NOVEL INTEGRIN alpha9 beta1 LIGAND AND USES THEREOF

A ligand for integrin α9β1, consisting of a peptide having the following amino acid sequence:

• (A) EDDMMEVPY (SEQ ID NO:
• 1) or
• (B) an amino acid sequence the same as the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:
• 1 except for having deletion, substitution or addition of 1 to 3 amino acids.

A ligand for integrin α9β1 consisting of the following peptide:

• (a) a peptide consisting of EDDMMEVPY (SEQ ID NO:
• 1),
• (b) a peptide the same as peptide (a) except that E at residue 1;
• E at residue 1 and D at residue 2;
• Y at residue 9;
• E at residue 1 and Y at residue 9;
• or E at residue 1, D at residue 2 and Y at residue 9 are deleted or substituted by an amino acid(s);
• or
• (c) a peptide the same as peptide (a) or (b) except that M at residue 4, V at residue 7, or P at residue 8 is substituted by an amino acid.

A fragment of SVEP1 comprising the following peptide:

• (a) a peptide consisting of EDDMMEVPY (SEQ ID NO:
• 1),
• (b) a peptide the same as peptide (a) except that E at residue 1;
• E at residue 1 and D at residue 2;
• Y at residue 9;
• E at residue 1 and Y at residue 9;
• or E at residue 1, D at residue 2 and Y at residue 9 are deleted or substituted by an amino acid(s);
• or
• (c) a peptide the same as peptide (a) or (b) except that M at residue 4, V at residue 7, or P at residue 8 is substituted by an amino acid,
• the fragment having 2500 amino acid residues or less and an integrin-α9β1 binding activity.