Cloned peripheral nerve, tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel alpha-subunit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a voltage-gated sodium channel present in peripheral nerve tissue that is tetrodotoxin-resistant. One aspect of the present invention is purified and isolated DNA encoding this sodium channel. Another aspect of the present invention is the recombinant protein expressed by this DNA, expression vectors comprising the DNA sequence, and host cells transformed with these expression vectors. Another aspect of this invention is the use of this voltage-gated, tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel as a therapeutic target for compounds to treat disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . An antibody which specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.  
     
     
         22 . The antibody of  claim 21 , wherein said antibody is: 
 a) a monoclonal antibody; or    b) a polyclonal antibody.    
     
     
         23 . A method of producing the antibody of  claim 21 , comprising: 
 a) immunizing an animal with a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 or a fragment thereof, and    b) producing an antibody which specifically binds to said polypeptide.    
     
     
         24 . An antibody fragment which specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10.