Terminal complement inhibitor fusion proteins
AssigneeAlexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsRussell Rother, Scott Rollins, Stephen P. Squinto
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Abstract
Nucleic acid sequences encoding chimeric proteins that comprise a functional portion of a parent terminal complement inhibitor, such as CD59, and a heterologous transmembrane domain are provided. The parent terminal complement inhibitor is modified to inactivate its GPI signal sequence. The heterologous transmembrane domain serves to anchor the chimeric protein to the cell membrane without substantially interfering with the complement inhibitor activity of the terminal complement inhibitor. The nucleic acid sequences and encoded chimeric proteins can be used to protect cells from complement attack.
Claims4
A chimeric protein comprising:
- (i) a first polypeptide region comprising a portion of a parent Ly-6 terminal complement inhibitor protein, said portion including a complete Ly-6 motif and not including an operative signal sequence directing the attachment of a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor;
- and
- (ii) a second polypeptide region linked to the first polypeptide region, said second polypeptide region comprising a transmembrane domain from a heterologous protein, wherein said chimeric protein has complement inhibitory activity against human complement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.