RNA-binding protein

Abstract

The present invention provides Synaptotagmin-binding and yet RNA-binding proteins and genes encoding the proteins. The invention relates to a recombinant protein selected from the group consisting of the following (a) and (b), as well as a gene encoding the protein: (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 (b) a protein which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 having deletion, substitution or addition of one or several amino acids and which has RNA binding activity.

1 . An isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         2 . An isolated protein selected from the group consisting of the following (a) and (b): 
 (a) a protein comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4; or    (b) a protein which comprises the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 having deletion, substitution or addition of one to ten amino acids within the region from position 1 to position 400 and which has RNA binding activity.    
     
     
         3 . An isolated gene encoding the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . An isolated gene comprising a DNA selected from the group consisting of the following (a) and (b): 
 (a) a DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and    (b) a DNA which hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 under stringent conditions and which encodes a protein having RNA binding activity.    
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A recombinant vector comprising the gene according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         8 . A transformant comprising the gene according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing an RNA-binding protein comprising culturing the transformant according to  claim 7  and recovering the RNA-binding protein from the resultant culture.  
     
     
         10 . An antibody against the protein according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition for regulating neuronal functions, comprising the protein according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A therapeutic agent for neurological diseases comprising the protein according to  claim 1  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition for regulating neuronal functions, comprising the gene according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         14 . A therapeutic agent for neurological diseases, comprising the gene according to  claim 3 .  
     
     
         15 . A reagent for detecting a Synaptotagmin-binding and yet RNA-binding protein, comprising the antibody according to  claim 10 .  
     
     
         16 . A reagent for detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising the protein according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         17 . A method of detecting an RNA-binding protein, comprising: 
 (a) franctioning a sample;    (b) reacting the resultant fractions with the antibody according to  claim 10  which has been labeled; and    (c) detecting a signal from the resultant reaction products.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the sample is a cell lysate or a cellular fraction thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A method of detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising: 
 (a) fractionating a sample;    (b) reacting the resultant fractions with a protein an isolated protein comprising an amino acid sequence, which has been labeled, selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4; and SEQ ID NO: 4, that has deletion, substitution or addition of one to ten amino acids within the region from position 1 to position 400 and that has RNA binding activity.    which has been labeled;    (c) reacting the reaction products obtained in step (b) with the antibody according to  claim 10  which has been labeled; and    (d) detecting a signal from the reaction products obtained in step (c) above.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sample is a cell lysate or a cellular fraction thereof, or a cell lysate containing a fusion protein composed of Synaptotagmin and glutathione-S-transferase.  
     
     
         21 . A recombinant vector comprising the gene according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         22 . An antibody against the protein according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         23 . A pharmaceutical composition for regulating neuronal functions, comprising the protein according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         24 . A therapeutic agent for neurological diseases comprising the protein according to  claim 2  as an active ingredient.  
     
     
         25 . A pharmaceutical composition for regulating neuronal functions, comprising the gene according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         26 . A therapeutic agent for neurological diseases, comprising the gene according to  claim 5 .  
     
     
         27 . A reagent for detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising the protein according to  claim 2 .  
     
     
         28 . A reagent for detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising the protein according to  claim 10 .  
     
     
         29 . A reagent for detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising the antibody according to  claim 10 .  
     
     
         30 . A method of detecting Synaptotagmin, comprising: 
 (a) fractionating a sample;    (b) reacting the resultant fractions with a protein comprising an amino acid sequence, which has been labeled, selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 4 that has deletion, substitution or addition of one to ten amino acids within the region from position 1 to position 400 and that has RNA binding activity;    (c) reacting the reaction products obtained in step (b) with the antibody according to  claim 10  which has been labeled; and    (d) detecting a signal from the reaction products obtained in step (c) above.    
     
     
         31 . A transformant comprising the gene according to  claim 5.