Novel members of the capsaicin/vanilloid receptor family of proteins and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention provides isolated nucleic acids molecules, designated hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 nucleic acid molecules, which encode novel members of the Capsaicin/Vanilloid receptor family. The invention also provides antisense nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 nucleic acid molecules, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which an hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 gene has been introduced or disrupted. The invention still further provides isolated hVR-1, hVR-2, and rVR-2 proteins, fusion proteins, antigenic peptides and anti-hVR-1, anti-hVR-2, and anti-rVR-2 antibodies. Diagnostic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.

1 . An isolated polypeptide comprising at least 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  which comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated polypeptide comprising at least 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated polypeptide of  claim 1  which comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes an isolated polypeptide comprising at least 15 contiguous amino acids of the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5  which encodes the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:5. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5  which comprises the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO:4.