76A11 polypeptide and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from a disease, wherein the disease is characterized by aberrant cellular proliferation or aberrant cellular differentiation, comprising administering to the subject an antagonist of a polypeptide, wherein the polypeptide has an amino acid sequence as presented in SEQ ID NO:2. This invention also provides the use of a polynucleotide as a probe for identifying undifferentiated embryonic stem cells, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence as presented in SEQ ID NO:1. This invention further provides the use of the 76A11 polypeptide in vivo or ex vivo for expansion of adult somatic stem cells. This invention further provides the use of an antibody directed to an epitope presented by the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence as presented in SEQ ID NO:2 for detection of cancerous cells or of undifferentiated stem cells. This invention further provides the use of a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence as presented in SEQ ID NO:1 or fragments thereof for identifying cancerous cells. This invention further provides a method for identifying a chemical compound that modulates proliferation or differentiation of cells which comprises: (a) contacting a cell expressing a gene comprising the sequence as presented in SEQ ID NO:1 with the chemical compound, under conditions permitting expression of the gene; and (b) determining whether the proliferation or differentiation of the cell is stimulated or inhibited in the presence of the compound, as compared to a control and this invention further provides a method for identifying a test chemical compound that modulates proliferation or differentiation of cells which comprises the steps of (a) providing a mixture comprising polypeptide 76A11, (b) contacting said mixture with a test substance under conditions which normally lead to 76A11 activity, and (c) determining whether the activity of said polypeptide is affected by said compound.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.