WO2001030849A1 - Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par l-glutamate provenant de schistocerca americana - Google Patents

Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par l-glutamate provenant de schistocerca americana Download PDF

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WO2001030849A1
WO2001030849A1 PCT/US2000/028936 US0028936W WO0130849A1 WO 2001030849 A1 WO2001030849 A1 WO 2001030849A1 US 0028936 W US0028936 W US 0028936W WO 0130849 A1 WO0130849 A1 WO 0130849A1
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americana
seq
channel protein
host cell
recombinant
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PCT/US2000/028936
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Michel J. Hamelin
Jeffrey W. Warmke
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Merck & Co., Inc.
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Priority to EP00976600A priority Critical patent/EP1226174A4/fr
Priority to CA002388162A priority patent/CA2388162A1/fr
Priority to US10/111,161 priority patent/US7033789B1/en
Priority to JP2001533846A priority patent/JP2003512830A/ja
Publication of WO2001030849A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001030849A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/43504—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from invertebrates
    • C07K14/43563—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from invertebrates from insects
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07K—PEPTIDES
    • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
    • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
    • C07K14/705—Receptors; Cell surface antigens; Cell surface determinants

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in part to isolated nucleic acid molecules (polynucleotides) which encode Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) glutamate-gated chloride channels.
  • the present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts which contain a DNA fragment encoding S. americana glutamate-gated chloride channels, substantially purified forms of associated S. americana glutamate-gated chloride channels and recombinant membrane fractions comprising these proteins, associated mutant proteins, and methods associated with identifying compounds which modulate associated Schistocerca americana glutamate-gated chloride channels, which will be useful as insecticides.
  • glutamate-gated chloride channels have been cloned from the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Cully et al., 1994, Nature 371: 707-711; see also U.S. Patent No. 5,527,703 and Arena et al., 1992, Molecular Brain Research. 15: 339-348) and Drosophila melanogaster (Cully et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271: 20187-20191).
  • Invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channels are important targets for the widely used avermectin class of anthelmintic and insecticidal compounds.
  • the avermectins are a family of macrocyclic lactones originally isolated from the actinomycete Streptomyces avermitilis.
  • the semisynthetic avermectin derivative, ivermectin (22,23-dihydro-avermectin B la ) is used throughout the world to treat parasitic helminths and insect pests of man and animals.
  • the avermectins remain the most potent broad spectrum endectocides exhibiting low toxicity to the host. After many years of use in the field, there remains little resistance to avermectin in the insect population. The combination of good therapeutic index and low resistance strongly suggests that the glutamate-gated chloride (GluCl) channels remain good targets for insecticide development.
  • GluCl glut
  • GluCl channel modulators that may have insecticidal, mitacidal and/or nematocidal activity for animal health or crop protection.
  • the present invention addresses and meets these needs by disclosing isolated nucleic acid molecules which express a Schistocerca americana GluGl channel wherein expression of grasshopper GluCl cRNA in Xenopus oocytes or other appropriate host cell results in an active GluCl channel.
  • Heterologous expression of a Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) GluCl channels will allow the pharmacological analysis of compounds active against parasitic invertebrate species relevant to animal and human health. Such species include worms, fleas, tick, and lice.
  • Heterologous cell lines expressing an active GluCl channel can be used to establish functional or binding assays to identify novel GluCl channel modulators that may be useful in control of the aforementioned species groups.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule (polynucleotide) which encodes a novel Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) invertebrate GluCl channel protein.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated of purified nucleic acid molecule
  • polynucleotide which encodes mRNA which expresses a novel Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) invertebrate GluCl channel protein
  • this DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein as SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:9.
  • the present invention also relates to biologically active fragments or mutants of SEQ ID NOs:l, 3, 5, 7 and 9 which encodes mRNA expressing a novel Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) invertebrate GluCl channel protein. Any such biologically active fragment and/or mutant will encode either a protein or protein fragment which at least substantially mimics the pharmacological properties of a grasshopper GluCl channel protein, including but not limited to the grasshopper
  • GluCl channel proteins as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8 and SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • Any such polynucleotide includes but is not necessarily limited to nucleotide substitutions, deletions, additions, amino-terminal truncations and carboxy-terminal truncations such that these mutations encode mRNA which express a functional S. americana GluCl channel in a eukaryotic cell, such as Xenopus oocytes, so as to be useful for screening for agonists and/or antagonists of S. americana GluCl activity.
  • FIG. 1A-F A preferred aspect of this portion of the present invention is disclosed in Figure 1A-F, cDNA molecule (SEQ ID NOs:l, 3, 5, 5 and 9) encoding a novel Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) GluCl protein.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may include a deoxyribonucleic acid molecule (DNA), such as genomic DNA and complementary DNA (cDNA), which may be single (coding or noncoding strand) or double stranded, as well as synthetic DNA, such as a synthesized, single stranded polynucleotide.
  • DNA deoxyribonucleic acid molecule
  • cDNA complementary DNA
  • synthetic DNA such as a synthesized, single stranded polynucleotide.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may also include a ribonucleic acid molecule (RNA).
  • the present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, which contain the substantially purified nucleic acid molecules disclosed throughout this specification.
  • the present invention also relates to subcellular membrane fractions of the recombinant host cells (both prokaryotic and eukaryotic as well as both stably and transiently transformed cells) which contain the functional and processed proteins encoded by the nucleic acids of the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to a substantially purified membrane preparation which comprises a S. americana GluCl channel and is essentially free from contaminating proteins, including but not limited to other S. americana source proteins or host proteins from a recombinant cell which expresses SaGluCU or SaGluC12.
  • a membrane preparation which contains a S. americana GluCl channel comprising a GluCl protein comprising the functional form of the full length GluCl channel proteins as disclosed in Figure 2A-B and as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
  • the present invention also relates to a substantially purified membrane preparation which is purified from a recombinant host, whether a recombinant eukaryotic or recombinant prokaryotic host, wherein a recombinant vector expresses a functional and fully processed S. americana GluCl channel.
  • a membrane preparation which comprises a recombinant form of the S.
  • a preferred eukaryotic host of choice to express the glutamate-gated channels of the present invention are Xenopus oocytes.
  • the short form exemplified herein is expression of the "SC” form (SEQ ID NO:7, expression the precursor protein containing the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:8, the expression in Xenopus oocytes or CHO cells resulting in formation of the functional GluCl channel).
  • the present invention also relates to a substantially purified form of an S. americana GluCl channel protein, which comprises the amino acid sequence disclosed in Figure 2A-B and set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
  • a preferred aspect of this portion of the present invention is a an S. americana GluCl channel protein which consists of the amino acid sequence disclosed in Figure 2A-B and set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
  • a substantially purified, fully processed GluCl channel protein obtained from a recombinant host cell containing a DNA expression vector comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9 and expresses the respective SaGluCl precursor protein. It is especially preferred is that the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line, or Xenopus oocytes, as noted above.
  • Another preferred aspect of the present invention relates to a substantially purified membrane preparation which has been obtained from a recombinant host cell transformed or transfected with a DNA expression vector which comprises and appropriately expresses a complete open reading frame as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9, resulting in a functional, processed form of the respective SaGluCl channel.
  • the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line, or Xenopus oocytes, as noted above.
  • the present invention also relates to biologically active fragments and/or mutants of an S. americana GluCl channel protein, comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10, including but not necessarily limited to amino acid substitutions, deletions, additions, amino terminal truncations and carboxy-terminal truncations such that these mutations provide for proteins or protein fragments of diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic use and would be useful for screening for selective modulators, including but not limited to agonists and/or antagonists for S. americana GluCl channel pharmacology.
  • a preferred aspect of the present invention is disclosed in Figure 2A-B and is set forth as SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and 10, respective amino acid sequences which encode grasshopper GluCl proteins. Characterization of one or more of these channel proteins allows for screening methods to identify novel GluCl channel modulators that may have insecticidal, mitacidal and/or nematocidal activity for animal health or crop protection. As noted above, heterologous expression of a Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) GluCl channels will allow the pharmacological analysis of compounds active against parasitic invertebrate species relevant to animal and health. Such species include worms, fleas, tick, and lice.
  • Heterologous cell lines expressing a functional SaGluCl channel can be used to establish functional or binding assays to identify novel GluCl channel modulators that may be useful in control of the aforementioned species groups. Additionally, co-expression of a functional SaGluCU protein with SaGluC12 results in SaGluC12 imparting a dominant negative effect on channel activity, which is also useful in various assays utilized to identify modulators of an in vivo GluCl channel.
  • the present invention also relates to polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised in response to either the form of SaGluCl, or a biologically active fragment thereof.
  • the present invention also relates to SaGluCU and/or SaGlu2 fusion constructs, including but not limited to fusion constructs which express a portion of the SaGluCU and/or SaGlu2 linked to various markers, including but in no way limited to GFP (Green fluorescent protein), the MYC epitope, and GST. Any such fusion constructs may be expressed in the cell line of interest and used to screen for modulators of one or more of the SaGluCl proteins disclosed herein.
  • GFP Green fluorescent protein
  • the present invention relates to methods of expressing grasshopper GluCl channel proteins biological equivalents disclosed herein, assays employing these gene products, recombinant host cells which comprise DNA constructs which express these proteins, and compounds identified through these assays which act as agonists or antagonists of GluCl channel activity.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide an isolated nucleic acid molecule e.g., SEQ ID NOs:l, 3, 5, 7, and 9 which encodes a novel form of grasshopper GluCl, or fragments, mutants or derivatives of SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
  • Any such polynucleotide includes but is not necessarily limited to nucleotide substitutions, deletions, additions, amino-terminal truncations and carboxy-terminal truncations such that these mutations encode mRNA which express a protein or protein fragment of diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic use and would be useful for screening for selective modulators for invertebrate GluCl pharmacology.
