Testis specific transcription factor ZGCL-1

Abstract

Novel ZGCL-1 transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed. The polypeptides, agonists and antagonists may be used within methods for promoting the proliferation and/or differentiation of testis cells, and may also be used in the development of male-specific contraceptives and infertility treatments.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated polypeptide according to  claim 2 , wherein said polypeptide is at least 90% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         3 . An isolated polypeptide according to  claim 1 , covalently linked amino terminally or carboxy terminally to a moiety selected from the group consisting of affinity tags, toxins, radionucleotides, enzymes and fluorophores.  
     
     
         4 . A isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated polynucleotide according to  claim 4 , wherein said polypeptide is at least 90% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising the sequence of nucleotide 1 to nucleotide 1437 of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         7 . An oligonucleotide probe or primer comprising at least 14 contiguous nucleotides of a polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:4 or a sequence complementary to SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 a transcription promoter;    a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2; and    a transcription terminator.    
     
     
         9 . An expression vector according to  claim 8 , wherein said DNA segment encodes a polypeptide that is at least 90% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         10 . An expression vector according to  claim 8 , wherein said DNA segment encodes a polypeptide covalently linked amino terminally or carboxy terminally to an affinity tag.  
     
     
         11 . An expression vector according to  claim 8 , wherein said DNA segment further encodes a secretory signal sequence operably linked to said polypeptide.  
     
     
         12 . A cultured cell into which has been introduced an expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: 
 a transcription promoter;    a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2; and    a transcription terminator;    wherein said cell expresses said polypeptide encoded by said DNA segment.    
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a polypeptide comprising: 
 culturing a cell into which has been introduced an expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements:    a transcription promoter;    a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2; and    a transcription terminator;    whereby said cell expresses said polypeptide encoded by said DNA segment; and    recovering said expressed polypeptide.    
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide, said polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2; 
 in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.    
     
     
         15 . An antibody that specifically binds to an epitope of a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         16 . A binding protein that specifically binds to an epitope of a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues that is at least 80% identical in amino acid sequence to residues 1-479 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said sequence comprises a POZ domain corresponding to amino acid residues 61-178 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         17 . A method for detecting a genetic abnormality in a patient, comprising: 
 obtaining a genetic sample from a patient;    incubating the genetic sample with a polynucleotide comprising at least 14 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1 or the complement of SEQ ID NO:1, under conditions wherein said polynucleotide will hybridize to complementary polynucleotide sequence, to produce a first reaction product;    comparing said first reaction product to a control reaction product, wherein a difference between said first reaction product and said control reaction product is indicative of a genetic abnormality in the patient.