Polynucleotides encoding class ii cytokine receptor-7

Abstract

Novel receptor polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise an extracellular domain of a cell-surface receptor that is expressed in kidneys, pancreas, prostate, adrenal cortex and nervous tissue. The polypeptides may be used within methods for detecting ligands that promote the proliferation and/or differentiation of these organs.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide, said polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in residues 30 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide comprises residues 30 to 274 or 30 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 339 to nucleotide 1009. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polypeptide further comprises an affinity tag. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 4 , wherein said affinity tag is polyhistidine, protein A, glutathione S transferase, substance P, or an immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 , wherein said polynucleotide is DNA. 
     
     
         7 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 residues 1 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 1 to 274 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 1 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 30 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 30 to 274 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 30 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 251 to 274 of SEQ ID NO:2;   residues 251 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2; and   residues 275 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2.   
     
     
         8 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements:
 a transcription promoter;   a DNA segment encoding a polypeptide, said polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as shown in residues 30 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:2; and   a transcription terminator.   
     
     
         9 . The expression vector of  claim 8 , wherein said polypeptide further comprises a signal sequence. 
     
     
         10 . The expression vector of  claim 8 , wherein said polypeptide comprises residues 30 to 274 or 30 to 553 of SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         11 . An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements:
 (a) a transcription promoter;   (b) a DNA segment encoding a chimeric polypeptide, wherein said chimeric polypeptide is comprised of a first portion and a second portion joined by a peptide bond, said first portion consisting essentially of a polypeptide as shown in residues 30 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:2, and said second portion consisting essentially of an affinity tag; and   (c) a transcription terminator.   
     
     
         12 . The expression vector of  claim 11 , wherein said affinity tag is an immunoglobulin F c  polypeptide. 
     
     
         13 . A transformed or transfected cell into which has been introduced an expression vector according to  claim 8 , wherein said cell expresses the polypeptide encoded by the DNA segment. 
     
     
         14 . The cell of  claim 13 , wherein said cell is prokaryotic. 
     
     
         15 . The cell of  claim 13 , wherein said cell is eukaryotic.