  • Is is another object of the present invention to provide a substantially purified recombinant form of a grasshopper GluCl protein which has been obtained from a recombinant host cell transformed or transfected with a DNA expression vector which comprises and appropriately expresses a complete open reading frame as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9, resulting in a functional, processed form of the respective SaGluCl channel.
  • the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line.
  • Is is another object of the present invention to provide a substantially purified membrane preparations obtained from a recombinant host cell transformed or transfected with a DNA expression vector which comprises and appropriately expresses a complete open reading frame as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9, resulting in a functional, processed form of the respective SaGluCl channel.
  • the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line, or Xenopus oocytes.
  • grasshopper GluCl proteins or membrane preparations containing grasshopper GluCl proteins or a biological equivalent to screen for modulators, preferably selective modulators, of grasshopper GluCl channel activity.
  • Any such compound may be useful in screening for and selecting compounds active against parasitic invertebrate species relevant to animal and health. Such species include worms, fleas, tick, and lice.
  • These membrane preparations may be generated from heterologous cell lines expressing these GluCl and may constitute full length protein, biologically active fragments of the full length protein or may rely on fusion proteins expressed from various fusion constructs which may be constructed with materials available in the art.
  • substantially free from other nucleic acids means at least 90%, preferably 95%, more preferably 99%, and even more preferably 99.9%, free of other nucleic acids.
  • a grasshopper GluCl DNA preparation that is substantially free from other nucleic acids will contain, as a percent of its total nucleic acid, no more than 10%, preferably no more than 5%, more preferably no more than 1%, and even more preferably no more than 0.1%, of non-grasshopper GluCl nucleic acids.
  • Whether a given grasshopper GluCl DNA preparation is substantially free from other nucleic acids can be determined by such conventional techniques of assessing nucleic acid purity as, e.g., agarose gel electrophoresis combined with appropriate staining methods, e.g., ethidium bromide staining, or by sequencing.
  • substantially free from other proteins or “substantially purified” means at least 90%, preferably 95%, more preferably 99%, and even more preferably 99.9%, free of other proteins.
  • an grasshopper GluCl protein preparation that is substantially free from other proteins will contain, as a percent of its total protein, no more than 10%, preferably no more than 5%, more preferably no more than 1%, and even more preferably no more than 0.1%, of non-grasshopper GluCl proteins.
  • Whether a given grasshopper GluCl protein preparation is substantially free from other proteins can be determined by such conventional techniques of assessing protein purity as, e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) combined with appropriate detection methods, e.g., silver staining or immunoblotting.
  • SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
  • detection methods e.g., silver staining or immunoblotting.
  • the terms “isolated grasshopper GluCl protein” or “purified grasshopper GluCl protein” also refer to grasshopper GluCl protein that has been isolated from a natural source. Use of the term “isolated” or “purified” indicates that grasshopper GluCl protein has been removed from its normal cellular environment.
  • an isolated grasshopper GluCl protein may be in a cell-free solution or placed in a different cellular environment from that in which it occurs naturally.
  • isolated does not imply that an isolated grasshopper GluCl protein is the only protein present, but instead means that an isolated grasshopper GluCl protein is substantially free of other proteins and non- amino acid material (e.g., nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates) naturally associated with the grasshopper GluCl protein in vivo.
  • a grasshopper GluCl protein that is recombinantly expressed in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell and substantially purified from this host cell which does not naturally (i.e., without intervention) express this GluCl protein is of course "isolated grasshopper GluCl protein" under any circumstances referred to herein.
  • a grasshopper GluCl protein preparation that is an isolated or purified grasshopper GluCl protein will be substantially free from other proteins will contain, as a percent of its total protein, no more than 10%, preferably no more than 5%, more preferably no more than 1%, and even more preferably no more than 0.1 %, of non-grasshopper GluCl proteins.
  • a functional equivalent or “biologically active equivalent” means a protein which does not have exactly the same amino acid sequence as naturally occurring grasshopper GluCl, due to alternative splicing, deletions, mutations, substitutions, or additions, but retains substantially the same biological activity as grasshopper GluCl.
  • Such functional equivalents will have significant amino acid sequence identity with naturally occurring grasshopper GluCl and genes and cDNA encoding such functional equivalents can be detected by reduced stringency hybridization with a DNA sequence encoding naturally occurring Grasshopper GluCl.
  • a naturally occurring grasshopper GluCl disclosed herein comprises the amino acid sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:2 and is encoded by SEQ ID NO:l.
  • a nucleic acid encoding a functional equivalent has at least about 50% identity at the nucleotide level to SEQ ID NO:l.
  • a conservative amino acid substitution refers to the replacement of one amino acid residue by another, chemically similar, amino acid residue. Examples of such conservative substitutions are: substitution of one hydrophobic residue (isoleucine, leucine, valine, or methionine) for another; substitution of one polar residue for another polar residue of the same charge (e.g., arginine for lysine; glutamic acid for aspartic acid).
  • GluCl refers to — L-glutamate-gated chloride channel — .
  • mammalian will refer to any mammal, including a human being.
  • Figure 2A-B show the amino acid sequence of the grasshopper GluCl proteins as set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
  • Figure 3 shows the results of an experiment in which the clone SaGluCU
  • CHO cells assembles into a homomultimer and is activated by ivermectin (Figure 4A) and nodulasporic acid ( Figure 4B). lOOnM ivermectin and l ⁇ M nodulasporic acid were added at 20 seconds and current was measured.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule (polynucleotide) which encodes a Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) invertebrate GluCl channel protein.
  • the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are substantially free from other nucleic acids.
  • DNA is a preferred nucleic acid.
  • the present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule (polynucleotide) which encodes mRNA which expresses a novel Schistocerca americana (grasshopper) invertebrate GluCl channel protein, this DNA molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence disclosed herein as SEQ ID NO:l, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:9.
  • GluCls Invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) are related to the glycine- and GAB A- gated chloride channels and are distinct from the excitatory glutamate receptors (e.g. NMDA or AMPA receptors). The first two members of the GluCl family were identified in the nematode C.
  • GluCls are excellent targets for anthelmintics, insecticides, acaricides, etc.
  • the present invention relates in part to two novel GluCl clones, SaGluCU and GluC12, from the ventral ganglia of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate oligonucleotides as reaction primers.
  • Sequence data of full-length SaGluCU cDNA clones shows homology to D. melanogaster DrosGluClct and to C. felis CfGluCl DNA.
  • Heterologous expression of the short form of SaGluCU into Xenopus laevis oocytes results in a robust L-glutamate-gated chloride current.
  • both clones were co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes and CHO cells. No current was observed in either case when both clones were co- expressed. It therefore appears that, under these heterologous expression conditions, SaGluC12 has a dominant negative effect on SaGluCU. Since data nevertheless indicate that both subunits are highly expressed in the same neurons, a third component of the native GluCl possibly remains to be identified. Alternatively, the possibility remains that SaGluCU and SaGluC12 are not expressed within common (neuronal) cells within the ganglia and may not co-assemble into a common, functional channel.
  • SaGluC12 when co-expressed with the short form of SaGluCU, prevents the formation of a functional channel otherwise detectable with SaGluCU alone.
  • the SaGluC12 protein is therefore expressed, acting as a modulator of SaGluCU.
  • Both SaGluCU and SaGluC12 are expressed in the same tissue and this tissue shows GluCl activity as recorded electrophysiologically. Therefore, either 1) SaGluCU and SaGluC12 are not expressed in the exact same cells and/or 2) there is an additional, yet to be identified factor which is either be another SaGluCl form, or an unrelated type of protein such as that seen with the TipE protein from Drosophila, which enhances in vitro expression of the para sodium channel (see Feng et al., 1995, Cell 82:1001-1011).
  • SaGluC12 can negatively affect non- SaGluCl four-transmembrane ligand-gated ion channels (4TMLGIC), but does not likely exert any effect on other type of ion channels. Therefore, the SaGluCl protein may be classified as a potential broad spectrum inhibitory subunit as it relates specifically to four-transmembrane ligand-gated ion channels, lending this isolated cDNA clones, associated vectors, hosts, recombinant subcellular fractions and membranes, and the expressed and mature forms of SaGluC12 as important tools for drug discovery.
  • TMLGIC four-transmembrane ligand-gated ion channels
  • the present invention relates in part to transgenic animals, either an invertebrate (e.g., C. elegans) or vertebrate (e.g., mouse), for which the gene encoding SaGluC12 has been introduced into the germline of the animal.
  • the purpose of this would be to inactivate, in the host, one or several endogenous 4TMLGIC and observe the biological effects.
  • One such effect may well be an acquired resistance to drugs that are agonists (activators) of 4TMLGIC.
  • drugs with suspected -but unproven - method of action (MO A) via 4TMLGIC such SaGluC12-harboring transgenic animals may be used to confirm such an effect.
  • Expression of the newly introduced gene encoding SaGluC12 into the host can be constitutive or inducible, depending on the type of promoter used to drive its expression. Also depending on the type of promoter used, expression of SaGluC12 can be targeted to a given tissue(s) or it can be generalized. The same logic can be applied to in vitro expression in e.g. Xenopus oocytes. Co-expression of SaGluC12 with any other 4TMLGIC (including functional SaGluCU forms as well as non-locust forms) should prevent any 4TMLGIC-mediated current. Xenopus oocytes may be injected with mixed populations of RNA or mRNA from e.g. mammalian brain or from whole animals (e.g. C. elegans).
