Novel orphan receptors

Abstract

The present invention provides for nucleic acid sequences that encode novel mammalian receptor polypeptides, designated OCR1. The invention also provides assay systems that may be used to detect and/or measure ligands that bind the MAMMALIAN OCR1 gene product. The present invention also provides for diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on the interaction between MAMMALIAN OCR1 and agents that initiate signal transduction through binding to MAMMALIAN OCR1. In a specific embodiment, the MAMMALIAN OCR1 may HUMAN OCR1 or MOUSE OCR1.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding HUMAN OCR1.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to  claim 1 , having a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) the nucleotide sequence comprising the coding region of the HUMAN OCR1 as set forth in SEQ. NO. 3;    (b) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequence of (a) and which encodes a molecule having the biological activity of the HUMAN OCR1; or    (c) a nucleotide sequence which, but for the degeneracy of the genetic code would hybridize to a nucleotide sequence of (a) or (b), and which encodes a molecule having the biological activity of the HUMAN OCR1.    
     
     
         3 . A vector which comprises a nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         4 . A vector according to  claim 3 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operatively linked to an expression control sequence capable of directing its expression in a host cell.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a MAMMALIAN OCR1.  
     
     
         6 . Isolated MAMMALIAN OCR1 polypeptide.  
     
     
         7 . Isolated HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         8 . A host-vector system for the production of HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide which comprises a vector of  claim 4 , in a host cell.  
     
     
         9 . A host-vector system according to  claim 8 , wherein the host cell is a bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian cell.  
     
     
         10 . A method of producing HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide which comprises growing cells of a host-vector system of  claim 9 , under conditions permitting the production of HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide and recovering the HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide so produced.  
     
     
         11 . An antibody which specifically binds OCR1 polypeptide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         12 . An antibody according to  claim 11 , which is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising HUMAN OCR1 polypeptide according to  claim 7  and a carrier.  
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising an antibody according to  claim 11 , and a carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A polypeptide comprising the extracellular portion of the MAMMALIAN OCR1 polypeptide fused to an immunoglobuin constant region.  
     
     
         16 . The polypeptide of  claim 15 , wherein the constant region is the human immunoglobulin gamma-1 constant region.  
     
     
         17 . A polypeptide comprising the extracellular portion of the MAMMALIAN OCR1 polypeptide fused to an immunoglobulin Fc region.  
     
     
         18 . The polypeptide of  claim 17 , wherein the Fc region is the human immunoglobulin gamma-1 Fc region.