Apo-3 polypeptide

Abstract

Novel polypeptides, designated Apo-3, which are capable of stimulating or inducing apoptosis are provided. Compositions including Apo-3 chimeras, nucleic acid encoding Apo-3, and antibodies to Apo-3 are also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Isolated Apo-3 polypeptide.  
     
     
         2 . Isolated Apo-3 polypeptide having at least about 80% sequence identity with native sequence Apo-3 polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 417 of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         3 . The Apo-3 polypeptide of  claim 2  wherein said Apo-3 polypeptide has at least about 90% sequence identity.  
     
     
         4 . The Apo-3 polypeptide of  claim 3  wherein said Apo-3 polypeptide has at least about 95% sequence identity.  
     
     
         5 . Isolated native sequence Apo-3 polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         6 . Isolated extracellular domain sequence of Apo-3 polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 198 of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         7 . Isolated death domain sequence of Apo-3 polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 338 to 417 of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         8 . A chimeric molecule comprising the Apo-3 polypeptide of  claim 1  or the extracellular domain sequence of  claim 6  fused to a heterologous amino acid sequence.  
     
     
         9 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 8  wherein said heterologous amino acid sequence is an epitope tag sequence.  
     
     
         10 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 8  wherein said heterologous amino acid sequence is an immunoglobulin sequence.  
     
     
         11 . The chimeric molecule of  claim 10  wherein said immunoglobulin sequence is an IgG.  
     
     
         12 . An antibody which specifically binds to the Apo-3 polypeptide of  claim 1  or the extracellular domain sequence of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         13 . The antibody of  claim 12  wherein said antibody is a monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         14 . The antibody of  claim 12  which is an agonist antibody.  
     
     
         15 . Isolated nucleic acid encoding the Apo-3 polypeptide of  claim 1 , the extracellular domain sequence of  claim 6  or the death domain sequence of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         16 . The nucleic acid of  claim 15  wherein said nucleic acid encodes native sequence Apo-3 polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 417 of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         17 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         18 . The vector of  claim 17  operably linked to control sequences recognized by a host cell transformed with the vector.  
     
     
         19 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         20 . A process of using a nucleic acid molecule encoding Apo-3 polypeptide to effect production of Apo-3 polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of  claim 19 .  
     
     
         21 . A non-human, transgenic animal which contains cells that express nucleic acid encoding Apo-3 polypeptide.  
     
     
         22 . The animal of  claim 21  which is a mouse or rat.  
     
     
         23 . A non-human, knockout animal which contains cells having an altered gene encoding Apo-3 polypeptide.  
     
     
         24 . The animal of  claim 23  which is a mouse or rat.  
     
     
         25 . An article of manufacture, comprising a container and a composition contained within said container, wherein the composition includes Apo-3 polypeptide or Apo-3 antibodies.  
     
     
         26 . The article of manufacture of  claim 25  further comprising instructions for using the Apo-3 polypeptide or Apo-3 antibodies in vivo or ex vivo.