  • the heterologous expression of grasshopper GluCl channels will allow the pharmacological analysis of compounds active against parasitic invertebrates species relevant to animal and human health. Such species include worms, fleas, tick, and lice.
  • Heterologous cell lines expressing these GluCl channels can be used to establish functional or binding assays to identify novel GluCl channel modulators that may be useful in control of the aforementioned species groups.
  • GAACTTCCGC GAGAAGGAGA AACAGGTGCT GGACCAGATC CTGGGGCCAG GTCGCTACGA
  • GAACATCTTC CTTCGCTCTA TCAGCAAAAT AGACGATTAT AAAATGGAAT ACAGCGTCCA
  • SAGluCUS SEQ ID NO:7: 1776 nuc: initiating Met (nuc. 326-328) and "TGA” term, codon (nuc. 1712-1713);
  • SAGluC12 (Sa2; SEQ ID NO:9):
  • the "SA”cDNA (SEQ ID NO:5) encodes a protein with a Glu residue at amino acid number 460
  • the "SC cDNA (SEQ ID NO:7) encodes a protein with a Asp residue at amino acid number 460.
  • the present invention also relates to biologically active fragments or mutants of SEQ ID NOs:l, 3, 5, 7 and 9 which encode mRNA expressing SaGluCU or SaGluC12, respectively. Any such biologically active fragment and/or mutant will encode either a protein or protein fragment which at least substantially mimics the wild type protein, including but not limited to the wild type forms as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10.
  • Any such polynucleotide includes but is not necessarily limited to nucleotide substitutions, deletions, additions, amino-terminal truncations and carboxy-terminal truncations such that these mutations encode mRNA which express a protein or protein fragment of diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic use and would be useful for screening for agonists and/or antagonists for SaGluCl function.
  • Figure 1 A-F describes the cDNA molecule encoding various forms of SaGluCl channel proteins.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention may include a deoxyribonucleic acid molecule (DNA), such as genomic DNA and complementary DNA (cDNA), which may be single (coding or noncoding strand) or double stranded, as well as synthetic DNA, such as a synthesized, single stranded polynucleotide.
  • DNA deoxyribonucleic acid molecule
  • cDNA complementary DNA
  • synthetic DNA such as a synthesized, single stranded polynucleotide.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention may also include a ribonucleic acid molecule (RNA).
  • the degeneracy of the genetic code is such that, for all but two amino acids, more than a single codon encodes a particular amino acid.
  • This allows for the construction of synthetic DNA that encodes the SaGluCl protein where the nucleotide sequence of the synthetic DNA differs significantly from the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1,3, 5, 7 and 9 but still encodes the same SaGluCl protein as SEQ ID NO:l, 3, 5, 7, and 9.
  • Such synthetic DNAs are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. If it is desired to express such synthetic DNAs in a particular host cell or organism, the codon usage of such synthetic DNAs can be adjusted to reflect the codon usage of that particular host, thus leading to higher levels of expression of the SaGluCl channel protein in the host.
  • this redundancy in the various codons which code for specific amino acids is within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, this invention is also directed to those DNA sequences which encode RNA comprising alternative codons which code for the eventual translation of the identical amino acid, as shown below:
  • the present invention discloses codon redundancy which may result in differing DNA molecules expressing an identical protein.
  • a sequence bearing one or more replaced codons will be defined as a degenerate variation.
  • mutations either in the DNA sequence or the translated protein which do not substantially alter the ultimate physical properties of the expressed protein. For example, substitution of valine for leucine, arginine for lysine, or asparagine for glutamine may not cause a change in functionality of the polypeptide.
  • DNA sequences coding for a peptide may be altered so as to code for a peptide having properties that are different than those of the naturally occurring peptide.
  • Methods of altering the DNA sequences include but are not limited to site directed mutagenesis. Examples of altered properties include but are not limited to changes in the affinity of an enzyme for a substrate or a receptor for a ligand.
  • Identity is a measure of the identity of nucleotide sequences or amino acid sequences. In general, the sequences are aligned so that the highest order match is obtained. "Identity” per se has an art-recognized meaning and can be calculated using published techniques. See, e.g.,: (Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed. Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds..
  • identity is well known to skilled artisans (Carillo and Lipton, 1988, SIAM J Applied Math 48: 1073). Methods commonly employed to determine identity or similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Guide to Huge Computers, Martin J.
  • a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having at least, for example, 95% "identity" to a reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7 and/or 9 is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polynucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations or alternative nucleotides per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7 and/or 9.
  • nucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence.
  • mutations or alternative nucleotide substitutions of the reference sequence may occur at the 5 'or 3' terminal positions of the reference nucleotide sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among nucleotides in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.
  • RNA editing results in modification of an mRNA molecule such that use of that modified mRNA as a template to generate a cloned cDNA may result in one or more nucleotide changes, which may or may not result in a codon change.
  • This RNA editing is known to be catalyzed by an RNA editase.
  • Such an RNA editase is RNA adenosine deaminase, which converts an adenosine residue to an inosine residue, which tends to mimic a cytosine residue.
  • conversion of an mRNA residue from A to I will result in A to G transitions in the coding and noncoding regions of a cloned cDNA (e.g., see Hanrahan et al,
  • polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, for example, 95% identity to a reference amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10 is intended that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10.
  • a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another amino acid, or a number of amino acids up to 5% of the total amino acid residues in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence.
  • These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence of anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.
  • RNA editing may result in a codon change which will result in an expressed protein which differs in "identity” from other proteins expressed from "non-RNA edited" transcripts, which correspond directly to the open reading frame of the genomic sequence.
  • the present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, which contain the substantially purified nucleic acid molecules disclosed throughout this specification.
  • the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention encoding a SaGluCl channel protein, in whole or in part, can be linked with other DNA molecules, i.e, DNA molecules to which the SaGluCl coding sequence are not naturally linked, to form "recombinant DNA molecules" which encode a respective SaGluCl channel protein.
  • novel DNA sequences of the present invention can be inserted into vectors which comprise nucleic acids encoding SaGluCl or a functional equivalent.
  • These vectors may be comprised of DNA or RNA; for most cloning purposes DNA vectors are preferred.
  • Typical vectors include plasmids, modified viruses, bacteriophage, cosmids, yeast artificial chromosomes, and other forms of episomal or integrated DNA that can encode a SaGluCl channel protein. It is well within the purview of the skilled artisan to determine an appropriate vector for a particular gene transfer or other use. Included in the present invention are DNA sequences that hybridize to SEQ
  • a procedure using conditions of high stringency is as follows: Prehybridization of filters containing DNA is carried out for 2 hours to overnight at 65°C in buffer composed of 6X SSC, 5X Denhardt's solution, and 100 ⁇ g/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA. Filters are hybridized for 12 to 48 hrs at 65°C in prehybridization mixture containing 100 ⁇ g/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA and 5- 20 X IO 6 cpm of 32 P-labeled probe. Washing of filters is done at 37°C for 1 hr in a solution containing 2X SSC, 0.1% SDS.
  • the present invention also relates to a substantially purified form of a respective SaGluCl channel protein, which comprises the amino acid sequence disclosed in Figure 2A-B and as set forth in SEQ ID NOs :2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
  • the disclosed SaGluCl proteins contain an open reading frame of 513 (SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 4), 462 amino acids (SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 8) and 447 (SEQ ID NO: 10) amino acids in length, as shown in Figure 2A-B, and as follows:
  • the present invention also relates to biologically active fragments and/or mutants of the SaGluCl protein comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, including but not necessarily limited to amino acid substitutions, deletions, additions, amino terminal truncations and carboxy-terminal truncations such that these mutations provide for proteins or protein fragments of diagnostic, therapeutic or prophylactic use and would be useful for screening for agonists and/or antagonists of SaGluCl function.
  • a substantially purified, fully processed GluCl channel protein obtained from a recombinant host cell containing a DNA expression vector comprises a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9 and expresses the respective SaGluCl precursor protein. It is especially preferred is that the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line, or Xenopus oocytes, as noted above.
  • this invention includes modified SaGluCl polypeptides which have amino acid deletions, additions, or substitutions but that still retain substantially the same biological activity as a respective, corresponding SaGluCl. It is generally accepted that single amino acid substitutions do not usually alter the biological activity of a protein (see, e.g., Molecular Biology of the Gene, Watson et al, 1987, Fourth Ed., The Benjan ⁇ n/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc., page 226; and Cunningham & Wells, 1989, Science 244:1081-1085).
  • the present invention includes polypeptides where one amino acid substitution has been made in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10 wherein the polypeptides still retain substantially the same biological activity as a corresponding SaGluCl protein.
  • the present invention also includes polypeptides where two or more amino acid substitutions have been made in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 wherein the polypeptides still retain substantially the same biological activity as a corresponding SaGluCl protein.
  • the present invention includes embodiments where the above-described substitutions are conservative substitutions.
  • polypeptides that are functional equivalents of SaGluCl and have changes from the SaGluCl amino acid sequence that are small deletions or insertions of amino acids could also be produced by following the same guidelines, (i.e, minimizing the differences in amino acid sequence between SaGluCl and related proteins. Small deletions or insertions are generally in the range of about 1 to 5 amino acids. The effect of such small deletions or insertions on the biological activity of the modified SaGluCl polypeptide can easily be assayed by producing the polypeptide synthetically or by making the required changes in DNA encoding SaGluCl and then expressing the DNA recombinantly and assaying the protein produced by such recombinant expression.
