Human tumor necrosis factor receptor

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factors and their receptors have proven usefulness in both basic research and as therapeutics. The present invention provides a new human tumor necrosis factor receptor designated as “Ztnfr12.”

We claim:  
     
         1 . An isolated polypeptide, comprising amino acid residues 7 to 71 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated polypeptide comprises amino acids 1 to 71 of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         3 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated polypeptide has an amino acid sequence consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of amino acid residues 7 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:2, (b) the amino acid sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 71 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and (c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes an amino acid sequence comprising amino acid residues 7 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 , comprising the nucleotide sequence of nucleotides 27 to 578 of SEQ ID NO:1, or nucleotides 45 to 239 of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         8 . A vector, comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 7 .  
     
     
         9 . An expression vector, comprising a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 7 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:2, a transcription promoter, and a transcription terminator, wherein the promoter is operably linked with the nucleic acid molecule, and wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operably linked with the transcription terminator.  
     
     
         10 . A recombinant host cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 9 , wherein the host cell is selected from the group consisting of bacterium, yeast cell, avian cell, fungal cell, insect cell, mammalian cell, and plant cell.  
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a polypeptide that comprises amino acid residues 7 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:2, the method comprising culturing recombinant host cells that comprise the expression vector of  claim 9 , and that produce the polypeptide.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising isolating the polypeptide from the cultured recombinant host cells.  
     
     
         13 . An antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds with the polypeptide of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         14 . The antibody of  claim 13 , wherein the antibody is selected from the group consisting of: (a) polyclonal antibody, (b) murine monoclonal antibody, (c) humanized antibody derived from (b), and (d) human monoclonal antibody.  
     
     
         15 . A fusion protein, comprising the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . The fusion protein of  claim 15 , wherein the fusion protein comprises amino acid residues 1 to 71 of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         17 . The fusion protein of any one of  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the fusion protein further comprises an immunoglobulin moiety.