Nucleic acids encoding hedgehog proteins
AssigneesPresident and Fellows of Harvard College, Imperial Cancer Research Technology, Ltd.
InventorsPhilip W. Ingham, Andrew P. McMahon, Clifford J. Tabin
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Abstract
The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of vertebrate genes, termed here hedgehog-related genes, comprise morphogenic signals produced by embryonic patterning centers, and are involved in the formation of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to generate and/or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.
Claims38
An isolated nucleic acid encoding a hedgehog polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of residues 27-425 of SEQ ID NO:8, residues 1-336 of SEQ ID NO:
- 10, residues 25-437 of SEQ ID NO:
- 11, residues 24-418 of SEQ ID NO::
- 12, residues 24-475 of SEQ ID NO:
- 13 and residues 1-312 of SEQ ID NO:
- 14, which polypeptide binds to a naturally occurring patched receptor.
An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of Sonic hedgehog polypeptide and Indian hedgehog polypeptide, wherein said hedgehog polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid which hybridizes under stringent conditions, including a wash step of 0-2×SSC at 65° C., to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID. NO. 1, SEQ ID. NO. 3, SEQ ID. NO. 4, SEQ ID. NO. 5, SEQ ID. NO. 6, and SEQ ID. NO. 7, which amino acid sequence binds to a naturally occurring patched receptor.
An isolated nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of Sonic hedgehog polypeptide and Indian hedgehog polypeptide, wherein said hedgehog polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID. NO. 8, SEQ ID. NO. 10, SEQ ID. NO. 11, SEQ ID. NO. 12, SEQ ID. NO. 13, and SEQ ID. NO. 14, which amino acid sequence binds to a naturally occurring patched receptor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.