Detection reagents for TPC2 and TPC3, two proteins that are coexpressed with telomerase

Abstract

Purified and recombinant proteins TPC2 and TPC3 and recombinant or synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to those proteins or fragments thereof can be used to detect regulators of telomere length and telomerase activity in mammalian cells and for a variety of related diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A monoclonal or isolated polyclonal antibody that specifically binds human TPC2 or TPC3 protein, as shown in SEQ. ID NO:2 or 4, respectively.  
     
     
         2 . The antibody of  claim 1 , which specifically binds human TPC2 protein (SEQ. ID NO:2).  
     
     
         3 . The antibody of  claim 1 , which specifically binds human TPC3 protein (SEQ. ID NO:4).  
     
     
         4 . A method for obtaining an antibody according to  claim 1 , comprising collecting antiserum from a subject immunized with a peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2 or SEQ. ID NO:4.  
     
     
         5 . A method for obtaining an antibody according to  claim 1 , comprising collecting spleen cells from an animal immunized with a peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2 or SEQ. ID NO:4.  
     
     
         6 . A method for obtaining an antibody according to  claim 1 , comprising screening a phage antibody display library with a peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2 or SEQ. ID NO:4.  
     
     
         7 . An antibody obtained according to the method of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         8 . A host cell secreting a monoclonal antibody according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . A composition effective for obtaining a TPC2-specific antibody according to the method of  claim 4 , comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:2.  
     
     
         10 . A composition effective for obtaining a TPC3-specific antibody according to the method of  claim 4 , comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:4.  
     
     
         11 . A method of determining a condition in a subject associated with a high level of TPC2 (SEQ. ID NO:2), comprising combining the antibody of  claim 2  with a sample obtained from the subject, and correlating protein detected by the antibody with the condition of the subject.  
     
     
         12 . A method of determining a condition in a subject associated with a high level of TPC3 (SEQ. ID NO:4), comprising combining the antibody of  claim 3  with a sample obtained from the subject, and correlating protein detected by the antibody with the condition of the subject.  
     
     
         13 . An isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid encoding a peptide immunogenic for a TPC2-specific antibody according to  claim 2 , comprising at least 25 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:1.  
     
     
         14 . The nucleic acid of  claim 13 , comprising at least 100 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID NO:1.  
     
     
         15 . A host cell containing a nucleic acid according to  claim 13 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of obtaining an antibody according to  claim 2 , comprising expressing the nucleic acid of  claim 13  in a host cell.  
     
     
         17 . An isolated, recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid encoding a peptide immunogenic for a TPC3-specific antibody according to  claim 3 , comprising at least 25 contiguous amino acids of SEQ. ID NO:3.  
     
     
         18 . The nucleic acid of  claim 17 , comprising at least 100 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID NO:3.  
     
     
         19 . A host cell containing a nucleic acid according to  claim 17 .  
     
     
         20 . A method of obtaining an antibody according to  claim 3 , comprising expressing the nucleic acid of  claim 17  in a host cell.