  • the present invention also includes truncated forms of SaGluCl which contain the region comprising the active site of the enzyme. Such truncated proteins are useful in various assays described herein, for crystallization studies, and for structure- activity-relationship studies.
  • the present invention also relates to crude or substantially purified subcellular membrane fractions from the recombinant host cells (both prokaryotic and eukaryotic as well as both stably and transiently transformed cells) which contain the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention. These recombinant host cells express SaGluCl or a functional equivalent, which becomes post translationally associated with the cell membrane in a biologically active fashion.
  • subcellular membrane fractions will comprise either wild-type or mutant forms of SaGluCl at levels substantially above endogenous levels and hence will be useful in assays to select modulators of SaGluCl proteins or channels.
  • a specific use for such subcellular membranes involves expression of SaGluCl within the recombinant cell followed by isolation and substantial purification of the membranes away from other cellular components and subsequent use in assays to select for modulators, such as agonist or antagonists of the protein or biologically active channel comprising one or more of the proteins disclosed herein.
  • another preferred aspect of the present invention relates to a substantially purified membrane preparation which has been obtained from a recombinant host cell transformed or transfected with a DNA expression vector which comprises and appropriately expresses a complete open reading frame as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, and/or 9, resulting in a functional, processed form of the respective SaGluCl channel.
  • the recombinant host cell be a eukaryotic host cell, such as a mammalian cell line, or Xenopus oocytes, as noted above.
  • the present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules which are fusion constructions expressing fusion proteins useful in assays to identify compounds which modulate wild-type SaGluCl activity, as well as generating antibodies against SaGluCl.
  • One aspect of this portion of the invention includes, but is not limited to, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-SaGluCl fusion constructs.
  • Recombinant GST-SaGluCl fusion proteins may be expressed in various expression systems, including Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21) insect cells (Invitrogen) using a baculovirus expression vector (pAcG2T, Pharmingen).
  • Spodoptera frugiperda Sf21
  • pAcG2T baculovirus expression vector
  • Another aspect involves SaGluCU and/or SaGlu-2 fusion constructs linked to various markers, including but not limited to GFP (Green fluorescent protein), the MYC epitope, and GST.
  • GFP Green fluorescent protein
  • MYC epitope the MYC epitope
  • GST GST
  • a preferred aspect for screening for modulators of SaGluCl channel activity is an expression system for the electrophysiological-based assays for measuring glutamate-gated chloride channel activity comprising injecting the DNA molecules of the present invention into Xenopus laevis oocytes.
  • the general use of Xenopus oocytes in the study of ion channel activity is known in the art (Dascal, 1987, Crit. Rev. Biochem. 22: 317-317; Lester, 1988, Science 241: 1057-1063; see also Methods of Enzymology, Vol. 207, 1992, Ch. 14-25, Rudy and Iverson, ed., Academic Press, Inc., New York).
  • a portion of the present invention discloses an improved method of measuring channel activity and modulation by agonists and/or antagonists which is several-fold more sensitive than previously disclosed.
  • the Xenopus oocytes are injected with nucleic acid material, including but not limited to DNA, mRNA or cRNA which encode a gated-channel, wherein channel activity may be measured as well as response of the channel to various modulators.
  • Ion channel activity is measured by utilizing a holding potential more positive than the reversal potential for chloride (i.e, greater than -30 mV), preferably about 0 mV. This alteration in assay measurement conditions has resulting in a 10-fold increase in sensitivity of the assay to modulation by ivermectin phosphate.
  • this improved assay allows screening and selecting for compounds which modulate GluCl activity at levels which were previously thought to be undetectable.
  • This procedure is outlined in the Example section. It will be evident to the skilled artisan that this method may be utilized in various ion channel measurement assays, and especially assays which measure glutamate-gated activity in a eukaryotic cell, such as a Xenopus oocyte. It is especially preferred that invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channels, including but in no way limited to Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melonogaster, Ctenocephalides felis glutamate-gated channels as well as the S.
  • SaGluCl protein in host cells may be utilized in an assay to screen and select for compounds which modulate the activity of these channels.
  • Levels of SaGluCl protein in host cells are quantified by immunoaffinity and/or ligand affinity techniques.
  • Cells expressing SaGluCl can be assayed for the number of GluCl molecules expressed by measuring the amount of radioactive glutamate or ivermectin binding to cell membranes.
  • SaGluCl-specific affinity beads or SaGluCl- specific antibodies are used to isolate for example 35 S-methionine labeled or unlabelled SaGluCl protein.
  • Labeled SaGluCl protein is analyzed by SDS-PAGE.
  • Unlabelled SaGluCl protein is detected by Western blotting, ELISA or RIA assays employing SaGluCl specific antibodies.
  • Any of a variety of procedures may be used to clone SaGluCl. These methods include, but are not limited to, (1) a RACE PCR cloning technique (Frohman, et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85: 8998-9002). 5' and/or 3' RACE may be performed to generate a full-length cDNA sequence. This strategy involves using gene-specific oligonucleotide primers for PCR amplification of SaGluCl cDNA.
  • These gene-specific primers are designed through identification of an expressed sequence tag (EST) nucleotide sequence which has been identified by searching any number of publicly available nucleic acid and protein databases; (2) direct functional expression of the SaGluCl cDNA following the construction of a SaGluCl- containing cDNA library in an appropriate expression vector system; (3) screening a SaGluCl-containing cDNA library constructed in a bacteriophage or plasmid shuttle vector with a labeled degenerate oligonucleotide probe designed from the amino acid sequence of the SaGluCl protein; (4) screening a SaGluCl-containing cDNA library constructed in a bacteriophage or plasmid shuttle vector with a partial cDNA encoding the SaGluCl protein.
  • EST expressed sequence tag
  • This partial cDNA is obtained by the specific PCR amplification of SaGluCl DNA fragments through the design of degenerate oligonucleotide primers from the amino acid sequence known for other kinases which are related to the SaGluCl protein; (5) screening a SaGluCl-containing cDNA library constructed in a bacteriophage or plasmid shuttle vector with a partial cDNA or oligonucleotide with homology to a mammalian SaGluCl protein.
  • This strategy may also involve using gene-specific oligonucleotide primers for PCR amplification of SaGluCl cDNA identified as an EST as described above; or (6) designing 5' and 3 ' gene specific oligonucleotides using SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 as a template so that either the full-length cDNA may be generated by known RACE techniques, or a portion of the coding region may be generated by these same known RACE techniques to generate and isolate a portion of the coding region to use as a probe to screen one of numerous types of cDNA and/or genomic libraries in order to isolate a full-length version of the nucleotide sequence encoding SaGluCl.
  • libraries as well as libraries constructed from other cell types-or species types, may be useful for isolating a SaGluCl-encoding DNA or a SaGluCl homologue.
  • Other types of libraries include, but are not limited to, cDNA libraries derived from other cells.
  • suitable cDNA libraries may be prepared from cells or cell lines which have SaGluCl activity. The selection of cells or cell lines for use in preparing a cDNA library to isolate a cDNA encoding SaGluCl may be done by first measuring cell-associated SaGluCl activity using any known assay available for such a purpose. Preparation of cDNA libraries can be performed by standard techniques well known in the art.
  • DNA encoding SaGluCl may also be isolated from a suitable genomic DNA library. Construction of genomic DNA libraries can be performed by standard techniques well known in the art. Well known genomic DNA library construction techniques can be found in Sambrook, et al., supra. One may prepare genomic libraries, especially in PI artificial chromosome vectors, from which genomic clones containing the SaGluCl can be isolated, using probes based upon the SaGluCl nucleotide sequences disclosed herein. Methods of preparing such libraries are known in the art (Ioannou et al., 1994, Nature Genet. 6:84-89).
  • the amino acid sequence or DNA sequence of a SaGluCl or a homologous protein may be necessary.
  • a respective SaGluCl channel protein may be purified and the partial amino acid sequence determined by automated sequenators. It is not necessary to determine the entire amino acid sequence, but the linear sequence of two regions of 6 to 8 amino acids can be determined for the PCR amplification of a partial SaGluCl DNA fragment. Once suitable amino acid sequences have been identified, the DNA sequences capable of encoding them are synthesized.
  • the amino acid sequence can be encoded by any of a set of similar DNA oligonucleotides. Only one member of the set will be identical to the SaGluCl sequence but others in the set will be capable of hybridizing to SaGluCl DNA even in the presence of DNA oligonucleotides with mismatches. The mismatched DNA oligonucleotides may still sufficiently hybridize to the SaGluCl DNA to permit identification and isolation of SaGluCl encoding DNA.
  • the nucleotide sequence of a region of an expressed sequence may be identified by searching one or more available genomic databases.
  • Gene-specific primers may be used to perform PCR amplification of a cDNA of interest from either a cDNA library or a population of cDNAs.
  • the appropriate nucleotide sequence for use in a PCR- based method may be obtained from SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 either for the purpose of isolating overlapping 5' and 3' RACE products for generation of a full-length sequence coding for SaGluCl, or to isolate a portion of the nucleotide sequence coding for SaGluCl for use as a probe to screen one or more cDNA- or genomic- based libraries to isolate a full-length sequence encoding SaGluCl or SaGluCl-like proteins.
  • This invention also includes vectors containing a SaGluCl gene, host cells containing the vectors, and methods of making substantially pure SaGluCl protein comprising the steps of introducing the SaGluCl gene into a host cell, and cultivating the host cell under appropriate conditions such that SaGluCl is produced.
  • the SaGluCl so produced may be harvested from the host cells in conventional ways. Therefore, the present invention also relates to methods of expressing the SaGluCl protein and biological equivalents disclosed herein, assays employing these gene products, recombinant host cells which comprise DNA constructs which express these proteins, and compounds identified through these assays which act as agonists or antagonists of SaGluCl activity.
