Growth differentiation factor-7

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of using polynucleotides that hybridize specifically with a polynucleotide encoding GDF-7 to identify GDF-7 in a sample.

1 . A method for detecting a polynucleotide encoding Growth Differentiation Factor-7 (GDF-7) in a sample comprising:
 a) contacting the sample with an oligonucleotide probe that hybridizes specifically with a polynucleotide encoding GDF-7, wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises at least about a 15 nucleotide portion of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian GDF-7; and   b) detecting specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe to a polynucleotide in the sample, thereby detecting a polynucleotide encoding GDF-7 in the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of a tissue sample and a cell sample. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises neural tissue cells. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting specific binding is performed in vitro. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polynucleotide to be contacted with the oligonucleotide probe is immobilized on a filter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is obtained from a mammal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, rat, and human. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide encodes the GDF-7 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises at least about a 15 nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO: 5. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises a sequence selected from the group of sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe comprises autoradiographic visualization of the probe. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises a primer of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair, whereby detecting specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe comprises performing PCR for 40 cycles at 94° C. for 1 minute, 50° C. for 2 minutes, and 72° C. for 2 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the PCR primer pair comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         14 . A method of detecting a polynucleotide encoding Growth Differentiation Factor-7 (GDF-7) in a sample comprising:
 a) contacting the sample with an oligonucleotide probe that hybridizes specifically with a polynucleotide encoding GDF-7, wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises at least about a 15 nucleotide portion of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a mammalian GDF-7, and wherein the oligonucleotide probe comprises a primer of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair comprising a forward primer and a reverse primer; and   b) detecting specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide probe to a polynucleotide in the sample by performing PCR for 40 cycles at 94° C. for 1 minute, 50° C. for 2 minutes, and 72° C. for 2 minutes, thereby detecting a polynucleotide encoding GDF-7 in the sample.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the PCR primer pair comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sample is obtained from a mammal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, rat, and human. 
     
     
         18 . A biologically active C-terminal peptide fragment of a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. 
     
     
         19 . The peptide fragment of  claim 18 , wherein the fragment consists of 146 amino acids with a molecular weight of 14,900. 
     
     
         20 . The peptide fragment of  claim 18 , wherein the fragment is SEQ ID NO: 7.