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AssigneeOrtho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Darrow, Jenson Qi, Patricia Andrade-Grodon
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Here we describe the molecular identification of a cDNA encoding a novel serine protease we have termed protease C-E. The deduced amino acid sequence, and it alignment with other well-characterized serine proteases indicates that it is a member of the S1 serine protease family. We have found that the protease C-E mRNA is expressed in pancreas, placenta, prostate, small intestine, stomach, spleen, fibroblasts and epidermis, as well as in certain regions of the brain i.e., cerebellum, cerebral cortex, pituitary and hippocampus. Enzymatically active protease C-E, as produced using the methodologies described herein, is amenable to further biochemical analyses for the identification of physiological substrates and specific modulators.
An isolated and purified nucleic acid molecule that encodes protease C-E, and functional derivatives thereof.
An expression vector for expression of protease C-E protein in a recombinant host, wherein said vector contains a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding protease C-E protein, and functional derivatives thereof.
A protein in substantially pure form that functions as protease C-E protein.
A monospecific antibody immunologically reactive with protease C-E protein.
A method of identifying compounds that modulate protease C-E protein activity, comprising:
A kit comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from a group consisting of SEQ.ID.NO.:1 and SEQ.ID.NO.:2, and fragments thereof.
A kit comprising a serine protease C-E protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ.ID.NO.:7 and SEQ.ID.NO.:8, and fragments or derivatives thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.