Gene specifically expressed in postmitotic dopaminergic neuron precursor cells

Abstract

A novel gene 65B13 expressed specifically and transiently in dopaminergic neuron precursor cells immediately after cell cycle exit was obtained by the present invention. The cellular expression of 65B13 can be used as an index to select cells that are suitable in terms of their safety, survival rate, and network formation ability, for transplant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

1 . A polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from: 
 (i) a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides 177 to 2280 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or nucleotides 127 to 2079 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a sequence complementary to either of said nucleotide sequences;    (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence;    (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence in which a signal sequence portion is deleted in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence;    (iv) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence with a deletion, insertion, substitution, or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence has 90% or more identity with a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides 177 to 2280 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or nucleotides 127 to 2079 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and,    (v) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of (i), wherein the nucleotide sequence has 90% or more identity with a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides 177 to 2280 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or nucleotides 127 to 2079 of SEQ ID NO: 2.    
     
     
         2 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         3 . A host cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 1  or the vector comprising the polynucleotide.  
     
     
         4 . A polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         5 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 4  or a fragment of said polypeptide comprising at least eight amino acid residues.  
     
     
         6 . A polynucleotide comprising a sequence selected from: 
 (i) a nucleotide sequence comprising nucleotides 177 to 2280 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or nucleotides 127 to 2079 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a sequence complementary to either of said nucleotide sequences;    (ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence;    (iii) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence in which a signal sequence portion is deleted in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence;    (iv) a nucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence with a deletion, insertion, substitution, or addition of one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4, or a sequence complementary to said nucleotide sequence; and,    (v) a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions with the nucleotide sequence of (i);    wherein the polynucleotide encodes a 65B13 polypeptide expressed specifically in dopaminergic neuron precursor cells immediately after cell cycle exit, or an antigenic fragment thereof    
     
     
         7 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         8 . A host cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 6  or the vector comprising the polynucleotide.  
     
     
         9 . A polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         10 . An antibody against the polypeptide of  claim 9  or a fragment of said polypeptide comprising at least eight amino acid residues.