Novel regulator of cell signaling

Abstract

The present invention provides a human reguslator of G-protein signaling (HRGS) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HRGS. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding HRGS and a method for producing HRGS. The invention also provides for agonists, antibodies, or antagonists specifically binding HRGS, and their use, in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of HRGS. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding HRGS for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HRGS. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding HRGS.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A substantially purified human regulator of G-protein signaling (HRGS) comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence encoding the HRGS of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . A polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         4 . A hybridization probe comprising the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:2 or variants thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A polynucleotide sequence which is complementary to SEQ ID NO:2 or variants thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A hybridization probe comprising the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . An expression vector containing the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         9 . A host cell containing the vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing the host cell of  claim 9  under conditions suitable for the expression of the polypeptide; and    b) recovering the polypeptide from the host cell culture.    
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a substantially purified HRGS having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 in conjunction with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         12 . A purified antibody which binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . A purified agonist which specifically binds to and modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A purified antagonist which specifically binds to and modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A method for treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         16 . A method for treating hypertension comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         17 . A method for detection of polynucleotides encoding HRGS of  claim 1  in a biological sample comprising the steps of: 
 a) hybridizing a polynucleotide consisting of SEQ ID NO:2 to nucleic acid material of a biological sample, thereby forming a hybridization complex; and  
 b) detecting said hybridization complex, wherein the presence of said complex correlates with the presence of a polynucleotide encoding HRGS in said biological sample.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein before hybridization, the nucleic acid material of the biological sample is amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.