Retinoic Acid Receptor Epsilon

Abstract

Disclosed is an RARε polypeptide and DNA (RNA) encoding the polypeptide. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptide by recombinant techniques and utilizing such polypeptide for therapeutic purposes, for example, tissue regeneration and stimulation of the immune and hematopoietic system. Also disclosed are methods of identifying ligands which stimulate the RARε. Also disclosed are diagnostic methods for detecting a mutation in the RARε receptor nucleic acid sequences and detecting a level of the soluble form of the receptors in a sample derived from a host.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2;    (b) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a); and    (c) a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a) or (b).    
     
     
         2 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  encoding the polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         3 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is DNA.  
     
     
         4 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide is RNA.  
     
     
         5 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  wherein the polynucleotide is genomic DNA.  
     
     
         6 . The polynucleotide of  claim 1  encoding a soluble form of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polynucleotide encoding a mature polypeptide encoded by the DNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 75754;    (b) a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide expressed by the DNA contained in ATCC Deposit No. 75754;    (c) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing to and which is at least 70% identical to the polynucleotide of (a) or (b); and    (d) a polynucleotide fragment of the polynucleotide of (a), (b) or (c).    
     
     
         8 . A vector containing the DNA of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         9 . A host cell transformed or transfected with the vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A process for producing a polypeptide comprising: expressing from the host cell of  claim 9  the polypeptide encoded by said DNA.  
     
     
         11 . A process for producing cells capable of expressing a polypeptide comprising transforming or transfecting the cells with the vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         12 . A receptor polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a polypeptide having the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof; and    (b) a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA of ATCC Deposit No. 75754 and fragments, analogs and derivatives of said polypeptide.    
     
     
         13 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         14 . A compound which activates the polypeptide of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         15 . A method for the treatment of a patient having need to activate an RARε receptor comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said compound is a polypeptide and a therapeutically effective amount of the compound is administered by providing to the patient DNA encoding said agonist and expressing said agonist in vivo.  
     
     
         17 . A process for diagnosing a disease or a susceptibility to a disease related to an under-expression of the polypeptide of  claim 12  comprising determining a mutation in the nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide.  
     
     
         18 . The polypeptide of  claim 12  wherein the polypeptide is a soluble fragment of the polypeptide and is capable of binding a ligand for the receptor.  
     
     
         19 . A diagnostic process comprising analyzing for the presence of the polypeptide of  claim 12  in a sample derived from a host.  
     
     
         20 . A method of identifying compounds which interact with the polypeptide of  claim 12  comprising: 
 (a) contacting a cell containing an RARε gene and a reporter gene with a compound; and  
 (b) determining whether the compound interacts with the RARε.