Human NIM1 kinase

Abstract

The invention provides a human NIM1 kinase, an encoding nucleic acid molecule, and an antibody that specifically binds the protein. The invention also provides for the use of these compositions in the characterization, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders associated NIM1 kinase expression.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A purified nucleic acid molecule or a fragment thereof encoding a protein comprising SEQ ID NO:2 or a portion thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A purified protein comprising a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 2  and a labeling moiety.  
     
     
         4 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 2  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         5 . A substrate upon which the protein of  claim 2  is immobilized.  
     
     
         6 . An array element comprising the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         7 . An oligopeptide comprising residue M1 to residue A18 of the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         8 . A method for detecting expression of a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 in a sample, the method comprising performing an assay selected from two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis, western analysis, mass spectrophotometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, radioimmunoassay, fluorescence activated cell sorting, and array technology with the sample, thereby detecting expression of the protein in the sample.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the sample is from brain, breast, cervix, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the expression when compared to standards is diagnostic of brain disorders or cancers of the brain, breast, cervix, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate.  
     
     
         11 . A method for using a protein to screen a plurality of molecules and compounds to identify at least one ligand, the method comprising: 
 a) combining the protein of  claim 2  with a plurality of molecules and compounds under conditions to allow specific binding; and    b) detecting specific binding, thereby identifying a ligand that specifically binds the protein.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the molecules and compounds are selected from agonists, antagonists, bispecific molecules, DNA molecules, small drug molecules, immunoglobulins, inhibitors, mimetics, multispecific molecules, peptides, peptide nucleic acids, pharmaceutical agent, proteins, and RNA molecules.  
     
     
         13 . A method for using a protein to identify an antibody that specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 comprising: 
 a) contacting a plurality of antibodies with the protein of  claim 2  under conditions to allow specific binding, and    b) detecting specific binding between an antibody and the protein, thereby identifying an antibody that specifically binds the protein.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the antibodies are selected from a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a humanized antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, an F(ab′) 2  fragment, an Fv fragment; and an antibody-peptide fusion protein.  
     
     
         15 . A method of using a protein to prepare and purify a polyclonal antibody comprising: 
 a) immunizing a animal with a protein of  claim 2  under conditions to elicit an antibody response;    b) isolating animal antibodies;    c) attaching the protein to a substrate;    d) contacting the substrate with isolated antibodies under conditions to allow specific binding to the protein; and    e) dissociating the antibodies from the protein, thereby obtaining purified polyclonal antibodies.    
     
     
         16 . A method of using a protein to prepare a monoclonal antibody comprising: 
 a) immunizing a animal with a protein of  claim 2  under conditions to elicit an antibody response;    b) isolating antibody-producing cells from the animal;    c) fusing the antibody-producing cells with immortalized cells in culture to form monoclonal antibody producing hybridoma cells;    d) culturing the hybridoma cells; and    e) isolating from culture monoclonal antibody that specifically binds the protein.    
     
     
         17 . A method for using a protein to diagnose a disorder comprising: 
 a) performing an assay to quantify the expression of the protein of  claim 2  in a sample;    b) comparing the expression of the protein to standards, thereby diagnosing a disorder.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sample is selected from brain, breast, cervix, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein expression is diagnostic of brain disorders or cancers of the brain, breast, cervix, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate.  
     
     
         20 . A method for testing a molecule or compound for effectiveness as an agonist comprising: 
 a) exposing a sample comprising the protein of  claim 2  to the molecule or compound, and    b) detecting agonist activity in the sample.    
     
     
         21 . A method for testing a molecule or compound for effectiveness as an antagonist, the method comprising: 
 a) exposing a sample comprising the protein of  claim 2  to a molecule or compound, and    b) detecting antagonist activity in the sample.    
     
     
         22 . An isolated antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         23 . A polyclonal antibody produced by the method of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         24 . A monoclonal antibody produced by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         25 . A method for using an antibody to detect expression of a protein in a sample, the method comprising: 
 a) combining the antibody of  claim 22  with a sample under conditions which allow the formation of antibody:protein complexes; and    b) detecting complex formation, wherein complex formation indicates expression of the protein in the sample.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the sample is from brain, breast, cervix, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein complex formation is compared with standards and is diagnostic of brain disorders and cancer.  
     
     
         28 . A method for using an antibody to immunopurify a protein comprising: 
 a) attaching the antibody of  claim 22  to a substrate,    b) exposing the antibody to a sample containing protein under conditions to allow antibody:protein complexes to form,    c) dissociating the protein from the complex, and    d) collecting the purified protein.    
     
     
         29 . A composition comprising an antibody of  claim 22  and a labeling moiety.  
     
     
         30 . A kit comprising the composition of  claim 29 .  
     
     
         31 . An array element comprising the antibody of  claim 22 .  
     
     
         32 . A substrate upon which the antibody of  claim 22  is immobilized.  
     
     
         33 . A composition comprising the monoclonal antibody of  claim 24  and a pharmaceutical agent.  
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33  wherein the composition is lyophilized.  
     
     
         35 . A method for using a composition to assess efficacy of a molecule or compound, the method comprising: 
 a) treating a sample containing a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 with a molecule or compound;    b) contacting the sample with the composition of  claim 29  under conditions for complex formation;    c) determining the amount of complex formation; and    d) comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in standards, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates efficacy of the molecule or compound.    
     
     
         36 . A method for using a composition to assess toxicity of a molecule or compound, the method comprising: 
 a) treating a sample containing a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 with a molecule or compound;    b) contacting the protein in the sample with the composition of  claim 29  under conditions for complex formation;    c) determining the amount of complex formation; and    d) comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in standards, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates toxicity of the molecule or compound.    
     
     
         37 . A method for treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention the antibody of  claim 22 .  
     
     
         38 . A method for treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention the composition of  claim 33 .  
     
     
         39 . A method for delivering a pharmaceutical agent to a cell comprising: 
 a) attaching the pharmaceutical agent to a bispecific molecule identified by the method of  claim 11;  and    b) administering the bispecific molecule to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention, wherein the bispecific molecule specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 thereby delivering the pharmaceutical agent to the cell.    
     
     
         40 . An agonist that specifically binds the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising an agonist of  claim 40  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         42 . An antagonist that specifically binds the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         43 . A composition comprising the antagonist of  claim 42  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         44 . A pharmaceutical agent that specifically binds the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         45 . A composition comprising the pharmaceutical agent of  claim 44  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         46 . A small drug molecule that specifically binds the protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         47 . A composition comprising the small drug molecule of  claim 46  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         48 . An antisense molecule of 18 to 30 nucleotides in length that specifically binds a portion of a polynucleotide of  claim 1  or the complement thereof wherein the antisense molecule inhibits expression of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide.  
     
     
         49 . The antisense molecule of  claim 48  wherein the antisense molecule comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.  
     
     
         50 . The antisense molecule of  claim 49  wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.  
     
     
         51 . The antisense molecule of  claim 48  wherein the antisense molecule comprises at least one nucleotide analog.  
     
     
         52 . The antisense molecule of  claim 51  wherein the nucleotide analog is a 5-methylcytosine.