Human FGF-20 gene and gene expression products

Abstract

This invention relates to human fibroblast growth factor (hFGF-20), and to variants thereof and to polynucleotides encoding FGF-20. The invention also relates to diagnostic and therapeutic agents related to the polynucleotides and proteins, including probes and antibodies, to methods of treating neuronal degenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease and to methods of treating disorders of the cochlea including those causing hearing loss. The invention also relates to rat fibroblast growth factor (rFGF-20), and to variants thereof and polynucleotides encoding rFGF-20.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acids at least 95% identical to amino acids selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:4.    
     
     
         13 . An isolated polypeptide wherein, except for at least one conservative amino acid substitution, said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:4.    
     
     
         14 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acids selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:4;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 211 of SEQ ID NO:4, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:4.    
     
     
         15 . An epitope-bearing portion of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         16 . The epitope-bearing portion of  claim 15 , which comprises between 10 and 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:4.  
     
     
         17 . The epitope-bearing portion of  claim 15 , which comprises a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of amino acids RDGARSKRHQKFTH (SEQ ID NO:5) and QLAHLHGILRRRQLY (SEQ ID NO:6).  
     
     
         18 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         19 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         20 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 14 .  
     
     
         21 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polypeptide of  claim 12 , in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         22 - 44 . (canceled)  
     
     
         45 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acids at least 95% identical to amino acids selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         46 . An isolated polypeptide wherein, except for at least one conservative amino acid substitution, said polypeptide has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         47 . An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acids selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) amino acids from about 1 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (b) amino acids from about 2 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (c) amino acids from about 170 to about 186 of SEQ ID NO:2;    (d) amino acids from about 1 to about 169 and from about 187 to about 212 of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said amino acids at positions about 169 and about 187 are joined by a peptide bond; and    (e) amino acids from about 59 to about 193 of SEQ ID NO:2.    
     
     
         48 . An epitope-bearing portion of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         49 . The epitope-bearing portion of  claim 48 , which comprises between 10 and 50 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         50 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 45 .  
     
     
         51 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 46 .  
     
     
         52 . An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the polypeptide of  claim 47 .  
     
     
         53 . A polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1.  
     
     
         54 . The polypeptide of  claim 53 , comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.  
     
     
         55 . A polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid molecule comprising the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:3.  
     
     
         56 . The polypeptide of  claim 55 , comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.