Novel polynucleotides and proteins encoded thereby

Abstract

The present invention provides novel isolated SECX polynucleotides and the membrane-associated or secreted polypeptides encoded by the SECX polynucleotides. Also provided are the antibodies that immunospecifically bind to a SECX polypeptide or any derivative, variant, mutant or fragment of the SECX polypeptide, polynucleotide or antibody. The invention additionally provides methods in which the SECX polypeptide, polynucleotide and antibody are utilized in the detection and treatment of a broad range of pathological states, as well as to other uses.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising: 
 a) nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85;    b) a complement of said nucleic acid molecule;    c) a fragment of said nucleic acid molecule; or    d) a fragment of the complement of said nucleic acid molecule.    
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid molecule of claim  21 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is given by: 
 a) any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 or 84;    b) a complement of said nucleic acid molecule;    c) a fragment of said nucleic acid molecule; or    d) a fragment of the complement of said nucleic acid molecule.    
     
     
         4 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule, said molecule hybridizing under stringent conditions to: 
 a) a nucleic acid sequence that is any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 or 84; or    b) the complement of said nucleic acid sequence.    
     
     
         5 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has an amino acid sequence comprising one or more conservative substitutions in the amino acid sequence of any one of_SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85, or a complement of said nucleic acid molecule, or a fragment of said nucleic acid molecule, or the complement of said nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A nucleic acid vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 7 , wherein said vector is an expression vector.  
     
     
         9 . The vector of  claim 7 , further comprising a regulatory element operably linked to said nucleic acid molecule.  
     
     
         10 . A host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . An isolated polypeptide at least 80% identical to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85;    b) a fragment of a polypeptide, the polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85 wherein the fragment contains at least 6 contiguous amino acid residues of said sequence;    c) a derivative of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85;    d) an analog of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85;    e) a homolog of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85; and    f) a naturally occurring allelic variant of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85.    
     
     
         12 . The polypeptide of  claim 11 , wherein the sequence of the polypeptide is given by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 or 85.  
     
     
         13 . An antibody that selectively binds to the polypeptide of  claim 11 , and fragments, homologs, analogs, and derivatives of said antibody.  
     
     
         14 . A method of producing the polypeptide of  claim 11 , said method comprising the step of culturing the host cell of  claim 10  under conditions in which the nucleic acid molecule is expressed.  
     
     
         15 - 27 . (canceled)  
     
     
         28 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         29 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 9 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         30 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody of  claim 11 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.