  • the cloned SaGluCl cDNA obtained through the methods described above may be recombinantly expressed by molecular cloning into an expression vector (such as pcDNA3.neo, pcDNA3.1, pCR2.1, pBlueBacHis2 or pLITMUS28) containing a suitable promoter and other appropriate transcription regulatory elements, and transferred into prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cells to produce recombinant SaGluCl.
  • Expression vectors are defined herein as DNA sequences that are required for the transcription of cloned DNA and the translation of their mRNAs in an appropriate host.
  • Such vectors can be used to express eukaryotic DNA in a variety of hosts such as bacteria, blue green algae, plant cells, insect cells and animal cells. Specifically designed vectors allow the shuttling of DNA between hosts such as bacteria-yeast or bacteria-animal cells.
  • An appropriately constructed expression vector should contain: an origin of replication for autonomous replication in host cells, selectable markers, a limited number of useful restriction enzyme sites, a potential for high copy number, and active promoters.
  • a promoter is defined as a DNA sequence that directs RNA polymerase to bind to DNA and initiate RNA synthesis.
  • a strong promoter is one which causes mRNAs to be initiated at high frequency.
  • cDNA molecules including but not limited to the following can be constructed: a cDNA fragment containing the full-length open reading frame for SaGluCl as well as various constructs containing portions of the cDNA encoding only specific domains of the protein or rearranged domains of the protein. All constructs can be designed to contain none, all or portions of the 5' and/or 3' untranslated region of a SaGluCl cDNA. The expression levels and activity of SaGluCl can be determined following the introduction, both singly and in combination, of these constructs into appropriate host cells.
  • this SaGluCl cDNA construct is transferred to a variety of expression vectors (including recombinant viruses), including but not limited to those for mammalian cells, plant cells, insect cells, oocytes, bacteria, and yeast cells. Techniques for such manipulations can be found described in Sambrook, et al., supra , are well known and available to the artisan of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention includes host cells that have been engineered to contain and/or express DNA sequences encoding the SaGluCl.
  • An expression vector containing DNA encoding a SaGluCl-like protein may be used for expression of SaGluCl in a recombinant host cell.
  • a recombinant host cell can be cultured under suitable conditions to produce SaGluCl or a biologically equivalent form.
  • Expression vectors may include, but are not limited to, cloning vectors, modified cloning vectors, specifically designed plasmids or viruses.
  • mammalian expression vectors which may be suitable for recombinant SaGluCl expression, include but are not limited to, pcDNA3.neo (Invitrogen), pcDNA3.1 (Invitrogen), pCI-neo (Promega), pLITMUS28, pLITMUS29, pLITMUS38 and pLITMUS39 (New England Bioloabs), pcDNAI, pcDNAIamp (Invitrogen), pcDNA3 (Invitrogen), pMClneo (Stratagene), pXTl (Stratagene), pSG5 (Stratagene), EBO-pSV2-neo (ATCC 37593) pBPV-l(8-2) (ATCC 37110), pdBPV-MMTneo(342-12) (ATCC 37224), pRSVgpt (ATCC 37199), pRSVneo (ATCC 37198), pSV2-dr.fr
  • bacterial expression vectors may be used to express recombinant SaGluCl in bacterial cells.
  • Commercially available bacterial expression vectors which may be suitable for recombinant SaGluCl expression include, but are not limited to pCR2.1 (Invitrogen), pETlla (Novagen), lambda gtll (Invitrogen), and pKK223-3 (Pharmacia).
  • a variety of fungal cell expression vectors may be used to express recombinant SaGluCl in fungal cells.
  • fungal cell expression vectors which may be suitable for recombinant SaGluCl expression include but are not limited to pYES2 (Invitrogen) and Pichia expression vector (Invitrogen).
  • insect cell expression vectors may be used to express recombinant protein in insect cells.
  • Commercially available insect cell expression vectors which may be suitable for recombinant expression of SaGluCl include but are not limited to pBlueBacIII and pBlueBacHis2 (Invitrogen), and pAcG2T (Pharmingen).
  • Recombinant host cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic, including but not limited to, bacteria such as E. coli, fungal cells such as yeast, mammalian cells including, but not limited to, cell lines of bovine, porcine, monkey and rodent origin; and insect cells including but not limited to Drosophila and silkworm derived cell lines.
  • bacteria such as E. coli
  • fungal cells such as yeast
  • mammalian cells including, but not limited to, cell lines of bovine, porcine, monkey and rodent origin
  • insect cells including but not limited to Drosophila and silkworm derived cell lines.
  • one insect expression system utilizes Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf21) insect cells (Invitrogen) in tandem with a baculovirus expression vector (pAcG2T, Pharmingen).
  • pAcG2T baculovirus expression vector
  • mammalian species which may be suitable and which are commercially available, include but are not limited to, L cells L-M(TK ⁇ ) (ATCC CCL 1.3), L cells L-M (ATCC CCL 1.2), Saos-2 (ATCC HTB-85), 293 (ATCC CRL 1573), Raji (ATCC CCL 86), CV-1 (ATCC CCL 70), COS-1 (ATCC CRL 1650), COS-7 (ATCC CRL 1651), CHO-K1 (ATCC CCL 61), 3T3 (ATCC CCL 92), NIH/3T3 (ATCC CRL 1658), HeLa (ATCC CCL 2), C127I (ATCC CRL 1616), BS- C-l (ATCC CCL 26), MRC-5 (ATCC CCL 171) and CPAE (ATCC CCL 209).
  • L cells L-M(TK ⁇ ) ATCC CCL 1.3
  • L cells L-M ATCC CCL 1.2
  • Saos-2 ATCC HTB-
  • the present invention is directed to methods for screening for compounds which modulate the expression of DNA or RNA encoding a SaGluCl protein.
  • Compounds which modulate these activities may be DNA, RNA, peptides, proteins, or non-proteinaceous organic molecules.
  • Compounds may modulate by increasing or attenuating the expression of DNA or RNA encoding SaGluCl, or the function of the SaGluCl-based channels.
  • Compounds that modulate the expression of DNA or RNA encoding SaGluCl or the biological function thereof may be detected by a variety of assays.
  • the assay may be a simple "yes/no" assay to determine whether there is a change in expression or function.
  • the assay may be made quantitative by comparing the expression or function of a test sample with the levels of expression or function in a standard sample.
  • Kits containing SaGluCl, antibodies to SaGluCl, or modified SaGluCl may be prepared by known methods for such uses.
  • the DNA molecules, RNA molecules, recombinant protein and antibodies of the present invention may be used to screen and measure levels of SaGluCl.
  • the recombinant proteins, DNA molecules, RNA molecules and antibodies lend themselves to the formulation of kits suitable for the detection and typing of SaGluCl.
  • Such a kit would comprise a compartmentalized carrier suitable to hold in close confinement at least one container.
  • the carrier would further comprise reagents such as recombinant SaGluCl or anti-SaGluCl antibodies suitable for detecting SaGluCl.
  • the carrier may also contain a means for detection such as labeled anti
  • the assays described herein can be carried out with cells that have been transiently or stably transfected with SaGluCl.
  • the expression vector may be introduced into host cells via any one of a number of techniques including but not limited to transformation, transfection, protoplast fusion, and electroporation. Transfection is meant to include any method known in the art for introducing SaGluCl into the test cells. For example, transfection includes calcium phosphate or calcium chloride mediated transfection, lipofection, infection with a retroviral construct containing SaGluCl, and electroporation.
  • the expression vector-containing cells are individually analyzed to determine whether they produce SaGluCl protein. Identification of SaGluCl expressing cells may be done by several means, including but not limited to immunological reactivity with anti- SaGluCl antibodies, labeled ligand binding, the presence of host cell-associated SaGluCl activity via ligand binding.
  • the specificity of binding of compounds showing affinity for SaGluCl is shown by measuring the affinity of the compounds for recombinant cells expressing the cloned receptor or for membranes from these cells. Expression of the cloned receptor and screening for compounds that bind to SaGluCl or that inhibit the binding of a known, radiolabeled ligand of SaGluCl to these cells, or membranes prepared from these cells, provides an effective method for the rapid selection of compounds with high affinity for SaGluCl.
  • ligands need not necessarily be radiolabeled but can also be nonisotopic compounds that can be used to displace bound radiolabeled compounds or that can be used as activators in functional assays.
  • Compounds identified by the above method are likely to be agonists or antagonists of SaGluCl and may be peptides, proteins, or non-proteinaceous organic molecules.
  • the present invention is directed to methods for screening for compounds which modulate the expression of DNA or RNA encoding a SaGluCl protein as well as compounds which effect the function of the SaGluCl protein.
  • Methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of other receptors are well known in the art and can be adapted to identify agonists and antagonists of SaGluCl.
  • Cascieri et al. (1992, Molec. Pharmacol. 41:1096-1099) describe a method for identifying substances that inhibit agonist binding to rat neurokinin receptors and thus are potential agonists or antagonists of neurokinin receptors.
  • the method involves transfecting COS cells with expression vectors containing rat neurokinin receptors, allowing the transfected cells to grow for a time sufficient to allow the neurokinin receptors to be expressed, harvesting the transfected cells and resuspending the cells in assay buffer containing a known radioactively labeled agonist of the neurokinin receptors either in the presence or the absence of the substance, and then measuring the binding of the radioactively labeled known agonist of the neurokinin receptor to the neurokinin receptor. If the amount of binding of the known agonist is less in the presence of the substance than in the absence of the substance, then the substance is a potential agonist or antagonist of the neurokinin receptor.
