Novel bone mineralization proteins, DNA, vectors expression systems

A human LMP protein encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under standard conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:

• 25, and wherein the molecule hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:
• 26.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding rat LMP protein, wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under standard conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2.

A rat LMP protein encoded by an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under standard conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:

• 2.

A human LIM mineralization protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:

• 10 and SEQ ID NO:
• 34.

A rat LIM mineralization protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 1.

An osteoinductive soluble factor induced by the expression of human LIM mineralization protein.

A monoclonal antibody specific for a human LIM mineralization protein.

A polyclonal antibody specific for a human LIM mineralization protein.

A monoclonal antibody specific for a rat LIM mineralization protein (SEQ ID NO:

• 1).

A polyclonal antibody specific for a rat LIM mineralization protein (SEQ ID NO:

• 1).

A method of inducing bone formation comprising transfecting osteogenic precursor cells with an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding LIM mineralization protein.

A method of inducing systemic bone formation in a mammalian host in need thereof, comprising:

• (a) transfecting osteogenic precursor cells with a vector that is stablely maintained in the osteogenic precursor cells, the vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein and a regulatable promoter, wherein the regulatable promoter, which responds to an exogenous control compound, controls expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding the LIM mineralization protein;
• and
• (b) administering to the host, as needed, an amount of the exogenous control substance effective to cause expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein.

A method of stimulating production of an osteogenic soluble factor by an osteogenic cell, comprising:

• (a) transfecting the osteogenic cell with an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding LIM mineralization protein;
• and
• (b) overexpressing the isolated nucleic acid molecule.

A method of inhibiting the expression of LIM mineralization protein comprising transfecting a cell wherein the LIM mineralization protein is expressed with an antisense oligonucleotide.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding human LMP, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under standard conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:

• 25.

An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding human LMP, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule complementary to the full length of SEQ. ID NO:

• 26.