Ceramidase gene

Abstract

Ceramidase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AN17 isolated from the skin of a patient with atopic dermatitis. Gene encoding for such a ceramidase and their variants. Probes or primer hybridizing with the gene encoding said ceramidase. Antibodies capable of specifically binding to said polypeptide; uses of the ceramidase as pharmaceutical.

1. An isolated gene encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       2. The isolated gene according to  claim 1 , wherein the gene has a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
       3. An isolated gene capable of hybridizing with the gene of  claim 1  under stringent conditions wherein incubation is made at 65° C. for overnight in a solution containing 6×SSC (composition of 1×SSC:0.15M NaCl, 0.015M sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent, and 100 mg/ml herring sperm DNA, and encoding a polypeptide having ceramidase activity. 
     
     
       4. A transformant harbouring the isolated gene of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       5. A method for producing a polypeptide having ceramidase activity, comprising culturing the transformant of claim  5    4 , and collecting a polypeptide having ceramidase activity from the resulting culture. 
     
     
       6. A transformant harbouring the isolated gene of  claim 3 . 
     
     
       7. A method for producing a polypeptide having ceramidase activity, comprising culturing the transformant of  claim 6 , and collecting a polypeptide having ceramidase activity from the resulting culture.