 1997). Random- primed probes using a 898 bp human ELF5 cDNA fragment and a 940 bp Styl mouse Elβ cDNA fragment were generated and Southern/Northern hybridizations performed using standard procedures. Blots were re-probed with gly ceraldehyde-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) or β-αct cDNAs to verify RNA/DNA loading. EXAMPLE 12 RNASE PROTECTION ANALYSIS

ELF5 mRNA abundance in total RNA from human cell lines was determined as described previously (Tymms, 1995). Anti-sense RNA probes for human ELF5 and GAPDH transcribed from linearized plasmid vectors generated full-length probes of 388 bp and 216 bp, respectively. The protected products generated by hybridization and RNAse digestion are 298 bp for ELF5 and 150 bp for GAPDH.

EXAMPLE 13

CELL LINES AND CULTURE

Monkey COS7 cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin, and maintained in a humidified incubator at 5% CO₂ and 37 °C.

EXAMPLE 14 PLASMIDS

pHis6-Elf5 expression vector was made as follows: The murine Elf 5 cDNA was amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers (5'- CGGGATCCTTGGACTCCGTAACCCATAGC-3' ( <400 > 14) and 5'- GCAGATCTCAGAGTTTCTCTTCCTGCC-3' ( <400 > 15)) containing a BamYll restriction site followed by 21 nucleotides of the murine Elf 5 coding sequence and a BgHl restriction site followed by 19 nucleotides complementary to the last 20 nucleotides of the Elf 5 coding sequence. The PCR fragment was cloned into the pGEM-T vector (Promega Corp., Madison, WI, USA), the BamYLl-Sacl restriction fragment with the Elf 5 coding sequence was then cloned into the BamHI-Sacl sites of the pQE30 (Qiagen, Inc. Chatsworth, CA, USA) bacterial expression vector resulting in a N-terminal fusion of Elf 5 protein to six histidine residues (His-Tag). The Elf5 mammalian expression construct (pBOSElf5s) contains the full mouse Elf5 cDNA blunt cloned into the T4 polymerase blunted Xbal site of pEFBOS (Mizushima and Natata, 1990). Expression from pEFBOS is driven by the elongation factor- 1 promoer. The Elf5 anti-sense expression construct is similar, but with reverse orientation of the Elf 5 polyomavirus enhancer oligonucleotides into the BamHI site of pBLCAT2.

EXAMPLE 15 ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITY SHIFT ASSAYS (EMSA)

Purified recombinant Elf 5 and Etsl proteins were produced as 6XHis-tag fusions in E. coli using the QIAexpress expression system (Qiagen). Overnight cultures were diluted 1/10 in LB broth and grown for 1 h at 37 °C. Expression of recombinant proteins were induced. by addition of 0.1 mM IPTG and culmre of cells for 2 h. Cells were harvested and sonicated in lysis buffer (6 M guanidine, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM NaCl, pH 8.0), and cell debris removed by centrifugation. One ml of metal His-affinity resin was incubated with supernatants for 30 min, collected, washed in wash buffer (8 M urea, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM NaCl, pH 8.0), and resuspended in renaturation buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM NaCl, 3 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), pH 8.0). Proteins were eluted from the beads in renaturation buffer supplemented with 100 mM imidazole. Purification and integrity of recombinant proteins were confirmed by denaturing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).

DNA binding experiments with recombinant proteins were performed using EMSA, as previously described (Thomas et al, 1995, 1997). Briefly, purified double stranded oligonucleotides were labeled with γ-³²P dATP and T4 polynucleotide kinase.

Oligonucleotide probe (1 ng) was incubated for 10 min with approximately 20 ng purified Elβ/Etsl protein in DNA binding buffer ( 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM Tris-Hcl pH 8.0, 50 mM NaCl, 3 mM DTT, 1 mg/ml BSA, 500 ng/ml poly-d(I-C)d(I-C), 500 ng/ml poly dl- dC, 200 ng/ml sheared salmon sperm DNA), + 100 ng unlabelled competitor oligonucleotides, in 10 μl final volume. Assays were run through non-denaturing, 7% acrylamide (29 acrylamide: ! bis-acrylamide), 0.5 x TBE gels at 4°C. EXAMPLE 16 LACK OF ELF5 EXPRESSION IN HUMAN PRIMARY BREAST CARCINOMAS

A panel of human primary breast carcinoma samples were analysed for ELF5 expression by in situ hybridization (Hogan et al. , 1994). Section from parafin-embedded samples were hybridized with ELF5 ³³P-labelled antisense RNA, and signals were detected with a photosensitive emulsion. Serial sections were also stained with eosin and haematoxylin.

A preliminary examination of ELF5 expression shows that ELF5 is not detectable in 20 out of 20 human breast carcinomas studied, whereas it is strongly expressed in adjacent normal epithelium and in epithelial cells from normal subjects (Figure 8).

EXAMPLE 17 REGULATION OF CELLULAR PROLIFERATION BY ELF5

The human cancer cell lines PC-3 (prostate cancer cell line) and MDA-MB-435 (breast ductal carcinoma cell line) were transfected with either human or murine ELF5 cDNA under the BOS promoter. Neither of these cell lines expresses ELF5 natively. ELF5 transfected clones grew slower, showed greater death and showed an altered morphology compared with empty vector transfected control cells.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or feamres. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding ELF5 wherein said ELF5 comprises an Ets domain.

2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>2 or a derivative homologue or mimetic thereof or having at least about 45% or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2.

3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400>1 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to <400>1 under low stringency conditions.

4. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 3 which further encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>2 or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2.

5. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 2 or 3 substantially as set forth in <400>l.

6. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or having at least about 45% or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>4.

7. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400>3 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to <400>3 under low stringency conditions.

8. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 7 which further encodes an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>4 or a sequence having at least about 45%) similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>4.

9. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 6 or 7 substantially as set forth in <400>3.

10. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding, or a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence encoding, an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or having at least about 45% or greater similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>7.

11. An isolated nucleic acid molecule or derivative, homologue or analogue thereof comprising a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in one of <400>5 or <400>6 or a derivative or homologue thereof capable of hybridising to one of <400>5 or <400>6 under low stringency conditions.

12. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 11 which further encodes an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence set forth in <400>7 or a sequence having at least about 45% similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>7.

13. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 10 or 11 substantially as set forth in <400>5 or <400>6.

14. An isolated protein or derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof wherein said protein is ELF5 which ELF5 comprises an Ets domain.

15. An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>2 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45%o similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>2 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic or said protein.

16. An isolated protein according to claim 15 encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400>1 or a derivative, homologue or analogue thereof or capable of hybridising to <400>1 under low stringency conditions or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

17. An isolated protein according to claim 15 or 16 substantially as set forth in <400>2.

18. An isolated protein having an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>4 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45%) similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>4 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

19. An isolated protein according to claim 18 encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in <400>3 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or capable of hybridising to <400>3 under low stringency conditions or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

20. An isolated protein according to claim 18 or 19 substantially as set forth in <400>4.

21. An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence substantially as set forth in <400>7 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or a sequence having at least about 45%o similarity to at least 10 contiguous amino acids in <400>7 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

22. An isolated protein according to claim 21 encoded by a nucleotide sequence substantially as set forth in one of <400>5 or <400>6 or a derivative, homologue or mimetic thereof or capable of hybridising to one of <400>5 or <400>6 under low stringency conditions or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic of said protein.

23. An isolated protein according to claim 21 or 22 substantially as set forth in <400>7.

24. An isolated protein according to any one of claims 18-23 which protein is a homodimer.

25. An isolated protein according to any one of claims 18-23 which protein is a heterodimer.

26. A method of modulating expression of ELF5 in a mammal, said method comprising contacting the ELF5 gene with an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate expression of ELF 5.

27. A method of modulating the functional activity of ELF 5 in a mammal, said method comprising administering to said mammal a modulating effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to increase or decrease the ELF5 activity.

28. A method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of ELF5 or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5.

29. A method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a protein according to any one of claims 18-25 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the functional activity of said cell.

30. A method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule according to any one of claims 1-17 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the functional activity of said cell.

31. A method of modulating cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression ofELFS or sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF5 wherein said ELF5 expression product or ELF5 modulates the activity of said cell.

32. A method according to any one of claims 28-31 wherein said functional activity is proliferation.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein said cell is a neoplastic epithelial cell said modulation is down-regulation.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein said neoplastic epithelial cell is of breast, prostate or lung origin.

35. A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity in a mammal of treating a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the expression of ELF5 wherein said modulation results in modulation of cellular functional activity.

36. A method for the treatment and or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of an agent for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the activity of ELF 5 wherein said modulation results in modulation of cellular functional activity.

37. A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a protein according to any one of claims 18-25 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate cellular functional activity.

38. A method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a condition characterised by the aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cellular functional activity in a mammal said method comprising administering to said mammal an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule according to any one of claims 1-17 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate cellular functional activity.

39. A method of treating a mammal according to any one of claims 32-35 wherein said condition is an epithelial cell malignancy.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said malignant epithelial cell is of breast, prostate or lung origin.

41. A method according to claim 39 or 40 wherein said functional activity is proliferation and said modulation is down-regulation.

42. Use of an agent capable of modulating the expression O╬¬ELF5 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

43. Use of an agent capable of modulating the activity of ELF 5 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

44. Use of ELF 5 or ELF 5 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof in the manufacture of a medicament for the modulation of cellular functional activity.

45. Use according to any one of claims 42-44 wherein said cell is a malignant epithelial cell.

46. Use according to claim 45 wherein said functional activity is proliferation and said modulation is down-regulation.

47. An agent for use in modulating ELF5 activity or a derivative, homologue, analogue chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof wherein modulati """ said ELF5 activity modulates cellular functional activity.

48. An agent for use in modulating ELF 5 expression or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof wherein modulating expression of said ELF5 modulates cellular functional activity.

49. ELF5 or ELF5 or a derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof for use in modulating cellular functional activity.

50. A pharamceutical composition comprising ELF5, ELF5 or an agent capable of modulating ELF5 expression or ELF5 activity or derivative, homologue, analogue, chemical equivalent or mimetic thereof together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents.

51. An isolated antibody directed to the protein according to any one of claims 18-25.

52. An isolated antibody directed to the nucleic acid molecule according to any one of claims 1-17.

53. The antibody according to claim 51 or 52 wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

54. The antibody according to claim 51 or 52 wherein said antibody is a polyclonal antibody.

55. A method of diagnosing or monitoring a mammalian disease condition, which disease condition is characterised by aberrant cellular functional activity, said method comprising screening for ELF5 or ELF5 in a biological sample isolated from said mammal.

56. A method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting a cell or extract thereof containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered expression phenotype associated with said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative.

57. A method for detecting an agent capable of modulating the function of ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting an epithelial cell containing said ELF5 or its functional equivalent or derivative with a putative agent and detecting an altered proliferation rate.

58. A method for detecting an agent capable of binding or otherwise associating with an ELF5 binding site or functional equivalent or derivative thereof said method comprising contacting a cell containing said ELF5 binding site or functional equivalent or derivative thereof with a putative agent and detecting an altered expression phenotype associated with modulation of the function of ELF 5 or its functional equivalent or derivative.