Extracellular/Epidermal Growth Factor Like Protein

Abstract

The present invention discloses an extracellular/epidermal growth factor polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides. Also provided is a procedure for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and therapeutic uses of the polypeptides which include induction of DNA synthesis, stimulating wound healing, treating neurological disorders, treating ocular disorders, treating kidney and liver disorders and stimulating embryogenesis and angiogenesis. Also disclosed are antagonists against such polypeptide and their use as a therapeutic to treat neoplasia. Also disclosed are diagnostic assays for detecting altered levels of the polypeptide of the present invention and mutations in the nucleic acid sequences which encode the polypeptides of the present invention.

1 . An isolated antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a protein selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence consists of amino acid residues 2 to 448 of SEQ ID NO:2;   (b) a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence consists of amino acid residues 26 to 448 of SEQ ID NO:2;   (c) a polypeptide comprising the full-length EEGF polypeptide encoded by cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97285;   (d) a polypeptide comprising the mature EEGF polypeptide encoded by cDNA clone contained in ATCC Deposit No. 97285;   (e) a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence consists of a portion of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said portion is at least 30 contiguous amino acid residues in length; and   (f) a polypeptide whose amino acid sequence consists of a portion of SEQ ID NO:2, wherein said portion is at least 50 contiguous amino acid residues in length.   
     
     
         2 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (a). 
     
     
         3 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (b). 
     
     
         4 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (c). 
     
     
         5 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (d). 
     
     
         6 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (e). 
     
     
         7 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 1  that specifically binds protein (f). 
     
     
         8 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 2  that specifically binds protein (b). 
     
     
         9 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  wherein said protein bound by said antibody or fragment thereof is glycosylated. 
     
     
         10 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is human. 
     
     
         11 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is polyclonal. 
     
     
         12 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is monoclonal. 
     
     
         13 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  which is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a chimeric antibody or fragment thereof;   (b) a humanized antibody or fragment thereof;   (c) a single chain antibody; and   (d) a Fab fragment.   
     
     
         14 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  which is labeled. 
     
     
         15 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof specifically binds to said protein in a Western blot or an ELISA. 
     
     
         16 . An isolated cell that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         17 . A hybridoma that produces the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of detecting EEGF protein in a biological sample comprising:
 (a) contacting the biological sample with the antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 3 ; and   (b) detecting the EEGF protein in the biological sample.   
     
     
         19 . An isolated antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds a EEGF protein purified from a cell culture wherein said EEGF protein is encoded by a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 2 to 448 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         20 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 19  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is monoclonal. 
     
     
         21 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 19  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is polyclonal. 
     
     
         22 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 19  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is human. 
     
     
         23 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 19  which is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a chimeric antibody or fragment thereof;   (b) a humanized antibody or fragment thereof;   (c) a single chain antibody; and   (d) a Fab fragment.   
     
     
         24 . The antibody or fragment thereof of  claim 19  wherein said antibody or fragment thereof specifically binds to said protein in a Western blot or an ELISA.