  • binding of the substance such as an agonist or antagonist to can be measured by employing a labeled substance or agonist.
  • the substance or agonist can be labeled in any convenient manner known to the art, e.g., radioactively, fluorescently, enzymatically.
  • the specificity of binding of compounds having affinity for SaGluCl shown by measuring the affinity of the compounds for recombinant cells expressing the cloned receptor or for membranes from these cells.
  • Expression of the cloned receptor and screening for compounds that bind to SaGluCl or that inhibit the binding of a known, radiolabeled ligand of SaGluCl (such as glutamate, ivermectin or nodulasporic acid) to these cells, or membranes prepared from these cells provides an effective method for the rapid selection of compounds with high affinity for SaGluCl.
  • Such ligands need not necessarily be radiolabeled but can also be nonisotopic compounds that can be used to displace bound radiolabeled compounds or that can be used as activators in functional assays.
  • Compounds identified by the above method again are likely to be agonists or antagonists of SaGluCl and may be peptides, proteins, or non-proteinaceous organic molecules.
  • compounds may modulate by increasing or attenuating the expression of DNA or RNA encoding SaGluCl, or by acting as an agonist or antagonist of the SaGluCl receptor protein.
  • the assay may be a simple "yes/no" assay to determine whether there is a change in expression or function.
  • the assay may be made quantitative by comparing the expression or function of a test sample with the levels of expression or function in a standard sample.
  • the present invention relates in part to methods of identifying a substance which modulates SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 receptor activity, which involves:
  • the present invention includes assays by which SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 modulators (such as agonists and antagonists) may be identified. Accordingly, the present invention includes a method for determining whether a substance is a potential agonist or antagonist of SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 that comprises:
  • test cells (c) allowing the test cells to grow for a time sufficient to allow SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 to be expressed and for a functional channel to be generated;
  • step (e) measuring the binding of the labeled ligand to the SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 channel; where if the amount of binding of the labeled ligand is less in the presence of the substance than in the absence of the substance, then the substance is a potential agonist or antagonist of SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12.
  • the conditions under which step (d) of the method is practiced are conditions that are typically used in the art for the study of protein-ligand interactions: e.g., physiological pH; salt conditions such as those represented by such commonly used buffers as PBS or in tissue culture media; a temperature of about 4°C to about 55°C.
  • the test cells may be harvested and resuspended in the presence of the substance and the labeled ligand.
  • step (d) is modified in that the cells are not harvested and resuspended but rather the radioactively labeled known agonist and the substance are contacted with the cells while the cells are attached to a substratum, e.g., tissue culture plates.
  • a substratum e.g., tissue culture plates.
  • the present invention also includes a method for determining whether a substance is capable of binding to SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12, i.e., whether the substance is a potential agonist or an antagonist of SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 channel activation, where the method comprises:
  • transfecting or transforming cells with an expression vector that directs the expression of SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 in the cells;
  • transfecting or transforming said cells with a second expression vector that directs expression of at least one other known GluCl subunit which co-assembles with SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 resulting in test cells;
  • step (c) of the method is practiced are conditions that are typically used in the art for the study of protein-ligand interactions: e.g., physiological pH; salt conditions such as those represented by such commonly used buffers as PBS or in tissue culture media; a temperature of about 4°C to about 55°C.
  • the test cells are harvested and resuspended in the presence of the substance.
  • Expression of SaGluCl DNA may also be performed using in vitro produced synthetic mRNA.
  • Synthetic mRNA can be efficiently translated in various cell-free systems, including but not limited to wheat germ extracts and reticulocyte extracts, as well as efficiently translated in cell based systems, including but not limited to microinjection into frog oocytes, with microinjection into frog oocytes being preferred.
  • SaGluCl protein may be recovered to provide SaGluCl protein in active form.
  • Several SaGluCl protein purification procedures are available and suitable for use.
  • Recombinant SaGluCl protein may be purified from cell lysates and extracts by various combinations of, or individual application of salt fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, hydroxylapatite adsorption chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography.
  • recombinant SaGluCl protein can be separated from other cellular proteins by use of an immunoaffinity column made with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies specific for full-length SaGluCl protein, or polypeptide fragments of SaGluCl protein.
  • Polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies may be raised against SaGluCl or a synthetic peptide (usually from about 9 to about 25 amino acids in length) from a portion of SaGluCU or SaGluC12 as disclosed in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6, 8 and/or 10.
  • Monospecific antibodies to SaGluCl are purified from mammalian antisera containing antibodies reactive against SaGluCl or are prepared as monoclonal antibodies reactive with SaGluCl using the technique of Kohler and Milstein (1975, Nature 256: 495-497).
  • Monospecific antibody as used herein is defined as a single antibody species or multiple antibody species with homogenous binding characteristics for SaGluCl.
  • Homogenous binding refers to the ability of the antibody species to bind to a specific antigen or epitope, such as those associated with SaGluCl, as described above.
  • Human SaGluCl-specific antibodies are raised by immunizing animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, goats, horses and the like, with an appropriate concentration of SaGluCl protein or a synthetic peptide generated from a portion of SaGluCl with or without an immune adjuvant.
  • Preimmune serum is collected prior to the first immunization.
  • Each animal receives between about 0.1 mg and about 1000 mg of SaGluCl protein associated with an acceptable immune adjuvant.
  • acceptable adjuvants include, but are not limited to, Freund' s complete, Freund' s incomplete, alum-precipitate, water in oil emulsion containing Corynebacterium parvum and tRNA.
  • the initial immunization consists of SaGluCl protein or peptide fragment thereof in, preferably, Freund' s complete adjuvant at multiple sites either subcutaneously (SC), intraperitoneally (IP) or both.
  • SC subcutaneously
  • IP intraperitoneally
  • Each animal is bled at regular intervals, preferably weekly, to determine antibody titer.
  • the animals may or may not receive booster injections following the initial immunization. Those animals receiving booster injections are generally given an equal amount of SaGluCl in Freund' s incomplete adjuvant by the same route. Booster injections are given at about three week intervals until maximal titers are obtained. At about 7 days after each booster immunization or about weekly after a single immunization, the animals are bled, the serum collected, and aliquots are stored at about -20°C.
  • Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with SaGluCl are prepared by immunizing inbred mice, preferably Balb/c, with SaGluCl protein.
  • the mice are immunized by the IP or SC route with about 1 mg to about 100 mg, preferably about 10 mg, of SaGluCl protein in about 0.5 ml buffer or saline inco ⁇ orated in an equal volume of an acceptable adjuvant, as discussed above. Freund' s complete adjuvant is preferred.
  • the mice receive an initial immunization on day 0 and are rested for about 3 to about 30 weeks.
  • Immunized mice are given one or more booster immunizations of about 1 to about 100 mg of SaGluCl in a buffer solution such as phosphate buffered saline by the intravenous (IV) route.
  • Lymphocytes from antibody positive mice, preferably splenic lymphocytes, are obtained by removing spleens from immunized mice by standard procedures known in the art.
  • Hybridoma cells are produced by mixing the splenic lymphocytes with an appropriate fusion partner, preferably myeloma cells, under conditions which will allow the formation of stable hybridomas.
  • Fusion partners may include, but are not limited to: mouse myelomas P3/NS 1/Ag 4-1 ; MPC-11 ; S-194 and Sp 2/0, with Sp 2/0 being preferred.
  • the antibody producing cells and myeloma cells are fused in polyethylene glycol, about 1000 mol. wt., at concentrations from about 30% to about 50%.
  • Fused hybridoma cells are selected by growth in hypoxanthine, thymidine and aminopterin supplemented Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM) by procedures known in the art.
  • DMEM Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium
  • Supernatant fluids are collected form growth positive wells on about days 14, 18, and 21 and are screened for antibody production by an immunoassay such as solid phase immunoradioassay (SPIRA) using SaGluCl as the antigen.
  • SPIRA solid phase immunoradioassay
  • the culture fluids are also tested in the Ouchterlony precipitation assay to determine the isotype of the mAb.
  • Hybridoma cells from antibody positive wells are cloned by a technique such as the soft agar technique of MacPherson, 1973, Soft Agar Techniques, in Tissue Culture Methods and Applications, Kruse and Paterson, Eds., Academic Press.
  • Monoclonal antibodies are produced in vivo by injection of pristine primed Balb/c mice, approximately 0.5 ml per mouse, with about 2 x 10° to about 6 x 10 6 hybridoma cells about 4 days after priming. Ascites fluid is collected at approximately 8-12 days after cell transfer and the monoclonal antibodies are purified by techniques known in the art.
  • In vitro production of anti- SaGluCl mAb is carried out by growing the hybridoma in DMEM containing about 2% fetal calf serum to obtain sufficient quantities of the specific mAb.
  • the mAb are purified by techniques known in the art.
  • Antibody titers of ascites or hybridoma culture fluids are determined by various serological or immunological assays which include, but are not limited to, precipitation, passive agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent antibody (ELISA) technique and radioimmunoassay (RIA) techniques. Similar assays are used to detect the presence of SaGluCl in body fluids or tissue and cell extracts. It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the above described methods for producing monospecific antibodies may be utilized to produce antibodies specific for SaGluCl peptide fragments, or a respective full-length SaGluCl.
  • SaGluCl antibody affinity columns are made, for example, by adding the antibodies to Affigel-10 (Biorad), a gel support which is pre-activated with N- hydroxysuccinimide esters such that the antibodies form covalent linkages with the agarose gel bead support. The antibodies are then coupled to the gel via amide bonds with the spacer arm. The remaining activated esters are then quenched with 1M ethanolamine HCl (pH 8). The column is washed with water followed by 0.23 M glycine HCl (pH 2.6) to remove any non-conjugated antibody or extraneous protein.
