Corpuscles of stannius protein, stanniocalcin

Abstract

The present invention relates to human Corpuscles of Stannius polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding such polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and antagonists against such polypeptides. Human Corpuscles of Stannius protein inhibits calcium uptake and reduces renal excretion of phosphate. Also provided is a diagnostic assay to detect mutations in the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and for altered concentrations of the polypeptide in a sample derived from a host.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide comprising amino acids -35 to 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide comprising amino acids 1 to 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a) or (b); and    (d) a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b).    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is RNA.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is genomic DNA.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2  encoding the polypeptide comprising amino acids 35 to 212of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 2  encoding the polyp eptide comprising amino acids 1 to 212 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence expressed by the DNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 75652;    (b) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a); and (c)a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b).    
     
     
         8 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  comprising the sequence as set forth in sequence ID NO: 1 from nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 771.  
     
     
         9 . A vector containing the DNA of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         10 . A host cell genetically engineered with the vector of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         11 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising: expressing from the host cell of  claim 10  the polypeptide encoded by said DNA.  
     
     
         12 . A process for producing cells capable of expressing a polypeptide comprising genetically engineering cells with the vector of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         13 . A polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) a polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof; and    (ii) a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of ATCC Deposit No. 75652 and fragments, analogs and derivatives of said polypeptide.    
     
     
         14 . The polypeptide of  claim 13  wherein the polypeptide has the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         15 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         16 . An compound effective as an antagonist against the polypeptide of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         17 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need of Corpuscles of Stannius protein comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to inhibit Corpuscles of Stannius protein comprising: administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said polypeptide and expressing said polypeptide in vivo.  
     
     
         20 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease related to a mutation in the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of  claim 13  comprising: determining a mutation in said polynucleotide in a sample derived from a host.  
     
     
         21 . A diagnostic process comprising: analyzing for the presence of the polypeptide of  claim 13  in a sample derived from a host.  
     
     
         22 . A process for identifying compounds active as antagonists to the polypeptide of  claim 13  comprising: 
 (a) injecting a compound to be screened and said polypeptide into a host capable of transporting calcium;  
 (b) contacting the host with labeled calcium; and  
 (c) determining the extent of calcium uptake to identify if the compound is an effective antagonist.