Novel polynucleotides and polypeptides and uses therefor

A composition for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising an isolated polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2.

A biologically active fragment of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 2, wherein said fragment is at least amino acids in length.

A composition for promoting, augmenting or otherwise enhancing cell differentiation, comprising an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 2.

A composition for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 2.

A composition for promoting, augmenting or otherwise enhancing cell differentiation, comprising an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length.

A composition for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length.

An isolated polynucleotide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 5, or a fragment thereof at least 24 nucleotides in length.

An isolated polynucleotide which hybridises under high stringency conditions to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 5, or a fragment thereof at least 24 nucleotides in length.

An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide which modulates an activity selected from the group consisting of cell differentiation, cell proliferation and tumorigenesis and which hybridises under high stringency conditions to the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 5, or a fragment thereof at least 24 nucleotides in length.

A composition for promoting, augmenting or otherwise enhancing cell differentiation, comprising a vector including an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length.

A composition for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising a vector including an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length.

A composition for promoting, augmenting or otherwise enhancing cell differentiation, comprising an expression vector including an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a regulatory polynucleotide.

A composition for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising an expression vector including an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a regulatory polynucleotide.

A host cell containing an expression vector including an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO 2, or encoding a biologically active fragment of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, which is at least 8 amino acids in length, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a regulatory polynucleotide..

An antigen-binding molecule that is specifically immuno-interactive with a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth SEQ ID NO:

• 2, or a fragment thereof at least 8 amino acids in length.

A method for detecting a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, comprising:
• detecting expression in a cell of a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide.

A method for diagnosis of a cancer or tumour in a patient, comprising:

• providing a biological sample from said patient;
• and
• detecting an aberrant OKL38 polynucleotide or aberrant OKL38 polypeptide.

A method for diagnosis of a cancer or tumour in a patient, comprising:

• providing a biological sample from said patient;
• and
• detecting a loss of one or more copies of the OKL38 gene.

A method for modulating an activity selected from the group consisting of cell differentiation, cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, comprising:

• contacting a cell with an agent, which modulates the level and/or functional activity of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto, for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the level and/or functional activity of said polypeptide.

A method for promoting, augmenting or otherwise enhancing cell differentiation, comprising:

• contacting a cell with an agent, which increases the level and/or functional activity of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto, for a time and under conditions sufficient to increase the level and/or functional activity of said polypeptide.

A method for delaying, repressing or otherwise inhibiting cell proliferation or tumorigenesis, comprising:

• contacting a cell with an agent, which increases the level and/or functional activity of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
• 2, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto, for a time and under conditions sufficient to increase the level and/or functional activity of said polypeptide.

A method for treatment and/or prophylaxis of a cancer or tumour, said method comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which modulates the level and/or functional activity of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto, for a time and under conditions sufficient to modulate the level and/or functional activity of said polypeptide.

A method for treatment and/or prophylaxis of a cancer or tumour, said method comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:

• 2, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto.

A method for treatment and/or prophylaxis of a cancer or tumour, said method comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide from which a polypeptide, or a variant thereof having at least 80% identity thereto, can be expressed, wherein said polypeptide comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 2.