  • the column is then equilibrated in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.3) and the cell culture supernatants or cell extracts containing full-length SaGluCl or SaGluCl protein fragments are slowly passed through the column.
  • the column is then washed with phosphate buffered saline until the optical density (A 280 ) falls to background, then the protein is eluted with 0.23 M glycine-HCl (pH 2.6).
  • the purified SaGluCl protein is then dialyzed against phosphate buffered saline.
  • the present invention also relates to a non-human transgenic animal which is useful for studying the ability of a variety of compounds to act as modulators of either SaGluCl 1, SaGluC12, or any alternative functional SaGluCl channel in vivo by providing cells for culture, in vitro.
  • transgenic animals of this invention reference is made to transgenes and genes.
  • a transgene is a genetic construct including a gene. The transgene is integrated into one or more chromosomes in the cells in an animal by methods known in the art (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,612,205; U.S. Patent No. 5,721,367, U.S. Patent No. 5,464,764, U.S. Patent No.
  • the transgene is carried in at least one place in the chromosomes of a transgenic animal.
  • a gene is a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein, such as one or a combination of the cDNA clones described herein.
  • the gene and/or transgene may also include genetic regulatory elements and/or structural elements known in the art.
  • a type of target cell for transgene introduction is the embryonic stem cell (ES).
  • ES cells can be obtained from pre-implantation embryos cultured in vitro and fused with embryos (Evans et al., 1981, Nature 292:154-156; Bradley et al., 1984, Nature 309:255-258; Gossler et al., 1986, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:9065- 9069; and Robertson et al., 1986 Nature 322:445-448).
  • Transgenes can be efficiently introduced into the ES cells by a variety of standard techniques such as DNA transfection, microinjection, or by retrovirus-mediated transduction.
  • the resultant transformed ES cells can thereafter be combined with blastocysts from a non-human animal.
  • transgenic or knock-out ivertebrate animals e.g., C. elegans
  • C. elegans transgenic or knock-out ivertebrate animals which express the SaGluC12 transgene in a wild type C. elegans GluCl background as well in C. elegans mutants knocked out for one or both of the C. elegans GluCl subunits.
  • compositions comprising modulators of SaGluCl may be formulated according to known methods such as by the admixture of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Examples of such carriers and methods of formulation may be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. To form a pharmaceutically acceptable composition suitable for effective administration, such compositions will contain an effective amount of the protein, DNA, RNA, modified SaGluCl, or either SaGluCl agonists or antagonists including tyrosine kinase activators or inhibitors.
  • compositions of the invention are administered to an individual in amounts sufficient to treat or diagnose disorders.
  • the effective amount may vary according to a variety of factors such as the individual's condition, weight, sex and age. Other factors include the mode of administration.
  • compositions may be provided to the individual by a variety of routes such as subcutaneous, topical, oral and intramuscular.
  • the term "chemical derivative" describes a molecule that contains additional chemical moieties which are not normally a part of the base molecule. Such moieties may improve the solubility, half-life, abso ⁇ tion, etc. of the base molecule. Alternatively the moieties may attenuate undesirable side effects of the base molecule or decrease the toxicity of the base molecule. Examples of such moieties are described in a variety of texts, such as Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  • the present invention also has the objective of providing suitable topical, oral, systemic and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations for use in the novel methods of treatment of the present invention.
  • the compositions containing compounds identified according to this invention as the active ingredient can be administered in a wide variety of therapeutic dosage forms in conventional vehicles for administration.
  • the compounds can be administered in such oral dosage forms as tablets, capsules (each including timed release and sustained release formulations), pills, powders, granules, elixirs, tinctures, solutions, suspensions, syrups and emulsions, or by injection.
  • they may also be administered in intravenous (both bolus and infusion), intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, topical with or without occlusion, or intramuscular form, all using forms well known to those of ordinary skill in the pharmaceutical arts.
  • compounds of the present invention may be administered in a single daily dose, or the total daily dosage may be administered in divided doses of two, three or four times daily.
  • compounds for the present invention can be administered in intranasal form via topical use of suitable intranasal vehicles, or via transdermal routes, using those forms of transdermal skin patches well known to those of ordinary skill in that art.
  • the dosage administration will, of course, be continuous rather than intermittent throughout the dosage regimen.
  • the active agents can be administered concurrently, or they each can be administered at separately staggered times.
  • the dosage regimen utilizing the compounds of the present invention is selected in accordance with a variety of factors including type, species, age, weight, sex and medical condition of the patient; the severity of the condition to be treated; the route of administration; the renal, hepatic and cardiovascular function of the patient; and the particular compound thereof employed.
  • a physician or veterinarian of ordinary skill can readily determine and prescribe the effective amount of the drug required to prevent, counter or arrest the progress of the condition.
  • Optimal precision in achieving concentrations of drug within the range that yields efficacy without toxicity requires a regimen based on the kinetics of the drug's availability to target sites. This involves a consideration of the distribution, equilibrium, and elimination of a drug.
  • the degenerate oligos utilized were designed based on sequences obtained from C. elegans, Drosophila, and Flea (C. felis) GluCls: The oligonucleotides used are as follows: Forward (Oligo 27F2):
  • EXAMPLE 2 Functional Eexpression of GluCls Clones in Xenopus Oocytes
  • Full length cDNA clones corresponding to the selected RT-PCR sequences were used as template for synthesis of in vitro transcribed RNA (Ambion Inc.).
  • the full-length cDNA encoding SaGluCU in a Bluescript plasmid is linearized and capped cRNA transcripts are synthesized using appropriate oligonucleotide primers and the mMESSAGE mMACHINE in vitro RNA transcription kit from Ambion.
  • Xenopus laevis oocytes were prepared and injected using standard methods as described (Arena et al., 1991, Mol. Pharmacol.
  • Stage V and VI oocytes were selected and placed in media consisting of (mM): NaCl 86, KC1 2, MgCl 2 1, CaCl 2 1.8, HEPES 5, Na pyruvate 2.5, theophylline 0.5, gentamicin 0.1 adjusted to pH 7.5 with NaOH (ND-96) for 24-48 hours before injection.
  • oocytes were injected with 10 ng of cRNA in 50 nl of RNase free water. Control oocytes were injected with 50 nl of water.
  • Oocytes were incubated for 1-5 days in ND-96 supplemented with 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 2.5 mM Na pyruvate and 0.5 mM theophylline before recording. Incubations and collagenase digestion were carried out at 18° C. Voltage-clamp studies were conducted with the two microelectrode voltage clamp technique using a Dagan CA1 amplifier (Dagan Instruments, Minneapolis, MN). The current passing microelectrodes were filled with 0.7 M KC1 plus 1.7 M K 3 -citrate and the voltage recording microelectrodes were filled with 1.0 M KC1.
  • the extracellular solution for most experiments was saline consisting of (mM): NaCl 96, BaCl 2 3.5, MgCl 2 0.5, CaCl 2 0.1, HEPES 5, adjusted to pH 7.5 with NaOH.
  • the extracellular chloride concentration was reduced in some experiments by equimolar replacement of NaCl with the sodium salt of the indicated anion.
  • Experiments were conducted at 21-24° C. Data were acquired using the program Pulse and most analysis was performed with the companion program Pulsefit (Instrutech Instruments, Great Neck, NY) or with Igor Pro (Wavemetrics, Lake Oswego, OR). Data were filtered (f c , -3db) at 1 kHz, unless otherwise indicated.
  • FIG. 3 shows the results of the experiment in which the clone SaGluCU (short form "SC") was expressed in a Xenopus oocyte.
  • SC short form
  • the measurement was made as described in this Example with the two microelectrode voltage clamp technique and the membrane potential was held at 0 mV. Two current recordings are superimposed.
  • the bars at top show the duration of application of glutamate and ivermectin phosphate. Glutamate was applied first and elicited a rapidly desensitizing current. Ivermectin phosphate elicited a current of similar amplitude, but the channel stayed open much longer. This indicates that expression of this protein reconstitutes a functional ion channel that responds to both glutamate and ivermectin.
  • Lipofectamine Plus reagent (Life Technologies Inc.). Stable cell lines are selected by growth in the presence of G418. Single G418 resistant clones are isolated and shown to contain the intact SaGluCl gene. Clones containing the SaGluCl cDNAs may be analyzed for expression using immunological techniques, such as immuneprecipitation, Western blot, and immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to the SaGluCl proteins. Antibody may obtained from rabbits innoculated with peptides that are synthesized from the amino acid sequence predicted from the SaGluCl sequences. Expression is also analyzed using patch clamp electrophysiological techniques, an anion flux assay, and 3 H-ivermectin and 3 H- glutamate binding assays.
  • immunological techniques such as immuneprecipitation, Western blot, and immunofluorescence using antibodies specific to the SaGluCl proteins.
  • Antibody may obtained from rabbits innoculated with peptides that are synthesized from the amino acid sequence predicted from the SaGluCl sequences
  • Cells that are expressing SaGluCl stably or transiently are used to test for expression of avermectin, glutamate, sensitive chloride channels and for ligand binding activity. These cells are used to identify and examine other compounds for their ability to modulate, inhibit or activate the avermectin, glutamate sensitive chloride channel and to compete for binding with radioactive avermectin, glutamate, derivatives. These cells are used to identify and examine other compounds which modulate SaGluCl activity with an anion flux assay.
