Novel morphogenic protein
AssigneeRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. Valenzuela, Eduardo A. Rojas, Aris N. Economides, Neil Stahl
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Abstract
Human Cerberus proteins and related nucleic acids are provided. Included are proteins comprising a human cerberus domain having specific activity, particularly the ability to antagonize a bone morphogenic protein. The proteins may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells with the subject nucleic acids. Also provided are isolated hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed genes, specific binding agents and methods of making and using the subject compositions.
Claims30
An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding human cerberus.
Isolated human cerberus protein, or a fragment or derivative thereof having the biological activity of human cerberus.
Isolated human cerberus protein, having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ. NO. 2.
A ligandbody which comprises human cerberus fused to an immunoglobulin constant region.
A method of antagonizing the function of a Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) which comprises contacting said BMP with human Cerberus.
A method of screening for a molecule capable of competing with human cerberus for binding to a BMP comprising:
- a) contacting a sample suspected of containing the molecule with the BMP in the presence of human cerberus under conditions in which the human cerberus is capable of binding to the BMP;
- and
- b) detecting binding of the molecule to the BMP.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.