Endoplasmic reticulum localization signals

Abstract

The invention relates to cellular localization signals. In particular, the invention relates to endoplasmic reticulum localization signals in monomeric or multimeric form. The localization signals are utilized as research tools or are linked to therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of making and using polypeptides and modified polypeptides as signals to localize therapeutics, experimental compounds, peptides, proteins and/or other macromolecules to the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. The polypeptides of the invention optionally include linkage to reporters, epitopes and/or other experimental or therapeutic molecules. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides encoding the localization signals and vectors comprising these polynucleotides.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An isolated polypeptide localization signal comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:39 and an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:70. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 15  comprising an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:70. 
     
     
         17 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 15  comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:70. 
     
     
         18 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 15  comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO:70. 
     
     
         19 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 15  comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:70. 
     
     
         20 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 15  linked to an epitope tag, reporter, polypeptide of interest, macromolecule, or therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         21 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 16  linked to an epitope tag, reporter, polypeptide of interest, macromolecule, or therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         22 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 17  linked to an epitope tag, reporter, polypeptide of interest, macromolecule, or therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         23 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 18  linked to an epitope tag, reporter, polypeptide of interest, macromolecule, or therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         24 . The isolated polypeptide localization signal of  claim 19  linked to an epitope tag, reporter, polypeptide of interest, macromolecule, or therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         25 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         26 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         27 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         28 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         29 . An isolated polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide of  claim 19 . 
     
     
         30 . A vector comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         31 . A host cell comprising the vector of  claim 30 . 
     
     
         32 . A method of localizing a polypeptide of interest to an endoplasmic reticulum compartment in a cell comprising linking a polypeptide open reading frame to the polynucleotide of  claim 25  to create a fusion protein coding sequence, and transfecting the fusion protein coding sequence into a host cell and culturing the transfected host cell under conditions suitable to produce at least one copy of the fusion protein. 
     
     
         33 . The vector of  claim 30 , further comprising an inducible promoter, and wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to said inducible promoter. 
     
     
         34 . The vector of  claim 30 , further comprising a tissue-specific promoter, and wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to said tissue-specific promoter.