Novel prostate-associated kallikrein

Abstract

The present invention provides a human prostate-associated kallikrein (HPAK) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HPAK. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding HPAK and a method for producing HPAK. The invention also provides for antibodies or antagonists specifically binding HPAK, and their use, in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of HPAK. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding HPAK for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HPAK. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding HPAK.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A substantially purified prostate-associated kallikrein protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence encoding the prostate-associated kallikrein protein of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . A polynucleotide sequence which hybridizes under stringent conditions to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         4 . A hybridization probe comprising the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         5 . An isolated and purified polynucleotide sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:2 or variants thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A polynucleotide sequence which is complementary to the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2  or variants thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A hybridization probe comprising the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . An expression vector containing the polynucleotide sequence of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         9 . A host cell containing the vector of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) culturing the host cell of  claim 9  under conditions suitable for the expression of the polypeptide; and    b) recovering the polypeptide from the host cell culture.    
     
     
         11 . A purified antibody which binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A purified agonist which specifically binds to and modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         13 . A purified antagonist which specifically binds to and modulates the activity of the polypeptide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a substantially purified antagonist of  claim 13  in conjunction with a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A method for treating cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         16 . A method for treating disorders of the prostate comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         17 . A method for detection of polynucleotides encoding kallikrein in a biological sample comprising the steps of: 
 a) hybridizing the polynucleotide of  claim 6  to nucleic acid material of a biological sample, thereby forming a hybridization complex; and    b) detecting said hybridization complex, wherein the presence of said complex correlates with the presence of a polynucleotide encoding kallikrein in said biological sample.