NDR2-related proteins

Abstract

The invention provides cDNA which encode Ndr2-related proteins. It also provides for the use of the cDNAs, fragments, complements, and variants thereof and of the encoded proteins, portions thereof and antibodies thereto for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly cancers of the intestine, breast, uterus, liver, brain, and kidney. The invention additionally provides expression vectors and host cells for the production of the proteins and a transgenic model system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An isolated cDNA comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein selected from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, or the complement thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A purified protein or a portion thereof selected from: 
 a) an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2;    b) an antigenic epitope of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2; and    c) a biologically active portion of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising the protein of  claim 2  and a pharmaceutical carrier.  
     
     
         4 . A method for using a protein to screen a plurality of molecules or compounds to identify at least one ligand, the method comprising: 
 a) combining the protein of  claim 2  with the molecules or compounds under conditions to allow specific binding; and    b) detecting specific binding, thereby identifying a ligand which specifically binds the protein.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the molecules or compounds are selected from DNA molecules, RNA molecules, peptide nucleic acids, peptides, proteins, mimetics, agonists, antagonists, antibodies, immunoglobulins, inhibitors, and drugs.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated antibody which specifically binds to a protein of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The antibody of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is selected from an intact immunoglobulin molecule, a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a humanized antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, and a F(ab′) 2  fragment.  
     
     
         8 . A method of using a protein to prepare and purify a polyclonal antibody comprising: 
 a) immunizing a animal with the protein of  claim 2  under conditions to elicit an antibody response;    b) isolating animal antibodies;    c) attaching the protein to a substrate;    d) contacting the substrate with isolated antibodies under conditions to allow specific binding to the protein;    e) dissociating the antibodies from the protein, thereby obtaining purified polyclonal antibodies.    
     
     
         9 . A polyclonal antibody produced by the method of  claim 8 .  
     
     
         10 . A method of using a protein to prepare a monoclonal antibody comprising: 
 a) immunizing a animal with a protein of  claim 2  under conditions to elicit an antibody response;    b) isolating antibody-producing cells from the animal;    c) fusing the antibody-producing cells with immortalized cells in culture to form monoclonal antibody producing hybridoma cells;    d) culturing the hybridoma cells; and    e) isolating monoclonal antibodies from culture.    
     
     
         11 . A monoclonal antibody produced by the method of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         12 . A method for using an antibody to diagnose conditions or diseases associated with expression of a protein, the method comprising: 
 a) combining the antibody of  claim 6  with a sample, thereby forming antibody:protein complexes; and    b) comparing complex formation with a standard, wherein the comparison indicates expression of the protein in the sample.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein expression is diagnostic of a cancer, particularly intestine cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, liver cancer, brain cancer, and kidney cancer.  
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising an antibody of  claim 6  and a labeling moiety.  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising an antibody of  claim 6  and a pharmaceutical agent.  
     
     
         16 . A method for using an antibody to immunopurify a protein comprising: 
 a) attaching the antibody of  claim 6  to a substrate,    b) exposing the antibody to a sample containing protein under conditions to allow antibody:protein complexes to form,    c) dissociating the protein from the complex, and    d) collecting the purified protein.    
     
     
         17 . A method of using an antibody to treat a cancer, particularly a cancer of the intestine, breast, uterus, liver, brain, or kidney comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment the composition of  claim 15.