MN gene and protein

Abstract

A new gene—MN—and proteins/polypeptides encoded therefrom are disclosed. Recombinant nucleic acid molecules for expressing MN proteins/polypeptides and recombinant proteins are provided. Expression of the MN gene is disclosed as being associated with tumorigenicity, and the invention concerns methods and compositions for detecting and/or quantitating MN antigen and/or MN-specific antibodies in vertebrate samples that are diagnostic/prognostic for neoplastic and pre-neoplastic disease. Test kits embodying the immunoassays of this invention are provided. MN-specific antibodies are disclosed that can be used diagnostically/prognostically, therapeutically, for imaging, and/or for affinity purification of MN proteins/polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid probes for the MN gene as well as test kits comprising said probes. The invention also concerns vaccines comprising MN proteins/polypeptides which are effective to immunize a vertebrate against neoplastic diseases associated with the expression of MN proteins. The invention still further concerns antisense nucleic acid sequences that can be used to inhibit MN gene expression.

1 - 30  (canceled).  
     
     
         31 . An MN antisense construct comprising an MN antisense oligonucleotide operably linked to an expression control sequence in a vector, wherein said MN antisense oligonucleotide is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 5, and wherein said MN antisense construct shows antisense activity in an in vitro screening assay comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting a human cell abnormally expressing MN with said MN antisense construct;    (b) determining the effect of said MN antisense construct on MN expression in said human cell; and    (c) concluding that if MN expression is decreased, that said MN antisense construct shows antisense activity.    
     
     
         32 . The MN antisense construct of  claim 31 , wherein said MN antisense nucleotide is complementary to the 5′ end of the mRNA that is transcribed from the complement of SEQ ID NO: 5.  
     
     
         33 . The MN antisense construct of  claim 31 , wherein said MN antisense nucleotide is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1.  
     
     
         34 . The MN antisense construct of  claim 31 , wherein said vector is derived from a plasmid, a cosmid, a bacteriophage or a virus.  
     
     
         35 . A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the MN antisense construct of  claim 31 , wherein said MN antisense construct interacts with MN gene or MN transcript.  
     
     
         36 . An MN antisense construct comprising an MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid operably linked to an expression control sequence in a vector, wherein said MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid consists of a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to SEQ ID NO: 5, and wherein said MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid shows antisense activity in an in vitro screening assay comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting a human cell abnormally expressing MN with said MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid;    (b) determining the effect of said MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid on MN expression in said human cell; and    (c) concluding that if MN expression is decreased, that said MN antisense double-stranded ribonucleic acid shows antisense activity.    
     
     
         37 . The MN antisense construct of  claim 36 , wherein said vector is derived from a plasmid, a cosmid, a bacteriophage or a virus.  
     
     
         38 . A composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the MN antisense construct according to  claim 36 , wherein said MN antisense construct interacts with MN gene or MN transcript.  
     
     
         39 . A method of blocking in vivo expression of the MN gene in a human by administering an MN antisense construct of  claim 31 .  
     
     
         40 . A method of treating neoplastic disease and/or pre-neoplastic disease in a human, wherein said disease is associated with abnormal MN gene expression, comprising inhibiting the expression of MN gene by administering an MN antisense construct according to  claim 31 .  
     
     
         41 . An antibody which specifically binds to an MN protein or to an MN polypeptide, wherein said MN protein or MN polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid that comprises a polynucleotide containing at least 29 nucleotides, said nucleic acid being selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 5;    (b) polynucleotides that hybridize under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO: 5's complement; and    (c) polynucleotides that differ from SEQ ID NO: 5 or from the polynucleotide sequences of (b) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code,    and wherein said antibody is polyclonal.    
     
     
         42 . The antibody of  claim 41  that is conjugated to a toxin.  
     
     
         43 . The antibody of  claim 41  that is conjugated to a chemotherapeutic drug.  
     
     
         44 . An antibody which specifically binds to an MN protein or to an MN polypeptide, wherein said MN protein or MN polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid that comprises a polynucleotide containing at least 29 nucleotides, said nucleic acid being selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) SEQ ID NO: 5;    (b) polynucleotides that hybridize under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO: 5's complement; and    (c) polynucleotides that differ from SEQ ID NO: 5 or from the polynucleotide sequences of (b) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code,    and wherein said antibody is humanized.    
     
     
         45 . The antibody of  claim 44  that is conjugated to a toxin.  
     
     
         46 . The antibody of  claim 44  that is conjugated to a chemotherapeutic drug.