Tribonectins

Abstract

The invention features a tribonectin and a method of tribosupplementation carried out by administering tribonectins directly to an injured or arthritic joint.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A method of reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces comprising administering to a bearing surface a composition comprising a tribonectin polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, or a peptide mimetic thereof, which comprises a covalent, non-peptide bond. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said tribonectin polypeptide further comprises one or more repeats of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said composition is characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces in vitro. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said tribonectin or peptide mimetic thereof is characterized as reducing the coefficient of friction between bearing surfaces in vivo. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the sequence comprises the amino acid sequence of
 SEQ ID NO: 3 and O-linked oligosaccharide side chains.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein said side chains are N-acetylgalactosamine-galactose. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said tribonectin polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least one but less than 76 subunits, wherein
 (a) each subunit comprises at least 7 amino acids;   (b) the amino acid sequence of said subunit comprises at least one threonine and has at least 50% identity to SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein a non-identical amino acid is a conservative amino acid substitution;   (c) plural subunits comprise β(1-3) Gal-GalNAc moieties; and   (d) at least 10% by weight of said polypeptide comprises O-linked oligosaccharides.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the molecular weight of said polypeptide is in the range of 220 to 280 kDa. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide is expressed from a fragment of a megakaryocyte stimulating factor gene. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids 200-1140, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids 200-1167, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids 200-1212, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide comprises amino acids 200-1263, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide lacks amino acids 1-24, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said polypeptide lacks amino acids 67-104, inclusive, set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said composition further comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said bearing surfaces comprise tissue surfaces. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 46  comprising administering said composition to a human in a form suitable for the inhibition of tissue adhesion formation. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 46  comprising administering said composition to a human in an amount sufficient to lubricate bearing human tissue surfaces. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  comprising placing said composition between first and second human tissue surfaces having reduced lubrication. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 46  comprising administering said composition in an amount sufficient to lubricate a human tissue surface in contact with an artificial device. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66  wherein said artificial device is an implant.