Cortistatin polypeptides

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel cortistatin polypeptides, and to polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides. More specifically, isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided encoding a Human Cortistatin polypeptide. Cortistatin polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting variations in Human Cortistatin gene expression and therapeutic methods for treating individuals in need of an increased level of Human Cortistatin activity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −19 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about −18 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 1 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (d) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising amino acids from about 58 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97639;    (f) a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature Human Cortistatin polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97639; and    (g) a nucleotide sequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f); wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule doesn't have a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:9 or SEQ ID NO:11.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence identical to a nucleotide sequence in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), or (g) of  claim 1  wherein said polynucleotide which hybridizes does not hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues or of only T residues.  
     
     
         3 . A method for making a recombinant vector comprising inserting an isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1  into a vector.  
     
     
         4 . A recombinant vector produced by the method of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         5 . A method of making a recombinant host cell comprising introducing the recombinant vector of  claim 4  into a host cell.  
     
     
         6 . A recombinant host cell produced by the method of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         7 . A recombinant method for producing a Human Cortistatin polypeptide, comprising culturing the recombinant host cell of  claim 6  under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated Human Cortistatin polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about −19 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) amino acids from about −18 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) amino acids from about 1 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (d) amino acids from about 58 to about 86 in SEQ ID NO:2;    (e) the amino acid sequence of the Human Cortistatin polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97639;    (f) the amino acid sequence of the mature Human Cortistatin polypeptide having the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97639; and    (g) the amino acid sequence of an epitope-bearing portion of any one of the polypeptides of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f).    
     
     
         9 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to a Human Cortistatin polypeptide of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A method for treatment of an individual in need of an increased level of Cortistatin activity comprising administering to said individual a composition comprising an isolated polypeptide of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         11 . A method useful during the diagnosis of a sleep disorder in an individual comprising: 
 (a) measuring Cortistatin gene expression level in cells or body fluid of said individual;    (b) comparing the Cortistatin gene expression level of said individual with a standard Human Cortistatin gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the Human Cortistatin gene expression level of said individual compared to said standard expression level is indicative of a sleep disorder.    
     
     
         12 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) the nucleotide sequence of a fragment of the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said fragment comprises at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1, provided that said nucleotide sequence is not SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, or SEQ ID NO:11 or any subfragment thereof; and    (b) a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence in (a).    
     
     
         13 . The nucleotide sequence of a fragment of  claim 12 , wherein said fragment comprises at least 50 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1.