PanCAM nucleic acids and polypeptides

An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 4-513 of SEQ ID NO:8.

An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 535-708 of SEQ ID NO:8.

An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 535-633 of SEQ ID NO:26.

A method of determining the presence of a PanCAM-encoding sequence in a sample, comprising:

• contacting the sample with a nucleic acid probe comprising SEQ ID NO:3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 25, or 27, or a portion thereof having at least 17 nucleotides, under high stringency hybridization conditions, and
• detecting hybridization of said polynucleotide to a nucleic acid in the sample, wherein the occurrence of said hybridization indicates the presence of a PanCAM-encoding sequence in the sample.

A method of identifying a compound that binds a PanCAM protein, comprising:

• contacting the PanCAM protein with a test compound;
• and
• detecting a complex formed by the PanCAM protein and the test compound, wherein the presence of the complex indicates that the test compound binds to the PanCAM protein.

A method of identifying a compound that modulates the activity of a PanCAM protein, comprising:

• contacting the PanCAM protein with a test compound;
• and
• determining the effect of the test compound on the activity of the PanCAM protein, whereas a change of the activity after the contacting step indicates that the test compound modulates the activity of the PanCAM protein.

A method of diagnosing a disease condition in a subject, comprising:

• comparing the amount or activity of a PanCAM protein in a tissue sample from the subject to the amount or activity of the PanCAM protein in a control sample,
• wherein a significant difference in the PanCAM amount or activity of the tissue sample relative to the control sample indicates that the subject has a disease condition.

A method of diagnosing a disease condition in a subject, comprising:

• comparing the amount of a PanCAM mRNA in a tissue sample from the subject to the amount of the PanCAM mRNA in a control sample,
• wherein a significant difference in the PanCAM mRNA amount of the tissue sample relative to the control sample indicates that the subject has a disease condition.

A method of isolating beta cells from a dispersed pancreatic cell population, comprising:

• providing an antibody specific for a PanCAM protein,
• contacting the dispersed pancreatic cell population with the antibody under conditions that allow beta cells in the population to bind to the antibody, and
• separating cells unbound by the antibody from beta cells bound to the antibody, thereby isolating beta cells.

An isolated polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:31.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding SEQ ID NO:31.