Tubby 2 polypeptides

Abstract

Tubby 2 polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing Tubby 2 polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis, among others, and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  in which the amino acid sequence has at least 80% identity.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  in which the amino acid sequence has at least 90% identity.  
     
     
         4 . The polypeptide as claimed in  claim 1  which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         5 . The polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 70% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2 over the entire coding region; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide as claimed in  claim 6  in which the nucleotide sequence has at least 80% identity.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated polynucleotide as claimed in  claim 6  in which the nucleotide sequence that has at least 90% identity.  
     
     
         9 . An isolated polynucleotide which comprises the nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO: 1 encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID N02; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         10 . An isolated polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence which has at least 70% identitv to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO: 1; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         11 . An isolated polynucleotide as claimed in  claim 10  in which the nucleotide sequence which has at least 80% identity.  
     
     
         12 . An isolated polynucleotide as claimed in  claim 10  in which the nucleotide sequence which has at least 90% identity.  
     
     
         13 . The polynucleotide of  claim 10  which is the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         14 . An expression system comprising a DNA or RNA molecule which is capable of producing a polypeptide of  claim 1  when said expression system is present in a compatible host cell.  
     
     
         15 . A host cell comprising the expression system of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing a host of  claim 14  under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.  
     
     
         17 . An antibody immunospecific for the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for the treatment of a subject in need of enhanced activity or expression of the polypeptide of  claim 1  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist to said polypeptide; and/or  
 (b) providing to the subject an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence of claim  6 ; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence in a form so as to effect production of said polypeptide activity in vivo.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method for the treatment of a subject having need to inhibit activity or expression of the polypeptide of  claim 1  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to said polypeptide; and/or  
 (b) administering to the subject a nucleic acid molecule that inhibits the expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding said polypeptide; and/or  
 (c) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide that competes with said polypeptide for its ligand, substrate, or receptor.  
 
     
     
         20 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease in a subject related to expression or activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1  in a subject comprising: 
 (a) deerrnining the presence or absence of a mutation in the nucleotide sequence encoding said polypeptide in the genome of said subject; and/or  
 (b) analyzing for the presence or amount of said polypeptide expression in a sample derived from said subject.  
 
     
     
         21 . An agonist of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . An antagonist of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         23 . A polypeptide characterised by the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4; or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         24 . A polypeptide which has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4  
     
     
         25 . A polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide characterised by the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         26 . A polynucleotide comprising the partial DNA sequence given in SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         27 . The polynucloetide which has the sequence given in SEQ ID NO:3.