Polynucleotides and polypeptides encoding receptors

Abstract

Receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing receptor polypeptides and polynucleotides in the design of protocols for the treatment of diseases and diagnostic assays for such conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence that has at least 80% identity over its entire length to a nucleotide sequence encoding the receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: Y; or a nucleotide sequence complementary to said isolated polynucleotide.  
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence contained in SEQ ID NO: X encoding the receptor polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: Y.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence that is at least 80% identical to that of SEQ ID NO: X over its entire length.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 3  which is polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: X.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  which is DNA or RNA.  
     
     
         6 . A DNA or RNA molecule comprising an expression system, wherein said expression system is capable of producing a receptor polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence, which has at least 80% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: Y when said expression system is present in a compatible host cell.  
     
     
         7 . A host cell comprising the expression system of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A process for producing a receptor polypeptide comprising culturing a host of  claim 7  under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.  
     
     
         9 . A process for producing a cell which produces a receptor polypeptide thereof comprising transforming or transfecting a host cell with the expression system of  claim 6  such that the host cell, under appropriate culture conditions, produces a receptor polypeptide.  
     
     
         10 . A receptor polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: Y over its entire length.  
     
     
         11 . The polypeptide of  claim 10  which comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: Y.  
     
     
         12 . An antibody immunospecific for the receptor polypeptide of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         13 . A method for the treatment of a subject in need of enhanced activity or expression of receptor polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist to said receptor; and/or  
 (b) providing to the subject polynucleotide of  claim 1  in a form so as to effect production of said receptor activity in vivo.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of a subject having need to inhibit activity or expression of the receptor polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist to said receptor; and/or  
 (b) administering to the subject a nucleic acid molecule that inhibits the expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding said receptor; and/or  
 (c) administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide that competes with said receptor for its ligand.  
 
     
     
         15 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease in a subject related to expression or activity of the receptor polypeptide of  claim 10  in a subject comprising: 
 (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the nucleotide sequence encoding said receptor polypeptide in the genome of said subject; and/or  
 (b) analyzing for the presence or amount of the receptor polypeptide expression in a sample derived from said subject.  
 
     
     
         16 . A method for identifying agonists to the receptor polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) contacting cells produced by  claim 9  with a candidate compound; and  
 (b) determining whether the candidate compound effects a signal generated by activation of the receptor polypeptide.  
 
     
     
         17 . An agonist identified by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         18 . The method for identifying antagonists to the receptor polypeptide of  claim 10  comprising: 
 (a) contacting said cell produced by  claim 9  with an agonist; and  
 (b) determining whether the signal generated by said agonist is diminished in the presence of a candidate compound.  
 
     
     
         19 . An antagonist identified by the method of  claim 18 .  
     
     
         20 . An isolated receptor polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding the receptor polypeptide expressed by the cDNA insert deposited at the ATCC; and    (b) a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of (a).    
     
     
         21 . A recombinant host cell produced by a method of  claim 9  or a membrane thereof expressing a receptor polypeptide.