Mch3, a novel apoptotic protease, nucleic acids encoding and methods of use

Abstract

The invention provides an isolated gene encoding Mch3, or functional fragment thereof. Also provided is an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding Mch3 or functional fragment thereof. The gene or nucleic acid sequence can be single or double stranded nucleic acids corresponding to coding or non-coding strands of the Mch3 nucleotide sequence. An isolated Mch3 polypeptide or functional fragment thereof is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated gene encoding Mch3, or functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated gene of  claim 1 , comprising substantially the coding sequence in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated gene of  claim 1 , wherein said functional fragment comprises single or double stranded nucleic acids of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS 1 or 3.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated gene of  claim 1 , wherein said wherein said functional fragment comprises coding or non-coding strands of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding Mch3, comprising substantially the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3, or functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid sequence of  claim 3 , wherein said functional fragment comprises single or double stranded nucleic acids of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3.  
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid sequence of  claim 3 , wherein said functional fragment comprises coding or non-coding strands of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1 or 3.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated Mch3 polypeptide, comprising substantially the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS: 2 and 4, or functional fragment thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The isolated Mch3 polypeptide of  claim 8 , wherein said functional fragment further comprises the catalytic domain of the protease.