Transporter genes OATP-B, C, D, and E

Abstract

Four novel transporter genes were successfully cloned by screening novel transporter genes based on the human OATP transporter gene sequence. These transporters are useful in the development of drugs by taking advantage of the activity of transporting biological substances and various drugs. It was also found that these transporter genes have single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Gene diagnosis based on the polymorphisms (such as SNP) in these transporter genes enables one to judge, for example, the efficacy of a drug therapy.

1 . An isolated nucleic acid of anyone of (a) to (g) below: 
 (a) a nucleic acid encoding a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (b) a nucleic acid comprising a coding region of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1;    (c) a nucleic acid encoding a protein that comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 in which one or more amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added and that is functionally equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (d) a nucleic acid that hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleic acid consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and that encodes a protein functionally equivalent to a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (e) a nucleic acid encoding a protein that has a least 60% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;    (f) a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and    (g) a nucleic acid consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.    
     
     
         2 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid of  claim 1 , wherein the number of amino acids substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added is 30 or fewer.  
     
     
         4 . A vector into which the nucleic acid of  claim 1  is inserted.  
     
     
         5 . A vector into which the nucleic acid of  claim 2  is inserted.  
     
     
         6 . An isolated cell in culture comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . An isolated cell in culture comprising the nucleic acid of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         8 . An isolated cell in culture comprising the vector of  claim 4 .  
     
     
         9 . An isolated cell in culture comprising the vector of  claim 5 .  
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a polypeptide, the method comprising the steps of culturing the isolated cell of  claim 8  and recovering a polypeptide expressed from the isolated cell or the culture supernatant thereof.  
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a polypeptide, the method comprising the steps of (a) culturing the isolated cell of  claim 9  and (b) recovering a polypeptide expressed from the isolated cell or the culture supernatant thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A polynucleotide that hybridizes with the nucleic acid comprising the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complementary strand thereof and that comprises at least 15 nucleotides.