Compositions and methods for increasing bone mineralization
AssigneeDarwin Discovery, Ltd.
InventorsMary E. Brunkow, David J. Galas, Brian Kovacevich, John T. Mulligan, Bryan W. Paeper, Jeffrey Van Ness, David G. Winkler
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Abstract
A novel class or family of TGF-β binding proteins is disclosed. Also disclosed are assays for selecting molecules for increasing bone mineralization and methods for utilizing such molecules.
Claims87
An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising sequence ID Nos., 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, or, 15, or complementary sequence thereof;
- (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule that specifically hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule of (a) under conditions of high stringency;
- and
- (c) an isolated nucleic acid that encodes a TGF-beta binding-protein according to (a) or (b).
An isolated oligonucleotide which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to Sequence ID NOs. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 15, or the complement thereto, under conditions of high stringency.
The vector of claim 54, wherein the vector is a plasmid, a virus, retrotransposon or a cosmid.
A method for determining whether a candidate molecule is capable of increasing bone mineral content, comprising:
- determining whether a candidate molecule inhibits the binding of TGF-beta binding-protein to bone, or an analogue thereof.
A kit for detection of TGF-beta binding-protein gene expression, comprising a container that comprises a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
- 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 15;
- (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the complement of the nucleotide sequence of (a);
- (c) a nucleic acid molecule that is a fragment of (a) or (b) of at least 20 nucleotides in length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.