  • Cassettes containing the SaGluCl cDNA in the positive orientation with respect to the promoter are ligated into appropriate restriction sites 3 ' of the promoter and identified by restriction site mapping and/or sequencing.
  • These cDNA expression vectors are introduced into host cells for, example CHO cells, COS-7 (ATCC# CRL1651), and CV-1 tat [Sackevitz et al, Science 238: 1575 (1987)], 293, L (ATCC# CRL6362)] by standard methods including but not limited to electroporation, or chemical procedures (cationic liposomes, DEAE dextran, calcium phosphate).
  • Transfected cells and cell culture supematants can be harvested and analyzed for SaGluCl expression.
  • All of the vectors used for mammalian transient expression can be used to establish stable cell lines expressing SaGluCl.
  • Unaltered SaGluCl cDNA constructs cloned into expression vectors are expected to program host cells to make SaGluCl protein.
  • SaGluCl is expressed extracellularly as a secreted protein by ligating SaGluCl GluCl cDNA constructs to DNA encoding the signal sequence of a secreted protein.
  • the transfection host cells include, but are not limited to, CV-l-P [Sackevitz et al., Science 238: 1575 (1987)], tk-L [Wigler, et al, Cell 11: 223 (1977)], NS/0, and dHFr-CHO [Kaufman and Sha ⁇ , J. Mol. Biol. 159: 601, (1982)].
  • Co-transfection of any vector containing SaGluCl GluCl with a drug selection plasmid including, but not limited to G418, aminoglycoside phosphotransferase; hygromycin, hygromycin-B phosphotransferase; APRT, xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase, will allow for the selection of stably transfected clones.
  • Levels of SaGluCl GluCl are quantitated by the assays described herein.
  • SaGluCl cDNA constructs are also ligated into vectors containing amplifiable drug-resistance markers for the production of mammalian cell clones synthesizing the highest possible levels of SaGluCl. Following introduction of these constructs into cells, clones containing the plasmid are selected with the appropriate agent, and isolation of an over-expressing clone with a high copy number of plasmids is accomplished by selection with increasing doses of the agent.
  • SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 The expression of recombinant SaGluCU and/or SaGluC12 is achieved by transfection of the full-length SaGluCl cDNA into a mammalian host cell described herein. Functional expression of SaGluCU in CHO cells is shown in Figure 4A and 4B, which indicates that this subunit can assemble into a homomultimer channel activated by ivermectin (IVM, Figure 4A) and nodulasporic acid (NA, Figure 4B).
  • IVM ivermectin
  • NA nodulasporic acid
  • Baculovirus vectors which are derived from the genome of the AcNPV virus, are designed to provide high level expression of cDNA in the Sf9 line of insect cells (ATCC CRL# 1711).
  • a recombinant baculoviruse expressing SaGluCl cDNA is produced by the following standard methods (InVitrogen Maxbac Manual): the SaGluCl cDNA constructs are ligated into the polyhedrin gene in a variety of baculovirus transfer vectors, including the pAC360 and the BlueBac vector (InVitrogen).
  • Recombinant baculoviruses are generated by homologous recombination following co-transfection of the baculovirus transfer vector and linearized AcNPV genomic DNA [Kitts, 1990, Nuc. Acid. Res. 18: 5667] into Sf9-cells.
  • Recombinant pAC360 viruses are identified by the absence of inclusion bodies in infected cells and recombinant pBlueBac viruses are identified on the basis of b-galactosidase expression (Summers, M. D. and Smith, G. E., Texas Agriculture Exp. Station Bulletin No. 1555). Following plaque purification, SaGluCl expression is measured by the assays described herein.
  • the cDNA encoding the entire open reading frame for SaGluCl GluCl is inserted into the BamHI site of pBlueBacII. Constructs in the positive orientation are identified by sequence analysis and used to transfect Sf9 cells in the presence of linear AcNPV mild type DNA.
  • active SaGluCl is found in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Active SaGluCl is extracted from infected cells by hypotonic or detergent lysis.
  • SaGluCl GluCl cDNA into a Yeast Expression Vector Recombinant SaGluCl is produced in the yeast S. cerevisiae following the insertion of the optimal SaGluCl cDNA cistron into expression vectors designed to direct the intracellular or extracellular expression of heterologous proteins.
  • vectors such as EmBLyex4 or the like are ligated to the SaGluCl cistron [Rinas, et al., 1990, Biotechnology 8: 543-545; Horowitz B. et al., 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 265: 4189-4192].
  • the SaGluCl GluCl cistron is ligated into yeast expression vectors which fuse a secretion signal (a yeast or mammalian peptide) to the NH 2 terminus of the SaGluCl protein [Jacobson, 1989, Gene 85: 511-516; Riett and Bellon , 1989, Biochem. 28: 2941-2949].
  • a secretion signal a yeast or mammalian peptide
  • These vectors include, but are not limited to pAVEl-6, which fuses the human serum albumin signal to the expressed cDNA [Steep, 1990, Biotechnology 8: 42-46], and the vector pL8PL which fuses the human lysozyme signal to the expressed cDNA [Yamamoto, Biochem. 28: 2728-2732)].
  • SaGluCl is expressed in yeast as a fusion protein conjugated to ubiquitin utilizing the vector pVEP [Ecker, 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 264: 7715-7719, Sabin, 1989 Biotechnology 7: 705-709, McDonnell, 1989, Mol. Cell Biol. 9: 5517-5523 (1989)].
  • the levels of expressed SaGluCl are determined by the assays described herein.
  • SaGluCl GluCl antibody affinity columns are made by adding the anti-SaGluCl GluCl antibodies to Affigel-10 (Biorad), a gel support which is pre- activated with N-hydroxysuccinimide esters such that the antibodies form covalent linkages with the agarose gel bead support. The antibodies are then coupled to the gel via amide bonds with the spacer arm. The remaining activated esters are then quenched with 1M ethanolamine HCl (pH 8).
  • the column is washed with water followed by 0.23 M glycine HCl (pH 2.6) to remove any non-conjugated antibody or extraneous protein.
  • the column is then equilibrated in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.3) together with appropriate membrane solubilizing agents such as detergents and the cell culture supematants or cell extracts containing solubilized SaGluCl are slowly passed through the column.
  • the column is then washed with phosphate- buffered saline together with detergents until the optical density (A280) falls to background, then the protein is eluted with 0.23 M glycine-HCl (pH 2.6) together with detergents.
  • the purified SaGluCl protein is then dialyzed against phosphate buffered saline.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne, en partie, des molécules d'acides nucléiques isolées (polynucléotides) qui codent des canaux à chlorure activés par le glutamate de Schistocerca americana (sauterelle). Cette invention a également trait à des vecteurs recombinants et des hôtes recombinants qui contiennent un fragment d'ADN codant des canaux à chlorure activés par le glutamate de S. americana, des formes pratiquement purifiées de canaux associés à chlorure activés par le glutamate de S. americana et des fractions de membranes recombinantes renfermant ces protéines, des protéines mutantes associées et des méthodes liées à des composés d'identification qui modulent des canaux à chlorure activés par le glutamate de S. americana utilisés comme insecticides.
PCT/US2000/028936 1999-10-22 2000-10-19 Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par l-glutamate provenant de schistocerca americana WO2001030849A1 (fr)

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EP00976600A EP1226174A4 (fr) 1999-10-22 2000-10-19 MOLECULES D'ADN CODANT DES CANAUX A CHLORURE ACTIVES PAR L-GLUTAMATE PROVENANT DE i SCHISTOCERCA AMERICANA /i
CA002388162A CA2388162A1 (fr) 1999-10-22 2000-10-19 Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par l-glutamate provenant de schistocerca americana
US10/111,161 US7033789B1 (en) 1999-10-22 2000-10-19 DNA molecules encoding L-glutamate-gated chloride channels from Schistocerca americana
JP2001533846A JP2003512830A (ja) 1999-10-22 2000-10-19 シストセルカ・アメリカーナ由来のｌ−グルタミン酸依存性塩素イオンチャンネルをコードするｄｎａ分子

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EP1272503A1 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2003-01-08 Merck & Co., Inc. Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par le l-glutamate de rhipicephalus sanguineus

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WO1999007828A1 (fr) * 1997-08-11 1999-02-18 Merck & Co., Inc. MOLECULES D'ADN CODANT DES CANAUX A CHLORURE COMMANDES PAR GLUTAMATE DE $i(CTENOCEPHALIDES FELIS)

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US5693492A (en) * 1995-05-05 1997-12-02 Merck & Co., Inc. DNA encoding glutamate gated chloride channels

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WO1999007828A1 (fr) * 1997-08-11 1999-02-18 Merck & Co., Inc. MOLECULES D'ADN CODANT DES CANAUX A CHLORURE COMMANDES PAR GLUTAMATE DE $i(CTENOCEPHALIDES FELIS)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1272503A1 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2003-01-08 Merck & Co., Inc. Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par le l-glutamate de rhipicephalus sanguineus
EP1272503A4 (fr) * 2000-03-31 2004-06-16 Merck & Co Inc Molecules d'adn codant des canaux a chlorure actives par le l-glutamate de rhipicephalus sanguineus
US7202054B2 (en) 2000-03-31 2007-04-10 Merial Limited DNA molecules encoding L-glutamate-gated chloride channels from Rhipicephalus sanguineus
US7541432B2 (en) 2000-03-31 2009-06-02 Merial Limited L-glutamate-gated chloride channel proteins from Rhipicephalus sanguineus
US7674586B2 (en) 2000-03-31 2010-03-09 Merial Limited Methods of identifying modulators of L-glutamate-gated chloride channel proteins from Rhipicephalus sanguineus

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